My dear friends,
As we enter into 2008 I want to thank you all once again for everything you have done to help make this past year of ministry the phenomenal success and victory it turned out to be. You have - interceded in prayer, given generously and even sacrificially of your financial resources, sent timely words of encouragement again and again. So on behalf of the entire international team, Dottie and I want to say a great big, THANK YOU!
2007 was once again a great year of harvesting. Through November the Lord has given us over 135,000 first time decisions for Christ! The December figures will come in slowly in January and we will send you the final figures in the February prayer letter. But needless to say, God has done exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think.
As we move forward into 2008, can I ask you again to join me in trusting the Lord for the necessary funds to get us off to a great start in January? Our teams in Ghana and India are already off to a great start this year and are very expectant of great and mighty things from our Lord. Thanks for loving us and continuing to believe in what we do. We feel like your Gospel representatives (ambassadors) to the world. Thanks for being our friends and may we continue to stand and walk in His Spirit together.
Reports from the fields…
Both our teams in Ghana reported some wonderful victories as they went into the fields picking up the harvest. Eugene and his team were in the Eastern Region in the Nsawam District while Godfried Tei and his team were crisscrossing from The Greater Accra Region into the Eastern Region. They combined to preach the Word in 63 different venues to 27,907 hungry souls, witnessing 6,802 make first time decisions for Christ! What a harvest. Here are two testimonies of many:
“My peers taunted and mocked me because I would not give in to their challenge of smoking with them. After I had resisted this challenge for some time, I finally yielded and started smoking until I surpassed them and could not satisfy my quest for cigarettes. I graduated to marijuana and then to cocaine and heroin until I ended up in the psychiatric home.
My parents felt embarrassed because I had brought their name into disrepute and disgrace and exposed them to ridicule amongst their equals. Finally I was declared cured and discharged but could not go home so I stayed on at the home and learnt basket weaving as a source of livelihood; a trade I still practice. I felt rejected, dejected and unloved and concluded that no one could love me. I have only kept myself alive because of the encouraging words of a friend at the home.
This evening I went out for some fresh air and after strolling along for some distance, I chanced on to you showing the film about Jesus. After watching the film and then giving my life to Christ, I felt I had to introduce myself to you and so please help me.” This is what Kofi D________ had to say to the film team at Obosomase on the Akwapim Range when we visited the town for a film show. After prayer, a Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, has taken up the responsibility of reuniting Kofi to his family and help him grow in the Lord.
“My parents separated when I was a child and I ended up living with my mother. She had no qualifications and job, so life was not easy. We lived on support from my dad and whatever we made from trading in all sorts of goods. Unfortunately my mother went into prostitution to supplement our finances and before long I also joined in. The little comments and advice I had from my mother made me look at men with jaundiced eyes and I thought all that they needed from women was to take advantage of their bodies and I thus lost total respect for them. I turned down some marriage proposals because I had no respect for any man.
Tonight, I feel a sudden change in me and I know I am not going to remain the same again after what happened to me. After praying to be forgiven of my sins, I feel I have had a total and complete washing and cleansing and that all the hatred is gone for good. Jesus is so real to me and I am grateful to Him for forgiving me my sins and making me His daughter and I promise to dedicate my life to Him forever. Thank you for leading me to Jesus.” This is what Salome S____ had to say after a showing at Abeka Lapas, on 27th November, 2007. Because you gave and prayed many like these two desperate souls came to know Christ!
We also finished the year by sending over 3,000 books to India for the Harvesters Training College. A big thank you goes to about 15 people who gave to this endeavor. Crabapple First Baptist, Alpharetta GA, Rev. George Dixon, Dick and Cheryl Graves and Lewis Filewood gave most if not all of their total libraries to the cause. Many more friends gave as well. Bless you all! This will give us a grand total of 6,000 books needed for accreditation.
Dottie had a wrist fusion on her left wrist on December 18. They inserted a 5” piece of titanium with 5 screws over her wrist and hand. It was very painful to say the least. Many thanks to those of you who prayed, called and sent cards.
Happy New Year Wishes to you from our 60+ people who make up GHI. Year end receipts will be coming next month. Be praying for our three mission outreaches in Ghana and India this month!
Grace and peace – Mack and Dottie
