For the third time, a group from the FECG Ulmen traveled to Togo to contribute both practically and spiritually to building the Kingdom of God. The four-member team, led by Brother Paul Altmann, received on-site support from Pastor William and Dr. Cornelius, the president of the Pentecostal movement.
After a warm welcome, our trip began with a visit to a farm we have actively supported in recent years. It serves as a valuable resource for Pastor William's ministry and the surrounding communities. Unfortunately, the farm suffered several break-ins last year, causing damage and losses. Thanks to generous donations, we were able to repair the damage.
Another important project was the installation of a solar power system that enables automatic water pumping – a major improvement for daily work on the farm.
The following day, we had a special opportunity: We were allowed to visit a prison with around 500 inmates, deliver food donations, and give a sermon. The prisoners listened attentively to the message of God's love and praised the Lord together with us. The prison director also expressed his sincere gratitude for our efforts and invited us to return on our next visit.
Conducting evangelistic campaigns
In the city of Aného, our team, together with pastors from the surrounding congregations, organized a three-day evangelistic event. Each day, approximately 200 to 250 people gathered to hear the Word of God. Brother Paul Altmann was the main speaker of the event and preached on the topic "The Kingdom of God is near."
Through God's grace, many people consciously chose a life with Jesus, were healed of illnesses, and experienced liberation from bondage. A particular highlight was the live broadcast of the entire evangelistic campaign on national television and radio. This allowed the message of the Kingdom of God to spread far beyond the city limits and reach people throughout the country.
Following these eventful days, we were invited to a church service at a Methodist church. There, we were able to share God's word, sing songs, and present a small donation. The moment when we handed out sweets to the children was especially lovely, and they were delighted.
The community was deeply moved and grateful for our visit, as it had been founded by German missionaries who had brought the Gospel to Togo – as one of the first Christian communities in the country.
Visit to the orphanage N'Kougna
Orphans are visited and blessed.
Our journey took us further north in Togo, to the village of N'Kougna, the home village of Dr. Cornelius. This remote village is home to approximately 120 orphans who, lacking a nearby orphanage, are placed with various families.
It was a deeply moving moment to bless these children and share God's love with them. We joyfully presented them with the gifts we had brought: clothing, food, toys, and sweets. We were also able to hand over donations for school supplies and medicine.
To conclude, we ate the traditional dish fufu together, which the villagers had prepared as a sign of hospitality. We clearly felt how our help was received with grateful hearts and how God was honored through it all.
Afterwards, we visited an orphanage in Sokodé for children aged zero to six. Upon our arrival, we received a warm welcome from the children – with a French song in which they wished us God's blessing. Here, too, we were able to hand out clothing, food, toys, and sweets. It was especially gratifying to see that the donations from our last visit had been used to repair the broken trampolines, so the children could play again.
Formation of new communities
On the last day of our trip, we visited a church in Aképédo that had been founded just a few months prior. We were delighted to participate in the service and to offer our words and songs. As on our previous visits, we were able to distribute sweets to the children, which clearly brought them joy. The congregation expressed their heartfelt thanks. This visit was a wonderful conclusion to our trip – once again, we witnessed the growth of God's kingdom in Togo.
We look back on this journey with deep gratitude. We praise God for his guidance and the immeasurable blessings we experienced during this trip. Please pray for this project.
John Olenberg,
Municipality of Ulmen