1 Thessalonians 5:18 commands us to “give thanks in all circumstances.. (ESV)” , and as the group gathered for orientation at Ron’s house, it was declared our theme for the November 2011 Team Visit. Anybody who has visited Ghana knows that many times things don’t go as planned, but in those situations we are going to trust God’s timing.
The team came from Indiana, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, and a large majority had never visited Ghana before. There was a lot of excitement as we looked at the schedule, realizing that God was taking us places we had never gone before, to be stretched in many areas. We spent time praying for the villages we were going to visit and for the seeds that were going to be sown, asking the God to bring people to us who needed to hear His Word.
Our week started out in Pastor Joseph’s village of Asamankese. The team broke into three groups and went to surrounding areas and villages to hand out tracts and invite them to the service that evening. Although the rain was threatening, many prayers and the hand of God allowed the service to continue. Pastor Floyd preached on our choice to accept God’s love, and as the invitation was given, souls were saved and the rejoicing started in Heaven.
Friday saw us in Adesio, working with Pastor Steven. This was our first health clinic, and people were waiting with their coupon when we arrived
Setting up for the evening service in Adesio.
The team came from Indiana, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, and a large majority had never visited Ghana before. There was a lot of excitement as we looked at the schedule, realizing that God was taking us places we had never gone before, to be stretched in many areas. We spent time praying for the villages we were going to visit and for the seeds that were going to be sown, asking the God to bring people to us who needed to hear His Word.
Our week started out in Pastor Joseph’s village of Asamankese. The team broke into three groups and went to surrounding areas and villages to hand out tracts and invite them to the service that evening. Although the rain was threatening, many prayers and the hand of God allowed the service to continue. Pastor Floyd preached on our choice to accept God’s love, and as the invitation was given, souls were saved and the rejoicing started in Heaven.
Friday saw us in Adesio, working with Pastor Steven. This was our first health clinic, and people were waiting with their coupon when we arrived
Setting up for the evening service in Adesio.
We had three health stations and an eye glass station, and soon the room was filled with talking as patients came in and explained their problems through an interpreter. Following being seen at either the health or eye station, the people were then taking to a counseling area where one of the team explained the plan of salvation, and personally invited them to the crusade that night. Although it is great to be able to assist in a physical need, the real goal was to assist in the spiritual needs of those who didn’t know Jesus. The counselors were able to pray for each person before they left, committing the time spent to God. That night, Pastor Robert preached on the one way to God and our need to accept him, and many came forward in surrender to Christ.
Sunday found our bus load of people in Ayaa, which is Pastor Emmanuel’s church. This was a special service for all involved with Crusades for Christ, as Field Director Ron Bontrager was ordained by his home church, Griner Mennonite, for his work here in Ghana. Pastor Robert preached the message, followed by a special time of prayer and anointing with oil. Many hugs and tears were the result of this special service.
Monday found us working with Pastor John, who leads the church in Kotoku. Pastor John was married to Cynthia on October 30! We did our second health clinic here, followed by a crusade in the evening. To make sure we weren’t overwhelmed, we had given out about 125 coupons to each village where we were doing a clinic. While we did the clinic, Robert, Floyd, and Elmer walked through the village handing out tracts and inviting people to the crusade in the evening. Many mistakenly thought these were coupons for the clinic, and in a short time we had a large crowd of people begging to be seen. It is very difficult to turn people away when you can see such an obvious need for physical help. Pastor John had reserved about 20 tickets to hand out in a situation like this, so we were able to help some of those who needed it most.
That night, Floyd preached the message on the good Samaritan. The Holy Spirit was moving and many went forward for the alter call. We arrive home tired but excited about the work the Lord did in these hearts.
Tuesday we did something that we had never done as a group. We spent the day looking back at how God led a group of young people here in 1997, and from that trip a mission was formed, a Bible School started, and churches planted. Robert shared pictures from those early trips, and you could see the hand of God in bringing CFCI to Ghana. Floyd spoke on how we need to allow the Holy Spirit to continue to lead us as a mission, but in our own hearts as well. It was an exciting day, as we saw God working in our hearts, and to spend time focusing on what He has done in us and as a mission. We said farewell to Floyd in the evening, so grateful for his work and service to us here in Ghana.
