Togo

After years of ministry, Pastor Kouami has learned an important lesson: When opportunity knocks fling the door open! It’s often the Holy Spirit delivering just what you need, when you need it most.

Pastor Kouami first experienced this as a child growing up in Africa. His family was not Christian, but clung to animistic beliefs that everything from rocks to plants to animals had a spirit. In fact, his grandparents were both respected witch doctors in their village. But when his uncle visited from the city, hoping to have his failing eyesight restored, God cracked open a door that brought young Pastor Kouami to a vibrant relationship with Him.

“My grandfather wasn’t able to heal my uncle’s eyesight,” Pastor Kouami recalls. “Butaman in the village was preaching the Gospel and my uncle was saved. He became a Pastor and led me to Christ.”

Pastor Kouami’s grandfather proved harder to reach, but his grandmother accepted Christ as her Lord and saviour at the age of 97!

Opportunities through daily food

Today, as a minister in Togo, Pastor Kouami sees many opportunities for bringing more souls to Christ, especially through his partnership with Feed The Hungry in our Every Child, Every Day programme.

The children who come to eat go home and share what they have learned about Jesus Christ. Pastor Kouami reports that many mothers come to church, but not their husbands.

“There is a relationship between Muslims and Christians, but we don’t have fellowship with them yet”, he says. “But I have Muslim friends, and I build a bridge to draw them to Christ.”

Feeding more hungry people

Pastor Kouami tells us he plans to open another food distribution centre in northern Togo, which is primarily Muslim. He prays for further growth of the Every Child, Every Day programme in the coming months – and he will be ready to open the door to that opportunity.

“I would like to send food to Ghana and Benin, if possible. It would make a lot of difference. A lot of people would be nourished. If we can triple it, praise God!”