Ghana Missions Update

Last February, a team of four men from CCGV traveled to Northern Ghana in our continuing effort to establish a Bible school training center in Bolgatonga to train pastors and leaders for ministry to the Frafra people. The following article is a day-by-day account of the amazing events that took place…

“GHANA UPDATE: A Bible School for the Frafra”

“My God Shall Supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

The trip started out as the most unplanned missions’ trip I’d ever been on. We had a general idea of what we hoped to accomplish, but the who’s, when’s and how’s were a complete mystery.

• What about the current leader at our fledgling Bible School? Can he really do the job? Is he God’s man for the job? And if not… then who is?
• Where should the Bible School meet? Is it too hot in the north to conduct classes year round? Should the school be affiliated with a local church? If we move the School… where will we put it? How does one do business in Ghana? How can we be good stewards and avoid the “White Mans” (more expensive) price?
• Are the materials we’re currently using in the school relevant to the Frafra culture? Can the Frafra students understand the concepts?
• Are the students committed to ministry? Is their motive for attending the Bible School pure or is it a means of earning a living?

So with these questions, along with the prayers of the saints and a desire to do God’s will our Dream Team departed for Ghana: Jeff our logistics guy, Brett the Bible guy, Rich our business guy with a big heart for the Frafra, and myself (Ed) feebly attempting to lead the charge.

DAY ONE

We leave the US. Great seats! Easier travel than usual! Arrival in Accra, Ghana @ 10:30 PM. NO room reservations but God provides!

DAY TWO

Up and at em!!
Breakfast at the Darold Hotel – boiled eggs and toast with a nice spot of Tea.

What is God saying? Two things:

1. God will provide the man with the skills just as He did when he built the Tabernacle.
2. Do not put new wine in old wine skins.

Time to plan the trip and get transportation!!!!
Donne (Don – nay’) from Calvary Chapel Bible School Papease invites us to visit the next day…
Senjo, “Scriptures in Use” Trainer would like us to come the following day.
Praise God!! He has a plan.

Where do we get transportation? Don’t know!!! Idea: let’s go to a major hotel and see if we can rent a car!!! Great idea, van rented and we’re off.

Five hours from Accra on the dark winding roads of Ghana we arrive safely at the Bible School in Papease. Dead tired we sleep.

DAY THREE

Papease Bible School in action!!! Chuck Smith tapes playing and Western Africans listening intently to a running commentary on the Work of God. Maybe this can work with the Frafra!!

Donne – God provides a resource beyond our expectation!!! A man of integrity, called to genuinely proclaim the Word of God – not just looking for a buck. Donne answers our questions and gives us a connection to a young man in the north he thinks might be able to help us… Robert.

Off to the city of Ho. Another five-hour drive. The jet lag thing is beginning to catch up with us.

DAY FOUR

Morning seminar on oral presentation of the Gospel with Senjo @ Scriptures in Use.
Off to remote villages to see SIU in action. Two-hour ride on a dirt road.

Great meetings, culturally relevant presentation of the Gospel in story form.
Ed (question) “What are the people drinking, pineapple juice? maybe cocoanut juice?”
Senjo (answer) “No, that is water!!!!”

Back in the van… two hours back to headquarters, then two more hours back to Accra.

DAY FIVE

Finally a chance to rest!!!
Our plan = to take the 16-hour bus ride to the north on Sunday.
God has other plans… no busses running on Sunday!!!!

DAY SIX

Rest again!!! What a blessing!!

Time for prayer and meditation. What is God telling us?
Reading Spurgeon’s biography.
Today’s chapter title: Starting a Bible School
The word: find the man to run it.

DAY SEVEN

Up at 4:30 AM, off to the bus station, then wait… and wait…. and wait… and wait. Finally, off to Bolga.
Praise God the bus is not full and the volume on the African movies is tolerable.

16 hours later we arrive in Bolga. Got some taxis and off to the hotel.

DAY EIGHT

Breakfast with Robert! Our hearts are pounding as we find out he shares a common vision for ministry in Bolga. Though no one is saying it, each of us is thinking Robert could be God’s man to run the Bible School.

The current leader of the Bible School arrives… time for some tough meetings. Team splits up, two speak with leader and two go in search of property to relocate school. God provides a man (Paul) and a car to take us to look at property.
Bible School leader agrees to step aside, the ministry and meeting end on a sweet note. Once again, God shows He is in control!

DAY NINE

Team 1: The property search continues…

Team 2: Conduct Bible School experiment: Can the Frafra students listen to Chuck Smith’s audio teachings and assimilate the information? Experiment begins at 2:00 PM; we listen (20 minutes), then stop and ask questions. Session 2, another 20 minutes, then more questions. At 6:30 PM the day is over and —- they are getting it! It works!!

DAY TEN

Should we install Robert as the Bible School leader?
After prayer, discussion, and some phone calls we have consensus!!! Yes, we believe he is the man. God’s provision!

Team 1: The property search continues…

Team 2: Bible School experiment continues, more of I Timothy. Another successful day, Robert is introduced.

DAY ELEVEN

Up at 5:00 AM. We say good byes!!! Last minute instructions to Robert. Off to Tamale to fly back to Accra.

2:00 PM back in Accra. We discover the best restaurant in Ghana  Frankie’s. Cheeseburger and a pizza. Mmmmm… so good!!!! Done with deep fried chicken and rice!

DAY TWELVE

Off to the market to bargain!!!! Drums and wall hangings. Great deals, great fun!!

Change clothes after sweating all day. Off to the airport!!!! One last Malta (local canned beverage) and then on the plane!! We’re going home.

We’ve been back a couple of weeks now…

As I look back, if I had to put a name on the trip it would be: “Riding on God’s Tour Bus”. It was His itinerary, His plan, His timing and His ministry. We were the privileged passengers! And I’m happy to report that our outlook for future ministry with the Frafra is brimming with more hope than ever. God has given us a new man to lead the Bible School (please pray for Robert Atiah)… a new direction for the school… and hopefully we’ll soon have a new location. We thank God for the wonderful things He had done and covet your prayers for the Bible School and the Frafra people!