New District and Four New Branches Created in Benin

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On 31 March, the Easter celebration day, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held a special conference in Bohicon, Benin to create a new district and four new branches.  President Kelly Lundeen, mission leader of the Cotonou Benin Mission, presided over the creation of the new Bohicon District and new branches in Semé, Tchaorou, Dassa-Zoumé, and Parakou.  He was assisted by his two counselors, Comlan Amegandji and Modeste Kpadonou.

The Conference was held at the Hôtel des Princes in Bohicon, which had been prepared to host the event.  Members of the Church and friends from the five new branches were joined by members of the two stakes in Cotonou to witness this historic event.

Iwikotan Donatien Camille was called as the President of the Bohicon District.  His counselors are Spencer James and Koussemou K. S. Charlemagne. 

The new district represents the tremendous growth of The Church of Jesus Christ in Benin and is also the first established district/stake outside of Cotonou.

The first branch was established in Bohicon in 2019 by Elder Martin Goury, an Area Seventy who presided over the Cotonou Benin Mission at that time.  The branch consisted of 15 members, some who had been baptized in Cotonou and a family from Canada.  Gregory Van Duyse was called as the first branch president.

Missionaries were sent to the area and the number of branch members increased to 61 within a year.  After the short stay of the Van Duyse family, Donatien Iwikotan was called as the second branch president.  Within four years the membership of the branch had grown to 420, with groups created in Dassa-Zoumé, Semé, Tchaorou, and Parakou.  The area then qualified to be made a district.

“We pay tribute to the valiant leaders who motivated the growth of the Church.  Today we are celebrating the birth of the District of Bohicon, which is not an end, but a new beginning,” said President Donatien Iwikotan.

President Lundeen explained that the creation of the new district was done under the authority of the priesthood. “It is by the power of the priesthood that the Lord’s work advances among his children.”

Mission presidency counselor, Modeste Kpadonou spoke on the resurrection of the living Christ.  “His atonement enables God’s children to share in His kingdom if they follow in His footsteps and repent.”

Called as President of the Bohicon Branch was Moutouama K. Théophile, with Sankama Samuel and Degnon J. Urbain as counselors.  Agbognihoue Aubin Manonfi is the President of the new Semé branch, with Ahomahou Kely Fleur and Aza Marcel Rodéo as counselors.

Agbotome Gédéo Jaurés was called as the President of the new Dassa-Zoumé branch with Ahouade Nôel as his counselor.  In the Parakou branch, Cataria Ulrich Geoffroy was called as President and Lamboni D. Jonas was called as counselor.  Alain K. Azondofi is the President of the new Tchaorou branch with Gbenou François as his counselor.

Bohicon is located 130 km from Cotonou, with a population of 40,000.  According to Sister Innocencia Hougnon, Church history specialist in Benin and a citizen of Bohicon, the growth of the Church in this area is not an accident. “Bohicon has a great history based on the testimony of Jesus Christ and His work.  The members here truly believe in the atonement of Jesus Christ and His power to heal.  Friendship and fraternity reign amongst the members.”

Currently there are missionaries assigned to all the branches in the new district. “It’s only going to grow,” said Spencer James, called as first counselor in the district presidency.  “In Benin there is little religious tension.  Religious leaders are held in high esteem and so the people listen to and respect our missionaries.”