Some Random Thoughts From Ghana

Sunday, 25 March 2012
Accra, Ghana
1950 local time

We just got word that Jeff’s brother, John Andler, was found dead in his apartment in Atlanta, GA.  He died of an apparent heart attack, and was 59 years old.  Please be in prayer for Jeff and his family as they deal with this sudden, unexpected loss.

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We’re sitting here in Accra, waiting for our flight back to the USA.  The time is is used for a bit of rest and relaxation before coming home.  It is good, but is seems like the time stands still.

On Saturday, Jeff and I got a car and went to the African Market at the round-a-bout on the George W. Bush Highway.  As always we were greeted by the artists’ shouts of “my friend, my friend!”  On Friday we stopped there for a brief time while James and Andy bought some souvenirs to take home.  Neither Jeff nor I bought anything, but we promised the merchants that we would return on Saturday.  I am sure they did not believe us, but we did.

When we arrived, there was an obvious excitement that we had, in fact, kept our word.  We wandered through the shops and spent some time with the very workers to whom we had given our promise.  While all of them had wonderful hand-carved merchandise, I was somehow drawn to one man named Hussan.  I bought a couple of pieces of his hand-painted art and he said, “You are a good man.  You promised to come back and you did.”

The story does not end there.  After sitting and visiting with him in his little hut, I began to talk with him about spiritual things.  He told me he was a Muslim but I watched as the Holy Spirit began to draw this man to Himself.  I shared the Gospel with this gentle man and as he listened intently I saw his expression move from openness to conviction.  I asked him if he would like to talk to God and invite Jesus into his heart and he did!  I watched and listened to this man call out to Jesus and invite him into his heart.  He was converted and became my brother.

Of all the people that indicated their decision to receive Jesus Christ, I know this man by name.  I hope you will remember to pray for Hussan and his new walk with Christ.  I told him that I would see him in the fall of this year and that I would bring him a bible.  I will again, keep my word.

We are in the Accra airport now just waiting to come home.  Thank you so much for lifting us up in prayer during this project.  Please do not stop praying now.  There is so much more work to be done.

The Journey Home

Friday, 23 March
Denu, Ghana

On Wednesday our team had the opportunity to travel into Togo again.  After crossing the border, we traveled into Lome and beyond.  Our first stop was to meet with pastors and workers who were supposedly our future workers in Togo.  Once we sat down for a couple of hours with these men, it became apparent to us that ongoing ministry in Togo is still a ways off.

There seems to be a “turf war” going on within the christian community in Togo which will require the work of God in the lives of these people if we are to see effective ministry take place there.  It was encouraging to see the villagers drawn to the film crusades and respond openly to the Gospel.  The spiritual hunger on the part of the Togolese has encouraged our Ghana nationals to take more seriously the need to mentor the workers there and plan future ministry in that country.

Upon our arrival back in Ghana last night we discovered that the electricity had been off since about 6pm.  Our hotel was completely dark and extremely hot.  There was no breeze stirring, in fact the tree tops were completely still.  At the risk of sounding like we are whining, I will confess that it was miserable!  While lying on the bed, soaked in sweat, God reminded me that we were only enduring this “hardship” for a temporary time.  My mind was turned to the people here who live this way always and more importantly, I thought about the thousands who had heard the Gospel and responded.  “Were these precious souls not worth spending night in the heat?” I thought as I continued to ponder all that God was doing here.

By 12:30am the electricity had returned and the air of the spinning room fan felt like an Arctic breeze.  It was a blessing from God, Who is Good — All the time!

On Thursday We returned to Togo and conducted four separate school ministries and two film crusades.  The country is more difficult for this type of ministry than is Ghana, but it is still very productive.

This morning we concluded our school ministry programs and are heading back to Accra for the departure of team members, Andy and James.  Both of these men have been an extreme blessing to this project and I am thankful for their participation.  They are indeed choice servants of the Lord Jesus.

As of Friday noon we have been able to share the Gospel in 119 separate venues where we have seen 28,762 individuals indicate “first-time” decisions for Christ during this project.  All that we have witnessed is a testimony to the wonderful grace of God.

[Accra, Ghana -- 2016]  After a full day of travel, we have arrived back in Accra where we watched James and Andy leave for home.  Their flight arrived on time for the USA.  Jeff and I are in the hotel here where we will stay until Sunday when we leave for home.

