Niipaak Laar, Aug-Oct 2010, Report from Saboba, Ghana

CHURCH OF CHRIST, P. O. BOX, SB 28,

SABOBA – GHANA, NORTHERN REGION.

29^TH OCTOBER, 2010.

THE ELDERS,

PRESTONCREST CHURCH OF CHRIST,

DALLAS, U. S. A.

FIRST QUARTER REPORTS [ AUGUST TO OCTOBER, 2010 ]FROM BROTHER NIIPAAK LAAR, GHANA.

INTRODUCTION; As from 1992, I started following my late brother Samson Laar on his motor to villages for evangelism and church planting. By then I was giving him a company and leading songs when we are in the village. I got attracted to village work and the Lord increased my interest in leadership to my own surprise. As from 1998, I started going out to villages all by myself on a bicycle establishing churches through friends and public preaching and by the year 2000, I had 20 congregations under my care [ I was in Yendi by then ]. As the churches were growing, I started leadership training classes with them every Wednesdays, where the leaders assemble at one place for the class. At this point in time, I was working with the church of Christ mission clinic in Yendi. I took this leadership training plan because, I had planned to resign from the clinic and go to Bible College to become a full time preacher. Through this leadership training, I was able to raised seven [ 7 ] brothers who were capable of helping me with the work in the local congregations. Because of these brothers who were helping me, I was able to leave for the Bible College in the year 2000 and completed 2003 and continued my ministry as a full time preacher.

Fortunately or unfortunately, just after my graduation, I was been pressurized by Saboba and its surrounding churches to move further to work with them as the churches of Christ in that District was at the verge of collapsing. However, whiles I was in Yendi I started some congregations in Saboba District and working with them from Yendi. I succeeded in moving finally with my family from Yendi to Saboba on 5^th April, 2005. Upon arrival, Saboba church of which we started with plenty membership was left with 17 members with children all and the surrounding congregations were nothing to write home about. Because most of our congregations were collapsed and lack of working personnel in the vineyard, I suspended opening of new congregations in order to be able to revive the collapsed ones. By God’s grace, now we have 11 congregations in the villages with one across Togo and Saboba Township making 12 congregations which I am directly working with. However, there are other sections of Saboba District where we have churches there, but they are being handled by some other preachers.

Besides the above mentioned work, I am also working in a different District called Bunkpurugu Yunyoo District. There are two routs leading to the place from Saboba where one is 80 miles away from Saboba and the other one is 200 miles [ That is through Tamale ] but the short one is not motor-able in the rainy season. I started that ministry in the year 2000, and now we have 9 congregations over there with 3 already trained Project Timothy leaders helping me. However, some leaders are also going through my leadership training workshops I organize twice every year. Personnel are not a problem, but financial motivation to enable them take care of their families and work is the problem.

MY PERSONAL INFORMATION; I am a young man of 40 years old married with three sons, { David, Jonah, and Paul } and my wife is called, Victoria [ very helpful in ministry ]. Rather we have more dependants who are orphans we are taking care of. We have 4 them staying with us and my 2 late brothers who died last year also left me with 16 orphans to take care of. So you can imagine the great help your support is giving to me, may the Lord be glorified.

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES; Besides Sunday services which I preach and teach not less than three sections before the day is over, we have Wednesdays evenings for Bible class, Friday evenings for prayers, and Saturdays for visitations. I had the opportunity to be preaching every Saturday dawn at a community Radio station in Saboba. We equally have special programs like village night preaching, youth classes, married and unmarried classes, community cleaning exercises, hospital visitations, and personal works but they are all on special program run.

ANNUAL SPECIAL PROGRAMS; 1. Leadership Training workshops [ twice a year ] 2. Annual Regional Bible Camp, 3. Community cleaning exercises, 4. Evangelical campaign in the villages.

BAPTISMS FROM AUGUST TO OCTOBER, 2010. Because this particular season is our serious rainy season with flooding everywhere, we usually have lower coverage and for that matter baptisms are also lower. However, bellow are some few;

Baptisms made at [Tanyen church, Bunkpurugu area ] on 15^th August, 2010.

1. Brother Kwasi Duut

2. // Datamint Konfook

3. // Bapaak Jatuat

4. // Moitong Dindiok

5. Sister Lariba Wapang

6. // Lydia Joutukah

7. // Suapak Yamdam

8. Brother Suuk Kunkon [ the Pentecost Elder ]

Baptisms, 19^th September, 2010 [ Saboba church ].

1. Bilarmi Nakojah

2. N- mohanden Jagri

3. Bilisun Mary

4. Tayedin Makabi

Baptisms, 14^th October, 2010 [ Pagnatiik church, Bunkpurugu area ].

1. Yandia Yendal

2. Jakpel Binang

3. Laribiik Nampukin

4. Kwasi Laar

5. Gbalibannu Laar

Baptisms, 26^th October, 2010 [ Nanyiar church, Bunkpurugu area ].

1. Sadingnah Manubial

2. Bantuaka Jakpel

Baptisms, 29^th October, 2010 [ Sachido Church, Saboba area ].

1. Kofi Yelibe

2. Matanni Buagnor

3. Nagnatali Wumbei

4. N- gbalibe Kojo

5. Jaabilah N-silibe

6. Bajorbiyan Jabaab

7. Wakugnan Kwabena

My Project Timothy leaders are all inclusive in these efforts because, we are working as a team.

