Pray for: Cote d’Ivoire

Islam spread and grew rapidly during the 20th Century, from 5% in 1900 to near 41.8% today. Tribal groups in the north and pockets of tribes all over the country are becoming Muslim. Urban concentrations of Muslims are high as are conversion rates among new immigrants to the cities. Sadly, many southern Ivoirian Christians have aligned themselves with the president and his political agenda, and have thereby undermined their potential for genuine witness to northerners; foreign Christian witness may be the most effective way to reach the north. Pray that Christians may be zealous to win non-Muslims while they can and to show humility and love for them. Pray for the healing of the north-south ethnic divide created by politicians, which is making outreach to Muslims even harder than before.

Pray for the Church of Côte d’Ivoire. The Catholic Church and Methodist Church have the most followers, and while some of them do not practise their faith, each contains many committed believers and a lively charismatic movement. Evangelical churches have grown steadily since the 1990s, even during the conflicts of 2002-2007. Abidjan alone probably has over 3,000 churches now, mostly newer and independent. Nearly every main denomination has at least 1 Bible training institute, and theological education grows. But many Christians do not know or understand the Bible, and churches pursue prosperity teaching, or focus on miracles and healings more than on Christ.