Côte d’Ivoire Update

March 31, 2011

In the midst of global turmoil and political unrest, between concerns for recovery efforts in Japan, fighting raging in Libya, and the continued protests throughout North Africa and the Middle east, international news media have begun reporting that Côte d’Ivoire’s recent political stalemate stemming from the presidential elections in late November 2010 have begun to escalate into a new phase of military conflicts there.

WorldVenture began ministry in Côte d’Ivoire in 1947 and works in partnership with the Association of Evangelical Baptist Churches of Côte d’Ivoire. Currently, WorldVenture’s missionary personnel are located in northern Côte d’Ivoire and are significantly removed from the conflicts in the south of the country. Nevertheless, WorldVenture wants to communicate clearly that the safety of its personnel is of paramount importance, and all appropriate action is being taken to safeguard our staff in the country. Both domestically and internationally, our personnel are deeply concerned for the many Ivorians trying to get out of harm’s way as well as for peaceful resolution to the conflict.

With a long history of diverse ministry involvement with Ivorians, WorldVenture is calling the global church to renewed prayer for the peoples of Côte d’Ivoire “for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-6).