Bernde

According to tradition, the town of Morom predates the twelfth century. If that is confirmed, the Bernde have lived for almost a thousand years in a place that still holds the center of their life and their collective memory.

Little of the centuries that followed has come down to us in writing, and the history of the people lives chiefly in the memory of the elders. What can be said is that the Bernde have remained around their mountains and villages, preserving their language and customs, and that they continue to be a small people, but deeply rooted in their land.

Bernde life revolves around the land. The Bernde are subsistence farmers and grow millet, sorghum, maize, beans, and peanuts. Because they live in a region prone to drought, every harvest depends on the rain, and the dry spells weigh heavily on families.

The villages are led by elders, who make the important decisions for the community. Most villages have no school, so children grow up learning from their elders the work of the fields and the language of the people. The home and the extended family are the center of daily life, between tilling the soil and caring for the little ones.

The predominant religion among the Bernde is Islam, and faith is usually lived as part of the people’s identity and the honor of the family. For many families, being Bernde and being Muslim go together, which makes the question of faith also a question of belonging.

The Bernde are considered an unreached people group, with no significant evangelical presence. As far as is known, there is no church among them, and few have had the opportunity to meet a follower of Jesus in person. This does not mean they are not seeking God, but that they lack a living witness and Scripture in the language of the heart.

The language of the Bernde heart is Morom. A translation of the Scriptures has been started, but no materials are yet known to be available to the people. This means that, for now, the Word of God does not reach their homes in the language in which they dream, pray, and raise their children. Written texts, audio recordings, and Bible stories told orally in Morom would be a precious path, especially where few can read.

For the Bernde, the Muslim faith is interwoven with the identity of the people, and following another religion can be seen as abandoning family and community. Added to this is isolation: distant villages with little access, and no Scripture in their own language. As far as is known, there is no Christian community among them, so many may never have met a follower of Jesus in person.

The practical needs are clear: clean water for the villages, in a land marked by drought, and schools so that children can learn and grow up with opportunities. Families who live off the land need the means to get through the years of drought with dignity.

In the spiritual realm, the Bernde need to hear the gospel in the Morom language, through people who come with respect, learn their culture, and stay. They also need Scripture and a community of faith that can be born among them and be, truly, Bernde.