VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 5/23/14)—Rev. Holale C. Azondjagni and his wife, Awenam Anifrani, of Evanston, Illinois, have been endorsed by American Baptist International Ministries (IM) to serve as missionaries with the Federation of Evangelical Baptist Churches of France.
Holale will assist pastors in developing outreach programs, preaching, leading small groups and discipleship training. Awenam will assist in the development of outreach programs and in leading small groups and discipleship training courses.
Born in Togo, Africa, both Holale and Awenam are naturalized American citizens. Their home church is North Shore Baptist in Chicago, Illinois. Holale is an ordained pastor and is currently serving the West Ridge United Methodist Church. Awenam is employed as the Housekeeping Supervisor at the Hilton Garden Inn. They are both fluent in French and English.
When asked why they feel called to this ministry, Holale responded that the call fits into his vision: “to use my pastoral call to glorify God, evangelize non-believers, edify believers and reach out to the local community.” Awenam expressed a deep passion for working with children. “I believe that it’s God’s plan for me based upon my life experiences,” she commented.
Larry Greenfield, regional executive minister for American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago, offered this comment: “My rejoicing is twofold: that one of the most talented, most energetic, most committed of my colleagues in ministry is now being given the opportunity to do what he and his wife know is God’s call; that the denomination I love is providing Holale and Awenam this opportunity for missionary service.”
As an endorsed missionary couple, Holale and Awenam will be working in the months ahead to build their Mission Partnership Network. They will be inviting individuals, groups and churches to partner with them by committing to share the spiritual, relational and financial support needed to begin their ministries in France.
Please join IM in celebrating this new endorsement and praying for Holale and Awenam as they invite others to join them in ministry. You may send words of encouragement and communicate directly with Holale and Awenam at holale.azondjagni@internationalministries.org or awenam.anifrani@internationalministries.org.
American Baptist International Ministries is celebrating 200 years of ministry in 2014. Organized in 1814 as the first Baptist international mission agency in America, it began its pioneer mission work in Burma and today works in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas serving more than 1,800 long-term and short-term missionaries. Its central mission is to help people come to faith in Jesus, grow in their relationship with God, and change their worlds through the power of the Spirit. It works with respected partners in over 70 countries in ministries that meet human need.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.