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Sebestien: a Light in Wonougba

Cindy McFarland, Togo

 

The Village of Light, Center of Education for the Blind, in Togo, West Africa, was created to not only teach people with visual handicaps how to read in Braille, but to be lights for Christ in their villages throughout Togo. Sebestien is an example of a man whom God has used to show his village of Wonougba the light of Christ.

Sebestien came to the Village of Light when he was in his twenties. He lost his sight completely when he was older. He grew up in a family that believes in the false gods of fetish worship and never heard the truth of the gospel until he came to the Center of Education for the Blind. Over the course of a year, Sebestien heard the gospel many different times while at the center. Finally, God opened his spiritual eyes, and he understood true salvation and gave his life to Christ.

During his years at the center, he was able to learn Braille and thus was able to read the Bible himself. God has given him a great passion for the lost. During each vacation, Sebestien would ask for tracts and Source of Light materials to do studies with people in his village. Then he would come back and share how God was working in the lives of people in his village. He faithfully went with the missionaries to do evangelism in the town of Agou before graduating in 2005. After finishing school, Sebestien also went to several villages to tell other children who were blind about the school.

Over these past several years, God has used Sebestien to share the gospel with several people who have embraced Christ as their Savior. Sebastian also had a heart to do further Bible studies with these people in his village. For over a year, they have been meeting on Sunday mornings together for a Bible study and worship. We were able to print some Bible study materials for him in Braille that he could use to do these studies.

Sebestien asked if we could come and see what God was doing in Wonougba. We met the people and saw their great desire to have a church so they could be taught the Word of God. There is no solid, Bible-teaching church in this village. Since that time, the chaplain of our school has been going once a month to teach and encourage the people to pray that God might raise up a pastor for them.

For over a year, we prayed that God would meet this need for a leader. Over the last year, Pastor Koffi and his wife have gone once a month with me and the chaplain to help encourage the people through teaching God’s word. After much prayer, Pastor Koffi and his wife felt led to move to Wonougba and serve as pastor. Last September, they moved there with their three children. The people of the village are very excited that God has raised up a pastor for their church.

We praise God for Sebestien and his heart to tell others about Christ. Even though Sebestien cannot see physically, God has given him eyes for the lost in his village. Please pray for Sebestien, Pastor Koffi and his family, and the village of Wonougba—that God might raise up a church that will be a great light for Him.