Niipaak Laar-May to July 2011

CHURCH OF CHRIST,

POST OFFICE BOX SB, 28,

SABOBA – GHANA.

25^th JULY, 2011.

PRESTONCREST CHURCH OF CHRIST,

DALLAS, U. S. A.

GENERAL REPORTS FROM NIIPAAK LAAR’S TEAM, { MAY TO JULY, 2011 }.

INTRODUCTION; As you know, I operate in two Districts far apart from one another. The Districts are, Saboba and Bunkpurugu in the northern region of Ghana. For the sake of smooth running of the work and to be able to train or disciple more people for the work, I have divided my work into two teams. The Saboba team comprises of the following brethren; brother Abraham, Thomas, Richard, John, and other effective and efficient leaders that you does know. In the same way in Bunkpurugu, I have brothers, Francis, John, Kojo, and also other trust wealthy men from my training efforts. I and these men have decided to take this quarter for a serious and vagarious evangelistical campaign to both establish, and revive if not all, but some of our congregations that collapsed due to certain factors. Brothers and Elders, by the grace of God first, and the financial and prayer support of you { Prestoncrest Church of Christ }, that is backing us, the following are the detailed results of our work for your perusal and suggestions;

ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT IN SABOBA AREA; We shared among ourselves two congregations each for the whole of May, 2011 to organize and lead the congregations in the following activities; Prayers and fasting for the then upcoming evangelistical campaign, visitations of old backsliding members, house to house preaching for the unreached, communities socialization, and the like to pave way and also to prepare the minds of our members to get involved in the campaign. At the end of this above mentioned exercise corpled with my hospital visitations and preaching, Saboba congregation realized the following new people who had their baptisms and added to the church.

1. 1. N-yasun Augustina =02 – 05 - 11

2. 2.Danaalimo Mercy = 19 – 06 – 11

3. 3. Pigri Moses // //

4. 4. Babayi N-baye // //

5. 5.Mabordo Kunde // //

6. 6. Manan Monica Ugurpi // //

7. 7. Uwumbor-Asan Mabefam // //

8. 8. Bimpuan Isaac // //

9. 9.N-puakpe Bakimee Esther // //

10. 10.Babayi Hannah // //

11. 11.Wasan Agnes // //

12. 12. Nakojah N-nyebah // //

Though others did not realize baptisms in their various places, they did strengthened the brethren, brought back the falling ones, and also shared the good news. Brother Kojo Bonjor was assigned to help construct benches for Gbankooni church with the funds you sent, and he was able to get 23 long ones for them and they are now enjoying it during their services. That was the last funds for benches.

Campaign results; Our campaign started fully on 14^th July, 2011 at a community called; Mulpiido. This community is one of those we had a church there some years ago but due to lack of leadership and monitoring the church collapsed. Getting there that day was not easy because of water on the road to the place. There are valleys to cross before getting there and they were all flooded water. We have to leave our motor – bikes on the way and walk to the place that day because, the people were waiting on us to come and preach to them. On our return, my old motor got spoiled on the way and has to remain until the program is over. The following day I had to hired some two motor bikes to enable my leaders get means to go with me. We walked over 16 miles that day in and out because of the road condition. However, after preaching there that day, the following was the outcome the Lord bless us with;

1. 1. N-geemba Nankoba

2. 2. Naabisuln Jaaboab

3. 3. Agnunna Kaalaln

4. 4. N-lembi Ntiibi

5. 5. Obaadu Andrews

6. 6.Yaayuln Nakoba

7. 7. Kuyeti Jagir

8. 8. Abena M-yeemba

9. 9. Kambonjah Nakojah

10. 10. Neenah Uniiayangnan

The same day at another community called, Mababor we had baptisms of the following;

1. 1. Ginasi Danaa

2. 2. Gmabe Kwaku

3. 3. Makumba Bilegna

4. 4. Teyembor Kudung

5. 5. N-yebe Bayeni

6. 6. Bichetime Tamanjah

7. 7.Kwasi Niwula

8. 8. Iyea N-deep

9. 9.Badag Bitababu

10. 10. Wapou Niwula

11. 11. N-likibe Nabigmado

12. 12. Libuel John

13. 13. Pigir Amos

14. 14. Ajua David

15. 15. Yawa Jabab

16. 16. Wapou Ali

17. 17. Grumpi Tamanja

18. 18. Wignanche Bibobabu

On the 15^th July, 2011, we did house to house evangelism at Garinkuka township in the day and had 11 of our backslidden members back to the church. And the same day at night we held an air preaching with film show at Garinkuka again. At the close of the program we didn’t get any baptism but, I know the good Lord will call some for us later for the seed is planted.

