| Gospel Recordings Representative in Togo, West Africa,
Distributes Materials, Shows Jesus Film in Several Villages in Benin By Michael
Ireland Between January 4 and 12, SODALO C. Clement, Director of Gospel Recordings, Togo, traveled to the Republic of Benin to meet the Hweda and the Ci (regional people groups) in their local villages. Five villages in all were visited during the outreach. THE HWEDA The Hweda are about 95% idolaters, said Sodalo. "Each of their villages has about 25 different shrines dedicated to different deities. Their resistance to the Gospel has been legendary for decades, and that has been a secret subject of pride for them. "The first man who got converted to Christianity had his mother burned alive in one of their villages. Therefore the few Christians there have to flee and remain in far-off cities. Their hostility to the Gospel is an unusual case in an idolatrous community," Sodalo said. KPETOU When two years ago the Apostolic Church's congregation went there for evangelism, they were simply beaten and chased away, Sodalo said. "The pastor was personally molested. We were going back there with him. The first evening he found excuses and could not make it!" "We arrived at Kpetou, the first Hweda village on January 4, 2001. The village counts about 3,000 people. At the entrance, there is a beautiful Roman Catholic Church building, which no one attends. Even on Sunday mornings it remains the playground of pets. We eye-witnessed this," said Sodalo. "That evening we showed the Jesus film and the attacks were more spiritual than physical and we praised the Lord for that. We could see many people trying to charm us, make fun of us and jeopardize the whole work," he said. "As they were throwing their spiritual weapons to us, they could not reach us because of the heavy protection that we have in Jesus, the evil powers hit one of their girls. She started screaming and making much noise and was literally carried home. All those who were coming into contact with her were being contaminated. The girl nearly died. The next day we went to her house and prayed for her, and the Lord delivered her," Sodalo said. That first evening, just a few children came out to receive Jesus Christ, said Sodalo. "The next day, protest broke out immediately upon our arrival in the village. As no permission had been granted to us to do the door-to-door evangelism, we had to stay in the sun out in the public open place. No one offered us hospitality," he said. "There arose a serious brawl between among the villagers about whether we should show another film or not. Finally, when we saw that the arguments turning in our favor, we decided to show another film that evening. But this time the assault shifted from the spiritual to the physical. Thank God this only broke out near the end of the film. "People started throwing mud at us," said Sodalo. "The bewildered audience scattered, leaving us alone. We and our car got completely covered with mud, and that evening we had no other option than to run away for our lives. But before leaving the village we gathered our last courage and announced that all those who wanted to see us should wait for us the next day. We promised we would come with some cassettes in their own language to distribute free of charge. We were not very sure of what we were doing, but depended on God in prayer for guidance," Sodalo said. Sodalo said it was "really uncomfortable and strange to have even lads boldly come, look at us straight in the face and yell, 'You liars, leave our village. We want to live and die for Satan!'" On the groups' arrival the next day, they could see more eagerness in some faces. "They secretly seemed fond of the idea of the cassettes. Even some of the most stubborn showed interest. Urchins started swarming around us. We immediately gathered them in one backslider's house, which he offered to host the church for only a few days. "How useful this offer was to the Lord! We immediately started teaching the increasing new converts there. These seemed very enthusiastic. At the end of our three days of ministry in that village, 67 people had confessed the Lord. The following Sunday, many of them attended a service," Sodalo said. "On our return from the Ci-Gbe work, the pastor told us that the Monday following our departure the new converts had gathered on their own. The same on Tuesday, and when at he decided to go there even unplanned, they just cheered his coming! He could then give them the proper program of the church. They promised a plot of land for the building of the new chapel! The pastor said it was the greatest miracle he had ever seen, a church at Kpetou!" Sodalo reported. AGATOGBO Agatogbo was the second Hweda village Sodalo visited. "At the beginning, these looked more friendly. We showed the film and received a very encouraging response. We then promised to come back the following day for teaching and distribution of the cassettes. A very huge crowd came. It was then that the opposition started from the local idol priests. They raised a mob and demanded that we stop everything and depart. To our great amazement, the newly converted youths rose and pushed back the protests of the elders. We taught them and distributed cassettes. They were overjoyed," said Sodalo. "The last evening, as we were showing the last film and commenting, we saw a huge crowd of idol priests and their followers singing voodoo songs and marching toward us. We did not know the real intention of this but what we saw is that the new converts stepped out like one man and scattered the Satanically- inspired group. We thank God that at the end we could count about 101 people confessing the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior in that village alone!" According to the report from the church Sodalo worked with, the newly planted churches are still growing rapidly. THE CI-GBE On