JAARS’ African-American Mission Mobilizer Duke Simpson Plays Role Of Joseph In Togo, West Africa

Four years ago he never would have dreamt that he would be feted with a ceremony of reconciliation by “Mina” speaking people in the southern Togo coastal region – people whose ancestors perhaps sold his ancestors into slavery.

Simpson at the dedication of the Wycliffe Togo office. He is pictured with Wycliffe administrator Sani Banecima (left) and Yve Lawson (right) who was one who had tearfully asked Simpson’s forgiveness for selling him into slavery.

He took one of the Saturday “JAARS Day” tours four years ago and while walking across the JAARS center in the countryside outside of Waxhaw, he told his tour guide, “I thought I came here to inspire someone else about missions, but now I realize it is about me.” At that time, the former Charlotte welder could see himself helping repair airplane parts, a crucial job in helping Bible translators access remote language groups so that they could engage in Bible translations in their languages.

Instead of welding in a missions context, however, Simpson would find himself making three mission trips to Togo and moving into the role of African–American mobilization coordinator at JAARS.

Simpson says, “There is no greater honor in my life than to be part of the Bible Translation worldwide. God has used my going to Togo to change lives there as well as here.”

Challenged that Bible translation was moving too slowly to reach the 34 languages of Togo, and challenged also by Wycliffe and JAARS vision to have a Bible translation begun in every language by 2025, Simpson went on his first short term trip to Togo in 2001 to help build a Wycliffe office to recruit Togolese to become involved.

A second trip in 2003 had him back in Togo to help the fledgling Wycliffe organization again. This time he helped install their first computer and also installed air conditioning in the office in Kara for SIL Togo that coordinates language development and literacy in Togo.

On Simpson’s third trip to Togo in November 2003, Simpson stayed a year. One of his tasks was to help network six computers in the Wycliffe Togo office that JAARS had donated.

In response to being asked why a Charlotte welder would be asked to go to an African nation where he doesn’t speak the trade language, French, in order to install computers, Simpson quotes I Corinthians 1:26, “For you see your calling brethren, how, there are not many wise men in the world, not too many mighty men, not many noble are called; for God has chosen the foolish of the world to confound the wise.…”

It was on this third trip while he was in southern coastal village of Anaho with two short term mission workers from his home church in Charlotte, The Study House, that he received a most unusual request.

Some of the local Mina-speaking leaders, whose ancestors some 400 years before had sold slaves bound for America, came to Simpson. Their ancestors had sold Éwé people into slavery.

Simpson and his friends from Charlotte were the first African–Americans to visit that area. Mina leaders were sorrowful and asked their forgiveness for selling American Blacks into slavery.

At first, Simpson thought “I’m just a welder from Charlotte.” He felt his small short term mission group was not qualified to represent all American Blacks. However, Simpson feels God told him that he was put in this unique situation and they should accept their request for forgiveness.

A large ceremony of reconciliation was held. At the ceremony, Simpson was able to tell them that, just as when in the Bible Joseph’s brothers meant harm for Joseph when they sold him into slavery, when African–Americans were sold into slavery, God turned an evil thing it into good. Simpson told them African–Americans were no longer oppressed but lived in relative prosperity, and he had returned to help them much as Joseph was able to help his brothers during famine while he was a ruler in Egypt.

However, Simpson was able to offer them much more than grain. He offered the Good News, a way out of their traditional religions. Now some of the Mina-speaking people are even engaged in helping in the Bible translation ministry.

Simpson all along has shared his vision with his home church in Charlotte and they have stood beside him in support of his current mission. People of his congregation have traveled with him on the short term trips.

Some closure has taken place for their efforts as three days before Simpson left Togo last November he was able to see the completion of the Wycliffe Togo facility. A structure is in place to help God’s Word reach 34 people groups in their heart language. The soft-spoken welder from Charlotte had no small part in it.

Currently Simpson is working to encourage more African Americans to become involved in foreign missions. Simpson, says “My vision is that church members will learn to care and will go overseas and show their love. This needs to happen before a Bible translation program can take place.”

JAARS speeds up the Bible translation process by providing quality technical support services and resources. These include air, land and water transportation, information technology and non-print media options in vernacular languages. These services support the Wycliffe Bible Translators family of organizations in their dedication to providing Scriptures in the languages of all the world’s peoples who need it.

Information on visiting JAARS, serving in long or short term service opportunities, or supporting JAARS ministries can be found at www.jaars.org.

Contact: Arthur Lightbody, JAARS Special Assistant to the President for Public Relations, Office: 704-843-6048 Cell Phone: 704-608-3033, arthur_lightbody@sil.org