History of Togo & Ghana
http://www.lutheranmissions.org/
| History of the CLC’s work in Togo & Ghana | |||
| Initial Contact In 1999 Elinore Gbedey was returning to the USA from teaching in the country of Benin. She came through Lome, Togo to visit there, since she is married to a Togolese. While in Lome, she came across a Lutheran, Amegan Kwaku Kpello (Mike) and explained our church to him. He seemed to have some interest, so she contacted Pastor Koenig who had previously been her pastor at Peace Thru Christ in Middleton, WI. Email correspondence resulted. Literature was sent and Mike decided to remain with his Lutheran church which is affiliated with the LC-MS. He gave contact information. |
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| April 2000 Pastor and Mrs. Koenig visited with Mike and his family in their house, to which Mike had invited others. One who came was Gideon Abussah. He had gone through a couple of years in a Bible College which is now affiliated with ORU. There was a good deal of discussion over the Scriptures on the pentecostal/charismatics, sinfulness of infants and baptism. Gideon indicated a willingness to come to Nigeria to study at our Bible Institute. Literature was given and more sent later. |
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| December 2000 Pastor and Mrs. Koenig visited again. Correspondence courses were started with Gideon and study sessions were held with him. He had started teaching religion at a school and gotten married, so a trip to Nigeria was no longer feasible for him. |
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| CLC History in TogoApril 2001 During a visit, study continued, lessons were corrected and discussions were held with the headmaster of the school where Gideon is basically the chaplain, about giving the Bible and catechisms to the students. The headmaster agreed. |
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| September 2001 In a visit, the classes continued. Books have been sent also to help Gideon in his studies. |
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| April 2001 - Kossi This was a visit to contact a new prospect, Kossi, who Mike had found. We missed each other and did not meet. Kossi indicated he was still interested and was sent literature by mail. |
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| September 2001 - Kossi Study began with Kossi, who is a school teacher and a member of a Baptist church. Just as with Gideon so now with Kossi, theological education by extension was being carried out. |
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| March 2002 Studies continued with the missionary’s visit. At this time Kossi told how he saw that the Baptist church was not correct in baptism and commuion as he had seen in our catechism references. He said he had not been baptized and would like to be. On April 3rd the missionary baptized him at Gideon’s house. |
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| November 2002 Missionary Koenig made a brief visit to Lome to work with Kossi. A small congregation has been started and Kossi is trying to train another man to go to Kossi’s home villiage to work there. |
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| December 2002 - Kossi in Efa, Nigeria Kossi made a trip to visit with the missionary and the brethren in Efa. Studies on Law and Gospel continued with the missionary. |
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| June 2003 Pastor Karl Stewart visited with Kossi and his people and worked with them in Lome. |
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| November 2003 Pastor and Mrs. Koenig visited with Kossi. A loan of $500 was made to Kossi to plant sugarcane to support family and perhaps shift from teaching into full-time ministry. |
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| 2004 April saw the missionary on the field. Registration with the government was started. An anticipated outreach with TV and videos is to be started. The congregation has 35 members in Lome, Togo with attendance of 25. |
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| 2005 Registration to be finished in January 2006 - Land purchased and services started at Segbe - New man, Jerome, joining as pastor. Missionary in the field in June and November. |
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| 2006 Dec. - Missionary and Pastor Kossi could only confer for two days. A new pastor and congregation are requesting to join.
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2007 Togo EELCT - Due to time factors Pastor Kossi was invited to travel to Accra to meet with the missionary on the church’s work for two days. During this year more visiting between the NCLC and the EELCT has taken place building up the fellowship relationship.
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GHANA |
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| March 2002 Since it appears that Gideon is located for the time being in Denu, Ghana (across the border from Togo), our work is now in Ghana also. During this visit the studies continued and there was discussion on outreach. Pastor Gideon holds services at the humble school with attendance at about 15. He also goes to his home village, Atidzive, to hold a Bible study for three people. He was given transport money to go there until the missionary returns to visit. The Easter service had 17. On April 3rd the missionary baptized Pastor and Mrs. Gideon’s baby son, Samuel, and another member’s 16 month old child, Godwin. A business loan was given to Pastor Gideon to help him provide for his family. |
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| November 2002 The missionary made a brief visit to Denu with Pastor Gideon on the work. The international school with its proprietor, Daniel, have opted to bring in charismatics and exclude Gideon from teaching. |
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| June 2003 Pastor Karl Stewart met with Pastor Gideon on the work. |
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| November 2003 Pastor and Mrs. Koenig visited Gideon. A $300 loan was made to Gideon for trading. He will be investigating working in the ministry and in business in the area where his wife is staying with her mother. |
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| 2004 Pastor Gideon has moved to the outskirts of Denu due to several problems. A Bible study is held with several people. The missionary was there in April. |
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| 2005 Crown of Glory Lutheran Church Work started in Tema - Roofed worship area in Denu - New man, Agossou, joining as pastor. Missionary in the field in June and November. |
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| 2006 Missionary and Pastor Gideon conferred briefly on the work. Hopefully several young men can complete study of the catechism and differences with other churches to attend NCLC Bible Institute next year. New work is starting in Accra |
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| 2007 Ghana - Crown of Glory Lutheran Church - Due to time factors the missionary was only able to meet with Pastor Gideon one day at Accra as well as with some other interested parties. It appears that the congregation in Denu may be disbanding as Pastor Gideon is trying to get work in Tema/Accra area. | |||
| 2008 Ghana January ‘08 Pastor Gideon was visited by Pastors Ude and Koenig. Gideon continues to try to support himself with grants from the CLC. He has some contacts in Tema and Accra. Pastor Ude will now take over the visitation and contact here. |