Something remarkable is unfolding in Togo — quietly, steadily and full of hope. Through faithful obedience and teamwork, new churches are beginning to take root where there was once little gospel witness.
At the center of this work is Gentil (pronounced Jan-tee) Dibalibe, a devoted husband to Caroline Ekpe and father to their three children. Their journey began at Amadahomé Free Methodist Church in Lomé, where they met and married. It was there that Gentil responded to God’s call, later training at the Wesley Missionary Institute and graduating in August 2025.
Soon after, a new call emerged. With encouragement from Superintendent Dosseh Takpalé, Gentil accepted an assignment to travel to the rural village of Glainvie Klokpé to strengthen a small church and plant new ones nearby. Beginning in November 2025, he made the journey by motorcycle – over an hour on rough roads – driven by a desire to reach others with the gospel.
During this time, he discovered the village of Avédjé, home to about 3,500 people. “It is a very amiable and welcoming village,” Gentil reported. As he shared the gospel, people responded quickly. “Within just a few days, I was able to win over about 10 people.” On December 20, 2025, the first worship service was held in the home of Komi, a man “who possesses great zeal for the Lord.”
The work in Klokpé and Avédjé soon gained momentum. In February 2026, visiting missionaries joined local believers on a short walk to an overgrown plot of land offered for a future church. There, they prayed together, asking God to provide people, resources and a clear mission.
God answered those prayers. “By the grace of God, we have secured a plot of land … on which to build an apatame,” Gentil shared. In May 2026, the first service was held under this simple open-sided shelter made of wood and tree leaves. Today, the young congregation includes about 10 active members and 15 children.
To support the growing ministry, the Wesley Missionary Institute sent three student interns. They are now planting another church in the nearby village of Gbogéré, with plans to continue even farther north.
What began with one man’s “yes” to God – one journey, one village, one small gathering – is now beginning to multiply.
