Exuberant worship, passionate prayer and unflagging ministry with all people — these are some of the ways the church in Côte d’Ivoire is drawing new people to Christ.
West Africa is one of the few regions where The United Methodist Church has seen consistent growth, and United Methodists in Côte d’Ivoire are a significant part of that.
In this country where slightly over a third of the population is Christian, building a church is an act of evangelism.
The church’s gains have come even as the country itself has struggled with recent civil strife and the growing pains of development.
“The most important thing to me is to be part of a big family — the family of Christ Jesus — and the big mission that John Wesley started,” said the conference’s Bishop Benjamin Boni.
Read all the stories in the UMNS special report on The United Methodist Church in Côte d’Ivoire.
Growing the church in West Africa
United Methodists in Côte d’Ivoire have committed to planting new churches in areas with few Christians. That commitment is one of the reasons the African church is growing.
How a church day care feeds bellies, minds
Côte d’Ivoire is a land of agricultural bounty. Nonetheless, malnutrition is a real problem. Here is one way United Methodists are working to solve it.
Missionary: To boost church, boost marriages
A missionary has started a course to help married couples strengthen their relationships. Graduation featured a church version of The Newlywed Game.
Missionaries help growth in west Africa
A married couple shows how United Methodists wed evangelism and development in missionary work. They rely on support from a diverse church.
Church's voice of hope endures amid violence
The United Methodist radio station in Côte d’Ivoire has braved gun battles to share the gospel. Others want to emulate its passion for evangelism.
Teaching Muslims and Christians for peace
In a nation where civil war is a recent nightmare, United Methodist schools bring students together from various religious backgrounds with the goal of preparing future leaders.
A young girl arrives for Sunday worship at Nazareth United Methodist Church in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.
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