To me, following means being willing to experience a part of the suffering of Jesus. When I came to faith almost 25 years ago, I thought (like so many before and after me) that following means becoming like Jesus. To be able to do one's miracles, to heal others, to bless them, to do them good. But over the years I've realized that it's only possible if we're willing to suffer. Just like he suffered. The suffering, the disappointment, the pain are the elements that prepare us for the really important things. How can I comfort someone if I don't know what grief is? How can I support someone if I don't know what helplessness feels like? How can I fervently pray for someone to be healed when I have never been sick? How can I pray that someone who has turned away from God will find him again when I have always been close to him? And I've never felt the loss that comes with defiantly turning away from God. How can I be compassionate when I've never been in a similar situation myself? Succession! To walk his path means, first and foremost, for me, to feel part of his suffering. How can I offer comfort to someone who has experienced what it feels like to be betrayed if I haven't been betrayed myself? And how can I meet someone in love if I have not been met in love myself?
In the many years of my faith, I have been touched by so many lives and in turn have had the privilege of touching many lives. Sometimes short moments, as fast as the flapping of a butterfly's wings, and sometimes deep and impressive. I am grateful for the many people who have left their mark on my soul, and just as grateful that I was also allowed to leave their mark. We often do not see the true value of an encounter at the moment of the event, but looking back, I am always filled with deep gratitude. Walking with Jesus is something so unique that I lack the words to adequately express it. And yes, we reach out for the beautiful, but we can only appreciate it when we also know the ugliness of life.
It's the same with health, only illness shows us how inestimably valuable health is.
Don't run away from sorrow, but greet it like a good friend. For it is always the harbinger of joy.
James 1:2-3
“Dear brothers and sisters! Consider it a special reason for rejoicing when your faith is repeatedly sorely tested. You know that such trials make him firm and unshakable.”
Let us always stand up for our brothers and sisters in prayer, wherever they are, because there comes a time when we too need the prayer of others.
R.B.
Dark clouds in Togo
Her greatest passion: making disciples
Matthew 28:19
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
A couple in Togo, West Africa, gave up their good lives for God's calling. Although the future is not bright for Roger and Happy Abaya today, they will continue to serve Jesus faithfully.
Previous
Roger Abaya
Quelle: zVg
Familie Abaya
Quelle: zVg
Even as a child, Roger Abaya (*1972) dreamed of becoming a pastor. In Togo, his home country, the pastoral profession is considered a poor choice for looking after a family.
Giving up the "good life".
After studying law, Roger worked as a lawyer in an IT company in Lomé. In the meantime he was married to his Happy and was looking forward to a growing family. When he found faith in Jesus, someone said to him, "You're going to be a pastor!" The dream of his childhood had been awakened again and from then on he assumed that it would happen at some point.
One day in 2004, Roger heard God's call. He knew, "The time has come to serve as a pastor!" Happy confirmed the calling and the two gave up their good jobs and thus their carefree lives, attended a discipleship school and moved to Kpalimé.
obstacles and challenges
"My relatives had a serious problem with our lives," Roger looks back. The fact that they could not understand the behavior of the two was not only due to the fact that, as is usual in Africa, they had benefited from Roger's good income. How could the two give up their good life to live in poverty in another city and visit people in their homes? It just didn't make sense to the relatives.
In fact, times were tough. Roger speaks of a "life of faith". Somehow they got through. "We experienced God's provision daily." But the constant pressure from relatives increased. "It was difficult, but we wanted to obey the Lord." The children also had to put up with nasty jokes at school. "It wasn't easy for any of us. But it was good to honor Jesus with our lives - precisely by our obedience!"
glimmer of hope
A few years later, when Roger once again had to fight against despondency, a door surprisingly opened to complete a pastoral training in Switzerland. There he met Oliver, a Swiss pastor who was touched by Roger's passion and visited him in Kpalimé the following year. This friendship encouraged Roger a lot and at some point money even started to flow from Switzerland to Togo.
A sustainable partnership (more on this at: friendship-ministry.org) developed parallel to the first fruits in Kpalimé. Ministries were rolling and church after church was planted. Today, Roger and Happy lead a small network of six churches, run a children's home, a Christian primary school, and various other ministries.
Islamists: Situation in Togo is getting difficult
«In recent years, missionary engagement in Togo has become more difficult. Islam is becoming more and more radical. Our imams are invited to Saudi Arabia for further training, where they are radicalized.” The consequences are palpable: opposition and attacks are increasing. "Kpalimé has become strongly Muslim in recent years." Islam is growing and increasingly controlling all areas of society.
Terrorist organizations are penetrating Togo from various sides. Boko Haram kills Christians in West Africa. “It is very bad in the northern part of Nigeria. That's why Nigerian Christians came to Togo via Benin." People from other African countries are also seeking protection here. "Unfortunately, more and more people are being executed by Islamists in northern Togo." Roger speaks of Al Qaeda and IS coming in from the Sahara.
Withstand the big challenges
In addition to the terrorist organizations, the country also suffered from Covid-19 and the corresponding measures, which pushed many people into poverty. "Our churches also had to remain closed for a long time." Because of the war in Ukraine, the price of certain resources had risen, which was the last straw. Everyone goes along with it, raising prices and boosting inflation, which is bringing the population, who already live below the poverty line, to their knees.
But Roger and Happy don't want to despair and keep their hopes high. "Our greatest passion is winning people to Jesus Christ and making them disciples." Roger dreams of Christians helping each other to become financially independent. For Roger, missionary work includes every area of life. “We also create opportunities to generate income.” In any case, Roger and Happy want to stay true to obedience to God's calling. And they experienced one thing over and over again: God will be with them!
Date: 04/22/2022
Author: Markus Richner-Mai
Quelle: Livenet
Comments