We did our final clinic and crusade on Wednesday night in Dobro, which is under the leadership of Pastor Isaac and Pastor Samuel. We did the health clinic in the unfinished part of the Bible Institute, and were blessed to have the students assist with the translating for the stations and in the counseling stations. Pastor Isaac is currently studying at Ghana Christian University College, so he was able to bring some of his classmates along to also assist wherever needed. The clinic went very well, and again many had the Gospel explained to them in clear way which they could understand.
Sara giving paracetamol (acetaminophen) for a football injury. Malaria, neck & back pain, & football injuries were the common complaints.
Jeremy Weaver sharing the love of Jesus.
Robert brought the message, which took place in the village of Terno, across the highway from the Bible Institute. God again touched hearts and many people responded to the message. We pray they will continue their relationship with Him, and walk across the highway to meet with the other members of the Dobro church family.
Thursday was a difficult day as we said farewell to Robert and Lily as they left to return to the States. We didn’t have the staff to do another clinic or crusade, but we traveled to Ayaa to do a film show. When we arrived in the afternoon, we split into 4 groups who walked miles to visit remote villages to hand out tracts and invite them to the film show in the evening. One group walked for almost 3 hours and visited 6 villages! That night there were again a few sprinkles, but God held off the rain and we were able to show the film as scheduled. Many people came to see the film “Heaven’s Gates, Hell’s Flames”, a video of the popular drama held all across American and beyond. The response was incredible, with more people up front than in the seats! God was working and souls were being saved. We had a long way home that night, but knew that we had been part of something incredible and life changing.
Friday we boarded the bus by 6 AM and traveled to Cape Coast to tour the slave castle, shop, and see the ocean. The long journey was broken up by stopping at Jonathan and Juanita Groff’s home near Apam. The Groff’s are managing a farm where young men who have aged out of the Lighthouse Children’s Home receive job training & mentoring . Since all the Pennsylvania people go to the same church as the Groff’s, we had a good time as we toured their property and farm. The day ended with a meal at staff favorite Marwako’s, although with the traffic we wondered if we were ever going to get there! A good meal, even at 7:30 PM, rounded off a long but enjoyable journey.
On Saturday Pastor Isaac shared his amazing testimony with the group, who were very encouraged by it. Pastor Isaac is a former Muslim who gave it all up, including a high paying job, residence at the family house, and the support of his family, to follow Christ. God is using Isaac in many ways, and is opening up opportunities for him to share his testimony. Isaac has written a tract for Muslim, and is looking for an opportunity to print it. Isaac also joined the group for some shopping in the afternoon. Again, traffic made things interesting, but everybody returned home with something to remind them of their time here in Africa.
We were excited to be able to take part in the service Sunday morning at Elim Christian Center, where Pastor Felix is the senior pastor. Pastor Felix is on the Ghana board of directors, our main translator on crusades, and a valuable part of the ministry. The group was able to sing two songs which the congregation really enjoyed. They showed us great hospitality by giving us minerals (Cokes) to round out the service. We then traveled home so people could pack for the evening flight.
We left for the airport at 5 PM, and arrived at 6 PM thanks to light traffic. People who came as strangers left as friends, and it was a sad goodbye. Our weary workers unloaded totes of clothes, pineapples, juice, bread, even a unicycle, from the van to be taken back to the States.
God has been so faithful to our ministry, and we want to give Him thanks for the work that He did during these busy 11 days. But this wasn’t about us, it was about Him. 1 Peter 4:11 states “…in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” (ESV). It is Him we are here to praise, to lift up, and we are so grateful He puts the treasure in these earthen vessels to carry His Good News to villages that don’t have a church, who maybe never have even heard the name of Jesus. So our mission was in everything give thanks, and in everything give the glory to Whom it rightfully belongs, and that is God our Father. We humbly bow down before Him in worship, awed at the way He moved during this time. We are so thankful for His hand in keeping us safe as we traveled and returned to the States, that we remained healthy to do His work, and for the work He did in each of our hearts.
Please join us in prayer for:
1. The souls who were won to the kingdom, that they may grow in grace and knowledge.
2. Our pastors as they follow up with those who responded.
3. The thousands of tracts that were distributed.
4. The seeds that were sown from the tracts, clinics, and those who listened in their houses during the crusades.
5. God to continue to multiply what He started here.
Here is the team! Please pardon the photography. The waiter did his best...but there just isn't much to do with a night time, flash photo of a big ol' group of sweaty faced obruni's!