EXPENDITURE DETAILS ON CHURCH BUILDING FUNDS; The total funds sent recently for the church building project was $ 3000. The exchange rate was 1.428 per dolla, which means, $ 3000 x 1.428 = GH¢ 4284 received as funds for church building project. Below are the expenditure details of the funds;

1. Cement [ 50 ] at 15 cedis per bag = GH 750

2. River sand [ 6 ] trips at 50 cedis per trip = GH 300

3. Pit sand [ 2 ] trips at 50 cedis per trip = GH 100

4. Plastic chairs [ 35 pieces ] at 8 cedis per chair = GH 280

5. Doors [ 2 ] at 50 cedis per one = GH 100

6. Paint [ different types 9 containers ] = GH 286

7. Louver frames =GH 517

8. Louver blades = GH 638

9. Wire net for windows [ 2 rolls ] = GH 120

10. Bugler proof for windows [ 24 pieces ] = GH 228

11. 1.5 mm cables [ 3 coils ] = GH 120

12. Transportation of materials = GH 270

13. Workmanship for mason and painter = GH 450

Therefore total income for building is; = GH 4284

Total expenditure made on the funds is ; = GH 4159

Balance in our hands = GH 125 Ghana cedis.

Your timely intervention into our church building project amazed all of us how God can push us at that fast pace to finish the project. we started the building on the 11^th March, 2006 and because of our financial constrains, we moved such a low pace until the Lord made it possible for us to partner with you recently. Your quick response to my request for the completion of the building really made every member of the church so happy. It has projected the image of the church in our community here a lot, and will surely enhance my evangelism so much.

EXPENDITURE DETAILS ON THE BICYCLES FUNDS.

The $ 735 meant for seven Bicycles had the following exchanging rate;

$ 735 x 1. 428 = GHS 1049.58 and a bicycle is GHS 150. Therefore, 1049.58 divided by 150 = 6.9972. However, I was able to buy all the 7 bicycles. My leaders are now using it for villages and very happy.

NEEDS ACCORDING TO THEIR PRIORITY ORDER.

1. More Support of $ 50 per month for my trained leaders are needed. And one time amount of $ 250 to help repair brother John Nteche Taakal’s motor-bike.

2. Replacement of Niipaak’s AG 100 motorbike which is now seven years old and breaking down every time. [ 6562 GHS ]

3. Additional [ 500 GHS ] for electrical infrastructure for the Saboba church building.

4. A portable Projector [ 800 ]and Honda portable generator [ 700GHS ] for village presentations.

5. Modem for email connections [ 150 GHS ]

6. Tractor to be used to farm for support of the church and its programs [ 18,000 GHS ].

7. Support to help finish Sanguli church building which is now at the foundation level and some other ones in the villages.

8. Funds to build Bunkpurugu Township Chapel for worship and to serve as a training centre for the leaders over there.

9. Yearly medical outreach in the villages to open more doors for evangelism.

10. 4 bedroom accommodation to be built by Saboba church to house visiting missionaries.

11. A temporal fence round our 20 acre square land in Saboba to prevent encroachment.

12. Provision of health care and portable drinking water [drilling of bore-holes ] for our people in the villages.

13. Physical infrastructure like school [Primary level to senior High ]in Saboba and Clinic or Orphanage in Bunkpurugu for the health care of the people and also to give care to the Orphans.

14. Educational fund for brilliants but needy students in the church.

OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE ALREADY.

1. Human resources are available

2. Labor cost is very low here and every member is ready to contribute his or her skills and expertise free in any project you shall help us with.

3. We already have 20 acres square land for physical infrastructure in Saboba right now.

4. I also acquired another 15 acres square land for physical infrastructure in Bunkpurugu already.

5. The two Districts are all noted for peace in the whole Northern Region of Ghana.

These social or community developmental projects are great open doors for the Gospel. It makes the church popular and the care of our Lord Jesus is always realized through these things by the unbelievers.

CONCLUSION; The Church of Christ is fast gaining its popularity in these areas with its sound doctrine and its true reflection of the Biblical church. However, because we are lacking physical infrastructure and social services, other churches uses those things to attract people and even some of our members. I therefore want to urge you brethren, by the mercy of God to give much attention to these requests. Though I know it is a lot of financial burden, it will also open more doors for the Lord’s church to gain much roots in this part of the world. Some of our trained leaders joined other churches because of lack of support for them to take care of their families whiles working for the Lord, though it is very unfortunate, that is the realities on the ground.

Attached are pictures of my work this morning after I have preached at a village called SACHIDO, the Lord added 7 people to His church and they gave themselves to Him through Baptism. In the pictures doing the baptisms is brother John Takal N-teche who I went with him. We already have the church there, it is not a new congregation, I will want you to be praying for these souls, thank you.

FROM; EVANGELIST NIIPAAK LAAR, SABOBA / BUNKPURUGU.

Andrews Abdulai Jul-Sep 2011 Report from Yendi, Ghana

NSAWAM ROAD CHURCH OF CHRIST EVANGELISTS QUARTERLY WORK REPORT TO THE MISSIONS MINISTRY, ACCRA, GHANA.

PERIOD: JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2011.

INTRODUCTION: In this work report is the work I have done in relation to edification (Yendi church fasting, Ngani fasting and prayer, evangelists fasting and praying for our home and overseas partners, Annual Northern Bible Camp, reactivation of one congregations in Garinkuka area, my worship with Ngani congregation, visit by Bros. Dan McVey, Dada Christian Nsoah, Isaac Kpakpo Adotey and their wives, donation of a truck full load of good used clothing to the northern congregations, communal fasting and prayers in the villages, visit to Kanimo, postponement of youth program, visits to Tamale to reactivate clinic account, worship at Kanimo and a report from Daniel Dawuni in Ngani ) and evangelism (Documentary on the works of the church in Yendi and its environ, preaching at Kpachili, welcoming of Abukari Dramani from Tamale Instutute of Biblical Studies, devotion in St. Kizito Junior High, meeting of local association of churches, visit by Dr. Mike Glover and Sister Missy, an interaction of five muslims men, taking statistics of bore-holes and congregations, distribution of WBS lessons to students, Yendi Senior High campus ministry and challenges).

