About Us
Contact Information - CATA: Anyi Literacy, Translation, & Training - Attention: Kim Koffi
6527 Laurel Road, St. Cloud, MN 56303 - cataaltt@gmail.com
In the Beginning…
The CATA: Anyi Literacy, Translation, & Training was inspired in 1983 when Ettien Koffi heard a missionary from Australia speak at a local church in his home country of Cote d'Ivoire. During that service, Ettien realized a need, and like the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, he answered that call. His language, Anyi, had never been written down, so it did not have the Word of God. He decided to develop a writing system for Anyi and translate the New Testament into that language. In 2017, the Anyi New Testament was completed and dedicated in 3 counties of the Ivory Coast where 76 villages held adult Anyi literacy classes. Those 3 counties are Mbatto, Arrah, and Bongouanou. Years of education, hard work, generosity from friends, churches, and the faithfulness of God has led to this pivotal moment in the Anyi people’s history.
Preparation and Training…
When Ettien heard God's call in 1983 he was in his final year at Université Nationale de Côte d'Ivoire. He graduated with his B.A. in Linguistics in 1984, plus, he was awarded a master's degree in French Linguistics that same year. In 1985, Ettien moved to the United States to study more linguistics. Sponsored by two unrelated entities who believed in the vision and calling that Ettien was following, he enrolled at Indiana University to obtain his master’s degree. One sponsor was Linglestown United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania led by Reverend Charles Shearer, who later become a dear friend to Ettien until he died in 2014; and the other, Georgia Stewart, a schoolteacher and the mother of a pen pal, her daughter Joy Gregory, that later become like a sister to Ettien. He earned his M.A. in 1987. As he was working on his M.A., the United Bible Society approached him and offered to sponsor his PhD if he would also agree to work for them for at least 3 years. In 1990, he was awarded a PhD in linguistics from Indiana University, during which time he had also studied Biblical Hebrew. Following his time at Indiana, he spent one year at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA studying Greek, and other courses that would help him in his translation work. These years of study and initial orthography development were vital in Ettien's ability to complete his work with the Anyi language. He also spent 6 years working for the United Bible Society as a Bible translation consultant in Benin and Togo, two countries in West Africa.
New Testament Translation…
The work Ettien began in 1991 was put on pause during his six years of working for the United Bible Society as a consultant helping other indigenous language groups translate the Bible into their own languages. After those six years, he and his family moved back to the USA where he taught French and Spanish at Bethel for one year, taught French at Houghton College in New York for one year, and then, in 2000, settled at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota where he continues to teach linguistics courses. He uses his vacation breaks to steadfastly translate the New Testament into Anyi and to develop literacy materials for CATA so that others can learn to read and write in the language, and so teachers can train to teach in rural villages throughout the Anyi area of the Ivory Coast. A few churches, some generous individuals, and family members have financially and prayerfully supported these efforts. In 2017, the Anyi New Testament was made available to the Anyi people. Now, churches and individuals have access to the Word of God in their own language. The Gospel of Luke is used as a part of the literacy curriculum and in 2022-23, Ettien has been writing Christian daily devotionals using the Anyi New Testament as his source text. These devotionals are being broadcast to a listening audience of more than 500,000 people twice daily!
Literacy Work And The CATA Center
Yable Koffi, CATA+ Literacy Director
The Anyi literacy program began in 1997. Yable Koffi, Ettien's brother, was recruited to manage the program. He travels to remote villages using his motorcycle to introduce the Christian-based literacy program to the Anyi chiefs and church leaders. He coordinates teacher training seminars and all the school related programing and administration for CATA. He also oversees the various building campaigns. Without his hard work and dedicated service, the literacy program would not have gotten off the ground. Instead, his efforts and faithfulness have resulted in a program that has grown by leaps and bounds.
