• Ivory Coast
    1981 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

    • GILEAD GRADUATES ENTER

      In July 1951 Gabriel and Florence Paterson, graduates of Gilead’s 16th class, gained entry to the Ivory Coast, taking up residence with the Shooters. Gabriel, a native of the Gold Coast, years before had studied with Alfred Shooter, helping him to a knowledge of the truth. Their meeting in a foreign assignment was a reunion of great joy.

      Times were not easy for these young couples. Gabriel describes their accommodations:

      “On our arrival in Abidjan Alfred had made an extension of their one room with cardboard. He roofed it with tarred paper for a sleeping place for Florence and me. Under this paper-roofed shelter, we prepared our meals and ate together. When it rained we awoke as the water dripped in. We took shelter in a corner, making an effort not to disturb our hosts.”

      THE FIRST DISCIPLE

      Such trying conditions did not discourage the pioneers. Soon their activity bore real fruitage. Robert Markin, a man from the Gold Coast, saw a copy of “Let God Be True” in the office of a friend. He asked if he could borrow the book. Rather than part with it, his friend told him where the Patersons and Shooters lived.

      Robert immediately made his way down to the little house beside the lagoon. He obtained the book, and Brother Paterson went with him to his home where they studied for two hours. The next morning Gabriel invited Robert to go in field service to see how the witnessing work was accomplished. Thus, the first resident of Ivory Coast was on the road to becoming a witness of Jehovah. Robert Markin was baptized, along with two others, in Abidjan’s Gbobo lagoon in April 1952.

      Meetings were soon held in Robert’s home. To start with they were generally conducted in English, with translations into French, the Ghanian languages of Ewe and Twi, or one of the local languages, depending on who was present. At first the sole members of this budding group were foreigners to Ivory Coast, people from the Gold Coast, French Togoland and Dahomey. It was not until 1954 that some local Ivory Coast people were baptized.

      LEGAL ACTION AGAINST BROTHERS

      In the summer of 1952, after five persons had joined the pioneers in the preaching work, the brothers were reported to the police. Brother Paterson was arrested and his house was searched. It should be noted that none of the Society’s literature had received government approval. The European police superintendent said that he was sorry to have to take action, but since his men had found over 100 volumes of forbidden literature he would be forced to report the matter to the authorities. However, he took some of the books to read himself, and became a good friend of Brother Paterson.

      The brothers were called to trial at the nearby town of Grand Bassam, where the Supreme Court then was. They were charged with being in possession of forbidden literature and not having an “Alien’s Pass Card.”

      Alfred Baker, branch servant of the Gold Coast, came over to Ivory Coast and engaged a lawyer for the brothers. The lawyer argued the case very convincingly, but the Court upheld the government ruling: “No preaching or literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ivory Coast.” Brothers Paterson and Shooter were convicted and given suspended prison sentences ranging from one to six months. In addition, a fine of 5,000 francs was imposed.