Greensboro (GA) FUMC in Togo West Africa
A group of six from Trinity on the Hill UMC in Augusta and Rev. Scott Parrish of The First United Methodist Church of Greensboro were in Togo ,West Africa, March 3-13, 2006. Dr. Gary Billingsley, pediatrician and team leader; Phil Jones, professional photographer with Medical College of Georgia; Cab Stitt, business owner and entrepreneur; Henry Toole, videographer with 20 years experience with Trinity’s TV ministry; plus the missionary couple Esaho and Beatrice Kipuke; and Scott as a clergy representative composed the adventurous team. The goal of the trip was to visit throughout the country and assess the possibility of establishing the Kipukes as missionaries in Togo.
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posted by UMVIM at 4:55 AM
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Rev. Esaho and Beatrice Kipuke are natives of Congo though they are now naturalized U.S. citizens. Their dream is to start churches in the largely unevangelized northern part of the country and to establish The United Methodist Church in the region. The British Methodists first established work in Togo in 1842, but under their leadership, and now under Togolese Methodist leadership the work has always remained on the coast around the capital city of Lome and never ventured into the north where traditional religion and Muslim belief predominates. For the last year the Kipukes have visited Togo a number of times and have established 17 lay evangelists from the Togo Methodist Church in cities and bush villages throughout central and northern Togo.
Togo is not your typical tourist destination. In the mid 1990s figures show more than 60% of Togolese were living below the poverty line and that almost 30% of the population die before age 40. Togo has little industry, is primarily agrarian and roadside/small stand marketplace economy. 65% of the population practices subsistence agriculture. It is a labor intensive culture and a survival sort of society where each day is spent in finding food or making a little money for present needs. The average income is $270 (U.S. dollars) a year. In addition to the economic realities there are significant political issues as one finds in most of Africa. There are 40 different ethnic groups (maybe you think of them as tribal groups) in Togo. Add to this picture that March is their dry, hot season and you can imagine what the team experienced. Temperatures each day were at or above 100 F. and cooled to 82-85 at night.
The mission team visited the majority of the 17 lay evangelists and were awestruck by the life on the frontier these evangelists are living as they are in predominantly Muslim and animist locations (voodoo culture with idols, witch doctors, and a traditional religion which influences everything!). It was a powerful reminder of the early days of Methodism as common people responded to the call of God and gave up much to go share the gospel. In place since last summer, these evangelists have already grown churches ranging from 15-50 in number! Also, one independent pastor in Kara (major city in the north) requested to join the United Methodist effort and he would bring a congregation of 200, a radio ministry, a deaf school, and a strong following of young Togolese who trust his 8 year ministry in that town. Throughout our week we found many open doors due to the work of God and the diligence of the Kipukes as the prefect of the Kara province invited us to do what we wanted in his region, a local chief invited us to do as we would in his 6 villages, and both said they would give land for establishment of churches, schools, etc.
We experienced many incredible things! We saw that much money is being pumped into the region to build mosques and wells, and even heard that in some villages the mosque is buying up Bibles from the villagers which the desperately hungry people will sell. We heard that the population does not eat enough protein, and that even children aren’t given eggs because of an old proverb which says: “You can’t feed children eggs or they will become thieves.” While women wore clothing in the south we asked why women didn’t wear tops in one northern village and were told: “Why would I put a shirt on a goat?” We saw that every family must pay for the education of their children who would walk 7-8 miles one way in order to attend school. We were overwhelmed by the needs! In addition to giving away clothes, sharing finances with the 17 mission outposts, and assessing the possibilities we also did a one day medical clinic.
We visited in the village of Aklakou where we saw their rock idol with a sacrifice burning in front of it. At this village, as we left town on the dirt road we saw a Roman Catholic crucifix that had been moved just outside the town limits because the villagers said it had brought them bad luck when positioned inside the village!
In a nearby town we saw a young women’s training center which taught girls who had dropped out of school a trade. Here we found girls learning to sew on treadle type machines, met some who were learning to tie dye material, and others learning how to make soap to sell. At this stop we also met a handicapped girl who must travel by tricycle and who has no use of her legs. As she saw us coming she “walked” with her hands supporting her body and hid in a side room. Before we left it was decided to purchase her a more reliable, suitable form of transportation which would give her both dignity and ability to move without requiring her to hide from people.
The team experienced many astounding visits to lay evangelists who live in very modest one or two room huts or shacks. Some lived in 100% Muslim towns, some in remote villages ruled by a chief, and many in indescribable poverty. They often only had a straw bedroll, a pot and pan, and a Bible in their home. A few lucky ones would also have a bicycle for transportation. At one stop in the town of Sokode the evangelist offered us a prayer and then gave the team peanuts and bananas he had just bought for himself. These men and women of God have little but give much! We purchased a dozen bicycles and two motorcycles in order to enhance their effectiveness.
Toward the end of our time in Togo the U.S. team and a delegation from Lome composed of the Togo Methodists met with the prefect (top government official) of the Kara province. Late in the conversation the top administrator for the prefect posed a question to the Togo Methodists leaders as he asked, “What took you so long to get here?” Though the question was addressed to the late arriving (164 years late) Methodists I could not help but think about my responsibility to neighbors who live in the remote parts of the world. Our time in Togo is already proving to be a life changing encounter which has made us more aware of the needs of the world, and more aware of the ways God uses us to be a blessing in this world.
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