AFM missionaries working in countries unfriendly to evangelism have to use creative and discreet methods to share their faith. Though Benin doesn’t have laws against Christian outreach, missionaries working among Muslims here still encounter complex challenges that require tact and discretion.

Many problems arise from the fact that Islam itself is very mission-oriented. Muslim missionary activity has been especially successful here in Kandi. The Tijaniyah, a proselytizing order of Islamic Sufi mystics widespread in northern and western Africa and the Sudan, has established a strong presence here.

When we arrived in Kandi in 2006, many people were very inquisitive and wary of our Christian presence in their community. Our early efforts to keep a low profile were useless. My passport indicates that I am a pastor, and postal workers processing our mail soon discovered this and spread the news. At first, I was unhappy about this development. I thought it would stir up prejudice against us and affect our language and culture study. The mere fact that we were Christians was already a problem in this strongly Muslim community.

Though at first it exposed us to the attacks of extreme groups in our small town, we thank God today for using people’s knowledge of my occupation to give us opportunities to move on with our outreach strategy without transition. Despite my efforts to be know just as Mr. Badé, people call me Pastor. Even the head Imam calls me Pastor as he welcomes me when I visit. Though I tried to avoid it at first, the label of Pastor has brought me respect and consideration among educated Dendi people and drawn Christians from other groups in town to seek my pastoral care.
Recently, during a prolonged meeting after a Sunday soccer game, I had an opportunity to explain why I was not in a hurry to go to church that Sunday morning. I was glad for the chance to highlight the riches of my spiritual heritage. We clearly see that God’s time for the Dendis is at hand. Thanks for your prayers.

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