Sierra Leone

Today Sierra Leon continues to rebuild with 6 million people. The ebola outbreak of 2014 has hit the country very hard as it was just recovering.

cumc & first umc makeni

Through the Susquehanna Annual Conference, CUMC joins other churches in offering pastoral assistance through multi-year commitments. In 2017, CUMC entered our 11th year of supporting pastors in Sierra Leone through an annual commitment of $1,200. Our contribution, plus that of other Susquehanna Conference churches, support many pastors in the Sierra Leone Annual Conference with food, housing, and salaries.

Through our connection, CUMC has been partnered with First UMC Makeni. In March 2016, a small team went to meet our sister church, building relationships and learning about the country and city of Makeni.

i want to help...

To learn more or become part of this team, contact Marnie Anderson at

dresses & shorts for kids

Can you imagine never having a new dress or shorts as a child? This is the reality for many kids in Sierra Leone. Throughout 2015, a team of sewers at CUMC made little dresses and shorts for the children in Makeni. In March 2016, our team delivered over 100 dresses and 75 shorts and tops for the children. The new clothes were an amazing gift to children who have 1-2 sets of clothes each.

We continue to make pillowcase dresses and dolls for the girls. We also seek gently used shorts or shirts for the boys.
Volunteer to sew dresses and pants
Instructions for Pillowcase Dresses

visiting sierra leone

In 2011, Marnie Anderson (from our congregation) went to meet our sponsored church in the western district of Sierra Leone. In March 2016, Marnie Anderson, Brad Weiser, and Christina Benson visited Makeni, Sierra Leone to learn about Makeni and our sister church.

Between funds given during the trip, and after returning to Carlisle, CUMC provided funds for three new toilet facilities that are shared between the church and next-door school.
Read the Team Journal
Sierra Leone 2016 video