Unity and Hope at the AWF Africa Missions Conference

The fourth AWF Africa Missions Conference was held in Lomé, Togo in February 2024. Passionate delegates from across the continent gathered for strengthening missions through collaboration.

Led by Rev. Celestin Koffi, AWF’s Africa Regional Coordinator, the conference was brimming with energy and purpose as delegates arrived from Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Mali, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Benin and Togo.

In his opening message, Rev. Koffi drew inspiration from Leviticus 26:6-8 to illustrate God’s promise of victory to believers, like the assurance given to the children of Israel. “Obedience brings blessings,” he emphasized. “Just as the Israelites experienced triumphant victories over their enemies with God’s intervention, believers today can count on divine support.” Rev. Koffi referred to Moses’ exhortation to the Israelites at the Red Sea, reminding the conference that God fights on our behalf. “These promises also apply to believers today,” Rev. Koffi said, “but require collaborative efforts, symbolized by synergy, to achieve missionary goals.” He encouraged the attendees to join in efforts to effectively meet the challenges of the mission fields.

One of the definitions of partnership is “an association of different actors (people, organizations) who, while maintaining their respective autonomy, agree to pool their efforts, their resources, their knowledge with a view to achieving a common development objective that promotes the well-being of individuals and communities,” said Rev. Koffi.

Pastor Barnabas Daou, the national missions director of the C&MA of Mali, gave a presentation on Missions and Partnership, emphasizing the need to work together to fulfill God’s mandate. He outlined two specific objectives: to provide an overview of partnership, and to draft a partnership memorandum of understanding. His presentation was structured around four key themes:

1. He defined the terms “mission” as a divine commission, referencing biblical passages such as Mark 16:15, John 20:21 and Matthew 28:19-20, and “partnership” as highlighting cooperation between entities to achieve common goals.
2. The strength of partnership: Pastor Daou emphasized the active partnership of stakeholders joining forces to achieve common goals.
3. Partnership building: He shared mechanisms for initiating partnerships, emphasizing the need for mutual agreement, and coordinated efforts.
4. Success factors: Pastor Daou concluded by stressing the importance of studying the parameters of the partnership for its survival and success, emphasizing its profitability in achieving common goals.

Pastor Daou’s presentation emphasized the crucial role of partnership in missionary efforts, advocating strategic collaboration and efficient use of resources.

Three missionaries from Gabon, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire serving in partnership on the mission field in Togo shared their partnership experience. Each mission focuses on different ethnic groups – Ewe and Watchi, Konkoumba, and Tchokossi, respectively. At present, they have established three churches in the center of Lomé and 13 in the surrounding villages, with approximately 621 members.

Despite the achievements, the Togolese mission field faces a variety of challenges:

• Spiritual: Instability arising from members’ adherence to traditional fetishistic practices;
• Material: A lack of essential resources like sound equipment and transportation;
• Human: A shortage of full-time workers, needing native training;
• Social: A need for construction of church infrastructure and support for micro-financing projects to achieve autonomy for members.

These challenges underscore the ongoing efforts and requirements within the partnership initiatives of the Togolese mission field.

Interactive workshops sparked lively dialogues on crafting collaborative projects to expand the church’s reach into new territories. Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Mauritania emerged as focal points for future endeavors, with delegates pooling their strengths and resources to achieve maximum impact. Presentations from Cote d’Ivoire and Gabon showcased creative strategies, from mobilizing diaspora communities to holistic approaches for addressing social needs.

Two groups were formed. The first group, which includes Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Mali, will work on a preliminary partnership project for the establishment of the Church of the Christian Alliance in Mali and Niger. The second group, which includes Gabon, the DRC and Benin, will work on a preliminary partnership project for the establishment of the Church of the Christian Alliance in Senegal and Mauritania.

Keynote speakers Pastor Kan Kouakou of the C&MA Church in Cote d’Ivoire and Brother Patrick Kouadio, the president of the A.B. Simpson Mission Agency (ABS), shared that the vision of ABS is “to disciple every tongue, tribe and nation, encouraging total dedication to God and abundant life in Jesus Christ spiritually, physically and materially.” Their mission is to pool resources to spread the gospel and meet diverse needs regardless of race, religion, or denomination.

Sister Nicole Tanoh, a missionary from Cote d’Ivoire, shared a moving testimony about the Kharis Kids ministry. “The ministry’s vision,” she said, “is to see children and young people in distress receive assistance and grow in good conditions for their holistic development and socio-professional integration.” Its mission is to provide holistic assistance (spiritual, material, psychological, social, emotional, etc.) and create environments of development, welcoming children amid their difficulties. Sister Tanoh’s presentation included pictures and the testimony of Mohamed, a street elder who gave himself to Christ following the ministry of Kharis Kids. He now lives in newness of life.

Prompting spontaneous fundraising underscored delegates’ unwavering commitment to impactful initiatives. As the conference ended, delegates departed with renewed determination and a shared vision for the future. Their collective efforts, fueled by faith and solidarity, aim at transformative change not only in Africa but worldwide.

Through collaboration, the AWF Africa Region maintains its hope and inspires action in the hearts of missionaries around the world.