OPENING DOORS
As we celebrate Christmas and remember that one silent and holy night, let’s pause at that particular moment – when the innkeeper opened the door for Joseph and Mary. He had no rooms left, so he offered all he had – the stable. The innkeeper thought, “Would they accept it?” It wasn’t the best accommodation. To his surprise, they accepted it and what further surprised him was the extent of their gratitude. They thanked God for providing them with a place to stay. None of his guests had ever thanked God for him.
We thank God for you for widely opening your doors to our dear friends in Ghana.
You opened the door to sharing the Gospel message and meeting the needs for church growth!
Carpenter, Teselima and Nkwanta congregations are now joyfully worshipping and praying together in their newly built church buildings. Most importantly, they are being cared for, served and led by their pastors, many of whom have received assistance with their biblical studies from one of our faithful Canadian church partners.
Doors have opened for the ECAC (Evangelical Christ Apostolic Church) youth to be actively involved in sharing the Gospel message and in serving their congregations. Last month, over 200 youths gathered to reflect on the spiritual well-being of the ECAC youth and church growth and learn how they can become ambassadors for peace in their communities and about the health and well-being of the youth.
The youth, working with the pastors, took part in outreach programs in three of the four communities where new congregations were established this year. They even had their own fundraising service to raise enough funds to fill the bus with fuel to attend the programs in these three church communities. There were forty people who committed their lives to Christ. Three pastors have stepped up to care for and serve these new church communities in addition to the congregations they are leading and stewarding. They are very excited about nurturing these new congregations.
Four health experts (a dentist, lab technician, physician assistant and pharmacy technician) from within the ECAC church and who had been previously sponsored by NEA with scholarships were brought to discuss a wide range of health issues with the youth. The health professionals felt this was a way to give back to the church for what they had received from the church and NEA.
You opened the door for women and girls to improve their well-being!
This project (Babanayaa Project) has been a relief for my children and me. As a widow, things were tough for me. I had no one to depend on. But from this year’s harvest, I’ve been able to sell three bags of my peanuts. It will help provide for the educational needs of my son, who is currently in Senior High School. In the past, I would roam around looking for financial assistance from relatives, which they would not be able to provide. Now I’m glad I can do things on my own without depending on others. -RAHINATU YAKUBU-
Lepar Solomon Faustina is a final-year student of Sunyani Technical University, studying Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management. She is the daughter of one of the co-op women farmers. Faustina gained admission before the Babanayaa Project started, and her mom, a widow, had to borrow money from friends to pay for her admission fees. This debt affected Faustina in her studies as she used to think about how her mom would settle the debt and pay her yearly school fees. Thankfully, when the project commenced, she was the first scholar to be sponsored.
You opened the door for improved health care in Carpenter and neighbouring communities!
WHICH DOOR WILL YOU OPEN?
As more congregations are established, the need to serve and lead these congregations increases. More Bible College scholarships, pastors’ training and church-building projects are planned each year as we continue to reach more communities to share the Gospel message.
With faithful commitment from a UK foundation partner, wells and KVIPs (twin-pit ventilated improved latrines) were constructed this year. More communities still need assistance in accessing clean water and proper sanitation.
Providing assistance to farmers, building community fishponds and gardens, and training community leaders are continuous needs we are addressing for the communities within our catchment area.
The Leyaata Hospital will open its doors to its first patients in a couple of weeks. As we have shared in our September Impact Updates, we anticipate needing to provide extra operating funds for a few years.
Through the Babanayaa Project, thirty young women will be able to pursue secondary and tertiary education. In partnership with the Government of Canada, 86% of the funds needed are provided and our commitment is to raise the remaining 14%.
Two hundred fifty more women are registered for the Babanayaa Project. As such, we are committed to raising 14% of the funds to provide the inputs (peanut seeds, tools, training, goat) to each woman farmer.
Rudy Derksen says
God’s work. Love it.