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TogoHostile
Christian Persecution in Togo
Overview:
Togo is a small West African nation located between Ghana and Benin on the Atlantic coast. Large, thriving churches exist in the nation’s capital, Lome, but the Christian population decreases and the Muslim population increases toward the northern part of the country. In northern Togo, wealthy Arab nations have supported development such as water wells and the construction of new mosques, and Islamist groups from neighboring Burkina Faso are also active in the north.
Major Religion:
Christians compose 45 percent of Togo’s population of just under 10 million people, while 38 percent practice ethnic religions and 16 percent are Muslims.
Persecutor:
In the central and southern parts of Togo, the main persecutors are voodoo practitioners and those who practice traditional spiritism. In the north, the sources of persecution are Muslim families and Islamist groups.
What It Means To Follow Christ In Togo
Outside of the capital, Christians are opposed by those who follow traditional religions and by Muslims. In the predominantly Muslim north, Christian converts from Islam have been rejected and threatened by their families. In some places, Muslims have disrupted church services by throwing rocks at church buildings. Some Christians have also been denied access to water wells paid for by Muslim groups. In areas of the south, where voodooism and spiritism are common, churches have been burned and Christians attacked. Still, persecution has not stopped churches in the south from sending Togolese missionaries to other parts of the country.
Access To Bibles
Bibles are available in the capital, but they can be difficult to find and are often prohibitively expensive for those living outside of Lome. Illiteracy rates are higher in the northern part of the country, where audio Bibles are an effective and much-needed tool. Give Bibles
VOM Work
Churches are well established in southern Togo, and VOM assists them with Bible distributions and support for persecuted Togolese Christians. Give to VOM’s Global Ministry
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for persecuted Christians like Abraham, who was severely beaten by villagers because of his Christian faith.
- Pray for Christians who are threatened by cross-border raids of militant Fulani Muslims.
- The country is influenced by voodooists and animists. Pray that the power of Christ will be evident in his church.
- Pray for ethnic Fulani who come to faith in Christ. They are often strongly opposed by family and community.
- Pray that God will supply every need of Christians who are rejected by their Muslim or animist families.