 

A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood

Tuesday, 20 March
Denu, Ghana

Never forget the three whats. What from? Believers are redeemed from hell and destruction.
  What by? By the precious blood of Christ.  What to? To an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled,
and that will not fade away.
– Charles H. Spurgeon

Today is a gorgeous day in Ghana. The sun is shinning brightly and sky is clear.  We have just finished meeting with students in eight schools where most listened intently and hundreds responded faithfully to the Gospel.

So far since our arrival on 9 March we have preached the Gospel in 84 separate venues where 18,828 individuals have indicated publicly their “first-time” decision for Christ.

Some of you are asking, “Do we think all those decisions were genuine?” and I answer you the same way as always, “That is not my business.”  I am thankful that I am not the one who judges the hearts of people.  I don’t know if your decision was real either!  All we can do is faithfully preach the Gospel and leave the results to God.

It is not the duty of the evangelists to “convert” souls.  We do not even come with that in mind. We come rather in obedience to the command of Christ:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
– Mark 16:15 NASB

Our mandate is to go … and so we go.  The message we preach is simple, it is the Gospel.  The results are supernatural!  All is a part of the sovereign work of God.

Keep praying for us.  The warfare has intensified, but the Gospel is unhindered!

The Battle Intensifies

Monday, 19 March
Denu, Ghana

A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another,like soaring on eagles’ wings,but is a life of day-in and day-out consistency; a life of walking without fainting (see Isaiah 40:31 ).
– Oswald Chambers

The work of the Gospel here has been met with some opposition.  Last night during the showing of the Jesus Film in one of the villages Andy and his team witnessed the power of God in a wonderful way.  After the preaching of the word, a certain woman responded in faith but testified that she was struggling with demonic influence and control in the form of what is known as “marine spirits.”  The pastors invited Andy to join them as they laid hands on the woman and prayed for her.  Within moments the woman fell to the ground, convulsing.  In a matter of a few seconds, the woman grew completely calm, but simultaneously a nearby dog began to bark uncontrollably.  It certainly brought to mind the story recorded in Luke 8: 26-33.  Andy reported that after the woman got up off the ground she was a visibly changed and composed woman.  Such is the wonder-working power of the Holy Spirit!

Today during one of my school presentations we where hindered by one of the teachers.  The large man forbade us from speaking to his students.  He said that his class did not need what we had to offer.  I noticed on the chalkboard in a classroom, the following:

“The holy prophet Mohammed”, Romans 12

While I know there is no correlation between the two things written on the board, I did find it interesting that I was able to preach the Gospel against that backdrop.  All the students in this school, except those in this one teacher’s class (about 25 students) sat and attentively listened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  When the invitation of grace was given, 275 indicated their first-time decision to receive Jesus Christ.  While this one evil teacher tried to dissuade his students from hearing the Gospel, I know that many of his class did hear the message.  I am praying that some of the new believers in that school (The Name of the school was Calvary-Ransom School) will share the word of God with those prevented from attended our assembly time.  I also pray that this hard-hearted teacher will be drawn by God to repentance and faith.  After all, the Gospel is the Work of God — not of men.

Through noon on Monday we have seen 16,848 people indicate their decision for Christ.

A Culture of the Supernatural

Sunday, 18 March
Denu, Ghana

God has supernaturally gone before us, preparing the way for the Gospel.  As of Sunday morning we have seen 14,319 individuals indicate their “first-time decision” for Jesus Christ!

There are some interesting things that always happen behind the scenes on our projects.  Often we talk about God going before us, but we are not certain what all of this means.

Today, as I sat down for our mid-point conference, Rev. Dr. Sammy Lartey shared with us some of the wonderful things that God has been doing for us.

“your God, who goes before you on your way, to seek out a place for you to encamp …”
– Deuteronomy 1:33

Our team has been able to go into remote villages that have been closed to the Gospel.  In most of these remote villages, the Juju man is king!  What the Juju man says, goes!

Local Christians and pastors from churches have, for years, been turned back from these villages, often at the threat of physical danger.  When our local contacts first went to schedule our visit they were met with an emphatic “NO.”  They were told that we could not come to their villages to show the Jesus film.  They were instructed to “stay away.”  Apparently the Juju men had all come together and collectively decided that we would all be prevented from coming into this area with the Gospel.  One Juju man told our local representative, “If your Jesus comes here, I will loose power.”  He then said, “They do not need your Jesus, they have me.”

