1) Benin remains one of the world’s least-developed countries. Efforts to help the economy often fail because of corruption. Almost 75% of economic activity is “underground” or illegal, with ties to Nigerian interests. Some suspect that criminals smuggle tens of thousands of children outof Benin each year to sell them as child labourers. Pray for justice and righteousness to grow in Benin, and for Nigeria’s influence to be more positive and godly.
2) Benin has the highest percentage in Africa of people who follow traditional ethnic religions. Many Christians mix their faith with animism. They go to the church on Sunday, but consult the witch doctor during the week. Pray for revival that makes the Church pure. Pray also for many witch doctors to experience the power of Jesus and turn to Him! Voodoo developed from Fon animism,and it touches the lives of all Fon (the largest people group), even the Christians.
3) Church growth continues across the whole country, but especially in the African-originated denominations. All churches feel a desperate need for discipleship and for trained leaders. Almost half of Benin’s languages still need a Bible or even a New Testament. Some evangelicals have a goal to plant 20,000
congregations by 2020! Pray for the endurance to reach every region of Benin,and to plant churches among every people. Village health ministries and holistic rural development bring good responses from both animists and Muslims.
4) Most peoples in Benin remain unreached. Only a few smaller groups have a Christian majority. It is one of the few countries where almost equal numbers of Muslims, Christians, and animists live side by side. Christians have freedom to minister and evangelize, but Benin is probably the least-evangelized non-Muslim country in Africa! Pray for churches and missions to send more workers, especially to the central and northern regions. Very few evangelical believers live among the Muslim peoples of the far north.