Wed June 20 outreach

Craig preaching Salvation Academy

 children at Salvation Academy

Lori and Lisa cutting Cassava for fufu

Craig pounding palm oil

making fufu pounding planteen

pounded fufu traditional ghana food

Wednesday June 20, 2012

‘Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not… when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them.’  Ecclesiastes 12:1

              A large percentage of the work of the mission team deals with school ministry. We thank God for the open doors into Ghana schools.  Invitation to minister in schools at present exceeds the availability of the local Assembly members.  We pray that God will show the way to solve this ‘good problem.’ 

              The team had the opportunity to minister to students at the Salvation International Academy in the town of Patasi.  One section of the group presented to the primary students and the other to the Junior High School students.  The program involved presenting the gospel through singing, puppetry, using the paintboard sketches and through sharing of personal testimony of team members.  The spirit of the Lord was felt in a mighty way as the students at the junior high listened in rapt attention as the message of salvation was presented clearly and simply to them through the paintboard. One of the sisters shared her testimony with the students and was able to make a very direct connection with her ‘before conversion’ experience of believing in ‘religion’ and ‘being good’ as means to getting to heaven with the very prevalent belief that we have heard being expressed that ‘being righteous, going to church, and praying every day’ are means of getting to heaven.  Students were also instructed to be aware of false doctrines which corrupt the true message of salvation.  All studentsreceived copies of the gospel of John at the end of the program. We pray that the message will be understood by the children and that they would understand that they are sinners in need of salvation. 

               Afternoon evangelism continued in the neighboring Truba Line community through the distribution of gospel literature at the main junction.  The goal is to establish a clear witness for the Lord in the area near to the Assembly meeting place at Daniel’s Webster’s home.

              One of the brothers from the Good News on the Move (GNOM) team ministered to the saints during the weekly Bible Study, on the topic ‘ Steps to Keep Oneself Close to God.’  All were encouraged and challenged by the message.  We thank God for the energy, effort and enthusiasm of the young people on the team.

                            Understanding the culture in which the gospel is being presented is important to the work of the mission team.  Beautiful fellowship was experienced around the participation of the team in the preparation of the popular Ghanaian dishes of fufu and palm nut soup.  As one sister remarked, the trust and cooperation involved in the pounding process, which is traditionally performed by the husband/wife team is a great picture of the marriage relationship.  All passed the test of eating the dish as the Ghanaians do. With the fingers!!

                             The team spent late evening preparing for a trip to the Cape Coast where some cultural activity will be combined with evangelism.  Pray for journeying mercies and hearts that are open to her the good news of salvation.

Ghana gospel outreach June 19,20th

Meghan sharing her testimony and saying there is ONLY ONE WAY TO HEAVEN

Choir singing with salvation academy

Jerry and JJ sharing gospel literature with school kids

Bethany with Tim using rope trick for the gospel

Emmanuel using school PA system to preach to about 500 + students and parents and teachers

June 19 , Gospel to Ghana

“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”  Romans 10:15

We started the day with a teaching session from Daniel W. on the  “Call of God”: to  Salvation,  to witness, to meet with other Believers, and to grow and mature in the Christian faith.  Daniel’s practical teaching and the opportunity to apply these lessons, have been brought before us every day, and today was no exception.

After a hearty brunch, the team left at noon to go to  a town called Kenysi, which is a short drive  away. After a few tries to park unsuccessfully, it is certain that the Lord directed us to the perfect place: a large space across from a National School. There were hundreds of students and people in the courtyard where a special outdoor program was underway with lively music and dancing.  Daniel W. and Emmanuel went to ask permission for our team to go around , giving out gospel literature  to the students. The Head Master not only welcomed us, but also asked if we would like to perform. Many hundreds of tracts were given out and  some of the team members were also given lessons in dancing to the delight of their student instructors! After the school program finished , the team was invited to the centre of the courtyard to sing. We sang in Twi  two songs that we have learned. A sketch-board message was given with Twi translation.  Afterward , we all spread out through the town to give out gospel tracts and to speak with anyone interested . I was offered  a bench to sit down on at a  business stall to discuss the gospel message. One young man named Harry , whose English was perfect, explained to me that the Ghanaian people are taught that if they receive Christ and become a Christian, then they will gain material prosperity. Many shops  have a  Christian tag on their  storefront signs to attract business; Eg. “The Blood of Jesus Catering Business”, or “ God is My Refuge Hairdressing” ! Although the people are familiar with Christian terminology , they have no understanding of the simple truth of God’s Word and message of Salvation. However,  they will often give an earnest ear as we speak to them.  “By grace are you saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. “ Eph 2:8

In the evening, we went once again to Crown Prince school in Buokrom for the Childrens’ Club. There were many more children this week, than there were last week.  The singing was marvelous, the puppets were a hit as they sang along with the children and JJ gave a good message on the sketch-board using the numbers puzzle while being translated into Twi by young Immanuel from the Assembly here.

