Stories From the Field: Senegal Trip

Overview of the Senegal Trip

Two Rocky Creek members, David W. and Alton L., were able to go on a mission trip to Senegal at the beginning of 2025, a partnership that has been going on for twenty years. In Senegal, the two would engage with the Sereer people who are followers of Islam. After about eight hours of flight time, the two were picked up from the airport by missionaries working with the International Mission Board—named Josh* and Katie* (names have been changed for the safety of the missionaries and locals)—and were taken to a village named Sitba.

In Sitba, they visited people they had seen on previous trips, checking on how they were doing with the resources left for them—such as Bibles and gospel tracts. There, they were able to see a man named Oscar*. Oscar was a Muslim man who had heard the gospel before from David and Alton. However, he said that to come to faith in Jesus would mean he would have to leave the village. Everyone he knows is Muslim, and everything in his life is connected to Islam. Because of this, Oscar couldn’t accept the cost and complete life change of following Jesus. Following this, they went to a church about an hour away from the village where they were able to teach a discipleship class for the local believers. From Sitba, they went out to new villages and were able to find new believers. David, Alton, and the missionaries were able to again teach discipleship classes and equip local believers.

As they continued to encounter new villages, they came to one where they would met a group of people including women and children. The local pastor allowed them to speak, and as David and Alton would share the gospel with them, four women and one boy would place their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. These five people went from death to life in Christ! As they entered into new life with Christ, the local pastor was able to begin meeting with them for discipleship.

Afterwards, the two continued sharing the gospel as they traveled to various villages, including some they had never visited in their twenty years going to Senegal.

Encouragements from the Senegal Trip

Both David and Alton were encouraged from the trip. Alton states, “It is always a blessing to go—you grow a little bit in your faith. It’s a blessing to share God’s word, an honor that he would let me share his gospel with others.” From their sharing, five people came to faith in Jesus. In the twenty years they have gone, only a few people have come to Christ.

David was encouraged by the local pastors they worked with in Senegal. He says that these pastors shepherd their churches, are involved in their community, are raising their own families, and visit villages far away to evangelize and disciple. David enjoyed the time of teaching believers. He states, “to be able to come into a body of believers and invest in them was a joy.”

Challenges to the Church from the Senegal Trip

Though it is encouraging to hear stories from the field of Rocky Creek members going out on missions, we should evaluate our own lives and ask what we can do to participate in God’s global mission. When asked what we as a church should do regarding missions in Senegal, David says that the people there are willing to listen and have conversations about Christianity. He states, “What the church can do is start stepping up and receive the benefit of twenty years of relationships built.”

When asked the same question, Alton states, “we need people to go. People need to get serious about God’s call. Why are you here? What is your purpose? It’s not to gather in a cozy building, but to be sent out.”

Would you consider joining us on one of our mission trips in the near future to reach the nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and see lives changed?