EDIFICATION: Yendi Church of Christ fasted and prayed on the 1/7/2011 and 24^th of September 2011. We have realized that the word is been taught for many years and some of the time is like people still listen yet the correlating life style is not achieved. Based on this we have now thought is wise to intensify our prayers regularly to support the teaching with the Holy Spirit backing. This kind of prayer is general, to the congregation as a whole, our partners and the spreading of the word.

A day fasting and prayer was organize at Ngani on the 16^th of September. This is the first time communal fasting and prayer is organized. There were two congregations that participated. Unlike the Yendi south where a number of congregations are participating this was Ngani and Baaduli congregations. A woman who has married for five years with issue was one of the people we prayed for and others who have been farming for years without progress in life. We are sure the Lord will grant us the grace to receive those blessing.

We have realized the difficulty and challenges we as a body of Christ have and that of our partners, therefore the preachers have dedicated some of the days to fast and pray for our partners in Ghana, the work of the Lord in the north and our partners overseas. In relation to this, the preachers in Yendi fasted on 30^th July, 3^rd and 12^th August, 2^nd September. On the same day Bros. George Dassah from Tamale East congregation, Paul N. Dokurugu from Yendi Church, Emmanuel Wumbei from Lagbani church in the Zabzugu district, Fusheini Musah and I met in Yendi to plan for the Annual Northern Bible Camp which comes once in every year in the month of December. This year Yendi church is going to host the program.

On the 31^st July I visited Galinkuka. I went with Evangelist Timothy from Wapuli Church of Christ to reactivate the congregations that are dead. So far we have reactivated one congregation in addition to already two that was in existance in the area and we hope to continue in the months to come. This is Mabombori. One of the interesting things was a prayer for rain in Galinkuka when we went. For some weeks there were no rains and crops were dried and about to be fully destroyed. After service I gently ask the congregation “It looks as if your land is dried and the crops are drying?” they responded in affirmative, I proceeded to ask whether they needed a rain and they responded, and furthered by asking them to what radios do they want the rain just to find out whether the will show any greedy hearts to say they want it just in their village. They answered that they want the rain in all over Ghana and even in any other country that needs rain. I ask the whole congregation to be on their knees including children less than ten years who all join on their knees. We prayed fervently for the Lord to let the heavens give them rain. All hands were raise up and Psalm 68 was read. After the request prayer of the rain we devoted some time in thanking God for the rain we have not yet received, yet by hope we knew the rain will come. It took us not less than 30 minute on our knees and every living being was perspiring to the highest. This was after 12pm GMT. By 8am the next morning clouds had gathered and truly a huge rain came upon the land including the other lands and areas in Ghana. I had calls from Galinkuka on the Monday it rain to let me know that the Lord has answered our prayer. When we were on our knees praying a group of women came closer to us to see what we were doing and the rain was an evidence of the prayer. According to the brethren in Galinkuka, this was a topic for discussion and the name of the Lord was praise and will continue to be praised as people remember this event.

I worshiped with Ngani congregation on the 14^th of August. They worship in a classroom for some years now and we are to assist them in the dry season to put up a worship place which will relieve them from the drumming by the denominational churches who are also worshipping in the next classroom to which the Ngani congregation is. One of the challenges the Church of Christ faces in the north is worship places which in some ways has retarded the growth of the church. We pray as we help in putting up worship places that problem will someday be over in the next years to come.

On the 27^th of July Bro. Dan McVey and his wife, Dada Christian Nsoah and his wife, Bro. Isaac Kpakpo Adotey and I visited Mion-Lana as one of Bro. Dan’s long time good traditional chief whom he for years has been talking to be a Christian. Mion-Lana is now over 80 years and looking tired and weak for his life journey. He even has not been to the church yet he is one of the secrete Christian who endorses Christ as a “prophet from God” who brings peace to those who will accept him. We also visited Papa Musah Dawud who is a veteran evangelist just to encourage him in his blindness. Bro. Adams Abdulai (Now Kuga chief) was also one of the people we visited. They advise him to be a light to himself, his family and the community and not let the chieftaincy take his spirit away from God. We had a long time sitting with him as the three men mention above each has some aspect of life to tell him. All we hope is that he will heed to the advices so that he will have an impact on the community as the first Christian to occupy that position in the history of this land (Dagbon).

Arrival of used clothing in Yendi on the 8^th of August 2011. The Lord responded to our request for used clothing. I have sometime been praying for the lord to grant us some used clothing and have spoken to some individuals yet the answer came from an angle I never expected. This donation came from Village of Hope through Bro. Fred Asare. It was a full truck load of good used clothing that we received. I pleaded with the team that brought it and they helped us distribute the clothing to village congregations without off-loading it in Yendi. We never off load it than just give it out from the truck. Sixteen (16) congregations were blessed to have these clothing. A few days after the donation some of the congregations called me on phone to thank the donors while others came personally to extend their gratitude to the donors for the concern of the needy amongst the local congregations. We are thankful for that and the gift has encouraged some of the members. Non-Christians in the communities are also talking about the love of the Christian people to their fellows and even beyond the church. I have attached photos of this gift.

