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Ministry
The Benin Bible Institute has been offering a systematic Bible training
program on a part-time basis since 1994. In 2004, a full time program
was developed for pastors. In 2008, the full-time program was adapted
into a modular program to permit pastors in full-time ministry to have
access to this upper level program. A three-year systematic Bible training
program, an inter-denominational health centre, and community health
and development projects are all part of this vital ministry of sharing
and caring in Benin. Workers collaborate closely with African-Initiated
Churches. The Bethesda Health Centre was created through the efforts
of former Mennonite Board of Missions (MBM) workers in 1990, followed
by an internationally acclaimed garbage collection and recycling project
in 1993. By 1996, the community health projects had expanded to the Dassa-Zoumé region.
Celebrations
- The Benin Bible Institute is moving into its next phase by developing
an agricultural training program to enable pastors to be self-supporting.
- Mission workers have developed a network of health and development
contacts.
- Mission and local community workers have developed several
community banks, which provide loans primarily to women for smallbusiness
initiatives.
- A training program for congregationally based health workers
in Cotonou has established training programs in over 20 denominations.
- Celebration Moment: A Tale of Two Men
Challenges
- Adapting the full-time program to better meet the needs of pastors
in fulltime ministry who are looking for a higher level of education.
- Stabilizing extension education.
- Strengthening relationships and
further establishing the health and development contacts.
- Strengthening
partners who continue to need significant capacity building.
Partners
- Mennonite Mission Network (MMN)
- Institut Biblique du Bénin
(Benin Bible Institute)
- La Casa Grande
- African-Initiated Churches (60
denominations including African-founded Evangelical and Pentecostal
churches)
- Centre de Santé Bethesda (Bethesda Health Centre)
- D4D (Development in Four Dimensions)
- Développement Communautaire
et Assainissement du Milieu (Community Development through Environmental
Cleanup)
- Formation des Formateurs et Animateurs de Santé pour
les Eglises (FFASE–Training of Church Health Facilitators)
- Organisation
pour un développement équilibré dans la région
des collines (ODEC–microfinance and community health work in
the Dassa region)
Celebration Moment
A Tale of Two Men
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