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Friendship Baptist Church

2008 Missions Conference

David and Doris Totman

Ghana
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We were both raised in Christian homes and accepted Christ as our personal Savior at early ages.

 

We began our missionary service with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism in 1971 in Bangladesh, South Asia.  After 15 years of service, we returned to the USA due to health concerns.  We served in our home church of First Baptist Church of Cincinnatus, NY as school administrator and assistant pastor. Then, 1990 we felt the Lord redirecting us into missions in Kenya, East Africa.  In 1997 as the Lord started moving us toward the field of Ghana, West Africa, the mission encouraged us to consider this to fill a critical need they had there.  We have now completed more than 35 years of service with ABWE.  Consider the focus of our ministry below:

 

· All three of our children, Debi, Dave Jr. and Dawn were born in Bangladesh.  They all graduated from High School in Nairobi, Kenya.  All are now married and serving the Lord through their churches.  Debi and Jono are in the Detroit, MI area, Dave Jr. and Anora are missionaries in Niger, West Africa along with our three adorable grandchildren, and Dawn and Jason are in the York, PA area.

 

· The pattern for our ministry is Matt. 28:19-20.

 

The thrust of our ministry has been and continues to be leadership training and church planting. 

 

Our strategy forms an acrostic:  ACT:  Assisting Churches through Training.

 

1)  In Bangladesh we had yearly Bible Schools for tribal people from about 40 churches.  Then we would have monthly seminars for evangelists to train leaders for churches.  A few years ago we learned there are now over 140 churches that have formed together into 2 tribal associations.  We helped establish the Baptist Bible Institute of Bangladesh.  A graduate of the BBIB is now overseeing the church planting and tribal associations.  We also helped establish Bilchari Baptist Church at Hebron in 1986.

 

2)  In Kenya we were able to train leadership for Berean Baptist Church that was established in June 1996.

 

3)  In Ghana we have helped establish and now administrate Mathetes (the Greek word for disciple) Baptist Bible College.  We have 4 graduates from the school and one will be graduating soon (10/07). We have 9 churches we are partnering with in Ghana helping them move toward indigenization. 

 

For 35 years we have been Assisting Churches through Training their leaders.

 

· In January, 2006, ABWE initiated a West African theological training program with a goal of developing a multi-level accredited theological training program for leaders in Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Cameroon.  To more effectively carry out the Great Commission, by Assisting Churches through Training, means:

 

1)  National leaders would be endorsed by their local churches

2)  National leaders would be trained to plant and lead churches biblically

3)  National leaders would know how to handle conflict biblically and culturally.

 

Partnering with national leaders helps maintain focus on indigenous principles and handling problems in a more biblical culturally sensitive way.

 

· I have been appointed as Director of Baptist Theological Education in Africa to develop a multi-level accredited training program for men and women throughout West & Central Africa.

 

1)  Level I is church institutes leading to certificates

2)  Level II is a two-tiered Bible college training for a non-degree honors program and a bachelor degree program.

3) Level III is a seminary graduate program to be established after a credible baccalaureate program is established throughout West Africa.

 

A board has been established.  The designing of curriculum goals and objectives with national pastors is complete.  We are now working on developing courses that reflect the goals and objectives as outlined by the national pastors.  Initial steps for accreditation are being pursued.  We are hoping to begin holding the first classes of BTEA in 2008. 

 

It is a great undertaking that needs your prayers because it is our desire to be obedient to 2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”  Thank you for praying on our behalf.