On communal fasting and prayers we have been able to rotate it from Duuni , Bakpaba, Limpusi, Niliyundo, Mepeasam, Bagjoo, Kakpaani and Nakpah. I was in some of these villages but was not able to visit them all during the fastings and prayer. My absence never affected the program. At the moment we are waiting to have a little rest and will continue with the program again.

13/8/2011, David and I visited Kanimo to pray with them and ask their hands financially in building project

The Yendi church in August proposed hosting the youth in Yendi and Kuga congregations respectively which was not able to materialize due to the overwhelming number of participants. We intended keeping them for three days and move them to Kintampo Water Fall with a proposed number of forty (40) while over one hundred youth (100) showed up from Yendi, Kuga and the village congregations. As a result we were not able to host the program and rather push it to either December or January. With this idea in mind, participants will be ask to pay for the transportation for the excursion to Kintampo while the church will feed them for the number of days they are to be camp.

We visited Tamale to reactivate clinic account with Standard Charted Bank which was dormant for some time now and by the grace of God the reactivation is through. It took us three (3) trips to Tamale before everything was done.

I visited Kanimo to worship with them on the 18^th of September 2011. Worship was good under a big tree. We were lucky the rain threatened but did not come.

This quoted report is from Daniel Dawuni in Ngani who is one of the lay preachers in the villages.

“These two months I went round and visited some of the churches and many of them are complaining about their church buildings.

Some need cement for plastering, some have put up their church buildings. Ngani as an example, we like Ngani to be our Centre but if we have meeting like this and is school days we don’t know where to sit and it is a problem to us in the church.

And also they are still complaining about lack of visits to us as you know human beings like new faces to encourage them. And my prayer is God should open more chances so that we will get more preachers in the system to do His work in Jesus name, amen. Your brother in Christ. Daniel B. Dawuni”. July and August report.”

EVANGELISM: Anniversary team from Kumasi, Kuga chief, Kampakuyana, clinic, water well, school &individuals in Yendi. Four brothers from Kumasi who are doing documentation for the church of Christ jubilee celebration were in Yendi on the 10^th to 11^th of July to take pictures, video and to interact with the church leadership in Yendi, the clinic and Rural Water Development Program. They also interview some of the opinion leaders in Yendi town who gave their version of how the Church of Christ in Yendi has impacted Yendi and the communities in the north. One of such was the regent of Dagbon who is Abdulai Yakubu and the title is Kampakuyanaa. The team left with satisfaction as they heard a good report of the work of the Lord in Yendi and its environs.

Kpachili preaching on the 21^st July. One of my extended family died in a village called Kpachili on the southern part of Yendi with a distance of 8 miles. Even though she fellowship with Assemblies of God church throughout of her life, I was ask to preach during the night of the funeral wake keeping. The preaching was scheduled to come at 12am which I honored. Kpachili is one of the villages in Yendi district that has strong Christian background and equally Islam is as strong as Christianity. I was privileged to present the word of God to the mixed faiths with the change in my life in Christ and called them to come and taste Christ and see what He is and offers us as his followers. Response was good and we pray the message will work in the hearts of the people. Late in the afternoon I earlier on went to Gbungbaliga with Bros. Paul Dokurugu and Fusheini Musah to welcome Abukari Dramani who recently graduated from the Tamale Institute of Biblical Studies into the ministry. We each advise him and directed him to Papa Musah Dawud as an elderly evangelist for him to add his words of wisdom to him.

I have been asked to always have one hour devotion in St. Kizito Junior High School in Yendi on every Tuesdays at 8am to 9am. This devotion reaches over 300 students who are a mixture of Muslims and Christians but majority of them are Muslims. These students are in their teen ages. It does make impact because some of the students have taken heed of the word of God. For instance, I once thought on Exodus 20:12 and after that some of the students who had problems with their parent went home and tried reconciling with them. I hope the Lord will use this medium to transform these kids and hopefully convert them to Christ.

On the 26^th July the Local Association of Churches organized a meeting as part of fostering unity amongst Christian in Yendi .We have always had meetings to come up with programs that will send a signal to the world about our unity by doing something in common. In connection with this, the churches in Yendi met on the 26^th of July to discuss programs that will be done in this last half of the year. Some of them were to participate in the biannual program of the prison ministry in Abokobi in the Greater Accra Region. I was part of the delegates but could not attend due to some other programs in Yendi. One of the remaining things is that the Church of Christ in Yendi still has the license to preach in the Yendi prisons.

I was in Tamale on the 18^th of August to purchase ticket for Dr. Glover and Sister Missy. We were blessed to have Dr. Mike Clover from the International Health Care Foundation of the African Christian Hospitals who is a gynecologist to come to Yendi to work. I went to Tamale on the 18^th to buy their air tickets and went back to pick them on the 21^st of August. They left Yendi on the 27^th of the month. Not less than hundred women came for diagnoses and treatment and up to the day of their departure patience were still there for them to sees. This is an indication that the need of women having problems relating to child birth is high, who might not have good finance to travel outside of Yendi for treatment. We thank God for the sacrifice they made as they would have spent it in the USA where the stress would not have been there as working in the Yendi clinic. All this services are spoken off in Yendi town about the good work the Church is doing.

The Yendi church worship place is some of the time used by students preparing for external examination. On the 18^th of September while we went to have our evening service we met five Muslim students who were there to study. I introduce Christ to them as a savior which open the door for them asked clouded questions they might have carried for years. It almost took all the time of the evening Bible study but members of the church who were present were happy and thankful because it is not easy having such an opportunity to address questions that matters to Muslims. At the end of the talk all the five Dagomba students requested Bible which I ask them to come the following day for. I delivered the Bibles to them through Bro. Frank who lives at the church site. Who knows? God may touch them in a specially way to be Christians one day. Some of the questions ask were “how can God be three”. Referring to the trinity. “How can Jesus be the son of God when God has never married?” “How can we have a photo of God?” That is the photograph of Jesus Christ. Detailed answers were giving to which they were satisfied with as they said.

