A Vision for Benin, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast

Spreading the Word. Reaching the World.

Back in 2020, a simple question began to form: what more could be done to strengthen CLC ministry across West Africa and help bring God’s Word to more people?

A few years earlier, by God’s grace, funds had been raised to provide 10,000 Portuguese Bibles for Mozambique. That success sparked a new idea—could a similar project serve the needs of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast?

From Vision to Partnership

What began as a thought quickly became a conversation. A discussion with Gary Chamberlin, then CLC European Director and now also CLC International Director, led to further dialogue with Hervé Lessous, Director of CLC France. Hervé’s enthusiasm helped turn the idea into a clear and actionable plan.

The goal was not simply to produce Bibles, but to create editions that would be both accessible and meaningful. Three different covers and colours were chosen, reflecting a sense of identity and variety. Additional content was included in the opening pages—a clear summary of the Gospel message and a suggested prayer for salvation, written by members of the CLC Africa teams.

Each Bible also included contact details for CLC ministries in France, Canada, and the three West African countries, helping to connect readers with ongoing support and community.

A Global Effort

Once a printer’s quotation had been secured, a fundraising campaign began. Many people gave generously, and many more prayed faithfully. In time, the Bibles were printed and delivered to France, arriving at the CLC warehouse in Montélimar just before Christmas—a timely and encouraging milestone.

The next challenge was distribution.

Shipping the Bibles to West Africa proved complex, particularly as it coincided with changes in the French postal system, limiting the number of mailbags that could be sent each day. Mailbags were chosen as the most cost-effective method, but this required careful coordination and patience.

The first shipments were allocated across the region, with 1,000 Bibles sent to each centre in Benin and Burkina Faso, and 2,000 to Ivory Coast. Eventually, the Bibles arrived in Abidjan, Bouaké, Cotonou, and Ouagadougou, where they were displayed and made available for purchase.

Lives Being Touched

The response has been deeply encouraging.

Pastor Lobé, a long-standing customer of CLC Abidjan, shared his gratitude: “I want to say thank you to the Almighty God and to CLC which at last has its very own Bible. I am very happy and I will certainly tell my colleagues, my friends and my congregation about this. May the Lord bless CLC in this project, for CLC is a missionary work in God’s service.”

Stories like this remind us that these Bibles are more than printed pages. They are tools for evangelism, discipleship, and encouragement—reaching both believers and those exploring faith.

A Sustainable Vision

At the heart of this project is a long-term vision for sustainability. The Bibles are supplied free of charge to local CLC bookshops, allowing them to be sold at an accessible price. The income generated is then used to fund future print runs, creating a cycle that can continue to provide Scripture for years to come.

However, challenges remain. When shipments arrive in African ports, customs and delivery fees must still be paid, and these costs have risen significantly in recent months.

A Call to Partner

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported this project—financially and in prayer. This work is only possible because of a global community committed to making God’s Word available where it is needed most.

If you or your church would be interested in sponsoring a quantity of these Bibles—either for evangelism or to support churches in less resourced communities in Benin, Burkina Faso, or Ivory Coast—we would love to hear from you.

Together, we can continue placing Scripture into people’s hands and seeing lives transformed through the power of God’s Word.