| Sylvester Togo, Africa |
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| I was born in a Christian family. My grand mother was a Missionary with the Bremen Mission. She would gather us every night; teach us biblical stories, Christian hymns and Psalms. I grew up loving God. The Lord started dealing with me when I was seventeen. The hunger I had for Him since my childhood brought me to go to Catechism and to receive my confirmation. Then after that I started helping in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church as a Sunday school teacher. I started taking Bible Correspondence courses from France, in which I was doing very well. At the same time I started having my personal devotional time. But I didn�t know that I needed to give my life to Christ. In reality no one had told me about it. Then one Wednesday afternoon I went to the Church Bible studies and I met a man for the first time in my life and he asked me the question if I have given my life to Christ (he used the term if I was born again). I told him that I didn�t know what that mean. And he explained to me that all the good works we do would not save us, only through Jesus can we be saved. I needed to put the situations of my sins right through the blood of Jesus Christ and invite him into my life. It was like Peter speaking to Cornelius. The next Saturday, it was in February 1983, in his house, I knelt down before his bed and confess my sins and gave my life to Christ. Since then I have seen how God manifested himself in my life. He started using me more in the children ministry, then in youth group as leader of Bible Study groups, Coordinator of Prayer Cells in the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES). Finally, He opened the opportunity for me to be trained in the West Africa Advanced School of Theology (WAAST), where I did my Bachelor in Theology in 1997. Then He led me to continue my training and in 1999 I received my Master of Arts in Missions. At the same time he was leading in growing in leadership position. He made me an Associate Pastor of the Third biggest church in Togo (West Africa). He opened the door for me to work from 1995-1999 as a broadcaster in the First Christian Radio of Togo and finally in February 2000 I became the General Director of the same radio to His glory. Alongside of this fruitful ministerial opportunities that he alone gave me, He opened the door for me so that I can be a part time teacher in one of the Bible Colleges in Lome the Capital city of Togo and in the Laymen Training Center. My name is Josephine Natani Hannani. I was born in north of Togo (West Africa) April 12, 1972. My father is a minister. Every morning he would gather us together for the family devotion. During one of those devotional times my father explained to us about the need to give our life to Jesus. He explained that even though we were his kids we needed to do it. That day I stood up before everybody and asked Jesus into my life. But I knew that it was not real. It was like I did it just to please my father. But a year later, when I was 12, I went to the youth meeting. That day the message was so vivid that we all prayed earnestly asking God to help us to live a good Christian life. After the meeting I felt deeply the presence of the Lord and I had deep conviction that I needed to pray more. When I went home, I knelt down beside my bed and I prayed more. I asked God to forgive my sins. Then I asked Jesus genuinely to come into my life and surrender my life to him entirely. From that day on I felt a deep peace and joy in my heart. I started praying and reading the Bible daily entrusting my life to Christ. The next year I went to baptismal class and was baptized. God led me gradually to serve in the youth group of my church, in the choir and finally as a children�s teacher in the children ministry. He also called me to ministry and while I was at the university I met Sylvestre. God let me know that he would be my future partner. And God made it possible and September 28, 1997 we were married. The Lord had started using me alongside my husband in the women's ministry in Togo, before we came to Dallas Theological Seminary to be further trained. THE VISION THE LORD HAS GIVEN US FOR TOGO (WEST AFRICA) Biblical Foundations: Our vision is to train faithful men unto ministry and to teach the word of God to God�s people in our country and in Africa (Luke 12: 42-48; 1Co. 4: 1-2; 1Tim. 4: 12-16; 2Tim. 2: 1-2; 2Tim. 2: 15). Three years ago the Lord started dealing with me on how He wants me to serve Him in His Church. Then gradually He convinced me through these biblical passages on different occasions. I am from the Mina tribe of Togo. This tribe is a difficult tribe to reach by the gospel in Togo. The place is very poor and the Church does not have enough resources to take care of its ministers and to train them. Practical Implementations: My wife and I, we believe that it is only through training local pastors, enhancing and sending indigenous missionaries that the church would have a great growth, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Second we believe that the new indigenous missionaries force in Togo must target all the unreached people groups in Togo. Third we believe that only true micro-projects that the church can be self-sufficient. This is our vision for the future of the work in Togo. The Lord has started to fulfill the first part in providing us with further training in Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) in the Th.M. program. The Church in Togo has helped us with some support, but the economic situation is very difficult in Togo. The support of the church has been cut due to lack of funds. I am working on campus to try to save some money for next year to cover my living expenses. But we still need a financial support of $600 before we can meet our monthly budget of $1,400. May God bless you for everything you will do for the advancement of his work in our life and in our country. Togo needs you! This is our address: Pastor Sylvestre and Josephine Bruce 4012 SWISS AVE. APT. 208 B Dallas, TX 75204 Phone: 214 823 0793 Email: [email protected] |