I have been part of the team that visited some of the drilled Church of Christ bore-holes to take GPS coordinate for water wells and congregations. I visited over twenty (20) bore-holds with Bros. James and Daniel on the 24^th and 25^th of September to enumerate them, take the GPS coordinates and these two brethren from the USA will plot them to be added to the Google map. The work is till on progress and we will not be able to visit all the communities where bore-holes or congregations are found due to rivers that are full of water. Yet we hope a huge of the work should be done for others outside Yendi to see them on the internet if possible.

Distribution of World Bible School (WBS) materials. Hundreds of World Bible School materials came from their teachers and we distributed them to the respective schools and will be back to the schools in the middle of October onwards to pick the answered lessons from the various schools for posting. The usual Friday lessons thought at the church nursery school is till on going.

CAMPUS MINISRTY: Worship with Yendi Senior High School. I worshiped with the Yendi Senior High on the 3/7/2011. This campus ministry is developing gradually in attendance and in spirit. I was also tasked by the students to set questions from the book of 1Kings for quiz at the school which they needed not less than 50 questions of different kinds. I did it for them and the quiz came off on the 17^th of July 2011. I only participated in the set up and left them for Yashagu village to worship.

On the 9/720/11 a Cleanup exercise was orginise by the Yendi Senior High School students. The students from the Yendi Senior High were at the Yendi Church of Christ for cleanup exercise. They came in their numbers and were supervised by Bro. Stephen Morogo who serves as their patron. On this day a number of Bibles were donated to some of the students who had no Bibles. It was a privilege to do this and the response was good. As part of steps to strengthen the Yendi Senior High School campus ministry a get-to-gather was organize for the students at 7A’s (a local restaurant) for the students to refresh themselves of the many weeks of academic work, also to encourage them to stick to Christ whatsoever the condition will be, especially in the schools where all kinds of evil are now going on. These include gay life, cultic and consumption of drugs of varied kinds. Bro. Stephen Morogo who is one of the regular teachers at the school was given the opportunity with me to share our experience in our Christian journeys while in school. The students were happy as many would not have had the privilege to dine there. We thank God for all this grace. A picture of the get-to-gather is attached.

CHALLENGES: Yendi church is still appealing to our partners to assist us deck the ongoing building project to house the worshippers in Yendi town where the distance is shorter as to the Church of Christ Mission Site. The Lord is responding to our prayers as Yendi church is enjoying so much peace and even attendance has drastically improved. We continuously need your prayers to improve on all these areas. But as a matter of fact the village congregations are doing very fine except that they lack worship places which we are praying for the Lord to help us in.

Yours in Christ,

Alhassan Abdulai Andrews,

(Preacher, Yendi Church of Christ)

Andrews Abdulai Apr-June 2011 Report from Yendi, Ghana

Dear Elders,

Find below my work report for April, May and June 2011.

NSAWAM ROAD CHURCH OF CHRIST EVANGELIST QUARTERLY REPORT TO THE MISSIONS MINISTRY. ACCRA, GHANA.

MONTHS: APRIL, MAY AND JUNE 2011.

INTRODUCTION: In this work report are events on edification, which include my visits to: Galinkuka, Nakpah, kpalsoguni, Ngani, Kpatinga, Accra, Kanimo with Bros. Paul Dokurugu and David Wumbei to pray for Simon’s family who were under attack by the evil world, blessing of David Wumbei’s marriage, construction of Bacheborido and Kanimo worship places, Yendi evangelists meeting with Elder Josiah Tilton, Duuni and Bakpaba communal fasting and prayer which attracted eight (8) local congregations and worship activities of Yendi Church of Christ.

Also, under evangelism are preaching at outdooring, preaching at the funeral of the late Jaakum Dasana, world Bible School correspondence course, teaching Christ at “Church of Christ Day Care Centre”, Yendi Senior High School campus ministry, prison ministry at Yendi local prison’s, formation of “Friend of Christ Youth Club”, establishment of a new congregation in Bimbilla town, donation of bicycles to three lay preacher for village work and challenges at hand.

EDIFICATION:

I went to Galinkuka on the 5^th of June to worship and have assessment on how the congregations around there are faring after the departure of evangelist Joseph Chaitey, now an elder in one of the congregations in Accra. Worship was fine and by the grace of God Evangelist Nakoja Timothy from Wapuli Church of Christ who coincidentally visited the same congregation on that day met me there. After worship, we had a meeting with the local brethren as to how we can revive the congregations around that are sleeping. We have planned visiting the villages around on 3^rd July to revive the congregations that are now dormant Lord willing. This will call for the training of a local preacher who should come from that area. This will help in sustaining the work. He will be living there permanently and working. I am by this putting it across to our sponsors to step in, so that we support Bro. Bilandan Solomon who is an active member from the church to do the work.

Galinkuka is about 154km in and out from Yendi. He and I with the Galinkuka congregation are teaming with one another to see what we can do through Christ our Lord.

I visited Nakpah church in the Bimbilla district on the 10^th April 2011. Nakpah has good attendance and one of the old strongest congregations in the area. Nakpah is 60km from Yendi and a round trip is 120km. Nakpah church is a very vibrant congregation but very far away from Yendi. We are not able to frequently visit them like any other congregation due to our (evangelists) number and the distance, so any time the Lord bless me to visit them the joy in their faces and interaction tell me the importance of the love of Christ among his follows.

