Dear pastors, supporting churches and praying friends,
As some of you may remember, my last semester at the Crown College of the Bible in Powell, TN was this past spring. I will be finishing up and receiving my Master of Divinity degree. This program requires an internship in a local church of like faith. By God’s grace, I have had the opportunity and privilege to serve as an intern at Hillsdale Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida, with Pastor Travis Smith and his staff. From January till now, it has been such blessings to see how much I have learned here! Hillsdale is an independent Baptist church with a thriving Christian Academy. While serving here, I have had the privilege to spend quality time with each one of the pastors each week. The Lord has given me many opportunities to speak in the chapel services, the Awana program, the teen classes, to teach different Sunday school classes and observe the classroom setting in the Academy. It has been a tremendous journey to serve with and among brethren here, who are so gracious to me.
Through the fervent prayers, God has led Hillsdale Baptist Church to consider me as one of their missionaries and I am so grateful for such a privilege. On Sunday April 17th, Pastor Travis Smith, the senior pastor, gave me the opportunity to preach and to present my future ministry in Togo.
My deadline for returning to Togo is approaching rather quickly. On Sunday evening, June 10th, my ordination ceremony will be conducted here at Hillsdale Baptist Church. My upcoming schedule for presenting my ministry and returning to Togo is as follows: – June 24th – Emmanuel Baptist Church, Speedwell, TN, with Pastor Donald Proffitt; – July 1st – Crossroads Baptist Church, Knoxville, TN, with Pastor Danny Dixon;- July 9th – Flying out of John F. Kennedy Airport, NY, in route to Togo
I am so excited and looking forward to what the Lord has for me back in Togo. God has blessed me with a very godly friend, Matthew Wilkerson, who will be returning with me to help me for a year.
I desire to personally thank you for your prayer, encouragement and financial support and how God has used you to provide continually for my needs.
Please, continue to keep me in your prayers as you always do. May God make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
In Christ,
Yaovi, “I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK…”