Raphaël Edou, Minister of Decentralization and Local Government in the West African country of Benin, spoke at a Mennonite Mission Network reception held in his honor on May 10. To his left is Lynda Hollinger-Janzen, who worked alongside Edou from 1993 – 2000 while she served with Mission Network in Benin for 15 years.
Just after graduating from the National University of Benin in 1993, Edou was chosen to lead a community health program on behalf of Bethesda Health Center, an initiative of a Beninese ecumenical council and Mennonite Board of Missions, a predecessor agency of Mennonite Mission Network. Through Edou’s visionary administration, the community health program grew from a grant of $40 to a multi-million-dollar enterprise that includes community development training, a health insurance agency, and a community bank. The garbage collection and recycling component of the program that began in Cotonou, Benin’s largest city, has been replicated in all the nation’s urban areas and throughout the West African region. Two years ago, Edou was appointed by Benin’s president, Thomas Yayi Boni, to head up the national effort to move more decision-making power to local levels.
Edou thanked the audience of about 40 current and former Mission Network personnel and members of congregations who have participated in partnerships with Benin.
“You are some of the people who have been praying for mission in Africa for 20 years and more,” Edou said. “Did you ever dream that one day your prayers would influence the national government of Benin? Or, the monetary gifts you gave, could you have imagined the far-reaching impact of these gifts?”
Edou views his influence at the national level as a God-given opportunity to share his Christian testimony as he works for transparency and good leadership in local communities.
“Because I have come from a village, I know that public officials have difficulty aligning themselves with community needs. There is a huge gulf between government leaders and people operating at a grassroots level. We have to bridge that gulf.”
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact news@mennonitemission.net.
