Kingdom Connections: DeKryger Family and the Hospital of Hope serving West Africa
*NEW: Kingdom Connections with Carmen spotlights ministries, individuals, resources, and more that are building the Kingdom of Heaven right here and now on earth— and we want you to know about them! We hope you are encouraged, challenged and informed, and perhaps find new ways you can participate in God’s work at home and around the world.
Who? The Hospital of Hope and Jennifer DeKryger, medical missionary
Where? The DeKryger Family serves in Togo, West Africa, as a part of the Hospital of Hope in Mango, a Muslim town of over 45,000, and one of the most needy in West Africa.
What? With people dying every day without healthcare or the hope of salvation, their team helped launch the Hospital of Hope in 2015.
Now known as “the hospital that prays,” all of its patients are exposed to the good news through the care that they receive. Bible study groups have sprung up in numerous, local villages, and many locals are accepting Christ as their Savior..
When? This February, the ministry is celebrating 10 years of God’s faithfulness and the Hospital’s work in Mango.
Photos of Jennifer, her son Drew and friends from the Hospital of Hope 10 year anniversary celebration
Why (do I want you to know about this ministry)? Let’s start with Jennifer— she is my first cousin. Her dad, Bill, is my mom’s youngest brother.
Jennifer has had a joyful contagious faith in Jesus for as long as I can remember. She loves people passionately and she wants people to passionately love Jesus. When her husband, Todd, who was the medical director of the hospital, died on the mission field of lassa fever, there were many people who simply assumed that Jennifer would pack up her four boys and come “home” to the U.S. But Jennifer is home, in Togo.
Sharing in her most recent newsletter about the hundreds thousands of patients served, babies birthed, and surgeries completed in just the last decade, Jennifer wrote this in reflecting on the anniversary of the Hospital of Hope:
I cannot begin to express my gratitude to God for His perfect faithfulness to us. As we approach the anniversary of the opening of the Hospital of Hope on the 26th of February, He drives us to pause and reflect on His goodness. We have learned much in ten years. And we have a lot more to learn! Here is just a small sampling of some of those hard-earned lessons:
(1) We serve the God whose ear is open. He gives good things to His children (Mt. 7:11). He opens to the knocking, answers the asking, and reveals Himself to the seeking (Mt. 7:7-8).
(2) He never delays too long in relation to His beloved children. He knows what we need yet still delights when we pour out our hearts to Him (Mt. 6:8, Lk. 18:7).
(3) He sees in all places and hears at all hours (Mt. 6:6).
(4) Suffering teaches us that the greatest good in life is not comfort or the absence of pain but being conformed into the image of Christ.
(5) The Kingdom of God comes in surprising ways, through sacrifice rather than control or earthly influence and through bearing a cross rather than seeking honor.
(6) No matter how frustrating it seems, the Kingdom is hidden from all except those who see with God-given eyes of faith (Lk. 10:22).
(7) Long-term faithfulness and boasting in our brokenness, weakness, and need magnify the strength of God as He enables us to persevere (2 Cor. 12:9).
These verses mentioned are all scriptures that I have memorized since childhood yet living them out these ten years has galvanized them into my heart and soul. Even when answers were not and are not what we had requested, He is giving us more of Himself. What more could we want? There is something about plodding and enduring in truth and seeing His faithfulness played out in front of your eyes that drives you to our trustworthy God.
Thank you for your part in bringing the truth of the Gospel to the “least of these” who come to us from across the nations of West Africa. Because you stand with us, we can “Declare among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!” (Ps. 96:10)
How (Can you get involved or know more)?
- Find out more about Hospital of Hope https://abwe.org/hospital-hope/
- Pray to the Lord that he would add to their number the laborers urgently needed for this fruitful ministry to flourish;
- Give to support Jennifer and her family’s work at Hospital of Hope https://give.abwe.org/worker/jennifer-dekryger
- Sign up for her newsletter to keep up to date on the ministry https://dekrygersfortogo.com/#subscribe