Kpalsoguni is an old congregation in the Yendi area which does not have more than thirty memberships but has survived for many years with our inability to regularly visit them. I visited them on the 15^th of May just to worship with them and service was good. It has always been a joy and encourage to the congregation when they see a preacher in their midst. There was no special program than normal Sunday service. A round trip to Kpalsoguni is 24km.

Daniel Dawuni’s (in Ngani which is 32km in and out) wife gave birth prematurely (miscarriage) on 15^th May and I visited them on 17^th May 2011. Under the culture of the people here, there should be soothsaying on the third day to know the cost of the abortion (death of fetus) of the pregnancy. In our case on the third day, I visited them and prayed with the family. We were not many but the few sang Christian songs to announce to the neighboring traditional worshippers that the funeral of the child untimely born was been performed according to scriptures. We had few hours and that was alright for the Christian family.

I visited Kpatinga in the Nanumba district which capital is Bimbilla on the 22/5/2011. A round trip to Kpatinga is 154km. This congregation was established by Bro. Fusheini Musah and I some few years back. It’s not a big congregation but well handled by one of the past Project Timothy students. When I got there the members were very happy because it has taken not less than four months when I have not been able to visit them. Besides, they needed a few number of bags of cement to locally plaster the church building against rains which was not easy to come by. My visit open the opportunity for them to have cement to plaster the small locally thatch roofed worship place. I have attached a picture of the building.
I left Yendi on the 24^th of May for Accra to attend lectureship on the “Leadership in Contemporary Church” on the African Union (AU) day which was organized by the Accra area Churches of Christ. Participants cut across the whole country. In addition to that was discussion on the celebration of the 50th Jubilee anniversary of the Church of Christ in Ghana. Anniversary posters were given out to us to begin advertising the event in our local congregations. I represented the preachers in Yendi at the program. The date of the anniversary is not yet fixed but committees are formed to see to some of the day to day running of the pre-activities, the activities of the event and the post activities. David T. Wumbei further attended yet another meeting of the anniversary in Kumasi on behalf of the preachers in Yendi on the 18^th June 2011.

Bros. Paul, David and I went to Kanimo village to pray for Bro. Simon and his family. The wife of Bro. Simon on the 30^th of April was cooking T.Z (a local dish) which is eaten with soup. While the food was well cooked and they started serving and eating, one of them in his desire to satisfy his hanger requested more soup to finish his food. The lady (Simon’s wife) went to serve him with more soup and rather found a chicken thigh in the soup. Meanwhile the family never put any kind of meat in the soup. Where then was this chicken thigh? It might supernaturally been drop by Satan and his agents for evil purposes against the family of Simon. He gave us phone calls and we went in the evening of 3^rd June to pray. An exhibit of the meat was brought for all the preachers to see. After this we started singing. The singing which was more as battle songs (“He is a miracle working God (2X), He is the alpha and omega, He is a miracle working God”,” He is Lord, He is Lord, He has rising from the dead He is Lord, Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”) took some time before the real prayer commenced. The songs took some time and did not attract adults but rather children who came to see what was happening. After all, we encouraged the family to be free from any fear because Christ has rising in their home and every demonic force will certainly bow, therefore there should not be any panic whatsoever. I later called them and the family was doing well. Up to this day am writing this report, the family is fine in the name of God.

David T. Wumbee, one of the evangelists in Yendi, and his wife (Gifty) blessed their marriage on the 24^th of April at the Yendi church auditorium. A number of brethren in Yendi and the villages were there to witness the occasion. I was given the task to do the blessing, which by God’s grace was done without any problem.
We engaged Papa Musah Dawud to pray for God’s blessing for the marriage. He at the same time advised them with his long time experience in marriage.

We are continuing the building of the Bacheborido and Kanimo worship places and hope to raise the walls as soon as possible. Bacheborido during the molding of the blocks added cement while at this time of raising the walls; they have promise shouldering some of the bills as their contribution and are taking up the labor as well except in things that needs technical handling. Kanimo on other hand is contributing labor and some little amount of money due to small number of the congregation. These two village folks share the responsibilities in some way that make them feel ownership of the projects. Kanimo was built but a strange powerful wind push it down and this time we have gone to the ground as a group to pray before the commencement of the project. This applies to Bacheborido as well.

Yendi evangelists had meeting with Elder Josiah Tilton on the 28^th June 2011. It was time for the local evangelists to let him and the team that came with him know what is been done in Yendi town and in the village congregations. Elder Josiah in turn as one of the pioneering workers in Yendi gave his advice and encouraged the local evangelists to continue in doing the work of the Lord in the area. He further prayed for us and punctuated with his usual friendly jokes by saying “Andrews is now the big man here”. Referring to me as the longest serving evangelists in Yendi after the retired ones.

As usual, we organized fasting and prayer with the local congregations around Duuni (52km in and out from Yendi) and far off there. There were nine (9) congregations that participated in the fasting and prayer.

