Africa is a vast continent several times the size of the USA. Nearly twenty of its countries are French-speaking. The greatest number of French-speaking people are found, not in France, but in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)! Several French-speaking African countries are largely hot desert. Some are in the grip of political unrest or even war. In such circumstances communication is very difficult. But, in spite of this, the Lord has established in French-speaking Africa a sovereign grace literature and radio ministry. Both are the fruit of the work of missionary side of Evangelical Press (Evangelical Press Missionary). The aim is to minister to those in countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea - Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo and Burkina Faso. There are also many contacts elsewhere, including Madagascar.

One of the methods God has blessed in bringing the message of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ to Africans has been preaching the Gospel over the radio. For twenty years, programmes called ‘Les Echos de la Vérité’ (‘Echoes of Truth’) have been broadcast to most of Africa. These consist of fifteen-minute Bible studies. They were first broadcast by FEBA and Radio ELWA. After Radio ELWA closed down in 1990 due to the civil war in Liberia, local African radio stations, often privately run, were found to continue airing the programmes. Several of these local stations are in Benin and Togo and some are about to come on stream in Burkina Faso. Long-term plans include using a powerful German radio station to beam programmes to the whole continent. Over the years the responses of listeners have been very encouraging. Many such have been awakened to the distinctive truths of the Gospel.

Literature

Europresse-Afrique is essentially a Christian literature work, propagating the doctrines of grace in French-speaking Africa. It is an arm of Europresse, based in mainland France, which was set up by Evangelical Press to publish reformed literature in French. It centres on Gagnoa, Ivory Coast. From here two men distribute distinctive, Reformed Christian books and booklets. One of these workers regularly travels all over the Ivory Coast, visiting both markets and offices to sell the literature. He also does the same in neighbouring Burkina Faso. In the past four years the turnover of literature through Europresse-Afrique has increased nearly fourfold. Tens of thousand of solid Christian books are now in the hands of needy saints and sinners.

In November 1998, an office was opened in the town of Bohicon (Benin) with the aim of penetrating further into Benin and Togo. Early results are encouraging and show that there is potential in these two countries for distributing sound Christian literature. Steps are also being taken to develop personal contacts in Burkina Faso, a nation situated to the north of Ivory Coast and bordering the Sahara Desert. Early responses from here indicate real potential. However, it is important to evaluate responses carefully in order to distinguish between real spiritual hunger and mere religious excitement. The latter is not uncommon in Africa! There are long-term plans to reach into Guinea, Gabon and Cameroon.

Preachers’ course

The relatively well developed state of the work in Ivory Coast, Benin and Togo is, in the providence of God, due to good foundations being laid early on. This was, historically, a result of the radio ministry. Soon after this had commenced it became clear that numbers of men who responded to the programmes would benefit from training in gospel preaching. Many were unable to take the necessary time away from home in order to go to Bible seminary (if one was available). Evangelical Press Missionary, therefore, developed a correspondence-based preachers’ course to enable those who were already preachers to preach the Gospel with a greater biblical clarity and Christ-centredness. This course brought a widespread response. Several hundreds of men have enrolled for the course.

The preachers’ course is geared to help men dig into their Bibles and discover Christ in all the Scriptures. It consists of three sections: Romans, which studies basic gospel doctrines; Hebrews, which explores the New Testament’s interpretation of the Old Testament; and Corinthians, which examines church-related issues. The course makes tough demands on students. It requires some ten hours of work a week - in addition to all other responsibilities. Yet many have persevered and completed it and the result has been that their preaching ministry has blossomed.

Conferences

Twice yearly preachers' conferences are arranged, one for students from Benin and Togo and the other for students from Ivory Coast and elsewhere. These are used to evaluate the progress made by students, to give opportunity for students to encourage one another in the Gospel and to allow opportunity for the development of preaching gifts. One can honestly say that most of these French-speaking African preachers are as good as any ministering in western pulpits - if not better! They represent a promise of a rich harvest, in that corner of God's vineyard where they have been called and equipped. The increase in preachers of the everlasting Gospel has, in turn, led to the planting of new churches.

In 1992, Europresse launched a quarterly French Christian newspaper, carrying the same name as the radio programme (‘Les Echos de la Vérité’). This paper is distributed in French-speaking Europe and Africa. Although only eight pages in length, it has been a powerful tool in God's hands. Several thousand copies are distributed each quarter to all parts of the French-speaking world. Through it, many lives have been touched with the message of sovereign grace. Europresse is also involved in similar activities in the French-speaking part of the West Indies.

‘What next?’ is a legitimate question. Europresse is not ‘empire building’. Nor is it a denomination. Its aim is to spread the glorious gospel message of salvation in Christ. It goes through doors of opportunity that are presented by the Lord, for he is the one who does the work. The workers are ‘sowers’ and ‘reapers’, and no more. The glory for any good that is done belongs entirely to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jean-Claude Souillot