Duane and Janet Abuhl are missionaries servering in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) with CBInternational.
Background
Duane and Janet Abuhl are grateful for the rich heritage they have as missionaries' children growing up in West Africa. Their years in Cote d'Ivoire gave them a unique understanding of the people, the culture, and the needs in that country.
After graduating from International Christian Academy in Cote d'Ivoire, Duane and Janet attended Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa. There, Duane received a bachelor of arts degree and Janet earned a three-year diploma. Following Bible college, Duane worked on staff in a couple of churches as a youth pastor and associate pastor. Then in 1984, The Abuhls and their two children, Julie and David, moved into Denver, Colorado, where Duane attended Denver Seminary. It was during their time in Denver that God placed a burden on the Abuhls' hearts to return to Cote d'Ivoire as church planting missionaries.
The Abuhls were appointed by CBInternational in June, 1986.
MinistryHaving just completed their second term of service in Cote d'Ivoire, Duane and Janet are grateful for having had the opportunity of working for the past three years at Bethel Bible Institute in Kirhogo, Cote d'Ivoire. The school is geared toward training national pastors, and Duane served as a professor as well as in the position of director. This past year six students graduated and are beginning their full-time ministries this fall among the African churches. Before leaving for home assignment, Duane turned over his responsibilities to an African who is now acting as director.
Janet was involved in various aspects of the ministry at the Bible school as well, helping out as a secretary for Duane and also teaching women's classes for the student wives.
While Duane and Janet were involved in ministry st the Korhogo Bible School, their children attended International Christian Academy in Bouake, Cote D'Ivoire. Julie graduated from high school this year and will be attending Wheaton College, while David will be a freshman in high school.
FieldFor many years Cote d'Ivoire has been a stable country and the "Egypt" of West Africa, as drought and political unrest hit the surrounding countries. However, crime in the country is on the increase, prices are going up, and good jobs are becoming scarce.
Islam is strengthening its hold, as are the many sects and cults. The evangelical community is also steadily growing, although it is having to combat the false doctrines that are creeping into the church.
More information on Cote d'Ivoire
People - Cote d'Ivoire's popultion is growing steadily, both through natural increase and through immigration. Of the 13 million people living in Cote d'Ivoire, more than 30 percent are of foreign origin. In addition to immigrants from neighboring countries, alarge European population lives in Abidjan and other urban areas. Cote d'Ivoire has four major people groups and at least 66 language groups. The Senufo people, with whom CBInternational missioinaries work, live mostly in the rural north and northeastern parts of the country. In recent years, large numbers of the Senufo have moved to the southern and central regions, where they more readily find employment or fields to cultivate.
Religion - Cote d'Ivoire's constitution provides for religious freedom, and Ivoirians use that freedom to hold a wide variety of religious beliefs. About 63 percent of the people follow traditional African religions. Muslims comprise 25 percent of the total population, although that figure is twice as high in Abidjan. The remaining 12 percent of the nation's inhabitants are Protestant or Roman Catholic. Many Ivoirians mix their traditional religion with Islam and Christianity.
A secret society known as the Poro is still active in many Senufo villages. The Poro perpetuates the belief that spiritsdwell in the forest near the village and have power over evil. Villagers appease the spirits by leaving food at the edge of the "sacred forest," a grove of trees about the size of a city block. Here, select young men train to become villlage leaders by learning Senufo practices and ancestral dances.
Note: The information on this page came from CBInternational information brochures.
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