Lossa Church

Lisa, Owi and I drove my vehicle off the main road, down a steep embank- ment then crossed over several ditches on the twisting dirt road before we finally started up another bank for the village church’s property. Cresting on a hill we put the vehicle into park and prayed for a moment. It’s was our fourth week at Lossa and we were out on visitation. We disembarked the vehicle and looked out across the vast remoteness and started towards a near by mountain looking for anyone to talk to along the way. Our first group was some masons working on a house. They took a moment from their work and patiently listened as the gospel was presented. We handed them copies of the books of John and Romans then gave them a few tracts to look through along with an invitation to join with us the next day.

Looking forward we moved from hut to hut, house to house, and from field to field witnessing to folks along the way. Our final stop brought us to a collection of houses typically arranged in round shaped groupings. With the advent of White people, the village folk started come out from all over to listen to what we wanted to share with them. It was amazing to see how patient the people are and receptive to the Word of God!

Sunday morning we took the same twisted rock covered road back up to the Church. Our Sunday School hour began at 7:30 and as I looked around I noticed that we had several new visitors with us. Lisa had been preparing and this weekend was her first lesson in a newly formed Children’s program. As the children departed and I was left with the adults I noticed a sweet little elderly lady that we had talked with in that last grouping of houses just the day before. After the service we began to talk (through a translator—French into Kabiye) and I found out that she was a believer but hadn’t found a church yet. It encouraged her to continue coming and to be faithful to the Lord.

The little village work out in Lossa is such a blessing and it’s always a blessing to meet with fellow Christians and to see their hearts. They may be without a lot—in American standards, but they have so much from the Christian perspective.

Easter Sunday in Togo

Hesitating and looking around I cautiously entered the unfamiliar waters. Having been reassured there weren’t any alligators in this particular lake I chose still to wade out watchfully.

As the twenty-thirty of us gathered on the shores of this lake at eight A.M., we had sung and prepared for the baptismal service. Each of the ten folks to be baptized paused and took a moment to reflect on the Salvation that God had brought to their lives. It was interesting to listen to them each, as it was in Moba, I need to wait till it was translated into French before I fully understood. Yet, it was awesome to be reminded that God never needs a translator that no matter what language we speak, God understands us perfectly!

One by one the men, women and young people filed down into the waters that are often used to bath in or draw water from. As they shuffled through the waters and came near, all reflected on their parting words from the shore. They had accepted Christ and in so were now ready to follow Him in this next step, a sign that they are true believers and a public profession that they are willing for all to know of their decision. Each one came to me and with each one I had the privilege of baptizing. It was truly and honor.

From the lakeside service, we drove our two vehicles back to the church which was a mere six kilometers away, and held services. Randy had reminded me that many Togolese have the misconception that once they have been baptized there isn’t a need to follow Christ, to grow as a Christian or continue attending church. With this insight, I preached out of John 15—“Abiding” in Christ and “bringing forth fruit.”

The trip was extremely enjoyable and profitable. I had the wonderful company of the Shanks family, and Lisa. The day before Easter, we all spent a bit of time with Pastor Sopa and a village work of his. We were reacquainted with the elderly Christian village chief and had the opportunity to mingle with the folks before heading back to Dapaong and eventually to Pastor Joel’s church for the Easter morning services, the next day.