A « Mini-RIAD » for a new mission in West Africa

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Saturday, 11 June 2011, was a special day for the broader Assumption community in Sokode (Togo), including the Sisters of the Assumption, the Orantes of the Assumption and the Augustinians of the Assumption, together with the lay collaborators of our different apostolates. Approximately forty participants spent some intense moments of reflection, conversation and fraternity.

The communities of the Assumption family in Sokode are already international at the local level, but the international character of the “Mini-RIAD” just held was made even more so by the presence of Fathers Benoît Bigard and Claude Maréchal, who had come for formation sessions for the postulants and novices of the Assumptionists and Orantes. 

A year ago, religious of the entire Assumption family gathered in Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, to reflect on the theme “Dialogue with the Evangelical Churches.” To put it succinctly, our desire was to do at the local level something of what had been done at the international level. This was a hope expressed at the end of the RIAD in July 2010 in Brazil. This is the reason for which we proposed a Mini-RIAD, on Evangelical churches, in order to deepen our understanding of what they are and what they are doing. Our young people in formation were in a position to contribute a great deal to small-group discussions because they just recently attended a workshop on Christian Churches with Fr. Benoît Bigard.
 
Since it was impossible to live in one day what was experienced in two weeks in Rio, we decided on a very modest program for our Mini-RIAD. After a word of welcome at the beginning by Fr. René and a presentation Fr. Aristide of the motivation behind this gathering, four small working groups were created to talk about what we knew of the Evangelical Churches, the questions that these pose for us and the challenges that we perceive and should confront, etc.
 
After reports from the small-groups, a half-hour coffee break afforded us the possibility of relaxing and getting to know each other better. Then we listened to the first conference of the day, by Fr. Aristide, on the “Identity of the Evangelical Churches.” This is based principally on the supreme authority of the Scriptures and justification by personal faith in Jesus Christ. The presentation also pointed out the characteristics of the Evangelical Churches: the centrality of the Bible, an emphasis on conversion and on the cross, militancy.
 
Then, the participants followed very closely a presentation of the list of the religious sects to be found in the city of Lomé, Togo’s capital. More than 400 sects could be identified. This long list includes communities that are not necessarily Christian. It includes Christian as well as Muslim sects, and other sects of Eastern inspiration (Buddhist especially).
 
After a discussion on this list, the group shared a fraternal meal. Then a second conference was presented by Fr. Jean-Paul Sagadou, on the theme: “The anthropological and socio-political reasons for the growth of Evangelical Churches.” Benoît Bigard then reminded us of the recurring themes in our reflection. A round-table exchange, with the participation of an Evangelical priest, concluded the activities of the day.