By: ICEJ Staff Writers

Here are updates on some of the latest developments in our global network of national offices as we press past the challenges of corona and broaden our support and activities for Israel worldwide.
 
Fresh momentum in West Africa In November, the ICEJ global family received an important addition, as a new office was officially opened in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in the presence of ICEJ President Dr Jürgen Bühler and Dr Mojmir Kallus, Vice President for International Affairs. The Ivory Coast is a very influential country in French-speaking West Africa, and this new office will strengthen our presence across the region.
 
The festive opening culminated a series of events organised by local Christian supporters of our ministry. At the request of Dr Apollinaire Gboagnon, President of the Evangelical Federation of the Ivory Coast, Dr Bühler spent an entire week preaching on the “Signs of the Times” at his congregation, the Cocody Assemblies of God. Dr Apollinaire is a widely respected church leader throughout the region, and we are honoured to have him as Chairman of ICEJ-Ivory Coast.
 
At week’s end, a leaders’ conference hosted by David Kuhen Silue, national director of our Ivorian branch, was attended by some 50 pastors from all major denominations. ICEJ delegations from Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Togo came as well. The conference ended with the official opening of the ICEJ office before dozens of government and church leaders, including the governor of Abidjan.
 
David Silue also was formally appointed as regional coordinator for French-speaking West Africa. He will travel to surrounding countries to speak with local church leaders to secure broader support for ICEJ and develop new contacts where we are not yet represented.
 
Please join us in prayer for Africa, a continent with rich natural resources and a promising future. In recent decades, the Gospel has reached tens of millions and churches are growing, but many countries are still torn by tribal strife and plagued by corruption. Pray for the transformative power of the Gospel to deeply change the culture. Pray for godly leaders who will guide their nations to their prophetic destiny in God. And pray that the ICEJ may become a bridge to connect these nations to Israel and teach them to bless the offspring of Abraham.

ICEJ Leadership Course
 It is a great joy for our Jerusalem leadership to work with our national representatives around the world. Our already extensive network of national offices has continued growing, with several new representatives appointed, and a new generation of leaders taking the baton in established branches like Switzerland, Austria and Australia. To provide our new leaders with the tools needed to help them succeed, we have opened our first ICEJ Leadership Course for newly appointed national directors or representatives. The training consists of six on-line sessions and required reading, and will include theology, various aspects of ICEJ ministry, and basics of administration. We are excited that 75 participants enrolled in this pilot course.