Togo Pt. 2
When CIM’s Executive Director, Pastor Isaac Quan, asked me to report on my last trip to have it as our April update, I was about to ask: why are we reporting now on something that happened almost 5 months ago? However, I agreed because I quickly realized that I told you about taking the trip in our October newsletter. So, I will now share with you about how during the trip the Lord Jesus had once again proved to me his faithfulness and lordship over my life, as well as all circumstances I had been through.
Whether there are STM teams or not, I usually go at least twice a year to assist our Togo partner church for the training of the students at our church planters’ school. As the COVID-19 pandemic forced CIM to put on hold all its STM trips last year, I thought it would be impossible for me to go. The pandemic, which became a worldwide problem just 3 or 4 months after I left the church in February 2020, had also disrupted my regular communication with the church that a personal visit to the church seemed necessary and the only solution for me, as well. I had therefore been praying for an opening for me to go, as the government of Canada was discouraging us from planning nonessential trips out of the country.
At that time, I didn’t know whether a STM trip was considered an essential trip, but I got the assurance from the Lord that I should go. So, when it became possible for us to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, I saw that as the open door from the Lord for me to take the trip. I was fully sure that the Lord would protect me, not only from the virus, but also from anything that would hinder my ministry since He was the one sending me. That was my prayer, too. I was also praying that by the Lord’s sufficient grace I would overcome any disruption that comes on my way and carry out whatever plans the Lord was wanting to fulfill through me.
Called, But Not Test-Free
About one month before I took the trip, I got a message from the leaders of our partner church in Togo, telling me that their government would soon require the churches to close for a long time, due to the rising number of the people infected by COVID-19 in the country. If this were to happen, all my training sessions with them and Sunday services would be affected, and the purpose of my trip would be doomed. The leaders therefore advised me to postpone my visit to a later date. The Lord kept me from taking their advice though, as my health was like declining. I had been coping with a plantar fasciitis at that time, then a high and fluctuating blood pressure, probably caused by my second COVID-19 shot, also began. In short, I wasn’t doing well.
5 days before I took off, I got an email from Air France customer service informing me that I couldn’t travel with my passport which was expiring on Dec 28 of last year. Yet, that was the one I used to book my air ticket without being told that I must renew it to take the flight. The Lord continued to keep my faith strong so, the next day I asked for a two-business day renewal service to get my new passport. As well, I was able to tell the leaders of the church that the Lord would surely open doors for us to do whatever works He had in plan for us. The closing of the churches became effective two weeks before my departure and was supposed to last for at least one month. With that, I only had about 10 days to meet up with the church and the leaders for whatever works we were to do together. However, thanks to God, the imposed lockdown to the churches was lifted one week earlier. Thus, I got more time with the church to conduct homes’ visitations and evangelism, leadership training and sharing sessions.
Truly, our God is faithful, and I had sensed His guidance through the entire trip, including its preparation. Though there were many unexpected circumstances on the way, His faithfulness kept me going. The Lord protected me during the trip, and I didn’t catch the coronavirus, or flu. It’s two months after I came back home that I however came under a flu or omicron virus’ attack. My condition wasn’t too bad, but it took me long time (almost one month) to recover. I thanked God who healed me. As before, once again the Lord showed me that I should never rely on myself or on any man or anything for my safety, not matter how reliable these could appear in my eyes. My comfort zone—my refuge—and my safety are in Jesus, and in Him alone.
I also saw the Lord’s faithfulness and compassion in His answer to our prayers. About three years ago, we visited a woman whose home is just few meters from a EGCT church’s building but had never attended the church. The church leader and I shared the Gospel with her and encouraged her to start attending the church. We also prayed for her need to conceive children. Before I met her, she had experienced several miscarriages and had almost lost hope that she could conceive. However, since that visit, the Lord has been gracious to her. She has now become a believer and a mom to twin girls. We should therefore, never give up but continue to trust in the Lord until He tells us otherwise. He has promised us so, He will answer our prayers in His own time.
The Trip’s Benefits To The Ministry
The trip had offered me an opportunity not only to see my faith tested and the faithfulness of God through the way He guided me, but it was also good for the ministry. Through my commitment to taking the trip no matter what, it had showed the church, especially the leaders, how the love of God can or should press us to be willing to suffer for the sake of Christ’s church and the lost. As well, during my visit I realized that brothers and sisters had lost their zeal for evangelism during their government-imposed lockdowns. Even after the lockdowns had been lifted, they were still not taking the Gospel to the lost in their communities. So, as we used to go door-to-door to evangelize people every time I visit the church, whether alone or with a STM team, this time too, they had no choice but to team up with me to do the same. Thus, their boldness and zeal for the sharing of the Good News was rekindled. And even after I left the church, they have continued to reach out to the lost. This reminded of this teaching from the Bible that says:
We need each other to fulfill our spiritual growth and The Great Commission of the Lord. Whether we are near or distant from the other members of His Body, it’s the Lord’s will that we join our hearts and resources together to strengthen and expand the Lord’s kingdom on earth. And this cooperation is even more needed at this time when the pandemic has weakened the economy of most countries in the world and made the poor even poorer and vulnerable than ever before.
As we know, the COVID-19 pandemic has also taken a toll on missions works everywhere. It has made things harder than before for our Togolese brothers, who were already living in survival mode before the pandemic. Most goods’ price in the country has doubled. Some of them have even become rare to find in the markets. And it’s in this situation that our brothers are called to financially give to support their church’s mission projects. At the same time, the church is struggling to help their own members who are in dire financial situations. Therefore, since the beginning of the pandemic, the church has been lacking the necessary funds to continue carrying out mission projects. Please pray for them. Any financial support on their behalf will also be greatly appreciated.
As well, if the Lord puts in your heart to join a CIM missions trip to go and support our brothers and sisters physically, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! The church there has continued to meet in-person since October of last year when the last lockdown was lifted. However, there has been no record of coronavirus outbreak within the church so far. We praise the Lord for that, though the virus shouldn’t dictate when we should obey the Lord’s command. If travel requirements continue to ease this year, we also will resume our STM trips. Please pray about this need, too. Thanks!
Pastor Matthieu Ayena
Togo Ministry Director
March Financials
1. General Fund - for general and administrative purposes, such as staff salaries
2. Designated Fund - for specific ministries in different field locations as designated (cannot be transferred between funds)
*All financial figures are in Canadian dollars and rounded to the nearest dollar
Pray With Us
1. Please continue to pray for peace in Ukraine.
2. Pray for those that are grieving the loss of parents within the CIM family.
3. Pray that during the Easter season, people will come to know the Lord as their personal Saviour.