These include: Duuni, Bakpaba, Limpusi, Kakpani, Jakpamba, Bagjoo, Nakpaa, Niliyundo and chamba congregations respectively. The preacher of Chamba Church of Christ was one of the participants. Chamba is far from Duuni but the preacher was able to make it to the one day revival fasting and prayer service. This is a rotational fasting and prayer program which is done around a number of congregations. The benefits of this kind of fasting is that it serves the spiritual needs of the brethren and helps them not participate/patronize in the mushroom prayer camps that are springing up all over Ghana. It also helps concretize the faith of the brethren in God through Jesus Christ. There are also threats from the evil world as well, coxing them to seek assistance from the world outside the Bible ways. That is “juju”. Last but not least is that, it gives us the idea that the individual small village congregations are smaller families in a bigger Christian family worldwide. One of the faith’s lifting real life testimony was a brother, who participated in the last year’s fasting and prayer program. He lives in Cheripone (a town) in the northern region as a motor mechanic. He frequently had sudden heart palpitation at the fitting shop when he is working. Any time that happened he will be out of his mind and will not be able to work for the day. After attending the prayer last year he went to that town and on the night while he was sleeping he had a dream and someone was chasing him at the fitting shop. He got up and prayed and when day broke and he went to the shop he saw five (5) inches-nail covered with red foul furthers tired with black and red thread around it planted on the land where his shop was. Meanwhile it was there for a long time but he never saw it. And when he removed it his shop started getting people to patronize it. He finally burnt it. At the moment the shop is doing fine. And he never had the heart palpitation and fears on working at the fitting shop. To God be the glory great things He has done and greater He will do. I have attached a picture of him holding the charm.
Some of the needs members requested prayers for were: A young man had a yam ban and went to take some of the yam for consumption and the first yam he picked; he took it with a snake and since then has been seeing snakes attacking him in his dreams. It happened one day that he was dreaming of straggling with a snake and when he rose from his sleep a real snake was lying on his chest.

Another woman said her husband died but every night she goes to bed the man will appear to her in dream and wants to forcefully take her away (evil spirit in disguise). She laid this before the Lord and we prayed for her. There is power in the blood of Jesus the Savior. We met on the 1^st July at Bakpaba for the prayer and the said woman stood to testify that since we prayed for her at the last communal fasting and prayer she has never dreamt of seeing the man let alone struggling with him. Early before that was a request of the family for her to slaughter a white fowl for her dead husband which she refused.

Another brother, Matthew, who was also ill and under drugs stood before the congregation and testify that when we prayed for him on the last prayer day, he felt some wind blown over him and the pain left him. He has stop taking all the drugs he was taking and now feeling very well. James 5:16 says “Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”. The next communal fasting and prayer will be on 15^tt July 2011 at Limpusi. We are praying that the Lord grant us the grace to be there to assist ourselves and others.

We have dedicated some of the Sundays in Yendi church mainly for songs and prayer and the Lord is using it to edify the congregation. Many have walked to me and told me that the songs are making them joyful and edified. We know for sure that there is power when we sing from the bottom of our hearts to praise the Lord. It’s rewarding when we fully sing with all the love. Heart are mended and healed from the troubles of this world. Yendi church has taking at least one day in every month for fasting and prayer, but sometimes it may be more than one day depending on needs at hand. Also, a day is dedicated for singing songs to praise the Lord. New songs are also learned to make worship active and edifying. There are good results from members on that program.

On the tenth (10) of June the Yendi church of Christ had fasting and prayer. We have tried fasting at least one day in every month to keep the church peaceful and equipped against any attack of the evil one and his agents. I can say that Yendi church is enjoying peace in her life. True love has return and we hope this will remain through Christ and hopeful attract the unchurched.

EVANGELISM:

The Lord blessed a couple of Yendi church with a baby girl and we named the child on the 16^th of April 2011. Even though I did not personally preach due to sore throat, preaching was done by one of the evangelist (Yabdow Alhassan) and another (Paul Dokurugu) blessed the child. Here in the north, there are always non-Christians at the gathering of Christians; therefore every word preached is not to rocks but to the rightful empty hearts. As a result this ground was not an exception.

One of the clinic staff, Dasana Jaakum, pass away on the 7^th of January 2011 on his way to work around 6pm. Dasana Jaakum was an adult who has been with the church since 1994’s. The church in collaboration with the clinic alongside the family of the late Jaakum Dassana planned the funeral and it was performed on the 30^th April 2011. Over one thousand attended the funeral at Gbaungbalga, his home town.

The message delivered was the “Hope of the Christian”. On the eve of the funeral day was the wake-keeping when Bro. Fusheini Musah preached. I did the preaching on the funeral day.

Half of the population constituted non-Christians, and the message was therefore directed to Christian believers, traditional worshiper and Muslims alike. The word was preached in the local language (Dagbani), therefore went deep into the hearts of the people. I had calls from both Christians and non-Christians on the impact of the message after we had closed. Some shook hands with me and delivered their words of appreciation while others expressed their joy and thanks to the local congregation at the village. Our prayer is that the message is able to bear fruits in the hearts of the audience. Papa Musah Dawud, even blind as his situation, was there as one of the senior evangelists to participate in the final funeral rite.

The following Sunday witnessed Fasting and prayer as our regular program and also thanks giving for having a smooth funeral of the late Jaakum.

The World Bible School correspondence course is still one of our short, medium and long term goals of evangelism that we are using. A large number of Junior High School students are continuing to be enrolled and the already enrolled ones too are progressing with their lessons. This may not bring hundreds of baptisms immediately to the church but has the potency of bring the Muslims to God through Christ in the future. It could be years ahead, we therefore do not expect reports on hundreds being baptize but it will surely make impact in the lives we may never even know until we meet in eternity. Preachers are picking the answered lessons from various schools in the district as well as delivering question-lessons to various schools and posting it back to the USA. I picked some of the lessons from Gbungbalga, Adibo and Nakpachei on the 22^nd June 2011 and some from the schools within Yendi. Through Bro. Fusheini we have move the World Bible School correspondence course to the Gusheigu district. A large number have enrolled and many are still demanding the introduction lessons.

