Today was a beautiful Africa day. It is the rainy season here so the weather is fairly mild, which means it was in the 80's. We enjoyed a breakfast of omelets and yeast rolls before heading out to Tarikpaa village.
Our first trip to the village is always filled with anticipation knowing we will see old faces and make new friends. African church worship is so unique and different than most American church worship. There seems to be so much more freedom of worship here and we enjoy every minute of it.
Last year, upon returning home, one of our team members, Jackie Castro, wrote and recorded a song about her experience here. It was called "Rescue the Perishing". Today Jackie, along with Joseph, Jillian, Tayler and Colton sang that song for the church members. They loved it. Jackie commented later that it was very special to her to be able to sing the song she wrote about these people to these people.
After worship and fellowship with our Shalom friends, we headed back to the guesthouse for lunch and rest.
Later on in the day we went to meet with Rev. Baba Elisha. He is of the Kasena tribe. As part of our mission this year, we are going as a team to do some research and make contact with this tribe to see if there is a possibility of doing a church plant there in the future. The tribe is located further north, almost to Burkina Faso. We would appreciate your prayers as we seek God's favor in this situation.
Cynthia Napari, Paul's wife, cooked dinner for us. She made chicken and jolof rice. The fruit here is amazing, so we always have mango, pineapple, banana,, watermelon and/or oranges with our meals.
We are really excited to see what God has in store for this team and the people in the villages.
Monday, June 27, 2011
June 24-25
We thank God for a smooth flight and safe arrival in Ghana. We were greeted at the airport by our dear friends, Francis Osei and Pastor Mohammed.
Our first night was spent at the GILLBT Guesthouse. We were so surprised when they served us chocolate cake, meat pies and popcorn upon arrival. I've never had popcorn in Ghana! After 17 hours in planes and airports, we were happy just to have our feet planted on African soil.
We were all jet-lagged so we retired early. The weather was so mild that we slept with our windows open, enjoying the quiet rains and cool breeze that came in the night.
We were up at 3:30am to catch a 5:30am flight to Tamale, in the Northern Region. We had another smooth flight and again we were greeted by a special friend, Paul Napari who transported us to the GILLBT Guesthouse. I've been bringing teams to here for so long that it feels like home. We spent the remainder of the day resting, getting acclimated and participating in team orientation.
Our first night was spent at the GILLBT Guesthouse. We were so surprised when they served us chocolate cake, meat pies and popcorn upon arrival. I've never had popcorn in Ghana! After 17 hours in planes and airports, we were happy just to have our feet planted on African soil.
We were all jet-lagged so we retired early. The weather was so mild that we slept with our windows open, enjoying the quiet rains and cool breeze that came in the night.
We were up at 3:30am to catch a 5:30am flight to Tamale, in the Northern Region. We had another smooth flight and again we were greeted by a special friend, Paul Napari who transported us to the GILLBT Guesthouse. I've been bringing teams to here for so long that it feels like home. We spent the remainder of the day resting, getting acclimated and participating in team orientation.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Going Scared
A few years ago I was sitting in a large group of Believers on a Sunday morning when suddenly the leader stopped and said to me, "You have been going to Africa for several years, so you go with complete confidence and no fear, right?" My head knew the answer he was seeking, but my heart jumped into my mouth and said, "I go scared every time." The class erupted in laughter and the point he was trying to make dissolved into oblivion.
I've thought about that moment many times since then, realizing that it is not really fear (lack of trust in God) that most team members experience as much as it is a humbleness of heart and a sincere desire to follow after the things of God and not after the things of man. It's a feeling of not wanting to fail Him and wanting with every fiber of our beings to glorify God in all we do. You see, it is easy to become enthralled with the "coolness" of going to Africa. After all, we're treated like rock stars there, mainly just because of the color of our skin.
