Travels with Tim

Jubilee

The Celebration - 50 Years

I depart for Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on Saturday, August 9, to attend a celebration 50 years in the making. The Works and Missions Baptist Church International (EPBOMI) was founded in 1975 with Pastor Dion Robert, his wife, and their first child as the charter members. When we met this precious family, they were meeting in a small building, filling it six times on Sunday. I was pastoring AnchorChurch with my father in Fort Worth, Texas. We had no plans for a building, so we were able to send over $400,000 to help build their complex. This is the blue and white building you see in the photo above. They still have to hold multiple services to accommodate the 400,000 participating members worldwide. They have congregations all over the country with members meeting in Paris, France, New York City, and Miami as well. This will be my sixth or seventh trip to Abidjan.

I will attempt to report on my journey each evening, so I invite you to come along with me on a journey of a lifetime … scroll down to read my diary.

Sunday, August 10, 2025

We arrived in Abidjan after a flight to JFK from DFW, a four-hour layover in NY, and a nine-hour jaunt to Côte d’Ivoire. I was fortunate enough to have a whole section of three seats all to myself. I attempted several times to lie across all three to get some sleep, but rest eluded me. I finally got the best sleep on the plane simply sitting up in my assigned chair. Amidst the wails of an unruly baby, I remembered that today was my father's birthday. Jack Taylor would have been 92 years old today. Happy birthday, Dad. I miss you!

We were met at the airport in Abidjan by a large contingent from the church with banners and signs, dressed in uniforms describing the Jubilee event. This included Pastor Dion Robert, the spiritual father of this tremendous tribe. We received a Jubilee sash placed around our necks and a personal greeting from the pastor. These are amazingly gracious people! The jet lag was not overwhelming, and after a brief nap, I was raring to go. Some of us met in shifts in the restaurant for a meal since we did not have lunch on the plane. We accomplished a lot of catching up because, for most of us, this was not our first meeting.

We retired to our rooms at the Hotel Capitol in the Rivera Golf section of town. It is a clean and safe area. They put me in a two-story suite with a bedroom upstairs and a lounge large enough for our group to gather. The weather is unusually cool, and the accommodations are very comfortable. 

I am so blessed by the honor that they share and the care these precious people show toward me. The only reason I can give for such an expression of esteem is that I am my father’s son, both in body and spirit. God is Good!

Tomorrow, we don’t have much planned, so we can rest from the travel. We are touring the church HQ, and I will have photos to share. The one I share tonight is of the police escort we had from the airport to the hotel. They pulled out all the stops. Our lane on the highway was cleared for us, and we ran red lights under the cover of the police siren.

The fellowship is rich, and the blessings are many among the group from the US. I wish you could be with me! Someday, maybe you can come with me and experience the presence of the Lord in West Africa. These precious people certainly have not cornered the market on the Presence of God, but they know how to host God’s manifest presence like few places I know of.

Thanks for staying in touch and praying for my travels. Let’s talk tomorrow.

Oh, I almost forgot. I have something specific for you to pray about that does not directly concern Africa. While waiting for the flight to Abidjan at JFK, I zoomed with my spiritual sons in Mexico. I have been invited to lead a gathering in Oaxaca in September and another training session in November with the leaders of the Transoceanic Church of the Isthmus. Pray that the timing is right and the funds to fulfill these tasks are provided. Thanks again!

Blessings,

Tim

Monday, August 11, 2025

Today, I spent most of the day hanging out with the other Americans who have come to celebrate the Jubilee with the church. We made one excursion to the main campus of the church and enjoyed refreshments and a delightful time with the pastor and staff. We renewed established relationships and launched some new ones. As I was sitting in the pastor’s office, I perused the various charts and maps describing the progress of the church for the past 50 years. I was blown away to find my photo on the wall with several others, four of whom also had their photos on the same wall grouped together. This chart presented the men whom the church considered its international leadership. I was shocked to see my picture with these exceptional men. I did not know that I was considered one of them, but it is an honor to replace my father, because his photo used to adorn the same space. (Photo published on Facebook). The baton has been passed, and I humbly and gratefully accept the call. It is such an honor and privilege to be associated with this pastor and this great congregation.

Tomorrow, we will participate in a mass baptism and ordination of new leaders and disciples. Thanks for your prayers, and I will have more photos of the day mañana.

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

Today was the first day of celebration for the 50th Anniversary of the EPBOMI church. It was a family gathering of several thousand. We sang and danced, as is the custom culturally. They shared a video describing the history of the church. I will try to get the link to post here, but it is done in French. Several members shared testimonies, and the pastor shared a story that happened almost 50 years ago. It was about a baby who had a horrible condition that involved her bowels spilling out of her rectum. The doctors said she would not survive. Someone recommended that the parents take the child to this church, which was still in her infancy as well. Dion believed the Bible and was not going to leave this child to its apparent end, even though the parents were not believers. At the church, early in the wee hours of the morning, they prayed as a group to no avail. Finally, Pastor Dion took the child and her parents, along with two other church members, into a private room. There, the pastor simply called the girl’s name as Jesus had with Lazarus. Almost immediately, the child who had been dead by this time sneezed and began to breathe again. 

To the complete surprise of the pastor, the young girl whom God saved appeared on the stage and greeted Pastor Dion with a huge hug. Her parents have passed away, but she lives. This kind of thing happens regularly at this church, as they are the closest thing that resembles the Book of Acts in the modern day. When asked about it, the pastor says, “It was normal in the Bible, why can’t it be normal today?”

