Beginnings

The country of Cote d'Ivoire (formerly known as Ivory Coast) opened to Free Will Baptists in 1958. For the past 50 years, numerous families and single missionaries have dedicated themselves to evangelize, disciple, and plant churches among the Agni, Abron\Koulango, and Lobi people groups. Today there are over 30 FWB churches among the Abron\Koulango and Lobi, including 5 additional churches in the mega-city of Abidjan, one in Bouake, and 32+ men who have been trained as pastors in our Bible Institute. Despite faithful efforts over many years, churches were not planted among the Agni because of their overall resistance to the gospel, although Agni individuals were saved.

The first FWB missionaries to arrive in Cote d'Ivoire settled in Goumere and Koun to begin ministry among the Abron\Koulango and Agni. In 1962, FWB's opened and staffed a clinic in the northeastern corner of Cote d'Ivoire in the village of Doropo. The clinic provided healthcare and shared the gospel daily in its remote and poor area, spearheading the outreach among the Lobi. Most missionaries developed preaching points, too, in surrounding villages. In 1998, the clinic became an NGO run by Ivorian Christians.  Further south among the Koulango and Agni, evangelization and preaching in villages and towns were the primary means of outreach.

Diverse Ministries

As African men answered the call to preach and began pasturing churches, it became evident that they needed further training to flourish in their new roles. A third attempt to establish a Bible Institute was successful in 1985, assisted by a Theological Training by Extension program (TTE).. The Institute was transferred to national leadership in 2005.

Our missionaries participated in other important ministry in Cote d'Ivoire as well. FWB's built and staffed a high school boy's dorm at ICA (International Christian Academy), a boarding school in Bouake that provided education for MK's all over West Africa. At various points, our dorm parents, teachers, builders, and a business administrator contributed to ICA's success until the civil war closed the school indefinitely in 2004.

Missionaries also opened reading rooms for high school students, served in a Christian publishing house providing crucial materials in French, built missionary housing, churches, and parsonages, and partnered with African pastors to plant churches in new cities. In early years, significant efforts were made to translate Scripture and songs into the tribal languages. Others invested time preparing Sunday School and Bible youth competition materials, or helped Ivorians prepare Christian studies for Adult Learning by Extension.

Civil War

When civil war broke out in 2002, all FWB missionaries evacuated to the USA for about a year. A handful returned to continue ministry in Cote d'Ivoire, and in 2007, 3 missionary units remain on the field, with an additional couple partially on the field, and partially in ministry elsewhere.

50th Year Celebration

We can look back with gratitude and glory to God for what He has accomplished through FWB missionaries and Ivorians who said "yes" to His call in the past. In April 2008, a celebration is planned to commemorate past victories.

Future Opportunities

We should choose to concentrate, though, on the work still to be done in Cote d'Ivoire. Although the south part of the country is heavily Christian, the north is not so. Pray with the Andersons that more missionaries will come. With over 60 people groups in the country and an enormous Muslim population, there are people groups and areas with no gospel witness. The Ivorian church would like to partner with missionaries to establish churches in new regions and among new groups, and longs for help in developing Christian music. A team dedicated to reach Muslims is desired. More help is needed in CHE, and there is a dearth of books and materials for discipleship and Sunday School which convey FWB doctrine. Opportunities abound to teach English informally in high school and colleges, as well.