After reading a brochure written in Arabic titled How to Know God, that he received during the visit of the UEEB (Union of Evangelical Churches of Benin) Mobile Book van, a Muslim man went to a local pastor’s house at 5:30 am and woke him up! He wanted to understand more about how to receive eternal life. The UEEB Mobile Book van had already left town for its next destination when this man gave his life to Christ. History of Literature Ministry in Benin The UEEB Mobile Book van called l’evangile pour tous (the Gospel for all) has been a common sight in the towns and villages of Benin. Ministry through literature has a strong heritage in this small French speaking country of 7 million people. SIM missionaries began it back in the 1970’s, and then the ministry was carried on by a UEEB pastor, Darius Kpetere. However, in recent years, the old Peugeot van has been idle. Lack of resources brought the ministry to a halt.

On the Road Again In 2004, after the chance meeting between pastor Darius and members of a Christian publishing house, the Book van ministry received a much-needed boost. They put their support behind an evangelistic campaign using Christian literature. From October 2005 to May 2006, the UEEB Mobile Book van hit the road again.

Pastor Darius did not live to see the ministry resume, as he fell ill and went on to be with the Lord in July, 2005. The new head of the UEEB Evanglical Library ministry, Zakari Bani, set a grueling program with more than 15 key towns to visit all over Benin.

In each town the team worked with the local UEEB church, giving training in door to door and literature evangelism. These folk would then put their new skills into practice as they worked with the Book van to bring God’s message right to people’s front doors!

Lives Changed

Zakari reported on God's work: “In Dassa, the son of a local witch doctor appeared next to the Book van with the plan to stir up trouble. He got more than he planned for when, after having the Gospel clearly explained to him, he decided to accept Christ!

“In Natitingou, we met a young man who was a fetisher (a devote follower of animism). He was listening to the Christian songs we were playing, which were in his own language, Ditammari. He was so touched by what he heard, that he immediately threw away the fetish objects he had on his person. Before he left, he bought a copy of the cassette!"

Planning for the Future Zakari is already in the planning stage of the next evangelistic campaign, an act of faith as available funds will not allow him to do more than a few necessary repairs to the Book van.

Zakari longs to return to touring with the Book van, getting Christian literature into people’s homes and God’s message into people’s hearts. Would you please pray that the Book van can get 'on the road again’?