news around the world

IM serves churches, pastors, and people by helping them fulfill their role in establishing churches beyond North America so unreached peoples can know the joy of a relationship with the living God. To find out more about the ministry of IM, visit www.IMINC.org

Ivory Coast Holds Open-Air Convention

Bouna, Côte d’Ivoire—Free Will Baptists from around Côte d’Ivoire gathered in Bouna for their annual convention August 16-20, 2021. Holding many events outside to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the four-day meeting included preaching, business, and fellowship.

Friday, August 20, attendees celebrated Bible institute graduates and pastoral ordinations. During an open-air ceremony, three men received diplomas as graduates of the Bible institute. These men mastered three years of classwork plus a one-year internship.

Attendees also witnessed the ordination of two pastors: Ollo Palé and Timothée Sib. Both men currently serve churches. Ollo Palé leads several churches in the area around Piebly and Timothée Sib leads the congregation in Ondefidouo, near Bouna.

Pastor Silas Noufé was reelected to a four-year term as president of the association.

JPense Resumes

Nantes, France—Joel and Lydie Teague and their team relaunched JPense October 2, 2021. COVID-19 restrictions prevented any events in 2020.

Set up during heavy rain neither dampened the excitement nor deterred 126 people from attending. The team welcomed many non-believers who expressed positive feedback. Several said the event touched them. Others said it gave them answers to their biggest doubts about the existence of God. Some even said they were now sure God is real.

Snapshots Around the World

Kenya—On July 21, 2021, Samburu Christians in Sesia (below) celebrated new life in Christ through baptism. While waiting on everyone to arrive and head to the river, one of the Samburu leaders led a man to the Lord.

Panama—Pastor Efrain González baptized Mr. Demetrio (below) of the Parita FWB Church in Panama August 7, 2021.

France—The St. Nazaire FWB church saw two men accept Christ as Savior in August. Aymeric, a friend of Matt Price, professed salvation on August 29 after a church service as he prayed with Dennis Teague and Matt. Aymeric claimed to be an atheist when he first met Matt. August 5, Jean acknowledged God’s power to heal both bodies and hearts. His girlfriend is a Christian and active member of the St. Nazaire church. He saw God work to heal her body after the church prayed for her when she was hospitalized with COVID.

Côte d’Ivoire—The church in Doropo is growing. Even though they built and added benches, they still do not have enough room. Plans are underway to start a second church in the town.

Panama—Pastor Uriel Gonzalez of the Chame FWB Church baptized five people (below) Sunday, September 19.

Brazil—The Alliance of FWB Churches in Brazil met September 25-26, 2021. Two additional FWB churches joined.

Bulgaria—FWB Bulgarians gathered for their annual church conference the first weekend in September. About 130 people from five works across Bulgaria participated, heard messages, and enjoyed fellowship. Four people were baptized (below). Jonathan Postlewaite requested, “Pray God will work in the lives of the non-Christians who attended and the truths they heard will lead them to saving faith in Jesus Christ.”

Côte d’Ivoire—Témoins de Christ (Christ’s Witnesses), a Free Will Baptist evangelistic group, held a two-day outreach September 24-25, 2021, in Maféré, a town between Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana’s border. Pastor Pokiné Kambou preached, and members of the team provided music. Several salvation decisions resulted from the well-attended events. Additionally, a few people demonstrated evidence of demon possession, disrupting services as they threw themselves on the ground in contortions. Team members prayed for their deliverance.

Panama—Saturday, September 25, the Panamanian FWB association ordained Helilín Hernandez as a pastor (below). Helilín and his wife began witnessing in a settlement near Las Tablas called Las Palmitas. Several have been saved and a church plant is growing.

Brazil—The couple working as missionaries in the isolated village of Boa Esperança, Alagoas, Brazil, continue to see fruit for their labor. Pastor Leandro reported the salvation of a young man, Juarez, on Sunday, September 19. In addition, children’s church attendance has increased as has those preparing for baptism through Bible studies.

Kenya—On August 27, Eddy and Amanda Simmons recounted how a woman and boy (below) walked five hours for medical help at their clinic. Francis, one of the Samburu evangelists, led the woman to the Lord while she waited. She left the clinic for a five-mile trek home after receiving medical help, the joy of the Lord in her heart, and a solar player containing large portions of Scripture.

France—September 12, 2012, congregants of the St. Nazaire FWB Church gathered at the ocean to witness the baptism of four people, including missionary kids Madeleine and Emilie Price. Prior to the baptismal service, during the worship service, the candidates recounted how they came to faith in Jesus Christ.