OMS Outreach Outreach Online May-August 2020 | Page 20

Experienced African Church Planter to Direct VCP Ministry By Susan Loobie, OMS Director of Communications OMS Outreach magazine recently had the opportunity to sit down with Claude Djabene Douti, a tall (6’4”) African man with a softspoken voice. Claude became the new village church planting (VCP) director on April 1, 2020, overseeing OMS work in 24 African nations. OMS Outreach: Tell us a little about your background. Claude: I was born and raised in a village in Togo, West Africa. I graduated from an agricultural college and then moved to Cote d’Ivoire with a plan to study agricultural statistics. But I soon met Christ, and everything changed. Shortly thereafter, I began to pastor my first church, where I met my wife Christine. Outreach: Tell us about your family. Claude: I married Christine in 1991. We have 12 children, 5 of whom are adopted, ranging in age from 24-12. They all support my ministry. Outreach: How did your involvement with OMS begin? Claude: I studied at the All Nations for Christ Bible Institute in Nigeria. After graduating, I returned to Cote d’Ivoire to pastor a church, where I served for 17 years. Then 20