School Program. The “Church of Christ Day Care Center” (Church Nursery School) is still being modeled by the preachers and the school committee. Parent-Teacher-Association (PTA) meetings are organize to get parent contribute in the school development and also to share with them activities of the school. The weekly Bible teaching by the evangelists is still going on in the school, which I hope will yield fruits in the lives of the young ones in the future to come.

Before I left for Duuni for the prayer on the 17^th June, I had to go to the “Church of Christ Day Care Centre” to teach the children the love of Christ. It has always been lovely when I interact with the children with the word of God. Their minds flow openly and it’s directed toward Christ the redeemer. I have attached a picture of the children sitting quietly listening to the Bible.

I have always asked one of them to read for the rest to listen and I will allow them to ask me questions for clarity. It is not me alone who does it but all the evangelists are involved in this teaching. In fact, I was supposed to travel to Kumasi with David Wumbei to participate in the discussing of the 50^th year jubilee of the Church of Christ in Ghana. I thought it important to rather delegate that to David and avail myself at the fasting and prayer program at Duuni and the visiting of the Church School. David is the one who stood in for us in Kumasi. Thank God for the power He has granted us to serve in different ways and capacities.

Campus Ministry. The Yendi Senior High School ministry is progressing as directed by the Lord. This was established in the recent years by Frank and I. Bro Stephen Morogo is now delegated to be there but once a while I visit them to see how they are faring. In its entirety the ministry is going on well and we hope it will grow from strength to strength even though it’s a young. I visited them on the 12^th June at 7am and preached. From there I proceeded to Gbangbalga to worship there too. I had the opportunity again to preach there as well. This congregation is still one of the indigenous congregations that keep on doing very well. The songs alone edifies like a sermon with a double edge.

Prison Ministry. Brother Stephen still visits the Yendi Prisons to teach on behalf of the Yendi church. We cherish being part of these ministries and hope the Lord will open doors for souls to be won from there. A roster is there for the churches (church of Christ and denominations) in Yendi for both inmates and officers. Sundays mornings are for the inmates while Fridays mornings are for officers.

With God all things are possible. It is a joy to look into town and see prospects in various ways. We are currently working to put up a youth club (FRIENDS OF CHRIST YOUTH CLUB) to boost our methods of evangelism. This club will include clear church programs, sporting activities and academic oriented programs. We may go beyond these borders depending on where the spirit leads us. We are already being blessed by God as He has already joined us with brethren from the USA who are working hard to procure sporting equipment and uniforms for us. We believe this will be one of the big and attractive ministries and we will be glad for brethren to be praying and partnering with us in all these ministries. I am presently working on the constitution and bylaws and hope it will soon be completed by the grace of God.

Quite apart from the sports uniform that has been delivered to Elder Josiah in the USA to be given to us in Yendi, I have talked with an NGO (Christian Children Fund of Canada) leadership who has agreed to assist us with T-Shirts. They will print on the shirt whatever information we want. In addition to that is the “Church of Christ Rural Water Development Program”. The local leadership in Yendi has also committed to assist us in some way when the time is due.

I am teaming up with the preacher of the Chamba Church of Christ, Alex, and the Kpatinga congregation to establish a congregation in Bimbilla by the end of July. Bimbilla is the capital of the Nanumba district. We have already found contacts and now praying for the Lord to lead us. Bimbilla is equally like Yendi, which is predominantly Muslim community. We will enter and gradually receive those the Lord has called to his kingdom. We need prayer in all this areas.

By the grace of God the Lord blessed us with three bicycles from Prestoncrest which is given to three lay preachers (Alhassan Azindo, Daniel Dawuni and Alex Kulima) respectively for village work. These three brethren are helping in Bakpaba, Ngani and Gusheigu areas. The three brothers were called at Papa Musah’s house on the day the bicycles were to be handed to them. We called on Papa Musah to advise them and bless the bicycle for their successful use in the villages. With that a word of wisdom was given by Papa Musah who has lost his sight. This serves as encouragement and motivation as he contributes his quota in the kingdom of God.

Yendi evangelists are keeping on meeting regularly every week to plan and pray for the work in Yendi area, our partnering congregations in Ghana and overseas, and sister district. Yendi church has added songs and praises to her services.

CHALLENGES:

We are still calling for brethren to be praying for us for the Lord to bless the Yendi church with resources to complete the worship place which will serve as worship place and house the church nursery school. The school is housed in a private residence and the landlord is always on us to leave the house for him to complete his house and rent it out.

My family for some years now has face challenges in the house in which we are living. We have face persecution in different ways. We have a chamber and hall where my wife and three of our children are living. One of our rooms has door leading outside where for long time some of the households have intentionally been throwing garbage. We have endured it to an extend that two of the households have teamed against my family. In all we do, there are insults by two of the ladies every day. It became so open and serious and I went to one of the ladies involved husbands and pleaded with him to talk to his wife that we will always love to live in peace with them but that rather made the lady more furious. She became so angry with my family to the extent that our lives are now under threat. There are nine (9) households who are all Muslims in that one compound. We are the only Christian family. Some of the time we will dry our clothing and when we come back some of them are used to clean the floor and dirty things. There was a day when we dried our clothing in the courtyard and came later to find one of the cloths of Priscilla (our daughter) wet with blood and we never knew where this is coming from. The troubles are so much that my wife has to relocate to another house with the children. As I am sending you this work report I have moved her to a single room in another house within Yendi town with the children so that I can cautiously live with them till I have a good accommodation that can house the whole family. The best solution is for me to leave the house fully because they can sometimes plant charms against people. I am asking brethren to join me in praying so that I will be able to raise my own house (accommodation) where all this will totally be avoided.

We need your continues prayer for our ministries and challenges.

May the name of the Lord be praise,

Alhassan Abdulai Andrews.