Update on The Gambia

The RPCS currently has under care of its Presbytery Mr Sylvester Konteh, a minister in The Gambia, West Africa.  Here is an update about his studies and his congregation. 

Sylvester Konteh is progressing through his seminary training, via Distance Learning, at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh.  Commenting on his seminary experience to date, he has stated that, “It has enlivened my spirit. I have learned a lot, and I have embraced it fully with zeal and enthusiasm. I have gotten a lot of proofs for Biblical and Historic Christianity. I love what I’m hearing, I love what I’m learning, and I desire to pass it on to many people.”

The congregation has had encouragements in recent times with some young men joining and meeting with Sylvester on a weekly basis, as he seeks to mentor them, in order to supplement his pulpit ministry. Furthermore, there has also been a family who have recently joined, from a nearby Roman Catholic congregation. However, the congregation are in need of a permanent place of worship and are praying towards that end.

A further ministry of the church is Life Impact Nursery School, which started in September 2017. It is run by Mrs Johnette Konteh, along with 3 other teachers and a cleaner. They currently have 50 children in attendance, in the range of 3 to 7 years of age. Teaching includes numbers, letters, phonics, rhymes, science, writing and English conversation, along with the Bible and kids catechism.

Last year, Sylvester began a monthly Pastors’ Fellowship, where he invited pastors to attend and learn about the reformed faith. Those attending are given the opportunity to watch video lectures and sermons on the basics of the Gospel and of the reformed faith. Sylvester then opens it up to Q&A before the close of the meeting. At the end of last year, three Presbyterian pastors learned of the fellowship and have since been attending regularly. They are reforming, having come from a charismatic background, and are keen to work with Sylvester to pray and work towards bringing reformation to the Gambia.