Côte d’Ivoire, or Ivory Coast, is slightly larger than New Mexico and lies on the southern coast of West Africa. Both its population and terrain can be roughly divided north to south, with Muslims concentrating in the northern savannah and highlands regions, and non-Muslims (Christians, adherents of religions associated with Christianity, and animists) occupying the southern coastal and rainforest regions.

Altogether, over 33 percent of the population is unreached. Islam has significant presence, with Muslims representing over 45 percent of the population. Syncretism with animistic indigenous religions is widespread—for example, marabouts, a type of Muslim witchdoctor, are figures of authority within Muslim communities. This culture of syncretism makes it important for churches to have sound teaching and well-trained leaders.

Historically, Côte d’Ivoire has been one of the more stable and prosperous countries in West Africa. It suffered setbacks from two civil wars since the beginning of the 21st century but has been on the recovery ever since the last war ended in 2011. Its growth rate has been one of the highest in the world over the last five years, and it has had great success as the world’s largest producer of cocoa beans.

Nevertheless, needs abound. As of 2015, over 45 percent of the population were still living below the poverty line. And as a mostly agrarian society, fewer than half of Ivorians are literate. The young dominate the population—almost 60 percent of Ivorians are under the age of 25—but they often lack opportunity. According to the CIA World Factbook, “the lack of educational attainment contributes to Cote d’Ivoire’s high rates of unskilled labor, adolescent pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS prevalence.”

A native church-planting ministry is holistically concerned with meeting the spiritual and physical needs of Muslim and animist communities. In addition to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through personal evangelism and evangelistic events, the ministry works with the disabled, women, and poor children in slums and jungle areas.

As people from these communities receive Christ, ministry workers personally follow up to disciple them. This ministry has now planted 15 churches and continues to train church leaders on the field through regular visits from their mobile Bible school.

Recently the ministry reported that almost the entire community in and around one sub-prefecture sent letters to the ministry’s local church asking that the gospel be brought to their people, too. They even offered land so that the ministry could build churches in their areas! Ministry workers have been seeing the local leaders come forward to give their lives to Christ, and the people of their villages along with them. The ministry now looks to train those who have professed faith so that they will become grounded in God’s Word.

Sources: Joshua Project, CIA World Factbook, Operation World, U.S. Department of State, World Atlas