Togo is a small, narrow country running north to south in West Africa. It is sandwiched between Ghana to the west and Benin to the east, and has about 50 miles of coastline on the Gulf of Guinea off the Atlantic Ocean. Many of its population of just over 6 million speak French, but there are also many tribal languages spoken. Lomé, with almost one fourth of the total population, is the capital of this very poor country, which is under a corrupt, military regime where the average weekly wage per person is only $6 US. Life expectancy is only 55 yrs and outside the main cities, tribal life and subsistence farming have changed little and there are still many people who have never heard the Gospel. Idol worship is predominant in many tribal villages yet many people are hungry to hear the Gospel. Here Pastor Sika and a village chief are standing behind the local village idol.
Pastor Sika Yawo
In mid-2007 we began developing a relationship with Pastor Azankpé Yawo Géorges Sika of Prisons and Orphanages Ministry, based in Bé-Lomé, Togo. Pastor Sika is seen here with his wife, Lucie, and their four young sons. He and his well-organized ministry team swiftly recognized the importance of training children to follow Christ, so that they could escape the traps of the enemy to lead them to waste their life, often ending up in prison. His ministry also extends to schools and villages in the interior of Togo where tribal beliefs are strong and churches rare. Pastor Sika saw the value of our teaching materials and has already translated many of them into French for wider use. We are excited to see how God is enabling us to work together to develop more resources to help both in Togo and other French-speaking African countries such as Benin and Burkina Faso.
Development of ministry
Prisons, Orphanages and Children's Ministry
This is a photo of the directors of the Prisons, Orphanages and Children's Ministry (POCM) on one of their trips into a local prison. For a number of years now, regular visits have been made into prisons and orphanages, and since Shirley's visit in June 2008 a new emphasis on children's ministry has also been added. With the translation of our materials into French and the faithful help of several of the team, a number of seminars to train children's ministers in various churches in Lomé have been taught. Children's ministry has been almost unheard of in Togo, but those teaching the seminars have already had remarkable response and interest from several different denominations and church groups. Over the past year or so in particular, POCM has become a well-recognized ministry in Lomé and has linked up with several important national and even international ministries.
Areas of ministry
Ministry trip June 2008
From June 11th - 27th Shirley made her first ministry visit to Togo, and it was truly an unforgettable trip in so many ways, where she saw God move and touch many lives. During the week or so in Lomé, Shirley taught a children’s ministry seminar on four nights with around 150 in attendance; ministered in three churches, two schools, an orphanage and four prisons. Other engagements had to be cancelled because it just takes so long to get around the city, especially in rainy season where navigating the huge potholes and flooded streets means a maximum speed of 3-4 mph!
Ministry
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