In October 1989, a small team of 21 missionaries arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with a vision to plant a church. Thirty-five years later, that single seed of faith has blossomed into a movement spanning a continent.
The journey began with a dedicated team from the United States, France, and the UK – a collaboration between the Boston, London, and New York churches. Led first by Mike and Anne Brigitte Taliaferro and later by Hervé 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.
Chosen for its international and cosmopolitan nature, Abidjan was a gateway to French-speaking Africa. The city’s universities and industries attracted people from across the region, making it the ideal place to build a diverse, international congregation.
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, Hervé Fleurant accompanied and supported the teams before entrusting them to continue the work.
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 worldwide continue to strengthen the movement.
At the Abidjan 35th-anniversary celebration in July, the theme was clear: “From Memory to Mission.” As speaker Sean Kirklin from Cincinnati asked, if God did this with 21 disciples, what more will he do with 6,000?
As we reflect on this incredible history, our prayer is that we imitate the faith of those who started it all. The mission continues.
To God be the glory!
