Koyaka People of Cote d'Ivoire
KOYAKA PEOPLE GROUP
The country of Cote d’Ivoire in West Africa is home to the Koyaka people. Six years ago, Highland Drive felt called to make a visionary trip to this part of the world to visit with the Koyaka. After this trip, a commitment was made by our church to pray for this unreached people group. Civil war broke out in that country in that same year and all of our Southern Baptist missionaries were forced to leave. In November of 2007, Highland Drive was called to send a Team of three back into Mankano, home of the Koyaka, to continue our goal of helping reach this group of people.
In 2008 a group of four from Highland Drive traveled back to this area and partnered with Charles and Kaye Morrison to visit several villages in and around the Mankano area.
The Koyaka follow Muslim tradition along with tribal customs. There is no written Koyaka language. Therefore, no Bible in their language.
Following our 2009 Global Impact Celebration, our church met a seminary student at Mid-America who is a native Ivorian. An initial lunch meeting was held in Memphis with Ebele Adioye. He and his family visited our church May 3rd. He has expressed a sincere desire to work with us in our efforts to reach the Koyaka. Pray for this partnership between Ebele Adioye and Highland Drive Baptist.
At this time, there is one known Christian among the Koyaka. That person is Ou Mou. Before the Civil War, she was a language teacher to Kaye Morrison, an assigned missionary to the Koyaka. Kaye had the privilege to lead Ou Mou to the Lord following a trip in August of 2008.
A Team of four left on December 31, 2009 and traveled to the Ivory Coast to work with Ebele. Patrick and Karen Reddick, Jace Tubbs, and Chris Leggett made up the Team. Ebele met the Team in Abidjan and took them to his home. During the next ten days, the Team traveled to Mankano to make contact with the Koyaka. Ebele shared his vision with our Team of how he plans to carry out the work of reaching West Africa. Please continue to lift the Koyaka in prayer. Pray for our future efforts in that region. Please contine to pray for Ebele and his family.
There are plans for future trips back to the Ivory Coast.
