Greetings from Ghana – It is mid-morning, Tuesday February 27 and we are having an unexpected "down day" with only two days from completing the project. At the moment it's very quiet so I thought I would write my March Prayer Letter on my laptop.
In many ways the project has gone on as planned with very few exceptions. As usual, the 'blessings' of the project have far outweighed the 'blasting' of the enemy. The only hiccup came as the District pastor of the denomination that we were working with, insisted that we work in a 'church strengthening' mode rather than our usual 'church planting' mode. At the end of the day, we submitted to his authority and the Lord blessed us by bringing 'honey from the rock'. We didn't get in front of the large crowds as we normally do but the existing churches were able to greet a lot of new members, making a way for lots of potential body life and blessing.
From time to time I am asked – How do your projects unfold while in the country?
First, we begin with a 3-day seminar modeled after Billy Graham's Christian Life and Witness material that he uses to prepare the workers who will gather in the harvest at his crusades. It began with: 1) What is the Gospel? 2) How to share the Gospel and then 3) an invitation to all the volunteers to answer the question, Have you been born again? It is these dear brothers and sisters who made up the volunteer force that live over a ten mile radius covering 35 villages. They took on the responsibility for all the follow up work and then within 60 days, will send a report. This has been our plan here for years.
When this seminar is finished, we move into the schools with the Gospel and a short 15 minute HIV/AIDS presentation. We were in 15 schools in the two weeks and witnessed over 1,500+ students come to Christ. Around 11AM we would head back to the hotel for a shower, meal and rest as we get ready for the Evening Film Crusades.
These meetings are usually staged nearby the existing churches in order to draw the local residents. After leaving for the field around 5PM, we would set up the equipment and then play 30 minutes of Gospel music to draw the crowd. Around 7PM a local pastor or elder would pray asking God's favor on the meeting and then the film would start. We screened The Burning Hell during these days and when it finished, we would immediately present the Gospel. Since the people had already been warned of the reality of hell, we made an easy transition into the message, "Three Secrets Satan Does Not Want You to Know:"
1) The Truth About You (you are a sinner heading for hell)
2) The Truth About Jesus (God's remedy for repentant sinners) and
3) The Truth About Life Eternal (you have a choice to receive or reject God's way to heaven)
When the message was finished, the crowds were usually very quiet and you could sense the Holy Spirit working. The remaining 'midwife' work was to help them through the 'birth canal' by leading them in the 'sinner's prayer' bringing them from death to life eternal. What a joy it was to see around 50% of the crowd respond to the Good News!
The high mark of the project came in a village where the 'juju' (local tribal religion) was in power. The chief had given us his permission to come and in spite of a shrine in the middle of the village with smaller shrines outside many of the huts, a very large crowd of 500 gathered to see the film. In addition to the film, they heard testimonies of how God had delivered different ones from the bondage and darkness of the evil one to a life of joy and happiness in Christ. When the message was delivered over 400 people came forward to say, 'no more darkness for me' and receive Jesus as their Savior! Satan and his darkness had been defeated again by Calvary's gift and the ongoing work of the Gospel. It is still GOOD NEWS! This could not have happened apart from your commitment to GHI to pray and keep on sending us into the fields to shout the victory, so bless you one and all.
Joining me on the project was Earl Sprague. He and his wife Barbara attend North Richland Hills Baptist with Dottie and me. He faithfully served the Lord and the Air Force for over 20 years as a Chaplain and has a great burden for lost souls whether in the USA or Ghana. Whenever I take someone with me who has never done any open air work, there is always a bit of fear of the unknown. He faced the task resting in the power of God and I am happy to say he is now a veteran and served the Lord well in Ghana in spite of the heat and the many inconveniences. Perhaps he will lead a team on his own in the future to work with the team again.
Many thanks to Evangelists Eugene Narh, Gabriel Kujo and Solomon Larbi and the 20+ different volunteers for their hard work during these days. Our guys are masters of their craft and calling. They have a reputation for excellent work in this country and we are now celebrating 15 years of working with them. God is good!
WHAT HAS GOD BEEN SPEAKING TO ME LATELY? Usually when I get away in overseas projects I find myself immersed in God's Word asking the Lord to speak to me. It is usually in these quiet days, I find it easier to hear from Him. In light of our recent financial circumstances, I have been reminded that these issues are out of my control and God only wants me to do three things:
1) Be Still, Ps. 46:10;
2) Stand Still, Exod. 14:13 and
3) Sit Still, Ruth 3:18.
This allows God to take me (and everything I think I can do to help Him) out of the equation. In other words, ME + God profits nothing! But God acting and performing for me brings forth an abundant supply of grace and provision in due season. AND I BELIEVE IT IS ON THE WAY. God's timing is always perfect.
Joseph, helpless in prison, had to wait for God to free him and then reconcile him to his brothers.
Israel had to wait 400 years for deliverance from Egypt.
Moses had to endure 10 difficult plagues before Pharaoh would let the people go.
Joshua and Caleb had to wait for 40 years to claim their inheritance when the delay was not their fault.
David, a man after God's heart had to wait for Saul's death before claiming what was his.
Mary and Martha had to wait for Jesus arrival in Bethany before Lazarus could be raised from the dead.
God has a sovereign plan. So by the grace of God I will Be still, Standing still and Sitting still and watch the Lord work for us!
PRAYER – Many of our families are under attack; pray for the delivery of a new truck for our Ghana team; pray for our finances to increase; pray for my back to be restored to some normality.
PRAISE- some new friends have come on board with us to embrace the needs around the world for people to hear the Gospel, for churches to be planted, for the Bible College in India and for the orphanage in India. God is good all the time! Nearly 3,500 books are on the way to India by boat for our Bible College library!
Thanks again for your love to GHI and us that has been expressed in so many ways. Dottie joins me in sending our love to you all….Mack
