Shalom Friends of ACTS!
Praise God for the continued development of the African Career Training School (ACTS), the cross-cultural marketplace ministry in West Africa! In April of this year Pastor James Wang led a team of 12 missionaries set out for Togo and launched a 10 day medical mission project.
The missionary team was one of one the largest team sent out by River of Life. The members consisted of 6 members from River of Life Church in Santa Clara, Dr. WenChen Chang from the River of Life in Tennessee, and 5 medics from the Christian Medical Center in Chia-yi, Taiwan led by C.E.O and Pastor Ying Bing Wu.
The missionary trip was an intense and exciting one. On 4/9, the second day upon arriving in Togo, the team took a tour of the new Medical Clinic that is being built by River of Life. The facility is in the last stage of construction with just a few touch ups needed. It is expected to be open and start serving the public shortly as soon as the facility, equipment, and staff become available.
On 4/10, The mission team from Chiayi Medical Center in Taiwan held a Public Health Seminar on the topics of Insect Infestation Prevention and Gastrointestinal Health. Dr. Kuo, who previously served on the medical mission to Burkina Faso, conducted the workshop entirely in French, where Dr. Feng played a short video clip of a gastroscopy procedure, which gave quite a shock to the audience, for it was many people’s first time seen a video of what’s inside of the human body. We trust the workshop will create an awareness of preventive measures taken to prevent insect infestation and promote gastrointestinal health amongst the community. Members of the audience included various leaders from different industries, such as the Paramount Chief of Sagbado, government officials, members of the Togo’s National Health Organization, and leaders from various other organizations.
On 4/11, the missionary team visited two medical divisions: the first division was at a hospital that was founded as the result of a collaboration between Togo and China, which is currently the 2nd largest hospital in Togo. The second division was at a medical center founded by Assemblies of God, which is similar to the medical center River of Life is building. Through the visits at the centers, the team was able to gain a better understanding of the general health, facilities, medical resources of the Togolese community, which will benefit the organization and operation of River of Life’s own medical center.
On 4/12 and 4/13, the mission team held a free clinic event in the city and countryside Togo, which was widely acclaimed by members of the Togolese community. Total of 221 attendees received the medical service! From this event the team was able to gain critical insight for the future direction and development of the medical center.
On 4/14, Pastor Ying-Bing Wu preached the Sunday Service at River of Life Togo. The Lord prepared a Togolese preacher who once served in China to interpret for Rev. Wu from Chinese to French. After all these years this was the first time that members from the mission team were able to give a speech or sermon using Chinese. Praise the Lord for His provision!
From 4/11 to 4/14, Pastor James Wang went to Burkina Faso to hold a youth conference in which they were able to witness the Holy Spirit ignite a fire inside the hearts of the youth and young adults there. The attendees were very hungry, thirsty, and eager to see the gospel spread throughout Burkina Faso. May the Lord bless them greatly and guide them.
On 4/15, the last day of the mission trip the team’s itinerary consisted of visitations to ACTS facility and the River of Life Foundation Orphanage. The ACTS facility and its resources were expanded and upgraded at the beginning of the year. And as a result, the students were observed to be happily thriving in their education during the visitation. Praise the Lord that the new location of ACTS is also nearby many other high schools and technical schools, which also provides an overall better environment to cultivate learning for the students. The remainder of the day was spent at the 0rphanage where the members of the mission team sang, danced, and played with the children.
Also during the mission trip, the team received word that Cisco Networking Academy had expressed interest in partnering with ACTS to start an IT certification program in which students can get certified as a licensed Cisco IT technicians by completing the courses and passing the exam that will be offered by the program. May the Lord use this collaboration to enable ACTS to bless the Togolese community in even greater ways.
Despite tight and hectic schedule of this mission trip, mission team members felt that their tireless efforts were all worth it to see how enthusiastic, grateful, and happy the people of the Togolese community were in response to the work of the team.
Thank you for your continued love and support of ACTS ministry in Togo whether it is through prayer or monetary gifts. May the offerings received by the ministry be doubly blessed by the Lord and may they be used to bring more help and hope to the people of the Togolese community.
Prayer Requests
Medical Clinic
- The Lord’s guidance and provision in the completion of the construction of the facility that it can pass the final inspections swiftly.
- The Lord’s blessing on the equipment purchasing and stocking supplies for the clinic at a fair and reasonable price.
- The Lord’s provision and guidance in the recruitment of suitable medical staff members as well as government officials to help run the facility and make it into a blessing for the neighboring communities.
African Career Training School (ACTS)
- The Lord’s blessing in the installment of a new air conditioning system, which will provide students with a better learning environment.
- The Lord’s blessing in the student admission and recruitment process at ACTS and the ability for the school to become financially self sustainable.
- The Lord’s blessing and guidance in the collaboration with Cisco Networking Academy to launch the Cisco IT certification program so that it can equip ACTS students with advance technological skills and knowledge and bring change to their lives.
Donate to the Ministry
- By Check: Payable to ROL-ACTS
- Mail to: 1177 Laurelwood Road, Santa Clara, CA 95054
- In-person: please place in the offering box at River of Life Christian Church
- Online at: ACTSafrica.net/donate
- For stock donations and Company Charity Matching: please contact: