Most Jola have never heard any of the stories about Jesus and the Kingdom of God from the Bible, but many of them are willing to listen. About 560,000 Jola people live across three countries in West Africa (Senegal, the Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau). Most Jola people maintain various degrees of the traditional animistic beliefs and practices, including the fear of witchcraft, evil spirits, and curses.
The Jola have no caste-type system, all are considered to be equals. Families are large and fiercely loyal to one another. Many families are polygamous – men often have up to four wives. At present 90% of Jolas claim to be Muslim, with only about 2% Christian.
Prayer Starters:
- Pray that the light of God will shine into the Jola villages and towns. Pray that they will have dreams and visions of Jesus and will trust in Him.
- Pray that chiefs, religious leaders, and elders will follow the Messiah. Pray that local and non-native believers will be able to get the Word of God to all the Jola by various means.
- Bible Translation in Gambia: Three gospels are complete and the rest of the New Testament is being corrected. Pray that God will prepare the Jola to hear the Word in their language, understand it, and believe. Pray for the Gambian translators as they seek to express the gospel clearly in their own language.
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