The following day 16^th July, 2011, we had one day leadership training in the morning in Saboba church building and went to a new community called; Buagmal where we showed film again and preached that night. The following were the baptisms we had and the church got established;

1. 1. N-wiinti Mponipir

2. 2. Najo Alex

3. 3. Gmayeyan Akwa

4. 4. N-moadan Salam

5. 5. Kambiche Tapuami

6. 6. Twiiliin Mori

7. 7. Balahbiwir Tapuami

8. 8. Uwumborti Akwa

9. 9. Awusi Bannabas

10. 10. Naayei Tayajawan

11. 11. Ajoa Niwul

12. 12. Mark Wassah

13. 13. Banabas Nakoja

ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT IN BUNKPURUGU AREA; After worship on the 17^th July, 2011 in Saboba, I left my Saboba team members and went up to Bunkpurugu that afternoon for continuation of the program over there. The following day 18^th I worked at Gbankooni with my other team over there in Bunkpurugu. 19^th we had get together and that was only leaders to share problems and experiences together and had some teachings on leadership. In the night of the same 19^th we had air preaching and film show at a new place called; Nanyiar-paak and had the church established with the following baptisms realized.

1. 1. Gboung Diituk

2. 2. Timbiuk Namidii

3. 3. Saakabika Jananmah

4. 4. Kantikir Peter

5. 5. Niibitong Nakiniib

6. 6. Sawar Kifatisua

7. 7. Dambiar Sananii

8. 8. Yayoa Toanika

9. 9. Bilailia Yentika

10. 10. Gboung Wonpo

11. 11. Sampoa Duut

12. 12. Sawar Bakpanin

13. 13. Suuk Pobiman

14. 14. Gboung Yembe

15. 15. Sawar Namigben

16. 16. Moses Likitekwa

17. 17. Labik Minyeam

18. 18. Laari Balangim

19. 19. Sawar Ajoa

20. 20. Matthew Basubinim

21. 21. Suuk Abena

22. 22. Sampoa Mary

23. 23. Bakpen Aminah

24. 24. Biisom Dananim

25. 25. Laari Moidam

26. 26. Duut Yambar { The village Chief himself }

27. 27. Biisom Yayoa

28. 28. Sawar Saban

29. 29. Kojo Sunube

30. 30. Dabatuog Dindiok

What was more significant about this village was that, the Chief of the village was converted to Christ. This is not common in this our area, but as we all know, with God all things are possible.

SOME NEEDS FOR YOU TO BE PRAYERING ABOUT.

1. More training sections for leaders { possibly establishing a training school in future }

2. More financial support for preachers to help handle the work full time

3. Small motor-bikes for some leaders who are handling distance congregations

4. A portable PA system, easy to carry for village evangelism

5. Baptisteries for areas without rivers or staying waters

6. Due to the rapid growing rate of Hypertension leading to stroke cases every day here in the north, I and my leaders deemed it fit to request to you if possible to ship some physiotherapy equipments for us to help such people to get regular exercise to enable them survive for a while. We had one of our members in Saboba church who was rushed to the hospital on Sunday after church and ended as stroke and he is right now bed driven. I think this will enable our people get regular exercise when they get it. To get this facilities one has to go to Accra which is not easy for us here in the north.

CONCLUSION; We appreciate so much all your efforts you are making to ensure that things go well with us ministry and our families as a whole. We will therefore ask that, you continue to push us this way and even more so we can have happy ministries. I really enjoyed working in my new area and the increase the Lord is bringing over there. Though it is both financially and physically stressful, it is my hope and prayer that, the good Lord will continue to help me and bless my life with all it takes to help the area.

