Risking 'weakness' shows Jesus’ power
by Lynda Hollinger-Janzen

Beninese Christians see the church as a place of refuge from evil forces. Praising God for deliverance from the grip of demonic powers permeates Beninese worship. Photo: Provided

Jesus: "I am among you as one who serves'
On his next trip back to Logozohê, Ahoga decided to demonstrate his faith. After praying mightily, he barred terror from his spirit and walked directly to the so-called witch’s house. As he talked with the old woman, he began to realize the loneliness of her fear-shrouded existence. She lived in the midst of filthy clutter.

Ahoga, an African male who had been served by women all his life, stooped to pick up a short palm-branch broom and began to sweep the house clean. An awed crowd of spectators gathered to witness the bizarre scene of a powerful young man voluntarily bent over a broom in the center of a cloud of domestic dust. Stranger still, after putting the house in order, Ahoga prepared a meal and shared a plate of food with the old woman.

The whole village knew Ahoga would not live to see the sun rise the next day.

But … Augustin Ahoga didn't die.

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In fact, 10 family members became Christians through his testimony and started a church in Logozohê. In less than three decades, this church has planted daughter congregations in four neighboring villages.

Ahoga has completed three master’s degrees: one in economics from the University of Benin, one in theology from the Vaux-sur-Seine Theological Seminary in France and a third in biblical studies at the University of Gloucestershire in Cheltenham, England.

Instead of excercising power as a traditional village priest, Ahoga has become an influential leader in the global church. He currently is working on his doctorate and serves as the African director of Groupe biblique universitaire, the French equivalent of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He also chairs the Benin Bible Institute’s board of directors. Benin Bible Institute, a three-year systematic biblical program and a Mennonite Mission Network partner, has trained 600 church leaders from more than 70 denominations since its beginning in 1994.

Ahoga came to the United States on a short-term missionassignment in 2003.

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Return to Beyond Ourselves—Fall 2006