January 24, 2011
By Laura and Jeter Livingston
Côte d’Ivoire’s recent political unrest forced our international ministry team, serving West Africa Alliance Theological Seminary (FATEAC) in Abidjan, to withdraw from the country. The following is an adapted excerpt from a recent update about Côte d’Ivoire’s challenges, written by FATEAC’s international leadership couple, currently living in Senegal.
The post-election crisis persists with no hopeful signs. Ethnic/political violence continues to erupt in certain neighborhoods. In regions such as Duekoue in the West, more than 1,000 people have taken refuge in the courtyard of a Catholic church.
Compassion and Mercy Associates (CAMA), the relief and development arm of The Alliance, has sent funds to the national Alliance church to help minister relief. ADIAS, a non-governmental relief organization of the national church, is ministering in Duekoue and to the M’Pouto Church, which FATEAC student Brou Patrice pastors. Many FATEAC students attend the church.
Church Members Traumatized
A number of adults attending M’Pouto Church earn their livelihoods working vegetable gardens that grow along the edges of the lagoon behind the FATEAC campus. Government forces attempting to blockade the nearby hotel, which houses the opposition government, have beaten and harassed the adults and destroyed their gardens. These once prosperous farmers now find themselves traumatized and destitute.
Meanwhile, prices continue to climb. Staples are as much as triple pre-election prices. Calls for strikes and boycotts mean that many people can’t work and children can’t get to school. The incumbent president blames the country’s ills on the United States and France; meanwhile, the African Union is threatening armed intervention to drive him out.
Thankfulness
FATEAC will finish its first semester classes this coming week. If possible, our international team, still based in Dakar, Senegal, plans to return to the country at the beginning of the second semester in mid-February.
We thank God for the kind generosity of many who are helping to provide food for the students and medical care for FATEAC dean Isaac Keita who requires surgery. We count more than ever on your struggle with us in prayer (Romans 15:30)!
Some Things You Can Do
Donate to Alliance Great Commission Ministries. In doing so, you partner with Alliance workers, like the Livingstons, to share the good news of God’s healing grace and provision with lost people.
PRAY for . . .
* God’s continued provision for FATEAC students’ food supply
* Timing for Isaac’s surgery and healing
* God’s Kingdom to come in Côte d’Ivoire; that the church would be salt and light
* Wisdom for when the international Alliance team should return to Côte’dˆIvoire