In West Africa, medical care opens doors for spiritual care.
When injury or serious illness interrupts daily routines, those affected often contemplate the deeper issues of life and death—and Christian medical providers find great opportunities to treat both body and soul as they share the hope of Christ with the hurting.
Since 2018, missionaries John and Tabitha Groeneveld, along with their five children, have offered that kind of Christ-centered care in Togo at an ABWE hospital, clinic, and mobile clinics in local villages. John recently described how God is using their day-to-day ministry to lead others to Christ.
Where do you serve, and what does ministry look like in your context?
My family and I serve in southern Togo as medical missionaries at Hôpital Baptiste Biblique (HBB), and I serve as leader of the ABWE Togo South team. My wife, Tabitha, and I are both nurse practitioners working in the hospital and clinic. We also lead a mobile clinic ministry setting up temporary medical clinics in rural villages to share the gospel and to encourage and support the local churches that minister there.
How would you describe the general spiritual need of the Togolese population?
The spiritual need in Togo is profound. Togolese people are generally willing to listen to the gospel, but there is a strong pull toward syncretism. The typical Togolese is deeply rooted in animism and then adds Catholicism, Islam, or other beliefs on top of it. To teach the importance of true faith based on Christ alone, we work to build lasting relationships that open the door to discipleship and a deeper walk with Christ.
What is the state of the local church where you serve?
The local church is generally stable, but there is a significant need for spiritual growth among individual believers. In the church we help, I have encouraged the Togolese leaders to focus on what the New Testament church should look like in a Togolese context. I also encourage members to study the Bible personally rather than relying on church services as their only time in Scripture.
How have you recently seen God at work through your ministry?
I lead a one-on-one Bible study with a young man who attends our church and works as a security guard at the hospital. As we study, we talk about questions in life and ministry. I have seen a real change in how he processes his experiences: he now considers them through a biblical lens rather than only a cultural one.
How can believers in the US pray for you, your team, and the people you serve?
- Pray for new workers to join the harvest.
- Pray that Togolese believers would have a heart for missions and a burden to reach their own people and other tribes within Togo.
- Pray for good relationships with the Togolese government.
