CP Stories: Trevor Yoakum, Sub Saharan African Peoples

Missionary Trevor Yoakum works as a professor of practical theology at the West African Baptist Theological Seminary, sharing the gospel and helping the Sub Saharan African Peoples develop healthy churches.

June 27, 2023
Macala Mays

“How do we become a healthy, biblical church?” two Togolese men asked International Mission Board missionary Trevor Yoakum. Each leading groups of believers in Togo, they desired their groups to go to the next level “so that the church is a true church of Jesus Christ.”

Yoakum was happy to help, and as a professor of practical theology at the West African Baptist Theological Seminary, it was certainly his area of expertise. Using Scripture, he shared with them a list of 12 biblical characteristics of a healthy church and spent time focusing on each characteristic with the men and their churches.

After just a few months, these Togolese church leaders have been seeing the effect of their new understanding of Scripture. “We see that our own words are not enough. We must preach the Word of God, that’s what changes lives.”

The Cooperative Program (CP) takes the Gospel to the nations and the neighborhoods. Your financial support through the Cooperative Program helps missionaries train local believers in how to reach their area with the Gospel.

Pray for Yoakum as he trains leaders in theological education and for those leaders as they take what they learn and apply it to their ministry.

Macala Mays

In 2022, Macala Mays stepped into her current role as Associate Editor of BRN United and Podcast Producer for the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey (BRN). Before taking this position, she worked as a contracted Podcast Producer in 2021 and a freelance writer in 2020 for the BRN. During her time with the BRN, Macala Mays has produced three different podcast series, including 50 Stories of Transformation (2021-2022), The #LovePASJ Podcast (2022), and Celebrating Cooperative Missions (2023). She also has written over 60 articles for the BRN and has been nationally published by The Baptist Paper and Baptist Press. She is also a member of the Baptist Communicators Association (BCA).

Prior to working with the BRN, Macala interned at the State Capitol of Tennessee in the Publications Division under the office of Secretary of State. She also remotely wrote news for TalkErie, a radio station in Erie, Pa., and previously worked as a News Director/Producer for WJET-TV in Erie, Pa.

Macala Mays holds a master of arts in communications from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (EUP) as well as a bachelor of arts in journalism/public relations from EUP. During her graduate years, Macala worked as a Graduate Assistant and helped manage the on-campus radio station. She also served as a managing editor for the university’s newspaper, which led to an interest in music journalism.
Macala and her husband, Robbie, live in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, where they attend Big Woods Bible Church and Robbie serves as the Associate Pastor of Campus Ministry. Both Robbie and Macala find great joy in discipling and walking alongside college students at Lock Haven University.