Togo Christian Mission Oct 2014 Update – Back to School
BACK TO SCHOOL
YEAR TWO of our Christian school began at the end of September, and the first month has flown by! We are excited to have 154 students in grades 1-6 this year. They look like the beginning of a small army for God!
We are so thankful to be able to reach out to many children in our community. The school enables people like Julieno to have his children learn to speak English and French, changing their futures. It helps Sika, a local church member who carries a heavy load of medicine on her head to sell each day, to send her daughter Sara to school to learn to read and write. But most importantly, the children are hearing the gospel! They are learning about Christ! They are developing Christian character. They have teachers and supervisors who care for them physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Character development may not sound like a big deal, but we must remember what these children are exposed to daily. After school some will walk home, passing idol sacrifices, where neighbors, friends, or family members participate in satanic worship for what they believe will protect their families and crops. When they fall asleep at night, they will be awoken at midnight to the sound of drums from idol ceremonies. There is a spiritual war, and these children on the battle lines. When we travel to nearby villages, we see children, as young as 8 or 9, serving as idol priests, offering sacrifices and participating in satanic rituals. This darkness pains the heart of God.
Please pray for the LIGHT to shine through this school to change lives, the lives of students and their parents. Some of the children are Christians but not all, nor are all their parents Christians. Pray that we would teach and act in ways that would lead them to follow Christ. Also, please pray for financial provision. Our number of students has almost doubled this year, and we are in desperate need of student sponsors. This school exists because of our student sponsorship program. It only takes $25/month to sponsor a child, and it makes a lifetime of difference. We are in need of 80 more student sponsors. Learn more and sign up at http://togochristianmission.org/ Finally, pray for these children to be the ones that will change for Christ to Togo.
STORYING
Hammer and Dovene have been meeting with local Church leaders, and asking Church members what the Church is doing well and areas where we can improve. We wanted to discuss how we can further Church planting in our local communities. As a part of this process, we have been able to introduce “STORYING”, a concept where more people can be equipped in sharing the gospel. This method has worked well in many other countries that struggle with illiteracy, and we are excited to use it in Togo.
Through “STORYING” one person reads a Bible story to a small group, then has each group member retell the story back in their own words. When the group members retell the story, both the leader and the group members make sure it remains true to the original, then the leader asks factual and discovery questions. As they go out, group members are challenged to share the story with someone else. The following week when they meet again to discusses who they shared with and how it was received. “STORYING” allows for more rapid Church planting, as little more is needed than a Bible and people willing to listen and participate.
We started “STORYING” in Church during October. The first story told how the Bible came to exist. We discussed God’s desire to be close to mankind after being separated by sin, and how the Word is a way that He is drawing nearer to us. We told how God moved in 40 different men through His spirit to write His words so that everyone can know God and so much more. It was such an encouragement to the Church, because many people believe the Bible was written by the “white man”, as it was white men who colonized Togo and originally brought the Bible to this area. What a joy that they can now share the truth, that the Bible was written in several different countries, by several different men who were all carried along by the Spirit. The Church practiced this story several times and is prepared to share it with those they meet. We look forward to “STORYING” with scripture very soon.
Prayer Points:
Thanksgiving:
for the “STORYING” being so well received by our leaders and Church
for the successful beginning of a new school year
for Dovene, Sara, and Nathan being able to move into their rental house and start on various ministry projects
for Hammer celebrating his birthday Oct. 25th! What a blessing he has been to this mission. We are so thankful for the vision God laid on his heart.
Requests:
pray for Brittany Creasy, who is raising support and preparing to come work full time in Togo in February 2015
pray for those affected by the Ebola outbreak, that the Lord would help it to stop spreading
pray that “STORYING” would reach many for Christ and that both local leaders and Church members would catch the vision
pray for our village Churches…a man who used to be part of the mission is trying to cause division and confusion in some of our village Church plants. Pray that unity and truth would shine here.
pray for all leaders that God would guide us and help us to be effective and shine for Him.
Prayers for the upcoming school year. Pray the registration process goes well and for God’s provision to be able to expand to 6th grade this upcoming year, so that those who were in 5th grade last year can finish out their elementary education with us. We are in need of $4000 to complete the construction of our 6th grade classroom.
We need some more of YOUR prayer requests please! Please keep us updated on what is going on with you so we can be partnering with you in prayer! Send your requests to us at: togochristianmission@gmail.com We love being your partners in ministry!
Togo Christian Mission: Outreach International of Togo West Africa
To Support Togo Christian Mission: Please send checks written out to “Outreach International” with “TCM” written in the memo. If you have a specific project you would like to donate towards please be sure to include this as well.
Checks may be mailed to:
Outreach International PO Box 272 Shelbyville, MO 63469
