Support ministry growth in Benin

Dr. Bernard Sogbo attends to a patient in Tchaourou, Benin, in May. Our fundraising letter is encouraging donors to support to growth of Dr. Sogbo’s clinic. (Photo by Dr. Brent Van Andel)

Luke Society directors are evangelists who just happen to be doctors.

This is what we often tell people as we describe the Luke Society’s philosophy of ministry. It is especially true of Dr. Bernard Sogbo, the director of one of the newest Luke Society ministries, Tchaourou, Benin, in west Africa.

When we visited Benin to see him this past May, one of his first questions was, “How can we do a better job at evangelism?” He asked us to meet two pastors on his staff, and we discussed strategies for more effective work in the communities.

Bernard understands the importance of this. He was born into a family without Jesus. He explains that his parents followed idols. He describes past problems with insomnia, nightmares, anxiety and concentration. He considered a life of crime and delinquency. However, a neighbor shared the Gospel with him, and he became a Christian.

As a medical student, he spent a year with Dr. Martin Luther Osse at the Luke Society ministry in N’Dali, Benin. During that time, he began to understand the importance of spiritual as well as physical healing. After graduation, he chose to practice in the community of Tchaourou because of the lack of medical care there and the opportunities to share the Word of God with people who had never heard it.

Bernard works long hours at his clinic and in the communities. He is the only doctor on staff at his ministry and is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He lives an hour away from his clinic and often must leave his wife and two young daughters for long periods. He is considering adding another doctor to his staff which will increase his operating budget significantly next year.

Each fall, Luke Society directors submit a budget proposal to the central office. We are requesting $25,000 to assist with Bernard’s budget this coming year. Your support will enable Bernard to keep providing medical care. More importantly, it will enable him to keep telling people about Jesus.

If you would like to support this project financially, you click on the link to give to Tchaourou, Benin.