Village Church Planting in Africa January-April 2025 | Page 17

sistant to his son ’ s faith , came to disrupt the gathering with his “ magical powers .” He planned to use incantations to destroy the gathering and the churches represented there . When he began his sorcery , he found that his powers had been rendered useless . At last , Ibamondo ’ s father saw that the power his son had found in Jesus was far greater than the power of his idolatrous altar . That day , Ibamondo ’ s father gave his life to Christ .
How did this transformation happen ? It occurred as a result of a process steeped in prayer and carried out by faith . OMS partnered with the Baptist Convention of Togo , just as it does with hundreds of
denominations across Africa . An experienced church planter was trained as a trainer , who then mobilized 15 students to plant first-generation churches . These church planters had a clear vision not only to plant first-generation churches but also to train others to plant second-generation churches , which would , in turn , plant thirdgeneration churches . Ibamondo ’ s faith journey began in a second-generation church . Through God ’ s grace and the training passed down to him from planter to planter , his faithfulness led to the planting of a third-generation church . Ultimately , this resulted in the salvation of his father . Through his journey , Paul ’ s words to Timothy were lived out once again :
“ You then , my child , be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus , and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men , who will be able to teach others also . Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus ” ( 2 Timothy 2:1 – 3 , ESV ).
photos , pages 16-17 : Village Church Planting trainers and planters celebrate all that God has done , including planting multi-generational churches .
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