Empowering villages in
Togo
We’re JP and Lindsey, and we live in Togo, West Africa! Our mission is to partner with and empower the rural villages of Togo through the love of Christ to meet their physical, educational, economic, and spiritual needs.
It all began with a grandmother's faith.
JP (Jean-Paul) was born in Togo, West Africa. He spent his early childhood with his grandmother, Eunice, who surrounded him with love, prayer, and faith until the age of five. When his mother left for the United States, JP was just 13 years old and found himself living alone in a large family compound shared with renters and one of his uncles. Life was difficult, but his connection with Grandma Eunice remained strong. During school breaks and vacations, he would visit her village of Amou-Oblo (where he was born) — those visits became sacred moments where she continued to plant in him the seeds of Christian faith, teaching strength, kindness, and trust in God that would guide him through every challenge.
Those seeds took root. In February 2006, at the age of 20, JP joined his mother in the U.S. Carrying Grandma Eunice’s faith and wisdom, he built a new life — eventually creating a successful IT career and business that reflected the same perseverance she had inspired.
Now, after JP’s twenty-year journey in America, we have returned home to plant permanent roots—not simply to give back, but to carry forward Grandma Eunice’s legacy. Our mission is to sow the same hope she once planted in JP, empowering new generations in Togo to rise and shine.
Our shared passion and preparation
Our shared passion is centered upon our faith in Jesus Christ, which is the heartbeat behind Rise & Shine Africa.
Lindsey has spent the past fifteen years leading a non-profit serving trafficked teens in Dallas and holds a degree in Horticulture from Texas A&M. Though she’s kept it as a hobby, she’s excited to reignite her learnings full-time in Togo! JP is an entrepreneur, working in IT/network engineering and education, and for years, he’s invested in land in Togo.
In 2025, we felt a strong call from God to move to Togo full-time to begin mission work on the land we’ve acquired, starting with building a church and community center in one of the small villages outside of Amou-Oblo, Grandma Eunice’s village. We moved to Togo February of 2026, and the mission is in full swing!
– Lindsey + JP
The Vision
Church Planting + Community Center
One of the clearest parts of our calling is to establish a church on the corner of the farmland near Amou Oblo — a place where people can gather for worship, discipleship, prayer, and community. We envision this space becoming a welcoming hub where spiritual life and everyday life intersect. Over time, it may also serve as a place for gatherings, encouragement, teaching, and practical support for families in the surrounding villages.
Sustainable Agriculture + Farming
Our 240-acre farmland holds great potential to support both families and the surrounding community. Over time, we hope to explore sustainable farming practices that can provide food, create opportunities for local workers, and care well for the land. Our hope is that the land can become a source of nourishment, opportunity, and blessing for the people who live nearby.
Youth Education + STEAM School
We carry a vision for creating opportunities where children can learn, grow, and be equipped for the future — beginning with a small village school connected to the church near Amou Oblo, and one day expanding to include a STEM-focused school on our property in Kpalimé. Our prayer is that these efforts will help raise up future leaders who can strengthen their communities and shape the next generation.
“From roots to growth, together we will rise.”
JP Avekoe
The Opportunity
Help us turn this land into a vibrant beacon of hope!
JP spent many years acquiring land near his grandmother’s village of Amou-Oblo. Now that we are living in Togo full-time, we are beginning the next chapter: learning how this land can best serve the surrounding communities.
One thing we know for certain is that God has called us to build a church on the corner of the property — a place for worship, discipleship, and community life. As a first step toward serving the area, we have begun by drilling a water well that will provide clean water for nearby families.
Beyond these first steps, we are listening, learning, and building relationships. Over time, we believe this land can become a place where both practical needs and spiritual hope grow together.
Your support allows us to be here in this early season — investing in the land, the community, and whatever God chooses to grow next.