Missionaries Côte d'Ivoire Verlin and Debbie Anderson Ivorian National Association Bears Good Fruit

September 2nd, 2011

The Free Will Baptist National Association of Côte d’Ivoire met at Gouméré August 23-26, following an encouraging 3-day Pastor's Retreat at the same location. The convention session speaker, Pastor Paul Amiezi, spoke on “Bearing Fruit.” Each member in the body of Christ is special and designed to bear fruit after his kind. The Lord has a specific and important role for Free Will Baptists in His kingdom; be proud of our rich heritage and honored to bear fruit for Him in this generation. A spirit of encouragement, joy, and perseverance permeated the week, despite the great political upheaval experienced the past year.


Business sessions bore the good fruit of well-informed decisions:

The Bible Institute welcomes a new class of pastors-in-training this fall. The prior class was recognized during a service, having completed their one-year internships with the majority staying on to pastor.
The house under construction for the Academic Director of the Bible Institute, funded by IM, now has its walls up.
The assembly unanimously re-approved the national project to build their first Christian school. Forty-two percent of their $22,000.00 goal is raised, and all were encouraged to give sacrificially to make up the difference. Doors hopefully open the fall of 2012.
The recommendation that pastors be appointed by committee rather than chosen by congregations was again rejected. Our congregational heritage holds firmly to the local church’s autonomous right to choose her leaders.
BERECA, the Ivorian FWB NGO, gave report on Saturday. The nationwide ambition is to minister to AIDS patients and improve literacy. In the city of Agnibilekrou their ministry has touched 10,000 people. Of the pregnant women tested, 3.2% were sero-positive for AIDS.
Verlin and Debbie Anderson continue to serve as FWB missionaries, supporting the partnership between IM and the Ivorian church, and engaging in Community Health Evangelism translation, training, and endeavors.