Mali
Overview
Mali is a poor but growing country that remains predominantly Muslim. Although missionaries arrived in the early 1920s and have worked in most areas of the country, there are few evangelical Christians. Small congregations of believers continue to worship in towns known to be centers of Islamist activity. Several missionaries have been kidnapped in Mali or have been kidnapped and brought to Mali from neighboring countries since 2016. Most are still in captivity today. In 2017, threats by Islamist groups led some mission agencies to withdraw workers from the country.
Major Religions
88 percent of Malians are Sunni Muslims, with most also practicing animism. 3 percent are Christians, including less than 1 percent evangelicals.
Persecutor
Islamic extremist groups persecute Christians in Mali.
What it Means to Follow Christ
During Mali’s 2012 civil war, believers fled to the south as extremist groups in the north sought to create an Islamic state. Churches and pastors’ homes were destroyed. Christian converts from Islam face harassment from family members and their communities. Open and active churches exist in the north, but some believers are still leaving for the south as the Islamist threat worsens. One pastor was forced to leave after receiving several death threats; his wife is still dealing with related trauma. Evangelists have been imprisoned for short periods after being accused of proselytizing.
Access to Bibles
Bibles are scarce and difficult to obtain outside the capital, especially in minority languages.
VOM Work
VOM provides Bibles, pastor training and assistance for persecuted Christians.