Five Young Men Graduate from The TEE Leadership Training Program

The five graduates from left to right: Manzan Eugène, Assomoa Nestor, Ehye Sebastien,
Koffi Émile, Douti Emmanuel
(Émile's wife sneaked into the picture and that's Damon in the middle of course!)


The silence on our part these past few months, doesn't mean we haven't been doing anything. On the contrary, we've been extremely busy on all fronts of the ministry. We're wrapping things up before we head to the States in early June. We're finishing school and packing up our house and getting the Djoula work to a place where we can hand it over to Andy Gable, our CMF team mate. We've been visiting several villages as a family and we've also been continuing with the TEE program with Damon teaching an Old Testament course in March.

This weekend marked a really important day in the history of the leadership training program. In 2006, five men graduated from the training program, some after almost 10 years of study. This weekend five more young men graduated the program. These men have worked very hard studied many late nights and attended courses over several years, all on their own time, with no compensation other than a free education, and have finally meet the requirements needed to graduate the program.

Nestor, Ehye, Eugene, Emmanuel and Emile proudly accepted their diplomas this weekend and promised to lead to serve, not to be served. It was a great weekend long celebration bathed in prayer and rich in fellowship. Saturday evening the graduates invited four family members each to a nice meal with the missionaries and church leadership. After the meal they participated in a candle light ceremony symbolizing the light that Jesus brings to the world and how we are the carriers of that light.


Dinner with the families of the graduates the night before graduation where we had a candlelight ceremony symbolizing the importance of sharing our light (Jesus) with the world who lives in darkness.

Sunday morning, during a six hour (yes SIX!) worship service/graduation ceremony, over 200 people were in attendance as these men received their diplomas and recognition and immediately pointed to Christ, whom they recognized as the only One worthy of any glory.

The graduates arrive all decked out in their Sunday Graduation Best,
marching to "We walk in the light of God"

Their humility was inspiring for all of us, but especially for their fellow Ivoirians because status and honor are a very important part of their culture. They were wonderful, shining examples of servant leaders, following the true Servant Leader, Jesus Christ.


The Graduates and their diplomas. They chose the theme "To serve, not to be served" for their graduation

We all had a small reception afterwards with lots of good snacks, great photos and fun. We were so glad to be able to be here and celebrate this momentous occasion with our brothers in Christ. When we first arrived in 1998, these young men, were just boys. (well most of them. Émile was a man even way back then) It's been such a blessing to us to see them grow up and mature in Christ and now be in positions of leadership in the churches of Abengourou, Adjamé, Bébou, Ebilassokro and Bétié.



During the ceremony, each graduate received a staff symbolizing that they are now shepherds and are to lovingly lead God's people.

We hope you'll keep these five young men in your prayers as they lead God's people here in Ivory Coast. We're so very proud of them!