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Our Background

Our Background

The humble origins of Weekly Bread

The humble origins of Weekly Bread

The humble origins of Weekly Bread

It began as a reflection on chapters 13 and 14 of the book of Numbers. The spies had been sent to explore the Promised Land and, on their return, reported back to the entire people of Israel.

What is striking in reading this text is not so much the realities observed by the spies as the various assessments they made of them. On the one hand, an absolutely minority group saw the conquest of this land within Israel's reach with the Lord's support, while on the other hand, the majority saw this conquest as an adventure with no favorable outcome for God's people.

At the time, the analysis of this passage was shared with only twenty-one (21) people, a number that increased to 50 on the 2nd anniversary and then to more than 160 on the 3rd anniversary of Weekly Bread. But beyond these 160 people, only God can say with any accuracy how many readers this bread reaches each week because, through the transfer of messages to contacts in their address books, the generous 'primary' recipients share the word of God with many other relatives and friends.

Setting up a team

Setting up a team

Setting up a team

To ensure the regularity of these messages every Monday, as this was the frequency that had been judged to be the most practical, the need for a team of editors was felt very early on.

The result was a core group of five (5) people who alternately prepared and sent out messages to which the members of the network responded with valuable and pertinent comments. As a result, Weekly Bread established itself as an appropriate forum for the spiritual enrichment of its members.

To ensure the regularity of these messages every Monday, as this was the frequency that had been judged to be the most practical, the need for a team of editors was felt very early on.

The result was a core group of five (5) people who alternately prepared and sent out messages to which the members of the network responded with valuable and pertinent comments. As a result, Weekly Bread established itself as an appropriate forum for the spiritual enrichment of its members.

The names "Weekly Bread" & "Root of Hope

The names "Weekly Bread" & "Root of Hope

The names "Weekly Bread" & "Root of Hope

The birth of this melting pot was not the subject of long reflection; it was rather spontaneous. So, it was only as the members shared their thoughts that the need to name the initiative became apparent. Various proposed names were considered. But it was brother Daniel Moussougan who gave the group its very first name, Chaîne de l'Espérance; this name was later further developed into "Root Of Hope", the name it proudly bears, a motto it works daily to live up to. As for the "Weekly Bread" designation of the messages, this is essentially due to their weekly frequency.

The inevitable expansion

The inevitable expansion

The inevitable expansion

Root of Hope" and its "Weekly Bread" component were, at the outset, typically French-speaking.

For a while, we had entertained the hope of seeing the Weekly Bread messages, written in French, translated into English in order to share them with English-speaking countries and, in so doing, give the wings of universality to this Beninese initiative.

The echo of this desire resonated in the heart of one of our faithful companions and readers, Mr. Serge OGA, Founder and Managing Director of "SOPODIVA", a company specializing in English language training, translation and interpreting. Mr. Oga offered to translate our messages from French into English. The message shared on our French platforms was then shared with a week's delay on the English platforms.

And so it was that on 31 October 2011, this dream became a reality with the 1st message in English ''He Will Rise Up Last'' from Brother Gildas Djissa. Now our English-speaking readers could access the same content as their French-speaking peers.

Later, it became necessary to set up two editorial teams, one for messages in French and the other for messages in English. The English-speaking team is mainly made up of English-speaking brothers and sisters from Sierra Leone, Kenya and Ghana. There are also a few French speakers from Benin and Niger.

A dedicated website

A dedicated website

A dedicated website

The initiative was growing by the grace of God. While we continued to exchange information by e-mail, we began to think about the possibility of setting up a website. Brother Josaphat Tchétan-Awo, whose training in this field, among others, was coupled with experience in website creation, volunteered his skills to serve the group. From then on, we had our own website to keep track of the initiative. To do this, all the messages published before the site was created were entered on the site.

The initiative was growing by the grace of God. While we continued to exchange information by e-mail, we began to think about the possibility of setting up a website. Brother Josaphat Tchétan-Awo, whose training in this field, among others, was coupled with experience in website creation, volunteered his skills to serve the group. From then on, we had our own website to keep track of the initiative. To do this, all the messages published before the site was created were entered on the site.

WhatsApp platforms

WhatsApp platforms

In addition to email and the website, the ever-evolving technology offering greater facilities, especially the immediacy of communication, had indicated to the group the need to set up a forum on WhatsApp. This is how the two forums (one for exchanges in French and the other for exchanges in English) came into being. Gradually, requests to join from friends, brothers, etc. enabled us to increase the number of readers.

In addition to email and the website, the ever-evolving technology offering greater facilities, especially the immediacy of communication, had indicated to the group the need to set up a forum on WhatsApp. This is how the two forums (one for exchanges in French and the other for exchanges in English) came into being. Gradually, requests to join from friends, brothers, etc. enabled us to increase the number of readers.

Facebook platform

Facebook platform

Facebook platform

In the same dynamic of technological evolution, brother Casimir E. Cakpo created the Facebook platform. It was an extension of the existing distribution channels. Taking the weekly messages, the brother embellished them with expressive images that made them more attractive, easy to share and pleasant to read.

In the same dynamic of technological evolution, brother Casimir E. Cakpo created the Facebook platform. It was an extension of the existing distribution channels. Taking the weekly messages, the brother embellished them with expressive images that made them more attractive, easy to share and pleasant to read.

"Building on Christ, the Rock" or going beyond the virtual and the digital

"Building on Christ, the Rock" or going beyond the virtual and the digital

"Building on Christ, the Rock" or going beyond the virtual and the digital

The various channels for disseminating Weekly Bread's messages, as described above, clearly show the predominance of the virtual and digital. Despite advances in technology, some readers continue to receive information only through traditional media, particularly books. With this in mind, RoH is gradually converting the thousands of messages published since its creation into books. Volumes 1 and 2 of "Building on Christ, the Rock" have been published. Volume #3 is currently being finalized and will be in print before the end of 2024.

Brother Casimir E. Cakpo plays a major role in all the steps associated with this printing work.

Social works

Social works

Social works

The vocation and ambition of Root of Hope (RoH) go far beyond sharing Christian messages to nourish the souls of readers. Meeting their needs of various kinds is an integral part of our objectives. See below for some details of the social work RoH has done to date.

The vocation and ambition of Root of Hope (RoH) go far beyond sharing Christian messages to nourish the souls of readers. Meeting their needs of various kinds is an integral part of our objectives. See below for some details of the social work RoH has done to date.

© 2025 Root of Hope. All rights reserved

© 2025 Root of Hope. All rights reserved