We were all tired but happy as we came back to Daniel W’s after a most satisfying and successful day in the Gospel effort. The joy of serving God in the way  that He has called  us to, must be experienced as words fall short to communicate this!

Newcastle West Follow-Up and Prayer:

Hi Ron,

Thought it would be encouraging for folks to know of the responses to the 4You magazine that the team handed out in our area.

Please pray for: Graham M, Josephene F, Elizabeth H, Bridie Q, Margaret K, and Michael O.

These people have requested Bibles, a booklet The Road to Reality, and the most requested is A Way Out of Despair. Do pray as we make further contact with these people.

Colin

Mondays outreach for TNT Ghana

Our Canadian connection !!

Preaching to many people in the village

Meghan and Craig sharing the gospel

JJ sharing Gods word with Tracts along with Isaac

Discernment is defined as ‘the perception of that which is obscure.’ 

During our bible study today the team was encouraged to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to discern how we must proceed as we attempt to reach the unsaved with the message of God’s salvation.  We learnt that discernment can be considered one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

      1 Corinthians 2:14 states, ‘But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.’

Further study of the topic in Hebrews 5: 14 revealed that as Christians we are expected to grow in our knowledge of the Word of God in order to develop a discerning spirit.

     But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses

     exercised to discern both good and evil.

We reviewed examples from the early church and from the work of the Apostle Paul as guidance for the practical application of the spirit of discernment.

The team’s outreach today centered on the town of Kinyasi and extended to two adjacent rural villages.  We were immediately given the opportunity to practically apply what was learnt in our daily bible study.  Ghanaian culture requires that activity in the villages be approved by the village chief before proceeding.  Brother Daniel Webster was able, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, to discern that this protocol should be followed since a large group of strangers were entering the village.  This gesture allowed team members to move freely in distributing gospel literature.

Brother Tim Hood used the ‘paintboard’ to explain the A-B-C of salvation: Admit you are a sinner, Believe that Jesus Christ died to take away your sin and Call upon the name of the Lord to be saved.  The response to the outreach was very encouraging. Several team members conducted fruitful conversations with villagers.  Praise the Lord! Team members prayerfully agreed that it would be profitable to return to this location tomorrow, in the will of the Lord to continue the work. Please pray that hearts will be open to hear the word of God and make a decision to accept the Lord as their Savior.

In one of the villages a funeral ceremony was being conducted. Funerals are very highly regarded in Ghanaian culture. Activities an sometimes extend beyond one week and memorials are very extravagant.  Team members used this opportunity to remind villagers of the importance of accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

There is a lot for which we need to thank the Lord.  It is encouraging to see members of the Assembly ministering to the needs of the team by providing food items and taking time off from their daily outreach to join in the work. The Lord is no man’s debtor so their labor will not be in vain.  Additionally the weather is much cooler after yesterday’s rain, so we praise and thank the Lord for His goodness to us!

Sunday at Believers Bible Assembly in Kumasi

Sun

Now we know why it is called the "rainy season"

Sunday school singing a song

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee” Psalm 63:1

It was great for us once more to be able to worship the Lord this morning with believers in Kumasi, in the way that He has instructed us to do.  Led by the Holy Spirit the theme of God’s Love was the connecting thread as brothers led the saints during the worship service.

We praise the Lord that among those visiting were people with whom team members had some form of contact during the evangelism outreach of the previous days. Please continue pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them of their sin and they will come to know the Lord as their personal Savior.

As a form of testimony to the neighborhood in which the Assembly is located, Sunday school began with a short open air meeting outside the gates of Brother Daniel W. home.  Team members are becoming more proficient in singing choruses in the Twi language which has proven to be a blessing to the Ghanaians who hear it.

Sunday school continued with teachers assisting the students to understand the concept that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed to take away sin and that is the only way to heaven. Ghanaians are very ‘religious’ but their pervading responses to the question of how to get to heaven are the following ‘by ‘doing good’ or ‘being righteous’.  Pray that they will discern the truth of God’s plan of salvation.

Craig presented the message during the Family Bible Hour and exorted the saints to rejoice in the Lord and sing unto Him a new song (Psalm 33:1-8.)

