I'm so excited to be able to update you all with great news about the new church planting project in Ivory Coast. The Association of Christian Churches in Ivory Coast in partnership with CMF have been praying and planning to plant 4 new churches in the Béoumi region, with the hope that is will start a new church planting movement in central Ivory Coast. Several of the leaders and missionaries have visited the area and have taught and preached on several occasions last year. They were well received and invited back.
Once the political turmoil hit the end of last year, no one was able to travel throughout the country safely. We had hoped to send two church planters this past January to the region, but it just was not possible. We continued to pray for those who had heard the message of Jesus Christ and that God would open the doors for us to go again.
Last month, the door opened back up. Since the dramatic political changes happened in April and May (the conclusion of the electoral crisis), things in Ivory Coast quickly began to improve. Our teammate, Christina, along with our friends and fellow CMF missionaries from Burkina Faso, the Hausers, returned to Ivory Coast. When the Hausers returned to Burkina a week later, they made a side trip, accompanying several of our church leaders to Béoumi to encourage and share God's Word with them.
One group in particular were overjoyed to receive them and their message. In fact, their story is amazing. They actually come from an odd religious sect. Unlike so many other indigenous groups, they worshiped and prayed to the one “Creator God” while also rejecting the traditional amulets, charms and statues that permeate the african culture. Their founder had even at one time cleared their region of the various masks, charms and idols and stood up to many different witch doctors. However, they had no concept of salvation and had never heard the good news of Jesus Christ!
Upon hearing the story of Jesus and the salvation that God has given through Him, they cheered and praised God for revealing the complete truth to them! They listened so intently, that even our national church leaders said they had never experienced a group of people so hungry and thirsty for God's Word. On the final day of teaching 58 people stood up to say they wanted to be baptized into Christ (everyone from the local sect who was present that day).
In one week, four church leaders accompanied by our teammate Christina, will travel back to Béoumi. They will make a trip to a nearby lake (because there isn't sufficient water in their area for baptisms) with those who have put their faith in Christ for a baptism celebration... rejoicing for their new lives in Christ. One of the leaders will stay with them; teaching, encouraging and visiting others for a month. Pray for Nestor, one of the national pastors, who will be staying and sharing with the Béoumi believers.
It is so exciting to see God’s Spirit leading us to harvest fields that He has been preparing well in advance. It has been exciting to see people respond with incredible enthusiasm to God’s love through Jesus Christ. We wait in great anticipation to see where God leads us and how the Holy Spirit will move in this new region. This coming January, Nestor along with another national church planter, will return to Béoumi to stay and work for an entire year. Please lift up these two church planters and their families as they serve the Lord sacrificially.
May God be glorified and honored in our service to Him!
Andy
