Rev. Timothy and Beth Heiney serve the Lord and the LCMS as missionaries to Maninka people group in Guinea, West Africa.  In 2003, after 19 years on the mission field, the Heineys left the field due to family reasons. Tim continued to make trips to Guinea four times a year, doing leadership training and leading volunteer trips for the Kansas District. The family returned to Guinea in December of 2005, living in Conakry, the capital of Guinea. Tim is currently continuing in leadership training in the Forest Region. Beth is serving as volunteer coordinator/administrator for the field. Tim and Beth began their missionary service in 1984, to the Konkomba people of Ghana from 1984 to 1994, and later they relocated to Guinea to work with refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone in establishing an indigenous Guinean church.

The Maninka are a numerous and widespread people group located throughout many West African countries. They are the second largest ethnic group in Guinea with a population of approximately two million. Most Maninka are Muslims, but many continue to practice their traditional or animistic beliefs. The Maninka are considered an un-reached people with Maninka Christian believers comprising less than one percent of the total population.

LCMS World Mission's work among the Maninka started in 1998 when the Oetting Family, our 1st sponsored missionary family, were assigned to this people group. The Heiney's will replace Jon and Sharon as members of this small team based in the savannah region of Guinea with the vision of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Maninka people living in West Africa, starting in Guinea. The team's goal is to help encourage a Maninka people movement for Christ by sharing the Gospel through whole families and communities. The Gospel is initially shared through an oral presentation of the Bible in villages.

Tim was born near Detroit, Mich., and graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1983, and a year later Tim and Beth were called to Ghana. Beth (Pflug) was born in Abilene, Texas, and holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. Beth home schools their two youngest children, Kathryn and Andrea. They also have two sons: Joel, who attends Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., and Jonathan, who is attending high school in Kansas City, Kan. 

Please pray for the team's efforts in evangelizing, equipping believers, and training national missionaries among the Maninka. Pray that many will receive Jesus as their Savior and boldly share their faith. Pray for the perseverance of those Maninka believers who are persecuted. If you would like to help the mission, please contact the church.