Ghana Missions
of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America
Ashaley Botwe, Ghana
Mail: P.M. Bag #15, Madina-Accra, Ghana |
Phone: 233-21-51-0353; 233-024-27-9459 |
e-mail: bekering@africaonline.com.gh |
November 22, 2001
Dear Hull Congregation and FMC and other Churches:
Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ from the Mission Field in Ghana.
It is past time that we write another newsletter from the field here in Ghana. Much of the same things have been happening here and yet much that is rather new or at least a rich blessing.
In the first place the preaching continues to be well received, and it is striking that most that have been under the preaching a year ago or two years ago are still in regular attendance under that preaching today. This was impressed upon us in the last few weeks, but especially last Sunday, November 11. On this particular Sunday, we had our largest attendance at a worship service. O! There were a few new people in the audience, I think five, but on the other hand the rest were all those that have worshipped with us from Sunday to Sunday. The one difference is that most were all in worship with us on the same Sunday Morning. So we ended up with around 145 in worship. The evening was also well attended with near to 60. We still strive to improve the evening attendance.
We are now preaching on the Heidelberg Catechism in the mornings and the people really enjoy this instruction of God’s Word. We are very thankful that the doctrines of God’s Word are enjoyed and embraced by many. We see this as pointed out before by the expression of the people when talking about the truths of God’s Word, and especially when they use the truth that they have learned and apply it during the Bible Studies that we have.
A real important aspect of the preaching is that we have many young adults attending both services on a regular basis. They also are very faithful in attendance at the Young People’s Catechism, and several hardly ever miss the other Bible Studies throughout the week. While there are weaknesses in the older generation in their life and understanding, and this is understandable. The young people are embracing the truth and, we believe, are learning to be led by the truth of the Scriptures in their life. By the grace of God this will serve to be a strength here in Ghana as the Mission continues to develop.
Another interesting thing is that lately in the last month we have had an increase of new worshippers brought to our mission by the weekly messages we have on the radio. We have had some come to the house to speak of the doctrines that we expound on the Radio and we have had several come to the worship services. This has happened the last three weeks at the worship services, that is that we have had a visitor brought by the radio messages, and also this happened at the Bible Study on Tuesday evening of this week (November 20).
I also had a peculiar and interesting phone call last week. A man called and said he had his pastor with him and that he wanted me to answer a question about marriage. He proceeded to ask me if a woman had a husband by customary marriage that was blessed by both families and registered with the government of Ghana, but then had her husband leave her for other women would she then be free to marry another. I answered this question to the pastor who was given the phone, and told him that in such a case she would not be free to marry again, but should follow the principle set down for us in the 19th chapter of Matthew. Following this answer the man, who had called, came back on the line to explain that the man, when he started to go out with other women, went to the court and with a lawyer and by some means managed to remove all records of the marriage. Now, he wanted to know if this is the case, could the woman be married since there was no record of a marriage anywhere. The answer was that this would not change anything before God’s judgment and face, and that we should maintain that she continue without a man as a husband.
Now, I am not sure he liked the answer, but the interesting thing is that this person goes to some church in Ghana, I believe it was a Pentecostal Church if I rightly understood him, and he had his minister on the line to get our answer as to the rightness or evil of the marriage question. This means that there is a growing awareness of our preaching in Ghana especially in the Accra area, and a growing understanding that we hold to and understand the Word of God. He was looking to add the authority of our Mission to his answer of the question. Now he may not pay any attention to our answer, but how strange and in a way good that we received such a call. What wondrous ways God uses His gospel. And if by His grace we remain faithful to the Scripture in our teaching and instruction and especially preaching, we may be sure God will direct that Word for the saving of His elect Church and for the condemnation of the wicked.
We have continued to make a lot of visits in the area, and outside of our area and these too seem to encourage the people in a greater faithfulness in attendance of the worship services and Bible Studies. Even rather casual conversations with the people of Ashaley Botwe results from time to time in these same ones coming to at least a worship service and sometimes to come repeatedly.
We do find that some still come to see if there is some financial advantage of worshipping with us. But, this soon becomes manifest if it alone is the reason for their presence, and if it is they soon leave our midst. Others have come for this reason; but, when coming under the Word, they have stayed, although there really is not an earthly advantage to stay. For this we also are grateful to God.
We had a rather unpleasant situation arise about a week ago on a Sunday evening after our worship service. About 10:30 p.m. some armed robbers came to a house that lies about a half block from our house. We heard some gunshots and a lot of commotion, and we went out to the gate to see what was happening. Very soon we had about eight people come to our house for safety and protection. We invited them in. They told us that armed robbers were disrupting the house next to theirs. After about a half hour, things were quiet, and we went out and yelled to the family that had been robbed. At first, they did not answer, but then they saw things were safe and they brought the head of the house out. He had been shot with a shotgun and later we found out that he had 26 pellets in his back. We helped him out to the front our neighbor got his car and we helped them to go to the hospital. The police finally found our area after two calls to the station, and they looked for the robbers but to no avail. This reminds us that we must not take things for granted here, but must again be aware that there are also some bad men in this country. The positive part of this whole ordeal is that we have come to know personally more of the people of our area, and we had several come and thank us for the help we extended to those in need. By the way, Ben is doing quite well and will be fine. They did lose their money, which was in the house and a few other things. But, we made some new acquaintances, and it is obvious gained respect of many more in our community, which we believe will also be an aid to the labors here. Again, this was the fruit of God’s providential rule over all things. He placed the neighbors on our path so that we might help them. It became the occasion for visits with the Scripture for the comfort of those that God is pleased to comfort by this means.
We must add one more important paragraph, and that is that much time has been spent preparing for the arrival of the Bekkerings. We are looking forward to their coming. We have them approved by the Ghanaian government to come in under our quota, and this will mean that they will be granted immediately resident permits and will not have to be concerned with renewing visas etc. This is the advantage of being established in Ghana as a lawful church work. We have leased another house into which Jan and I will move once the Bekkerings are here and they will live in the house here where they will be next-door neighbors (same compound) with the Volunteers. This will serve them well in their labors.
We will let you know more about how two missionaries will work together in the field here after we have been at it awhile.
We are also pleased that soon the delegation from Hull and the FMC will be here and with their wives. We shall be blessed we are sure by their presence and labors.
We send our greetings to all, and we pray that God will richly care for our Churches that we stand strong in the faith.
In Christ;s Service,
Rev. Moore and the Mission
House