Ba-Iyaka, Niger

The vision of Ba-Iyaka (meaning “Without Borders” in the Hausa language) is to share the Gospel and plant dynamic, multiplying churches throughout Niger. Our partner since 2008, Ba-Iyaka’s goals include advancing evangelism at the national level, promoting Christian ethics, building up Christians spiritually and economically, and organizing nationwide prayer movements. Since its founding, Ba-Iyaka has reached more than 60 villages with the Gospel.

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The vision of Ba-Iyaka (meaning “Without Borders” in the Hausa language) is to share the Gospel and plant dynamic, multiplying churches throughout Niger. Our partner since 2008, Ba-Iyaka’s goals include advancing evangelism at the national level, promoting Christian ethics, building up Christians spiritually and economically, and organizing nationwide prayer movements. Since its founding, Ba-Iyaka has reached more than 60 villages with the Gospel.

The country of Niger is located east of Mali and south of Algeria in central Africa. Ninety percent of Niger’s 17 million people are from various African tribes including the Hausa, Songhai, and Fulani. The remaining 10 percent are Arab.

Since gaining freedom from France in 1960, Nigeriens have suffered through a number of coups and military regimes. The instability has stalled both economic growth and infrastructure development, leaving the majority of the population desperately poor. Niger frequently ranks at or near the bottom of the United Nations’ Human Development Index which rates countries in regard to living standard, education, and literacy. The average life expectancy of Nigeriens is less than 55 years.

On the religious front, 97 percent of the people are Muslim. Many Nigeriens practice a form of folk Islam which is a challenge for Christian evangelists to address. In the entire country, there is estimated to be fewer than 100,000 indigenous Christians. While Islam is pervasive, there is openness to Christianity in Niger, and missions work can be done with few hindrances.

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