I really like what Chuck Swindoll has to say on the subject of having a humble servant's heart. He writes, "When you have a servant's heart, you're humble. You do as you're told. You don't rebel. You respect those in charge. You serve faithfully and quietly without concern over who gets the credit." He continues with, "A servant has one great goal, and that is to make the person he serves look better, to make that person even more successful. A servant does not want the person he serves to fail. A servant doesn't care who thinks what, just so the job gets done." (Click here to read the entire article)
Our goal with this mission is to serve God in such a way that only He gets the credit. We want to exalt and glorify the name of Jesus for it is only by His great grace that we are able to go at all.
I've thought about that moment many times since then, realizing that it is not really fear (lack of trust in God) that most team members experience as much as it is a humbleness of heart and a sincere desire to follow after the things of God and not after the things of man. It's a feeling of not wanting to fail Him and wanting with every fiber of our beings to glorify God in all we do. You see, it is easy to become enthralled with the "coolness" of going to Africa. After all, we're treated like rock stars there, mainly just because of the color of our skin.
I really like what Chuck Swindoll has to say on the subject of having a humble servant's heart. He writes, "When you have a servant's heart, you're humble. You do as you're told. You don't rebel. You respect those in charge. You serve faithfully and quietly without concern over who gets the credit." He continues with, "A servant has one great goal, and that is to make the person he serves look better, to make that person even more successful. A servant does not want the person he serves to fail. A servant doesn't care who thinks what, just so the job gets done." (Click here to read the entire article)
Our goal with this mission is to serve God in such a way that only He gets the credit. We want to exalt and glorify the name of Jesus for it is only by His great grace that we are able to go at all.
O Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear.
Ps. 10:17
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Pastor Issah and the Good News Club
Let me introduce you to Pastor Issah. He is the Children's Minister of Shalom Baptist Church in Tarikpaa, Ghana, West Africa. I've known Pastor Issah for 7 years and in all that time, I've never seen him without a smile. He is the director of the Good News Club, which means he travels by motorbike, bicycle, or on foot to 5 remote mud-hut villages to teach the children about Jesus.
Thanks to some school children here in the US, last year our team was able to take some school supplies to Pastor Issah. He distributes them to needy children who would otherwise not have any supplies for school.
You can see Pastor Issah standing behind the children, smiling.
Thanks to some school children here in the US, last year our team was able to take some school supplies to Pastor Issah. He distributes them to needy children who would otherwise not have any supplies for school.
You can see Pastor Issah standing behind the children, smiling.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Shalom 2011 Easter Celebration
Dear Brethren in the Lord,
I am more than the word happy to share with you the beautiful pictures of our 2011 Easter convention.Today was a great day for me in the ministry of God. I can't imagine leading over 500 people to enter into His gate with praises and worship.Shalom Baptist Church new building was full up with a sitting capacity over 500 people,today affirmed that our new Church building sitting capacity is more the 400 capacity as we proposed,we are very excited that the Lord has used this ordinary and poor members to do this great work.I thank all our partners for their support to put up such a big auditorium in a village like Tarikpaa,we are proud of you all.I also want to thank you all for supporting me in prayers when i was preparing to lead the Association today in our worship service,the Lord used me in an unexpected way to bless His people.Glory be to His name.
Not that alone,for the past three days we have been examining the Second Advent(coming) of our Lord Jesus Christ and it was a moment of discovery, insight and life touching.
I hope you all experience the same way as we did here in Tarikpaa Village.May the Lord show you His favor and smile on you as you celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Your fellow servant in Christ,
Pastor Mohammed.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Shalom Baptist Church - Tarikpaa Village
For the past two years, the members of Shalom Baptist Church in Tarikpaa Village have been meeting in the local elementary school. When the crowd is large, they meet under the trees on the school playground. Almost all of the church members have given sacrificially to help make building the church a reality.
After much prayer and sacrificial giving by most of the church members, this past week, they began placing the roof on the church. It is so exciting to be part of this incredible mission and we thank God for his provision.
After much prayer and sacrificial giving by most of the church members, this past week, they began placing the roof on the church. It is so exciting to be part of this incredible mission and we thank God for his provision.
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