Abidjan, Ivory Coast, June 26-28
“Every Tribe, Language & Nation!” – title of the first annual conference hosted by Andrew and Patrique Smellie – World Sector Leaders for Africa
(Excerpt from the Good News Email – July 6, 2015)
…The next morning, I was off to Abidjan, Ivory Coast for the First African Missions Conference (AMC)! After four plane flights, I arrived at about 10PM on Tuesday night and received one of the warmest welcomes imaginable! Not only did the 75 disciples at the airport sing in French We Love You With The Love Of The Lord, but then I was ushered outside where I was presented with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers!
Kip receives his biggest bouquet of flowers…It was also his first!
What a welcome!
Then to the beat of African drums, the Abidjan disciples spread a beautiful blanket on the ground and one by one different disciples danced on it for me as my formal welcome! Then Blaise Feumba whispered in my ear, “Bro, get ready because they would like to have you dance for them!” Andrew Smellie must have seen my facial expression, and encouragingly said, “Bro, just take my hand and follow my lead and I’ll help you out with the rhythm!” So Andrew and I danced for the Abidjan Church!
Micky and Kip meet for the first time!
In many respects, the AMC began in earnest the next day! I was blessed to have a brother and preacher from the Mainline Church of Christ in Nigeria – Benedict Atason – come from contact on Facebook! After three days of Bible study and discussions about the differences between the International Christian Churches and the Mainline Church of Christ, Benedict wholeheartedly decided to join God’s new movement and to bring those he influences in Lagos with him!
Benedict Atason (second from the left) – a Mainline
Church of Christ Preacher – joins
God’s new movement!
Officially the AMC began on Friday afternoon with the Bible Talk Leaders Session!
Friday afternoon’s Bible Talk
Leaders Workshop!
On Saturday, we had Men and Women Sessions in the morning. Then in the afternoon, we participated in a very moving MERCY Event of feeding the starving children in the heart of Abidjan!
The MERCY Ambassadors were so fired-up
to feed the children of Abidjan!
Saturday night a Great Banquet was held at Paul & Odile Bekoin’s house! An incredible feast was prepared which included such delicacies as fish heads and giant snails!
Paul & Odile were gracious hosts for the
Saturday Night Banquet at their home!
On the Sunday morning of the African Missions Conference, gathered with the 200 disciples from Ivory Coast were a total of 26 other disciples from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, France, England and the United States! We had an amazing attendance of 498 with 12 baptisms and the restoration of Lyly Ngungu – the awesome wife of Micky Ngungu!
A rainy Sunday morning does not dampen the
spirits of anyone heading to the AMC Worship Service!
The AMC Worship Service begins with an
African drum presentation!
Blaise & Patricia Feumba welcome
the AMC participants!
12 souls were baptized into Christ!
The 498 in attendance at the AMC Worship
Service display the unity that will
ultimately evangelize all
of Africa!
