Togo

Capital: Lomé

Major Language: French

Area: 56,785 km2

Population: 8.5 million

HDI Rank: 167 of 189

Major Religion:

Indigenous: 3 million (36%)

Other Religions:

Catholic: 1.5 million (18%)

Protestant: 2.2 million (26%)

Islam: 1.1 million (14%)

Other: 0.5 million (6%)

General Information:

Togo means “House of Sea”. The first Europeans to arrive in Togo, were the Portuguese in the 15th century. Togo, once known as “The Slave Coast”, was an area that was a major part of the slave trade. The region was colonized by both Germany and France, before gaining its independence in 1960. Since becoming an independent nation, Togo has struggled with internal strife. The political and economic situation remains unstable. The country has a Voodoo market, and celebrates Voodoo traditional festivals. Soccer and boxing are popular sports.

Religious Background:

The religion of Togo has remained faithful to the country’s pagan history. The majority of the country’s population has indigenous beliefs and ancestor worship called Voodoo. Catholicism was introduced by the Portuguese in the 15th century, and Protestantism became popular, when the Germans arrived in Togo in the late 19th century. Syncretism is a huge issue as ancestor worship and other African rituals have made their way into churches. Islam was introduced in the country by the various Muslim immigrants from other African countries.

Catholic background:

The Portuguese introduced Catholicism during the 15th century. Togo received its first Catholic missionaries in 1863, when priests of the African Missions Society came to visit the coastal villages. The country had 20,000 Catholics when the first vicariate was established in 1914. After World War II, when the region fell under French authority, Franciscans, Benedictines and several religious congregations of men and women entered the mission. The Church is composed of one archdiocese, 7 dioceses and 151 parishes. Patron saint: None.

Prayer Points

1. Togolese to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior

Pray that everyone will get an opportunity to hear the gospel and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

2. Catholics to know Christ

Pray for the salvation of 1.5 million Catholics in Togo.
Catholicism is mixed with indigenous beliefs, ancestor worship and voodoo. Pray for freedom from every religious and occultic bondage.
Seek God for a fresh fire of God’s Spirit among the Catholics in the nation.
Ask God to remove every wrong understanding and false beliefs from their lives that is blocking them from accepting the truth of the gospel.
Pray for all the Catholics attending the 151 parishes to come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Pray for the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, 448 priests, 337 brothers and 735 sisters.
Pray that as Catholics read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will illuminate the truth about God’s love and the salvation He provides for them.

3. Evangelicals to grow and multiply

The Evangelical church has grown rapidly since the 1980s, with many new evangelical groups from outside Togo establishing their denominations. Pray for churches and organizations to be united in their efforts to evangelize the nation. Pray for the gospel to be presented in culturally relevant ways, but without compromise.

4. Social evils and issues in the country

HIV/AIDS, malaria, yellow fever, hepatitis and typhoid are the leading cause of death. Around 1/3rd of the population live below the poverty line. Child trafficking and prostitution is rampant. Pray for the cessation, and relief from all these evils.

5. Other Religions

Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Traditional African religions are found in the country. Ancestor worship and Voodoo have deep roots. Pray that there will be an openness to the gospel and many will embrace Jesus as their Lord and Savior.