Vincent Aguémon

Vincent Aguemon (b. 1951?) is a Beninese Bahá'í who has served the Faith as an active travel teacher, assistant to the Auxiliary Board, and assistant secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Benin.

Vincent became a Bahá'í in December 1973, and five months after declaring he undertook a teaching trip, visiting Douhomé and converting the village to the Faith and opening seven areas to the Faith. He later said of teaching:

"When I became a Bahá'í I was very happy. I wanted to tell everyone in Benin about the Faith, and so I began to teach right away. When I have teaching difficulties I am never sad, because I know God is always with me."

In March 1976 Vincent was named as assistant to the Auxiliary Board, with Frederic Hodonou being appointed the countries first Board member that year. Later in 1976 he undertook a teaching trip to Mono province where he met with the heads of several villages. One village head loaned him a motorcycle to allow him to travel more easily. During his trip in one village a Local Spiritual Assembly was formed, in another nine residents declared, and in another the principal of a public school declared.

In May 1976 he pioneered to Parakou in north Benin. A Local Spiritual Assembly had been established the previous year, but only three members remained active, and Vincent set about rejuvenating the community. The District Chief had banned Bahá'í meetings but after meeting with Vincent he granted the community permission to host feasts and by 1977 there were eighteen Bahá'ís in Parakou.

References

• Profile published in Bahá'í News, No. 573, pp 12-13. December 1978.