{"id":29297,"date":"2025-11-12T18:36:33","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T16:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/?p=29297"},"modified":"2025-11-12T20:41:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:41:20","slug":"the-story-of-6000-how-21-disciples-sparked-a-movement-across-a-continent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/the-story-of-6000-how-21-disciples-sparked-a-movement-across-a-continent\/","title":{"rendered":"The Story of 6,000: How 21 Disciples Sparked a Movement Across a Continent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0f2WeeCednY?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In October 1989, a small team of 21 missionaries arrived in Abidjan, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, with a vision to plant a church. Thirty-five years later, that single seed of faith has blossomed into a movement spanning a continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The journey began with a dedicated team from the United States, France, and the UK \u2013 a collaboration between the Boston, London, and New York churches. Led first by Mike and Anne Brigitte Taliaferro and later by Herv\u00e9 and Janet Fleurant, this pioneering group of mostly singles and young couples built the foundation of what would become a thriving mission. The Abidjan planting crowned a historic year for Africa, following new churches in Lagos, Harare, and Nairobi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chosen for its international and cosmopolitan nature, Abidjan was a gateway to French-speaking Africa. The city\u2019s universities and industries attracted people from across the region, making it the ideal place to build a diverse, international congregation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within five years, the Abidjan church grew to nearly 600 members, launching missions across the region: Cameroon (1994), DRC, Congo, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Senegal, and Gabon soon followed. With each new planting, Herv\u00e9 Fleurant accompanied and supported the teams before entrusting them to continue the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From 21 disciples, God has brought forth a harvest of over 6,000 in 44 churches across 14 nations in French-speaking Africa. Strong administration, growing local leadership, and ministries like HOPE <em>worldwide<\/em> continue to strengthen the movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the Abidjan 35th-anniversary celebration in July, the theme was clear: &#8220;From Memory to Mission.&#8221; As speaker Sean Kirklin from Cincinnati asked, if God did this with 21 disciples, what more will he do with 6,000?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we reflect on this incredible history, our prayer is that we imitate the faith of those who started it all. The mission continues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To God be the glory!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From 21 missionaries in 1989 to over 6,000 disciples today, the Abidjan church ignited a movement transforming French-speaking Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":29305,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[71],"tags":[51],"post_folder":[151],"class_list":["post-29297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-africa"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/FWAM.jpg?fit=1280%2C698&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"Vida Li Sik","author_link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/author\/vlsik\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phsvEw-7Cx","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":28465,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/35-years-of-grace-abidjan-anniversary-celebration\/","url_meta":{"origin":29297,"position":0},"title":"35 Years of Grace: Abidjan Anniversary Celebration","author":"Vida Li Sik","date":"August 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A vibrant 35th anniversary celebration uniting disciples from 20 countries, strengthening missions and expanding horizons across French-speaking West Africa.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"35 year anniversary Abidjan","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/35-year-celebration.jpg?fit=1143%2C799&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/35-year-celebration.jpg?fit=1143%2C799&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/35-year-celebration.jpg?fit=1143%2C799&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/35-year-celebration.jpg?fit=1143%2C799&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/35-year-celebration.jpg?fit=1143%2C799&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27321,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/unity-joy-french-west-africa-celebrate-35-years-of-mission\/","url_meta":{"origin":29297,"position":1},"title":"Unity &amp; Joy: French West Africa Celebrate 35 years of Mission","author":"Vida Li Sik","date":"June 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The French West African churches will honor the Abidjan church\u2019s 35th anniversary with a regional conference and worship service, July 29 - August 3.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Happy church members in Abidjan.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Cote-dIvoire-Celebrations.jpg?fit=1200%2C920&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Cote-dIvoire-Celebrations.jpg?fit=1200%2C920&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Cote-dIvoire-Celebrations.jpg?fit=1200%2C920&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Cote-dIvoire-Celebrations.jpg?fit=1200%2C920&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Cote-dIvoire-Celebrations.jpg?fit=1200%2C920&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3268,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/the-birth-of-the-french-speaking-central-africa-family-of-churches\/","url_meta":{"origin":29297,"position":2},"title":"The Birth of the French-Speaking Central Africa Churches\u00a0","author":"dtadmin","date":"August 29, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The fourth edition of the International Conference of Disciples of Central Africa held in Brazzaville, Congo from August 22 to 25 saw the birth of the French-Speaking Central Africa Missions (FCAM) family of churches. The former French-Speaking West Africa Missions officially gave birth to two groups, one in West Africa\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Untitled-820ad6d6.png?fit=475%2C317&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3091,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/good-news-from-the-deaf-ministry-in-abidjan\/","url_meta":{"origin":29297,"position":3},"title":"Good News from the Deaf Ministry in Abidjan","author":"dtadmin","date":"April 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The deaf ministry of Abidjan church is so grateful to share some encouraging news with disciples around the world. A team was sent from the US to Abidjan last year to teach the deaf ministry methodology of bible translation in Ivorian Sign Language.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/abidjan_deaf_ministry_news_1.jpg?fit=576%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/abidjan_deaf_ministry_news_1.jpg?fit=576%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/abidjan_deaf_ministry_news_1.jpg?fit=576%2C401&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29696,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/two-new-church-plantings-in-cote-divoire\/","url_meta":{"origin":29297,"position":4},"title":"Two New Church Plantings in C\u00f4te d&#8217;Ivoire","author":"Vida Li Sik","date":"January 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"On December 21, 2025, joyful processions announced new church plantings in Agboville and Divo, raising French-speaking West Africa\u2019s churches to 27.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Collage of photos of a church gathering.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DAgboville.jpg?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DAgboville.jpg?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DAgboville.jpg?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DAgboville.jpg?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DAgboville.jpg?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2380,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/akure-becomes-the-17th-church-planting-in-nigeria\/","url_meta":{"origin":29297,"position":5},"title":"Akure Becomes the 17th Church Planting in Nigeria","author":"dtadmin","date":"May 24, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The members of the Akure church were officially introduced to the congregation. A team of 18 disciples make up the church. More than 200 people witnessed the inaugural worship service on Sunday April 25, 2021. Akure now becomes the 17th church to be planted in Nigeria since the Lagos planting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Akure-Planting.jpg?fit=600%2C301&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Akure-Planting.jpg?fit=600%2C301&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Akure-Planting.jpg?fit=600%2C301&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/FWAM.jpg?fit=1280%2C698&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29297"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29309,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29297\/revisions\/29309"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29297"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=29297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}