A Country of Faith & Otterbein's Missionary History
West Africa Conference, Freetown, Africa, January 1900
Today, the Muslim and Christian faiths dominate the region of Sierra Leone, about two-thirds of the population are Muslim and one-fourth are Christians. Less than one-sixth of the country’s people practice traditional religions. Other religions include Baha'i, Hinduism and Judaism. The influence of Christianity in this region dates back to the 19th century with the missionary callings of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.
Beginnings
The United Brethren church began its mission work in 1853 with the creation of a denominational mission board entitled, “Home, Frontier, and Foreign Missionary Society.” During the same year, this newly created board began a five month journey along the Oregon Trail with 98 persons in 38 oxen-pulled wagons. At the board's first annual session on "June 1, 1854, the board appointed three missionaries to begin mission work in Africa" (Olson, 1969, p. 135). The missionaries "landed at Freetown on February 26, 1855, and spent two years trying to locate a field in which to begin their work. They were assisted in their search by the American Missionary Association of New York, which had begun the Mende Mission fourteen years earlier" (p. 135). In 1856, the Church officially expanded its missions work overseas, constructing churches in Sierra Leone, West Africa. "In March 1857, Thomas Stephen Caulker, descendant on the paternal side of a conquering English slave trader, and the paramount chief at Shenge, was induced to give a 100 year lease for about 100 acres of land adjoining the town of Shenge" ( p. 135).
Otterbein's Influence
In 1860, Rev. C.O. Wilson was the first foreign missionary student from Otterbein College to travel to Sierra Leone, West Africa. Unfortunately, Rev. Wilson quickly caught the African fever and was forced to return to Westerville, Ohio. Remarkably, Wilson paid the entire cost of the trip with his own money. By 1861, the Church of the United Brethren in Christ had 600 new members in Sierra Leone, West Africa. In 1862, Amanda Hanby, daughter of Bishop William Hanby and sister of Benjamin Hanby, became the first female missionary from Otterbein College to travel to Sierra Leone. While in Sierra Leone, Ms. Hanby married Rev. J.K. Billheimer (a missionary serving in Africa since 1857) in 1862. Hanby and Billheimer joined forces in missions work.
"In 1875, the Women’s Missionary Association of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ was organized, and they became co-workers with the General Board of Missions” carrying out missions work in Sierra Leone" (Olson, 1969, p.135). The association’s headquarters were located at Rotifunk in 1877.
Return to Sierra Leone: The Country's Web page
Return to Otterbein in Sierra Leone's Main Web page
Created by: Mindy VanHouten, Kent State University practicum student, July 2008