Benin
Date Entered: 2000
Major Ministries: Church Planting, Theological Education, Deaf Ministries, Youth Ministries
Country Profile
Religion: In Benin, Muslims make up 20% of the population, compared to 40% indigenous beliefs. We are committed to fulfill our regional focus in West Africa by reaching out to these Muslims in the north of the country. Benin also suffers excess mortality rates due to the AIDS/HIV crisis which plagues much of Africa, so here, too, we will pursue our regional focus on AIDS/HIV ministries.
Formerly a French colony, Dahomey gained its independence from France in 1960, and in 1975 changed its name to Benin. The country struggled through 12 years of coups and countercoups until a group of army officers headed by Mathieu Kerekou took power.
Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Kerekou took Benin through a Marxist-Leninist period during which the political and economic situation worsened. But the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe in 1989 led to the first multi-party elections, and in 1991 Kerekou became Africa’s first leader to be voted peaceably out of office.
Since the liberation of the country from the ideological bondage of Marxism, Benin has seen the beginnings of a gospel breakthrough among the Fon people and rapid church growth in the country. The Fon people are famous for their civil, peace-loving nature. During one coup in 1967, when the army deposed General Soglo, they politely knocked on his door and told him, “You’re through.”
As the economy improves, there is a sense of increased growth, stability, and optimism in Benin. However, serious problems of tribal and regional rivalry, a poorly developed infrastructure, and extreme poverty continue to assail the fledgling democracy.
Vision for Benin:
Our emphasis for Benin is four-pronged:
- Church Planting/Theological Education
- Youth Ministries
- Deaf Ministries
- Muslim Ministries
We will establish youth centers in the major cities, starting with the capital, Cotonou, assist national deaf schools in teacher training, and develop church deaf ministries as an evangelism outreach.
Several churches in Benin have invited ABWE to partner with them in leadership training and church planting. The recent church growth in Benin has yielded many new Christians, but there are few trained leaders to teach the Bible. Many tribes and villages are requesting pastors or missionaries to teach them a biblical Christianity and help them avoid syncretism.
ABWE will answer this need by developing theological education under the currently forming Baptist Academy of Theology in Africa (BATA), including village Bible Institutes, Bible college training, and seminary level training. French and English are the primary languages of communication.