Greetings, Brothers and Sisters!
Amid the spread of COVID-19 and worry around the globe, we hope to bring you hope and joy as we share how God has been leading ACTS in accomplishing new things. Let us experience hope in God, for He is sovereign and in control!
During February 16-23 of this year, ACTS sent a team to Togo for a week-long medical mission trip. This was a truly special trip, and everything from the team composition to the details of the ministry was filled with God’s grace and blessing. Every team member experienced the moving of the Spirit. Let us tune in to Pastor James’ sharing and see the amazing work that God is doing!
In February, China was in the middle of an intense battle with COVID-19 but the outbreaks had not began in the rest of the world. A bold and courageous team, determined to follow God’s calling, left for Togo on the 16th composing a melody to the tune of medical missions in West Africa with God.
This team felt like a symphony of strings, winds, and percussion under the guidance of a conductor, joining together in a harmonious song. The team of 32 came from America, Taiwan, Thailand, and France with varying professions, each bringing their own “instruments” and specialities, as well as their natural gifts and talents. These abilities formed six “movements”: a public health seminar, village medical clinics and health stations, the invitation of the Chief, ministry to the River of Life children’s home, prayer for the upcoming election of Togo, and the grand opening of the River of Life Medical Clinic. There were even two encores: Togo Glorious Truth Church Dedication Ceremony and the exploration trip for ACTS-Benin.
Because this trip was so fruitful, we will share in a few separate installments so as not to miss any important highlights.
The First Movement: Public Health Semina
Since 2018, the Togo medical mission team has partnered with ACTS to host a public health seminar. Originally the purpose was to express gratitude towards the neighbors and local community leaders for embracing and supporting us. However, because Togo lacks access to public health knowledge and systems, this seminar has become a light in the darkness, a path where there was none. The public health seminars have been broadcast nation-wide for the past three years. Once again, we can see that regardless of nationality or industry, through unity in the Lord,there is opportunity to build national and even global platforms to cultivate people and bless nations . This year’s community seminar saw about 100 attendees, including 6 village chiefs. This year’s community seminar was both timely and exciting, and God moved two speakers to come take part in it. The first speaker was Chiayi Christian Hospital’s director, Dr. Benjamin Kuo. Dr. Kuo has an extensive background as a medical missionary, is an authority on infectious disease, and was one of the key doctors who fought against SARS. Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, God moved Dr. Kuo to take part in this medical mission trip to speak about “How to Prevent the Spread of Disease”. There was translation provided from Mandarin to Ewe (Togo’s local language), and the teaching was very thorough. This helped the attendees understand what contagious diseases are, how they spread, and how to prevent them from spreading. The entire audience was engaged, and attended a valuable lecture on medical knowledge. In addition, Dr. Kuo shared two very important statements: 1) “You need to be concerned about the spread of these infectious diseases, but don’t panic. Being concerned will help you focus on prevention, but panic will not help you.” 2) “The only victory over this fear is through Jesus Christ: all people are born and die once, but those who believe in Jesus, will be born again. You do not need to fear death, because you already have eternal life.”
The second speaker was Dr. Jan-wei Chiu, the Director of the Rehabilitation Department of Taiwan Veteran’s General Hospital. From the report of last year’s medical mission team, she discovered that many West African women have very straight postures, but many have pain in their lower back, pelvis, and tailbone. Dr. Chiu and the team realized this is caused by frequent births, the carrying of heavy objects on their head, as well as the method used to carry children on their back. Dr. Chiu came up with a unique set of stretching exercises and methods that can help with pain relief. Throughout this trip, we often heard Dr. Chiu passionately discussing future plans to treat common conditions in a more targeted manner with the medical mission team. It sounds like these co-workers and partners do intend to stick with us for the long run! Praise and thanks be to God!
At the end of the seminar it was my turn to be back on stage. I was thoroughly moved, and I hoped that every attendee would leave this seminar with what Dr. Kao shared, that they can receive their second birth through knowing Jesus Chris. No matter what storm, mountain high, or valley low stands before them, they will have a true peace that cannot ever be taken away, even in the face of disease and death.. I shared with every guest “My greatest hope for the people of Togo is not only to achieve a self-sufficient life, but be healthy in body, soul, and spirit. Therefore, I invite those who are willing to receive Jesus and this second life to wave to God.” The response of the audience really surprised me, as the entire audience including the 6 chiefs waved to God and were willing to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Thank God, this public health seminar actually became a huge harvest of the gospel! The holistic healing of the body, soul and spirit were well-received!
On March 6, the COVID-19 virus spread to Togo, and Africa also joined this global war against the pandemic. Since Togo lacked public health education, Dr. Kuo’s seminar in February became the greatest support to them. The ACTS career training school and River of Life Clinic, having gone through the Health Department and Ministry of Communication’s approval, released several videos on the prevention of the spread of the virus. Suddenly, we became God’s vessel in this time of crisis, working on the front lines with Togo’s government to educate the people on how to face the virus and protect the people of the country.
Through the crisis of COVID-19, I have come to realize that education, medical care, and faith are the important foundations of a country. How blessed are we that through prayer, financial, and direct support of the education and medical work of ACTS, we are building a stronger and more favorable foundation for Africa together.
DAt this time, Togo is still fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Let us pray together and look to God to cover West African under His wings, to protect the people and stop the virus.
Thank God for allowing us to have this seminar, and we look forward to sharing another exciting story in the second installment.
We sincerely invite you to continue to walk with us in Prayers and Donations, Forward! Africa, Forward Love! Support ACTS!
May God bless you,
Pastor James Wang and ACTS Team
The following video is the Togo version of COVID-19 prevention, produced by ACTS Togo Career Training School and River of Life Clinic.
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