PRAY FOR TOGO

Togo is a small, tropical country in West Africa with a size of 22,000 square miles, a bit smaller than West Virginia. It has a population of 9.1 million and a primarily agrarian economy with extremely high rural poverty. Togo lies between Ghana on the west and Benin on the east and has a width of less than 71 miles. In 1960 Togo gained its independence from France. In 1967, Gnassingbé Eyadéma led a successful military coup d'état and became president of a single-party state. In 1993, Togo began multiparty elections. Eyadéma won the presidency three times, serving as president for 38 years until his death in 2005. He was the longest serving leader in modern African history. In 2005 his son, Faure Gnassingbé, was elected president. In 2020, Faure Gnassingbé won his fourth term in office as the president of Togo. The official language of Togo is French, but each of the 56 people groups have their own local language.

Togo is a French-speaking country and there is little overseas support for the rapidly growing Togolese church because the Protestant church in more affluent French-speaking countries is very small. Many churches in Togo are theologically weak because pastors are often not able to effectively refute errors of syncretism or the prosperity ‘gospel’. Numerous pastors have never received in-depth, sound biblical training, nor do they possess the books and resources needed for their study and ministry (UFM Worldwide).

RiverLakes Church has partnered with International Christian Ministries (ICM) in Africa for over three decades. The director of ICM Togo is Samuel Ecklou who trains and disciples leaders for ministry.