Niipaak Laar, Feb-Apr 2011, Report from Saboba, Ghana

CHURCH OF CHRIST,

POST OFFICE BOX SB, 28,

; SABOBA – GHANA.

2ns May, 2011.

The Elders,

PRESTONCREST CHURCH OF CHRIST,

DALLAS, U. S. A.

QUARTER REPORT { FROM FEBRUARY – APRIL, 2011 }.

INTRODUCTION; Let me first apologize for late sending of our report to you this time, it is due to my rounds. This week did not meet me at home, I was in Bunkpurugu area. For the sake of work effectiveness, accountability, and proper evaluation, I have decided to assign my Project Timothy evangelists each to a particular congregation this time. Though all of them still rotate and go to different places with me, I thought it wise to assign them this way to enable me monitor their performances. The following are details of their assigned places for now;

1. Evangelist John Nteche Takal – Nayili – Sachido congregation { Saboba area }.

2. Evangelist Thomas N. Bigrumi – Sobiba congregation, { Saboba area }.

3. Evangelist Richard Bisan Tibie – Sanguli congregation, { Saboba area }.

4. Evangelist Abraham Tibulm – Gbanli congregation, { Saboba area }.

5. Evangelist Makinan Suuk Francis – Gbetmonpaak congregation, { Bunkpurugu area }.

6. Evangelist Kumasi John Minte – Nanyiar congregation, { Bunkpurugu area }.

7. Evangelist Bonjar Dagbiaman Kojo – Pagnatiik congregation, { Bunkpurugu area }.

Besides these, we have a duty roster where everybody is rotating and visiting all the congregations we have but the above mentioned is for accountability and performance monitoring. Because of this new development, all of them have started holding week days and evening services with their assigned churches which they never did before. However, I am responsible of making sure these congregations are fed or brought up well both physically and Spiritually.

ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT; [ A ]. Besides the regular visits to the churches, on the 6^th February, 2011, we made a pre – campaign trip to a new place called GBENJAK for permission to evangelize the village. On the 13^th February, 2011, we went back and showed Jesus’ film in Konkomba and after brother Thomas preached, we had the following souls and started a new congregation;

1. Kosah John

2. Tiyando Kando

3. Kusah Sah

4. Ngako Timukmi

5. Kosah Kaaye

6. Wajo Ngako

7. Wamor Tamanja

8. Bilami Yambir

Niipaak continued to worship with this new congregation till now and the following increment has been given by the Lord. Other baptisms from the same place but different days are;

1. Tabalabe Wimalir – 24^th April, 2011.

2. Ngako Moses // //

[ B ]. 19^th February, 2011, air preaching and film show at a community called, BOAGBALN, a community around Saboba township. No baptism was made however; we had two of our backslided members returned to the church.

[ C ]. On 13^th March, 2011, Niipaak preached at Nayili – Sachido and the following people were added to the church through baptism;

1. Chito Baador

2. Chito Joshua

3. Bingrini John

4. Bagnor Akua

5. John Gmagnan

[ D ]. 14^th to 19^th March, 2011, brother Thomas was assigned with two of our Sunday school teachers in the church to attend a workshop on behalf of the church. The workshop was on the theme; Child Evangelism, organized by World Vision International branch office in Saboba. It was meant to equip our Sunday school teachers with skills on how to handle children in the church and also to evangelize them.

[ E ]. 22^ND TO 24^TH March, 2011 Niipaak conducted a leadership training seminar in Bunkpurugu District churches where 21 of the church leaders attended. It was an exciting moment for all and very impactful. All the leaders were so happy and asked for more of such kind in future. All leaders came with their wives. I believe the influence needed for every preacher lies on how he can influence his own family first. The women were really excited for getting to know their role both in the church and in their homes. All pictures sent to you already.

