The gospel is transforming the small community of Village Demier—one family at a time.

Tchlo (17), Djenie (19), Dieulange (21), and Jodeline (22) grew up without the stability most children hope for. As siblings, they shared the same hardships caused by an absent father. Their mother worked constantly just to keep the family afloat.

Their home in Village Demier—far from any city and nearly empty of economic opportunity—made life even harder. The heavy influence of voodoo added fear and tension to daily life, as any progress only invited jealousy and spiritual threats.

To survive, their mother labored endlessly—making charcoal, washing clothes, cutting wood, farming, and taking any job she could find. The children often joined her, helping produce charcoal or gather wood so they could support the household or pay their school fees.

A childhood marked by hardship

Jodeline remembers the days her mother would take her far away to fish so they could have something to eat.

Getting to school meant walking nearly 90 minutes under the blazing sun, usually on an empty stomach. Coming home, they were never sure if a meal would be waiting.

The exhaustion and uncertainty wore on them. “If God loves me, why is life like this?” Jodeline often wondered.

“My life had no direction,” said Tchelo. He caused trouble, insulted others, picked fights, and disrespected adults. “I didn’t like people.”

Nothing brought him peace. He followed friends who encouraged destructive behavior. And waking up to no food each morning made him question, “Can God really love someone like me?”

Both Djenie and Jodeline—who had prayed to accept Jesus earlier in their lives—were drifting in similar ways, with no one to disciple them.

“I didn’t like school,” said Jodeline. “I was always fighting with other young people. Life felt empty, and I was losing myself in bad habits.”

“I was converted, but my faith was like a tree neglected after planting,” said Djenie. “I wasn’t bearing fruit.”

New Life in Christ

At the beginning of 2025, everything began to change. During an evangelism visit from Pastor Derson and Pastor Evald in January, Tchelo prayed to give his life to Jesus. Three weeks later, Dieulange made the same decision.

Soon after, the four siblings began attending discipleship class with Pastor Derson and Pastor Evald every Wednesday afternoon.

Week by week, they learned about God’s true love and how to live in response to it. As they studied Scripture and participated in church, the Word slowly reshaped their hearts.

Today, the transformation is unmistakable.

Djenie says she has stopped insulting others and learned to speak with respect. “I don’t know why I was like that before—but now I have Christ to guide me. I’ve learned that in Him, I am a new person. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.”

“My life before felt too heavy—full of hardship and lack,” said Tchelo. But as he experienced God’s transforming love, he learned self-control, how to resist temptation, and how to respect others. He stopped chasing girls and realized how destructive gossip can be.

Jodeline says she no longer speaks harshly. She is more patient, gentle, and peaceful. “I learned the value of Christian ethics—I want to live in a way that pleases God.”

To Know Him and Make Him Known

Now, all four siblings actively evangelize in their village. They rejoice when the children they invite to youth group decide to follow Christ.

They persevere even though their mother is not supportive. “The gospel can’t feed us,” she told them.

Yet the siblings continue to pray, continue to serve, and continue to hope.

They encourage any young person who feels abandoned, exhausted, or uncertain of the future not to give up. There is a way forward. There is hope. There is a light stronger than any darkness.

“If you feel like life has no meaning, try Jesus. He’s where you’ll find peace,” said Tchelo.

They praise God that even in their darkest moments, He sent people to help them spiritually, support them in school, and walk beside them as friends.

Today, they no longer feel alone. And they believe their story is far from over—in many ways, it has only just begun.