The afternoon included the ordination of nearly 300 leaders, following a message from the pastor. It is such an honor to participate in this celebration. My privilege was crowned today as I reviewed the ordination certificates that each leader received to recognize their calling. My signature was on each one. God is amazing, and He will surprise you with His grace.

Tomorrow is the mass baptism, and the number of 1,500 candidates was mentioned. I am going to participate for as long as I can. What a joy to be included and be able to touch lives in such a profound way. Thanks for your prayers and for reading these posts.

Blessings,

Tim

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

The 50th Anniversary celebration continued today with the baptism of 1,410 men, women, boys, and girls. I baptized 50 of them. It was glorious to see the joy on the faces of the men immediately after they were immersed in the water. It was amazing!

My day was crowned with a wonderful dinner with two new friends. Drew Kahn is a member of the staff at the US Embassy in Abidjan. Amy, his wife, is the sister of my wife’s college roommate. It was a delightful time of getting acquainted and finding we had so much in common. It is always good to have a connection at the Embassy of a foreign land you are visiting. I know we will get together again soon.

Continue to pray for the celebration because a large protest is planned for Saturday in the streets of Abidjan to express support for free elections. The election for the president of Côte d’Ivoire will be held in October. Pray that God’s man will be elected to lead this key nation.

Thanks for your prayers, and continue to remember the precious people of the EPBOMI church and their pastor, Dion Robert.

Blessings,

Tim

Thursday, August 14, 2025

So, today was a day off for us because the church was preparing for the formal celebration of the anniversary at the main soccer stadium. Tomorrow, we will wear our jubilee uniform and participate in the recognition of 50 years of ministry in Cote d’Ivoire and the world. 

You can follow the festivities at 

https://jubile-epbomi.org

You can follow the gathering live at:

https://www.facebook.com/TVChandelier/

This is an event 50 years in the making. Pray and praise with me for the precious people led by Pastor Dion Robert as we celebrate the past 50 years of the moving of God among a people, a nation, and the world. Praise God for His faithfulness and love to use this great church to change the world.        

Blessings,

Tim

Friday, August 15, 2025

 Today was long. We left the hotel at 8:30 a.m. and returned for the night at 8:30 p.m. It was a wonderful celebration of 50 years of ministry. It all took place in the new stadium built for the African World Cup soccer matches in 2023. Designed to hold 60,000 people, the arena was well over half-full. This was Friday, so many people had to work. We are expecting a near-capacity attendance tomorrow and Sunday.

The music was high, and the testimonies heartwarming. At several times during the day, the stands would clear and over 10,000 people would crowd the track that circled the pitch of the stadium to dance and sing in unison. It appeared like a river of people flowing smoothly around the place. Often, one person would lead in a special step, and the others of the massive group would follow. It is a sight to see. So many people praising God with all of their hearts in one place at one time was overwhelming. It puts my puny commitment to shame.

We celebrate more tomorrow and then close things out on Sunday. It is truly an honor to be here and experience the memories of the past 50 years with these precious people. Thanks for your prayers.

Blessings,

Tim

Saturday, August 16, 2025

The only word that adequately describes this church in Abidjan is volume. They do things on an extraordinary scale. They think in 1000s when we think in 100s. They think in 10,000s while we contemplate 1000s. The sheer number of people involved with this celebration is beyond normal thought. The pastor saw this 50 years ago and has planned and organized the body so that it can sustain and increase in the 100s of 1000s. The membership is approaching 400,000. The attendance of this celebration will top 40,000.

The other thing that distinguishes this church is joy. These people are simple but happy! They enjoy one another and, most importantly, love praising and serving God. The majority of the day’s activities focused on worship. It was full-contact worship. People by the 1000s got up from their seats and moved around the track of the stadium in semi-choreographed dances. It was a sea of people flowing like a river of joyful praise and thanksgiving.

We took a tour of the tribal booths set up in the parking lot of the stadium. We experienced dozens of leaders from the various tribes that compose Côte d'Ivoire. Each had its own special customs and clothing. They were so gracious to receive us and honor us with their time. The creativity of God was on display as we met so many diverse groups that have come together to form this local body of Christ.

Tomorrow, the celebration of 50 years of ministry will close with the parade of servants. We will see a multitude of men and women in different uniforms who serve God through this church. The weather has been cooperative, so pray it continues to remain dry and cool. Thanks for reading my reports, and many blessings!

Tim

Sunday, August 17, 2025

We wrapped up the 50th anniversary celebration of the EPBOMI church in Côte d’Ivoire today after enjoying the festivities since Tuesday. Today was a deeply moving day with prolonged worship from fine bands with excellent music. I was touched as I sat in awe of over 40,000 people praising God together. The people continued to flow around the track of the stadium in unison, dancing and praising God with all their might. It was a special time of introspection, and I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude to God for this special church in Africa. It was such an honor to be a part of this celebration.

I will have more to say on my return. We leave tomorrow, but have a lengthy layover in New York, so I will not arrive home until Tuesday. Pray for my travels and for my wife. Michelle learned she had COVID today after being sick all this past week. She is taking some medication, and the doctors say she will be better by the end of the week. She has been miserable. The enemy seems to attack while I travel. Thanks for thinking of us this week.

Thanks for supporting me with your prayers. I will share my complete thoughts on the week in Africa, as well as future plans, when I have had time to debrief and collect the memories. 

God bless,

Tim

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