Togo 2004
James lives in Kalona, Iowa, in a small house (shown above with goldenrod in bloom) which he designed and built seven years ago, situated on about three acres of former farmland which are being rehabilitated into a native prairie and woodlands, bisected by a small creek. He is a member of Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church, where he occasionally preaches and often teaches Sunday School. 17 years of experience in sound reinforcement are another result of his involvement at church! In his spare time, he loves reading, worshipping, working in his yard, hiking, mountain-biking and photography. His favorite foods are fried-chicken, homemade noodles, french-silk pie, almost anything with enough chocolate in it, cinnamon rolls, burritos, pizza, and ice cream. He loves philosophical discussions, or talking about sound systems, or almost any other topic, so be sure to visit with him!
One of the highlights of my time in Togo in 2003 was working with a local pastor who had a real heart for reaching his country with the Gospel, so I was delighted when he invited me to join him for two weeks of crusades and teachings in the northern part of Togo. The two weeks flew by as we held three day crusades in two different villages.
The first village had no established evangelical church, and by the grace of God over a hundred villagers chose to follow Jesus Christ. We had a pastor ready to begin leading the new converts and were even able to help them construct a meeting place. It was a blessing to see their enthusiasm and joy even amid difficult situations!
The second village was a huge stronghold of idol worship, even attracting Americans and Europeans who offer sacrifices to the local gods. Amazingly, there was a small church here, led by a pastor who faced enormous opposition including death threats! It was a privilege to encourage him and double the size of his church.
We also did some radio teaching, teaching of some church leaders, and preached in several churches. I really enjoyed this chance to experience a bit more of life in Togo than was possible when based on the ship. Please remember the church leaders of Togo in your prayers as they labor in difficult situations to share the love of God for all people!
