The Ministry of Jesus Togo

Gregg and Jayne Yarian 2017 W. Old Liberty Rd. Westminster, MD 21157 410-635-2708 theyarians@yahoo.com The Ministry of Jesus c/o Oakbrook Church 1700 Reston Pkwy. Reston, VA 20194 703-437-4900

March 2012
Dear friends, My January trip to Togo was a joy and it is with great joy that we bring you this update on the work in Togo. Trip to Togo

Small groups and skits were important teaching methods for the Doctrine of Sin Seminar. This was particularly helpful for the newer leaders

It was once again my privilege to fly to Togo for one month to train church leaders. This year we had more new village church leaders than we have had in many years. My topic was The Doctrine of Sin. Many leaders testified about how they completely changed the way they looked at themselves and at others because of this seminar. One leader said that, in his twenty years as a Christian, he had never been taught on this topic. I am thankful that God led me to teach using small groups and skits as this method seemed ideal for the less educated and newer leaders. Everyone also loved Scott Johnsons teaching on our spiritual journey in which he used the image of a sailing trip. Everyone could relate to the image of sudden storms that drastically upset our lives. Anything that helps deal with the everyday realities of suffering is greatly appreciated in the African context.

Now on Facebook
Yes, conviction finally overcame fear and The Ministry of Jesus Togo now has a Facebook page. You can go directly to the page by using the address facebook.com/TheMinistry OfJesusTogo or you can go to the page link on Gregg Yarians Facebook page. We are hoping that this will enable us to better communicate with you when we return to Togo in August.

To prepare a meal, the corn flour in the blue and yellow plastic plate is cooked until it becomes pte. This is then eaten with a sauce made of leaves and spices and rarely with a little meat. All the students in the Lome and Kara centers now have fuel efficient gas stoves so that they can prepare their meals quickly and cheaply.

Relationships I often remember the words that Jack Gerry, one of the important mentors in my life, often stressed: Being preceeds doing! Yes, who we are is way more important that what we teach, build or program. In Lome I spent time with Damigou in a caf and ate dinner with the students at the Student Center. Several students came to the SIL guest house to visit me. Joel, a key church leader and member of the MIJ board rode from Lome to Kara with me. One of the main focuses of my time was spending time with Nagbandjoa talking about his plans for the Kara church. One of many evening walks in Dapaong was with Boukari, who is now leading the new Togo extension of the Calvary Chapel Bible School. I grab as many opportunities as I can to talk with Nakpergou, the president of MIJ and now the pastor of the Dapaong church. Ive found one of the best times to talk with him is while we are going over the financial books. Im convinced that these moments during the everyday events of life are what opens people to hear our teaching and that they actually have more impact than anything we say during our teaching.

Our Home
The Kara Student Center dormitory is on the right. The building under construction, now completed, is Nagbandjoa and Claires apartment. When we have the funds, our apartment will be on the second floor above theirs. We now only need $14,000 to complete the Kara Student Center by constructing the apartment that we will live in when we move to Togo in August. We praise God and thank those who have given generously so far. If God is leading you to support this project please note that the gift is for the Kara Student Center

Prayer
Pray for physical health and spiritual wisdom for Nagbandjoa and Claire as they begin the work in Kara Pray that what was learned at the seminars will not just be retained but that it will be lived out on a daily basis. Pray for health safety and encouragement for Nakordja and his family while he spends most of a year at Bible School in Ghana. Pray that God will continue to raise up many faithful leaders for the Church in Togo.

There is none holy like the Lord;There is none beside you; there is no rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2 It is an incredible privilege to be children of the King, to proclaim His Kingdom in Africa, to call others to serve Him, and to work with His faithful servants in Togo. We praise and thank Him for you and for your part in furthering the Kingdom in Togo, The Yarians Dont forget that the mailing address for The Ministry of Jesus has changed. The new address is on page one of this letter.

We are now seeing many more marriages in our churches as the girls from the Girls Program avoid forced marriages.