Empowering villages in
Togo
We’re JP and Lindsey, and we are moving to 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 — 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 are returning 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 works 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. Our big move is scheduled for February 2026, but the project work has already begun!
– Lindsey + JP
The Vision
Church Planting + Community Centers
We will establish churches in rural villages alongside local partners, ensuring they immediately serve as community hubs that offer spiritual renewal and essential services like food pantries, weekly health clinics, and access to clean water. The first one, outside of Amou-Oblo, will be located on the corner of the farmland, allowing easy access to food crops.
Sustainable Agriculture + Farming
Our 240-acre ranch and farmland project will cultivate both immediate food relief and long-term economic stability by training locals in sustainable agriculture and creating stable jobs. We will also build welcoming guest cabins on the property, offering partners and visitors a chance to connect directly with the land and experience the mission firsthand.
Youth Education + STEAM School
We will establish a foundational K-6 Village School on the ranch and a specialized STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, Math) Boarding School in Kpalime, with both institutions focused on equipping children and youth with the education, character, and technological literacy needed for regional leadership and to thrive in a modernizing world.
“From roots to growth, together we will rise. This is our vision for Rise & Shine Africa.”
JP Avekoe
The Opportunity
Help us turn this land into a vibrant beacon of hope!
After years of faith and hard work on JP’s part, we have secured 240 acres of fertile land outside Amou Oblo, about two hours north of Togo’s capital. The land is ready, and the plan is in place. This is the critical moment: we need your foundational support to begin building the initial hub, including the church and community center. Join us now and be part of the first bricks laid for the next generation in Togo.