Monday, January 8, Sodalo and his group moved to the Ci people about 50 miles from the Hweda. "The first evening, as we could not reach the Ci villages due to the condition of the roads, we chose to work in a nearby village midway. Fifteen people were converted there. The village is called Houessouhoue. The converts were immediately referred to a nearby church for follow up," Sodalo said. ALOYA "The next day, we were able to reach the Ci people," Sodalo said. " Unexpectedly, the first Ci village where we were to work turned to be more hostile to the Gospel than those we had visited on earlier trips. When the pastor (from the nearest Christian fellowship) went there for the contact, they were categorically opposed to our coming. "When the pastor told us about it, we prayed and then went back. This time, the Lord Himself gave us the necessary wisdom. At our arrival they plainly told us if it were something concerning 'amisa' (church enrollment) we should leave immediately. We said that some of their brothers from afar who are God worshipers sent a message to them on cassettes, so we came to distribute the cassettes to them free of charge in order for them to hear the voice of their brothers. "We added that they sent us with a 'cinema' to show to them, and that we did not come to open amisa there at all. We so strongly emphasized the importance of the message that they finally, but reluctantly, gave in!" Sodalo said. No sooner did we start setting-up the equipment than the village chief hurried over to them, trembling. "He urged us to pack our things and leave immediately, for the place chosen was near the idols of the village priest and the idols hate noise! Once again we saw the divine intervention. The village was again divided into two. One group opposing us, one encouraging us. "Finally, we determined to show the film. The chance given to us was so meager that we had to depend on God for wisdom. Every slightest 'mistake' would put a premature end to the film. For the first time in our ministry we started the film without either praying or singing. At the end, no altar call could be made. We just started with that plan. Many came out to 'just see' what would happen," said Sodalo. In the middle of the film, a mob was organized by a group of fierce young men. "They stepped forward and demanded that everything be stopped. Those who so far had been gaining interest in the film refused to let us stop. Already stones were being cast toward us. "Right in the middle of that confusion, the Lord did the miracle. The moon that was so far very bright started fainting rapidly until there was a complete eclipse. The village was scared. Mothers grabbed their children and hurried home. Less courageous ones just vanished, so that after a while, we had only a handful of bold, God's-chosen and thirsty people eager to see the end of the story of 'that man with so powerful works and words.' The mob was soothed," Sodalo recalled. "The planned end of the meeting arrived and we could see how eager people were to know more about that Man and yet could not for fear of the others. We then distributed the cassettes to those present. By the end of the distribution, the whole village was out again claiming their share. Many of them promised to start going to church in the nearby village. The pastor also promised to come back for a quiet follow-up. We were leaving the village praising the Lord that night for being able to distribute the cassettes there. "Some day, somebody will go back there and reap. Three young men from there followed us about 12 km the next day to inquire more about the Lord Jesus. The flame has already been lit; it will burn!" said Sodalo. BAYIKPA Bayikpa was the last Ci village the group worked in. "We are grateful to God for the work He has accomplished in that village. Although our arrival there was unannounced, the welcome was also unexpected. They were very friendly from the beginning and remained so till the end of our work there. One of their boys even offered himself to go around to the surrounding places and call others," said Sodalo. "That evening 48 persons gave their lives to the Lord. The next day's work made another 47 conversions. The new converts were so engaged and radical that we were afraid of a future persecution from them there! They immediately claimed the building of a chapel. What was also thrilling was the great number of adults and elderly people among the converts. So at the end we could number 95 converts at Bayikpa. There is no church in the surrounding area," Sodalo said. "You may well believe that Benin is the most idolatrous country in Africa," Sodalo said. "Many tribes in Benin are still held by Satan and are almost impenetrable. Some of them are ready to do all they can (even commit murder) to safeguard their religious identity. "Next month we are going back there to reach the Toli. We do not know yet what is awaiting us there, but we are moving forth, determined to reveal the kingdom of God to all those tribes in Jesus' Name!" "Please pray with us for the Lord's protection. As long as we work in Benin, we will encounter such opposition. It is a life or death work there. Yet they will not stop us from moving forward. After all someone has to do it. We really need the support from all our partners in prayer to press on harder. Sodalo asked Western Christians to pray for the new converts so that they may remain strong in the Lord. He added: "Pray for the Lord's protection and wisdom in our lives for the work there. After such strong spiritual encounters we usually feel physically broken for some time. Pray for spiritual and physical strength. Pray for the next outreach there to the Toli tribes." For further information, you may contact <ans@gospelrecordings> or in North America call the Gospel Recordings toll-free number 1-888-444-7872. Assist News Service. Used with Permission. |