HE HELPED THE WORK GROW

About this time Blaise Bley, who worked at the airport in Abidjan, received a copy of the French Watchtower. Liking what he read, he wrote for further information. Finally, Brother Paterson received his address and contacted him. A Bible study was started, and in March 1959 Blaise was among the 20 delegates from Ivory Coast who journeyed to Kumasi, Ghana, to attend the Divine Will assembly. What a thrill it was for him to be in the crowd of 13,754 persons who received counsel and encouragement from God’s Word!

Since Blaise lived in the Abidjan suburb of Port-Bouët, about 6 miles (10 km) from where the meetings were held, it was difficult for him to attend three times a week. So Brother Bley gathered together other interested persons living in his area and arranged regular meetings for them there. Thus the nucleus of the Port-Bouët congregation was formed.

[Picture on page 160]

Blaise Bley, working at the Abidjan airport, received a French “Watchtower,” liked what he read, and eventually became a baptized believer