Once Sammy and our team received these reports they began to fast and pray and ask God to open the doors of the villages to the Gospel.  Without doing anything else, we decided to simply show up and try and show the film.  When we arrived on site, even with the Juju man imploring the villages to “refuse to watch” the film, the villagers assembled and not only watched the film, but openly responded to the Gospel message!  Even some people who were committed to the Juju and its’ idolatry were gloriously redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!

“Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
– Acts 16:9

We are going to into Togo to share the Gospel.  As I wrote earlier, we have already gone into the country of Togo with a dental team.  As Dr. David provided dental work for these desperate villagers, Pastor Bright obtained permission from the local school officials to bring “the American visitors” in to speak to the children.  Therefore, both James and Andy were able to share the gospel message in these schools.  This was an extraordinary feat in that religious programs are not generally allowed in the schools.  Once again, because of the years of prayerful preparation on the part of a small group of pastors in Togo and their persistent plea to us, we have been able to see a viable beginning of ministry in their country.

Later this coming week, we will be traveling back into Togo for more school ministry and the screening of the Jesus film in villages.  On Wednesday, by God’s grace, Jeff and I will meet with a larger group of pastors and Christians in Togo for encouragement and preparation.  This confirms the fact that God is always moving in front of us and preparing the ground for the Gospel.

Please continue to pray for the supernatural protection and provision of God in and on the lives of each person involved in the work of the Kingdom here.  We will be in West Africa until next Sunday.

The Blessing of Smooth Roads

Sunday, 18 March
Denu, Ghana

Sometimes it probably seems boring to read the updates from this project.  Thus far we have had very few obstacles, hindrances, or difficulties to our ministry.  I do not remember a time when things have run as smoothly as they have so far on this project.  As I have said before, I credit this all to the hand of God in response to the prayers of you, His dear children.

This is not to say that the project has been without spiritual attacks.  In the weeks (and days) leading up to our departure for Ghana nearly every team member was faced with both physical and spiritual assaults.  My family saw two grandsons sick and one hospitalized, Jeff was dealing with a severe case of laryngitis and sinus infection, and Andy broke a tooth which required the seating of a crown.

You prayed for us all and we have all been well and without mentionable troubles on this project.  You supported the effort and God is doing a great work.

The scripture says,  “Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.  For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ John 4:36-37

This is a constant reminder that whether you are here in Ghana or back at home you are involved in this ministry.  Regardless of whether you are preaching or praying, giving or going — we are all equally involved (and blessed).  Because of you, we have been able to present the Gospel, face-to-face with over 20,000 people so far on this project.

Keep praying for us all.

Clear Skies, Sunny Sand and Volleyball

[Denu, Ghana, Mar. 16] –   Our ministry here is proceeding well.  As of noon on Friday we have shared the message of Jesus Christ in 60 separate venues where we have seen 13,068 indicated first-time decisions for Christ!  To Him be all praise and glory!

Each morning we awake to a nearly cloudless and bright sky.  It is a constant reminder that God is watching over us and is making all things clear to those who hear the Gospel.  As the day goes on the hot sun is a reminder that we must find a place of cooling shade and rest.  So it is with those who have yet to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ — they need to find that place of rest and assurance.

Today was particularly hot during our school ministries.  As we each stood in our assigned schools to share the Gospel the sun beat down upon our heads the the heat of the hot sandy soil was literally burning through our shoes to our feet.  I was reminded that while we are asked to endure this for only a matter of days, this is the actual day-to-day life of these dear ones here.  Sometimes we think we are doing something special by being here, but the truth is we are blessed and fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to this place to present the Gospel of Jesus.

At one place this morning several of the area schools had gathered for a volleyball competition.  It was fun to watch these school kids cheer on their classmates as each group vied to “be the best.”  There were hundreds of students standing in the hot sun watching their teams.  It brought a smile to my face as I stood with them and cheered their team on the victory.

The ultimate victory will come to these kids as their receive Jesus Christ.  I pray that the Gospel will penetrate each of these schools and the Spirit of God will draw these students to faith in Christ.

Dr. David Ney leaves today for this travel back home.  Please pray for his comfort and rest while he  flies home.  He has served well and we are thankful for His willingness to come and be a part of this ministry.