We have been part of the Tabligbo, Togo team since its inception in December 1989. Although Brenda was raised in Springfield, MO, and Jeff grew up in Arlington, TX, our family has been blessed with the spiritual oversight of the West Erwin church of Christ in Tyler, Texas, since 1992. We also receive support from many individuals and churches throughout the United States.

Our family started in 1990 with our marriage. We both attended Harding University in Searcy Arkansas. After graduating (Jeff in 1990 and Brenda in 1991), we each taught school and took graduate courses to prepare for missions. Along with the team, we also participated in the St. Louis Spiritual Internship for a year. After the team completed our 7 month French language study in Albertville, France, in early 1994, we arrived with the original team in Togo in August of 1994. During our time in Togo, God has allowed our family to grow to include Josiah (b. 1996) and Ellianna (b. 2003).

Since arriving, we have studied the local language, Eve, and the culture of our region. That understanding has allowed us to minister to the people in their heart language and culture. Even Josiah speaks the Eve language very well and loves the people. Many of the Togolese prayed with us for years hoping for a second child for our family. Now that Ellianna is with us, we pray that she grows to love the Watchi people as much as they love her.

Over the years in Togo, Jeff has primarily worked with church planting and maturation. His church planting experiences have led to cooperation with national evangelists to plant many congregations in 2 regions of the Watchi people. He has also participated in leadership training in those congregations as well as on a larger scale through the Project Timothy program. Jeff is still trying to grow in and develop mentoring skills in the congregations he works with so that the work will continue long into the future even as he moves into new areas. Brenda has worked extensively with women’s groups and has undertaken the development of a literacy program to combat the high levels of reading and writing deficiency, particularly found among women.

The Hollands returned to the States in the spring of 2006.