[ F ]. 25^TH TO 27^TH March, 2011 preceded with the general seminar for all the churches in the area. In attendance I had 537 people attended with children all. We had 8 congregations participated in this program. Because there was a provision for feeding in the seminar, we taught even in the night. I had brother George Yaan and brother Bawah Laar to help teach one lesson each whiles’ my Timothy evangelists handled the children and helped the women who were cooking. Brother Bawah Laar is one of our old members in the church who is now retired from active service with Social Security and National Insurance Trust and now residence in Bunkpurugu. After the seminar we had 4 people baptized and added to Pauk congregation.

1. Mialika Dubick

2. Tanjong Samuaka

3. Jajinjin Kosua

4. Yobe Jabamong

[ G ]. We had again on the 2^nd April, 2011 organized a film show and air preaching at Sanguli to encourage our members there and to look for more souls. The program was very successful though we had no baptism that night. It happened to be the first time the people of that community heard and saw Jesus’ film in their own language. I believe you can imagine how much interest and concentration would have given to the program.

[ H ]. We went ahead to continue our seminars where 14^th to 16^th April, 2011 was for Gbanli zone. Over there I co – taught with brothers; Nteche, Thomas, and Richard, Ntech taught on giving, Thomas on Christian life, Richard on True worship, and Niipaak on Marriage, and Idol worship. In attendance we had 317 members attended the program with children inclusive. The problem we faced with that zone was lack of water for drinking and cooking. The community has no water and women have to travel many miles for water.

[ I ]. From 21^st to 23^rd April, 2011 was the Saboba District leadership training seminar conducted in Saboba church building. All the congregations represented their leaders for that program. The leadership training program is one of the programs I like so much because, it is very rewarding. Through this program I have raised by God’s grace a lot of capable leaders who are now visiting and teaching in the churches we have in these areas. Personnel is fast becoming no problem for the work if not logistics. Above all, the Spiritual maturity they portray outside is making the church to be able to withstand false doctrines of this generation.

[ J ]. The Saboba church women’s fellowship under the leadership of Sister Victoria [ Niipaak’s wife ] is also yielding a lot of good fruits. The women meet now every Saturday to pray together and do other activities like; visitations, house to house, and visiting the patience in the hospital.

ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES ON GOING; The administrative activities going on are; 1. General evangelists meetings, twice a month. 2. Nyualakani church building’s roof is ongoing. 3. Repair work on Chagbani church building and brother Thomas’ house. Seven congregations have been equipped with benches to sit during worship. 4. The children’s Sunday school building project is ongoing in Saboba however, Sanguli’s building is now stand still due to the fact that, their funds are all exhausted. And the day to day activities that make the church run smoothly.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; The above mentioned evangelical efforts and others been mentioned, is been motivated and facilitated by the quick response of our needs by Prestoncret church of Christ. We must acknowledge that, your quick response to our financial needs and logistics has indeed brought us this far. The provision of the Projector, Generator, replacing of my motor-bike, Bicycles, physical cash [ money ] for several programs and projects has by all standards enhanced our work greatly. Individual helps provided to brethren in the church like, myself, brother George’s medical care, brother Thomas’ home repairs, etc are all the true example of Jesus’ life. It is our prayer and hope that, the good Lord will continue to bless every efforts of yours and add more mission minded people to you, to help advance the Lord’s work in this area.

SOME NEEDS; There is a particular need in Bunkpurugu area that is affecting our work. We need to build at least two baptistery in the area. The whole area has no river that has water in the dry season, the only sources of water in the area are bore-holes. Luckily, some of the bore-holes were drilled by church of Christ, which we can just build baptistery or water tanks close by the bore-holes for baptisms in the dry season. Another need to be praying about is a Van for evangelism. This is actually a need, thank you.

Niipaak Laar, Nov 2010-Jan 2011, Report from Saboba, Ghana

CHURCH OF CHRIST,

POST OFFICE BOX SB, 28,

SABOBA – GHANA.

31^ST JANUARY, 2011.

PRESTONCREST CHURCH OF CHRIST,

DALLAS, U. S. A.

QUARTERLY REPORTS FROM { NOVEMBER, 2010 TO JANUARY, 2011 }.

