Ivory Coast
The Land and the
People
The Republic of Ivory Coast (Ivorians prefer the French “Cote d’Ivoire” as their country name) has a population of more than 15 million, including about 1 million Europeans and foreigners from other African countries. There are ten cities with populations over 100,000, and there are 8,500 small villages. Seventy-five percent of the people are employed in agriculture, fifteen percent in white-collar occupations, and ten percent in industry. The economy of the Ivory Coast is the most prosperous per capita of black Africa.
Religion
Over 55 percent of the people are animists, worshipping dead ancestors and spirits of the dead. Muslims are found mostly in the north and in the larger cities. The remaining population is mainly Roman Catholic. Of the professing Muslim and Catholic population, a large part are involved with the traditional animistic practices.
Past and Current
Work
Baptist Mid-Missions’ missionaries first entered the Ivory Coast in the ’40s and ’50s from Liberia, where missionaries were working in a border town. There was no way to establish churches, however, until 1975 when BMM became authorized to enter the Ivory Coast. Since then the ministry in the Ivory Coast has included church planting, Bible translation, a clinic, and a Bible school.
Goals
The present team of missionaries is involved in renewing works from previous years and in “breaking ground” in new areas. They desire to launch a ministry in Abidjan—the largest city—and also to see the medical work in Blolequin revived and expanded. In San Pedro a Bible institute and youth center has been established. More workers are needed to further this ministry.
Workers needed
Church planting continues to be a need in Ivory Coast. The expansion of the Bible institute and youth work in San Pedro will require additional personnel to assist in teaching and outreach. The Blolequin medical ministry desperately needs doctors, nurses, and lab and x-ray technicians. A business manager is also needed.