Lord’s Day activities continued with a Women’s Bible Study of 1 John, led by Lori, on Seven signs that indicate we are in Christ.

Our afternoon activity continued with a picnic to Truba Lake where we enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation. On the way there team members sang the favorite Ghanaian ‘Traveling Song’ and distributed gospel literature. The heat of the Ghanaian sun turned into ‘showers of blessing’ as we were thoroughly drenched by heavy showers on the return home. This unexpected turn of events was immensely enjoyed by everyone and allowed us to enjoy a time of fellowship through caring and sharing that could only have been God’s plan for the evening.  It was noticeable that this was the only day that the showers would have prevented us from doing a gospel outreach in the neighborhood but through God’s divine guidance other activities were scheduled. Events like these help us to remember that GOD IS IN CONTROL and we are only His servants.

On our return to the house we were treated to a local meal of kokoo also known as red-red (fried plantains) bayere ( fried yams) bean sauce and rice prepared by Daniel W. ‘Ghanaian sons.’ DELICIOUS!  We thank God for His blessings as we seek to serve Him.

Newcastle West Prayer Request

Dear friends,

Can I ask you to pray for Edmond? We met him on the doors 2 weeks ago while doing doors with the TnT Team. At that time he had Nathan Bolton and myself in for a chat. We have been in  regular contact since then. He said he knows our meeting was of God as he shouldn't have been home the day we knocked on his door. Since our meeting his life has been in quite an upheaval. Today he told me "you have met me in the worst week of my life" This morning he called to tell me his father had died in his sleep. 

On Friday I received a text from him which said " ... I really need your help and to explain to you about my life, please call over to me tomorrow. I would be so grateful, I really want to be helped and saved."

While the message was urgent, he did not have an understanding of his eternal need as much needing God's help "that week". He has agreed to meet with me weekly for a bible study. Do pray for his salvation. It is a bit hard to find the right words to say to him as he has lost his dad, as we cannot comfort him with the thought that his dad has gone to a better place. We hope that the love and care that will be shown to him will speak to his heart and bring him to salvation.

"Maranatha"

Colin & Natalie

Sat June 16 gospel movie outreach

Emmanuel first sketch before movie

Can you carry this much !!!

Before film Emmanuel preaching his first sketchboard message to about 100 +

Just before start of film setting up 200 chairs

Team singing action song with about 100 kids and some adults before movie

Some of the crowd during the singing before movie

Just about to start the film as film went on many others came

Saturday June 16

The power goes out regularly and often, here in Ghana. Our day began at about 3:30 am when the fans that have become so precious to us,  stopped whirring and the air became thick and hot. I thought to myself that this should go into our blog as this is a part of life in Ghana for Daniel and all who live here. A few times a week and sometimes daily, they will be without electricity for a number of hours. A few hours later the fans came on again, and I heard a sigh of relief  from my husband.

 It is the small things that we appreciate. The Friday youth night was such fun,, but the popcorn was memorable. Daniel’s boys have become experts at making it perfectly , tender yet crunchy with just the right amount of salt ;)’’  The young people are very joyful to be around. They work very hard and don’t complain. We went to minister to a group of young people today at a youth conference.  Unlike the thousand we spoke to and sang for yesterday,,, today there were only about a dozen youth present. The Lord cares as much for the few , as He does for the many. Our time there was lovely with singing, the  sketch board,  and Jerry did a rope trick gospel presentation. Afterward we stopped at  a market to get some vegetables and distribute some more gospel tracts.

In the evening, we went to Buokrom, and set up the projector to show the Jesus film. We also set up about 200 chairs. This Saturday night there were many out and about 1000 + people who came to see our movie.  Our choir did some singing  with actions for the children. We  also sang a couple of Twi songs that we have learned.  The Ghanian people everywhere we go to sing these songs, are very touched. We see the expressions of joy on their faces as they listen to us sing the  songs that are dear to their heart in their own language.  We thank Immanuel,, one of the elders in Daniel’s meeting for teaching us these songs.  The people responded to the movie very well, and often would clap in approval whenever Jesus would perform a miracle or healing in the movie. When He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, the crowd applauded the loudest. They sat for 2 hours watching even when the screen came down from the wind blowing and our group was trying to put it back up. They stayed to the end to listen to a short preaching message and to receive tracts. Many good conversations were also had among the team with those who had come around the area .  It is obvious to us that God has opened the door here in Ghana and the few who will not give us an ear are the exception. This has been a most encouraging work for us as evangelists!