INTRODUCTION; This reports is coming from brother Niipaak Laar and his team working in Saboba and Bunkpurugu. Because of our usual end of year festivities and the nature of our weather in Ghana at this particular time of the year, we concentrated much on teachings, strengthening, and restoring some of our congregations that were affected by floods and conflicts rather than air preaching and the rest. The following are categories of evangelical efforts made and its fruits yielded.

DAILY ACTIVITIES; whiles my Timothy evangelists lead worship services at their various native communities on Sundays and other programmed days, I do my visiting of the villages on daily basics to strengthen, and hold special sections with the churches. This time I visit the hospital and pray with the patience only in the night because I have to leave early in the morning for villages before the sun gets hot. This time our streams and water ways are dried and movement is easy everywhere. All the congregations have their weekly services days differently to enable me visit them easily because, every community is looking for Niipaak to visit them.

CONGREGATIONSTHAT WERE HAVING SPECIAL PROBLEMS; The following are congregations that were affected by certain misfortunes and had now been restored;

1. GBANKOONI CHURCH; This community was been affected by a clan conflict which led to burning of their houses and other properties of theirs. The people took refuge at Togo, a nearby or neighboring country. It took a very lengthy intervention of some of us talking to the chiefs and other opinion leaders of the area and by God’s grace, now there is peace and calm in the area. The congregation was scattered and on the 14^th November, 2010 the congregation was been restored and now they worship every Sunday.

2. TANYEN CHURCH; This is one of our controversial communities in North where every season has its own problems differently. The community was flooded during the rainy season where their church building we did three years ago with local mud got immersed and collapsed. However, in the dry season like this, they don’t have water for any use and right now, we have 5 people there ready for baptism but no water to do it. Though those people are coming to church but they wish they were baptized.

3. SAJEGBAN CHURCH; This church suffered local leadership in the pass and was only worshipping when I am there. But glory to God that now, one of my other Timothy evangelist called, brother Amos is now helping them seriously. I only go there on my visit days but the brother is doing very well with them. As at yesterday when I visited them, they were 36 in attendance.

4. NYUALAKANI CHURCH; This church equally suffered the floods which led to the collapsed of their building, but they have rebuild it again needing assistance to roof. I had already sent pictures of these efforts to Elder Charley this week.

BAPTISMS; The following are some few baptisms we had for you to be praying for;

A. 31^st night at Gbetmonpak in Bunkpurugu we had four people baptized and added to the church.

1. Konjit Lambon

2. Fati Kakraba

3. Yennusom Kamboib

4. Santin Adamu

B. 16^TH January, 2011 at Nyualakani two baptisms were realized.

1. Wassah Liwal

2. Mawiidal Sanjah

REMINDER; I wish to remind you of my annual upcoming leadership training workshops and seminar for Bunkpurugu churches. The Bunkpurugu area leadership training and the seminar is scheduled to take place in March, 2011 whiles Saboba leadership training will be in April, 2011. I therefore want to seek your financial support towards these programs. Actually, these programs are very rewarding because, through that, I have been able to get more brothers in the congregations going out every Sunday to preach.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT; I cannot afford to forget to acknowledge the fact that, Prestoncrest Church of Christ has actually demonstrated to us the true love and care that Christ left for us all to continue. I never thought in my life that, God will give me such open doors for His kingdom’s growth. The way and manner you have supported my ministry within this short period of time I got in partnership with you is a miracle. Even, the motivational telephone calls and lovely emails I gets from Elder Charley almost every day, makes me feel belonging and encouraged to work more for the Lord. For the first time in the history of Timothy evangelists in the northern region to be supported to work for the Lord is something to be noted. My long awaited dreams in my ministry have now begun to be fulfilled to the glory of our Maker. I know how much sacrifice you are making to let us realize these blessings, but I want to say to you with Apostle Paul my mentor in the Bible that, your labor in the Lord is not in vain [ 1 Cor. 15: 58 ]. Many have opportunities to do what you are doing and even more, but will not do and causing the cross of Christ to suffer lost. Let us all brethren endeavor in our means to raise the banner of Christ high to the dark world now that we are alive. I do welcome all your advices, suggestions, and inputs all the time as my working seniors and overseers of the work, thank you.

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)