MISSIONS IN

Mali

God is moving in Mali

The State of Missions in Mali

Mali’s mission field is shaped by a vast Sahel nation where most people remain unreached and insecurity has made northern and central ministry increasingly difficult. 44 UPGs remain, totaling about 21,830,500 unreached people; Bambara is the largest listed group. Its evangelical story has distinctive roots: Twentieth-century evangelical missions established churches mainly in southern Mali, away from the more Islamic north.

  • 25M POPULATION
  • 3.5% CHRISTIANS
  • 33.1% LITERACY
  • 44 UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS
  • Bambara LARGEST UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP
  • 22M UNREACHED POPULATION
  • Bamako CAPITAL CITY
  • Bamako Sikasso Mopti LARGEST CITIES
  • West African CFA Franc CURRENCY
  • Hot Sahelian climate, from Sahara desert in the north to semiarid savanna southward, with a short rainy. CLIMATE
  • French Bambara PRIMARY LANGUAGES
  • Islam LARGEST UNREACHED RELIGION

Explore Mali

By Project
God Is at Work. You’re Invited Into the Story.

God Is at Work. You’re Invited Into the Story.

Around the world, God is moving through ordinary people who pray, give, go, and serve. Hold the Rope helps you discover the stories—and find your place in them. Read More

Explore by Category

Bible Translation Bible ministry in Mali should prioritize clear Scripture access and meaningful engagement.
Church Planting Church planting in Mali should develop mature local leaders and sustainable congregations.
Disaster Relief Church planting remains urgent among Somali, coastal Muslim.
Education Church planting remains urgent among Somali, coastal Muslim.
Gospel Access Mali has 44 UPGs and about 21,830,500 unreached people; Bambara is the largest listed community.
Human Trafficking Church planting remains urgent among Somali, coastal Muslim.
Medical Missions Church planting remains urgent among Somali, coastal Muslim.
Orphans & Vulnerable Children Church planting remains urgent among Somali, coastal Muslim.
Persecuted Church Believers in Mali need prayer for faithful witness, wise leadership, and endurance under local pressures.
Poverty & Justice Churches in Mali can address poverty through dignifying help that strengthens families and livelihoods.
Unreached People Groups Millions still have little or no access to the gospel in their language and culture.

Active Projects across Mali

Resources for Your Journey (Coming Soon)

  • Prayer
    Guides
  • Mission
    Strategies
  • Research &
    Reports
  • Training &
    Equipping
  • Videos &
    Podcasts
  • Missions
    Agencies

A History of God's Faithfulness in Mali

The evangelical story in Mali developed through several important transitions. 20th-century evangelical missions planted churches mainly in southern Mali and translated Scripture into local languages; Malian believers later assumed leadership while Islamist conflict restricted access farther north. What began through particular mission movements increasingly became the work of national believers who built congregations, trained leaders, and adapted ministry to local realities.

  1. Early Beginnings

    Twentieth-century evangelical missions established churches mainly in southern Mali, away from the more Islamic north.

  2. 1900s

    Bible translation and literacy work developed in Bambara and other languages as Malian believers assumed greater leadership.

  3. Independence Era

    Small evangelical communities grew among several southern peoples while Fulani, Tuareg, and northern groups remained far less reached.

  4. Modern Movement

    The 2012 Islamist insurgency and continuing insecurity sharply reduced outside access to northern and central regions.

  5. Today

    Malian churches now combine relief and peacebuilding with a major unfinished task among the country's 44 unreached peoples.

Hold The Rope app

Be a part of what God is doing in Mali

PRAY ENGAGE GIVE GO

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Download the App

Grab your rope

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
I'm not a robot(Required)
Newsletter