Although the number of Mennonites is increasing in different African countries, Benin is still one of them where there aren’t any Mennonite churches. Yet the presence of Mennonites is tangible through social and educational projects. I had the privilege to be formed and profoundly impacted by two institutions. Indeed, the Benin Bible Institute (BBI) was inspired by Mennonites from the United States, and La Casa Grande, a children’s home, was inspired by a small Anabaptist community church in Burgos, Spain. The result of the work of those two institutions in my life leads me to a strong resolution to give back to others what I received.
I come from a small, independent Pentecostal church, Fraternité des Eglises Pentecôtes en Afrique (Fraternity of Pentecostal Churches in Africa), and our congregation did not have a biblical seminary. At that time, only the biggest churches had their own seminaries. In my effort to find a place to sharpen my spiritual knowledge, my uncle directed me to BBI.
It was a nice place, because Christians from different denominations could meet and share their faith. During my studies at BBI, I met a missionary couple, Annette and Paco Castillo, from the Anabaptist community church of Burgos. They came to present a new project of a children’s home. After the presentation, they encouraged us to visit them, but I was not personally convinced to go.
However, after a while, I decided to visit and learn more about La Casa Grande’s ministry. That was the beginning of the long journey in which I am still on today.
During the summer of 2001, I visited the couple and saw how they were sharing their lives and helping innocent kids. I was touched to see people who are not from Benin, giving love to Beninese children.
After that day, I tried to answer one question: How am I participating in the transformation of the lives of others? The only answer that came to my heart is that I needed to share my love, too.
It is true that after decades, a lot of discussion is still going on regarding the importance of mission. But from my own experience, I can say that my eyes were widely opened, but I did not always see what was happening all around me. That is why I believe that mission must be encouraged, even if the methods of intervention need to be redefined. This brings up the question of what kind of mission we need today.
During the first two years of my discipleship at La Casa Grande, my studies at BBI helped my spouse and me understand the importance of what we were doing with the children.
BBI was a laboratory we entered to prepare formulas and apply them at La Casa Grande. The Bible school motivated us to give back what we received and to offer love to others.