The program teaches people in rural communities to read and write in their native language of Anyi using Bible-based curriculum. By the year 2000, two villages were equipped to start literacy classes. The program has been successful as growth will soon outpace available resources. During the last 5 years from 2017-2022, the literacy program has had a consistent adult learner enrollment of about 4000 students.
CATA — The Facilities…
When the literacy program began, teachers traveled long distances to be trained in a rented space. Lodging was difficult to find for the teachers. This system was burdensome for all. Unreliable transportation prohibited growth. Because of these challenges, we sought our own permanent facility. We lost our first piece of property due to eminent domain. But then a large, lake-front property was found and purchased for the center. In 2008, Westwood Church sent a group to Cote d'Ivoire in order to lay the foundation.
In 2012, CATA became operational. CATA is the central hub for The Anyi Project's literacy program. The main building contains lodging and a cafeteria for the participants. The training courses take place outdoors underneath a large pavilion. In 2017, because of generous donors, we were able to complete a wall around the perimeter of the property allowing us to start a small sheep farm which helps to provide food for those teachers and church leaders who come to CATA for training. Then in 2021, additional housing was built to accommodate both men and women for both teacher training and discipleship training seminars.
CATA: Anyi Literacy, Translation, & Training becomes its own nonprofit…
Kim and Ettien Koffi
The CATA: Anyi Literacy, Translation, & Training became its own nonprofit in 2018 and raises funds for this educational program which has grown to consist of three main components- Bible translation, literacy development and Christian discipleship training. CATA+ is supported by a strong team of capable individuals. The ministry's founder, Ettien Koffi, directs the overall program and is the primary translator. He also leads various training sessions in the Ivory Coast annually. His wife Kim, partners with him to help with administrative work and fundraising efforts, and we are supported by a board which guides the vision and oversees the execution of the ministry. Ettien's brother, Yable, is the Literacy Director and Manager of CATA. He recruits and oversees new literacy teachers and coordinators for the literacy work, and manages all the buildings and personnel.
Abroise Koffi, the Manuscript Specialist, with his 2 daughters & his wife.
Ambroise, the youngest brother of the Koffi family, joined the team in 2000 and is the Manuscript Specialist. He has been instrumental in providing expertise in the printing, manuscript examination, and development of literacy materials. He has also been involved in the printing of the Anyi New Testament, and he will continue to develop materials in the Anyi language. Brou Kadjo was added to our team in 2023. He leads the discipleship training activities and is helping to develop the Anyi-French Dictionary and other discipleship materials. They all live in Bongouanou, the County Seat of the area, the largest city of the Anyi people in the Ivory Coast, which is also very close to the CATA Center. In 2023, CATA, Côte d’Ivoire was officially established as its own non-profit, too.
Christian Discipleship Training
Brou Kadjo
In May 2019, CATA partnered with Kingdom Quest to create a curriculum to train rural preachers and lay leaders. This discipleship training is based on 2 Timothy 2:2 which says, “What you have heard from me through many witnesses, entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.” Because many of these rural preachers and lay leaders do not have opportunities to go to Bible School, seminaries, or Christian conferences, we hope to fill in the gap. The first group of participants completed the 3-part program over 3 summers. Topics included Christian living principles for Marriage and the Family, Prayer, The Great Commission, Deliverance, Financial Responsibility, and more. In 2022, we invited Brou Kadjo to lead this lead this part of the ministry bringing this training to regions where CATA is teaching literacy classes.. This will make it easier for people to attend.
In 2022 Ettien has wrote numerous daily devotionals in Anyi using passages in the Bible as the source text. Twice each day, a select passage from the New Testament along with a short application and brief Q & A is broadcast to a listening audience of about 500,000 people! We are trusting in God’s declaration that says, “So shall My word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the things for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 NKJV.
Our vision is to develop additional Christian discipleship training programs and materials in the future, too, to help the Anyi people to grow in their faith and to become more like Jesus, spreading the Gospel according to the Great Commission described in Matthew 28-19-20 which says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Join us in making this vision happen!