2g4wa | 2gether4westafrica

WHO WE ARE

We, Mike and Lynn Hutchinson, are the founders (January 2013) and current leaders of Together for West Africa (TFWA). TFWA is a Mississippi, USA, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with field personnel located in Lisbon, Portugal. In addition to this website, TFWA has a social media presence on under the group name 2gether4westafrica. TFWA is organized exclusively for religious and charitable ministry purposes. Today we are present on the mission field ministering to West African migrants in Lisbon, Portugal.
TFWA is a partner of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) Global Missions network of international communities. To learn more about CBF, visit their website: . While Lynn is still an employee of CBF, Mike retired from being a Field Personnel for CBF in Spring 2023. Mike is continuing in his TFWA missionary/leadership role in Portugal. Lynn will split her time between delivering direct services to West African migrants in Portugal and coordinating a CBF Field Personnel team in the Africa/Middle-East area. CBF assigns the title ACMT (Associate Coordinator for Mission Teams) to this position.
The specific purposes of TFWA in Portugal are:
1. To be the Emmaus Way ministry to West African migrants in Portugal. Just as the travelers to Emmaus after the crucifixion of Jesus were confused and life had dealt them a low-blow, similarly have West African migrants in Portugal been dealt a life's low-blow. But just as "Jesus walked with them, talked with them and broke bread with them," such work will also be the mission of TFWA in Portugal. Christians associated with the TFWA Emmaus Way program will work in Portugal in partnership with other Christians/Christian organizations in the community such as an immigrant project in LIsbon, Portuguese Baptist church, English language Baptist church, and criolou Baptist group (Guinea Bissau migrants).
2. To raise awareness of the people in the community as to their own assets, personal and material, using the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) methodology.
3. To encourage people of the community as they use these newly discovered assets to deepen their faith and life skills. Ultimately, these discipling activities will enhance and enrich the quality of life for West African migrants in Portugal.
4. To host faith-based groups from the USA to help in delivering direct and advocacy program services to the West African migrants displaced in Lisbon, Portugal.
5. To pursue financial support for the TFWA Emmaus Way ministry program to West Africans in Portugal through ongoing donations and fundraising activities on the ground in the USA as well as through online donations.

WHAT WE DO

Jesus walked with two men going to Emmaus. They were confused and life had dealt them a low blow. But Jesus walked with them, talked with them and broke bread with them until he was revealed as the risen savior.

Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) program services and advocacy services are delivered to migrant West Africans in Portugal, children and adults, who are in need of life skills -- i.e., business, scientific, art, government, physical (food, shelter, job skills), and Christian spiritual development. Examples of these services delivered in the community are individual and small group interactions such as spontaneous Bible Study/discussions, meals celebrating friendships, educational discussions, and job skills mentoring/coaching visits. Some of these interactions are accomplished through partnerships with Christian organizations such as an immigrant project in Lisbon. Others are serendipitous encounters accomplished through walking the community daily. This approach is very important to the TFWA missionaries and visiting USA support groups in building lasting relationships and trust with West African migrants in Portugal, the Pastors/congregants of churches in the area, and NGO organizations such as an immigrant project in Lisbon.