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CHURCH
PLANTING IN GHANA
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Rev Thomas
Abugah and family |
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Rev Thomas Abugah
with wife, Azumah, have 4 handsome sons, John, Joshua,
Emmanuel, and Ebenezer. Pastor Abugah had often observed
the use of audiovisuals in his country, Ghana. So
following his training at the Maui Haggai Institute
Center, he wrote:
"I have a very high interest to pursue media
evangelism. I seriously need audiovisual tools for
my work. I have tasted the power of their
effectiveness, but our ministry is very young, and it has
become increasingly expensive to rent this equipment. We
wish we owned our own equipment. Many churches could be
started. I specialize in church planting. With your help,
I could plant 3 churches this year."
After offering to start equipping, Thomas wrote: "We
are all really excited about your letter. Your letter
really gave me a lot of joy. I need exactly this Torch
Kit. This is an answer to my prayers, as ministry is both
urban and rural. We can also use your PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
and African videos."
When the Torch Kit arrived, he wrote: "I’m excited
to receive this tool because it will boost the result of
our ministry efforts."
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Rev Abugah
with his team |
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16mm equipment was hand carried to Rev. Abugah the
following year, and he has invested all of these media
tools into his church planting vision. So far 7 reports
have come
through, and the
majority of showings take place to small groups. Even so,
he has ministered to over 4,500 people through his
programs, and over 1,400 have accepted Christ. He
has written:
"The Torch Kit is an effective tool and so simple to
use. With it I can minister to adults and children. The
16mm films are also effective and are helping us lead
souls for Christ. We are trying to reach out to people of
Islamic background, but here we find it a faith difficult
to reckon with. Oil rich countries are sending in lots of
money to buy converts, and we are feeling the impact.
Please pray for us."
Nearly every letter reports new members added to area
churches, baptisms are common. "AVangelism is powerful.
Since I started using media 3 years ago, I have shared the
Gospel with more people than in my previous 20 years of
preaching. Also, more churches have been established than
ever before. People respond when they see and hear a
Gospel presentation."
Pastor Abugah’s letters are always full of love and
thanks to our Lord for all of the help that has been
provided and also for God’s answers to prayer through
media ministry. Do please pray for his family and the
ministry needs. All of our lives are enriched through his
dedicated to ministry.
BIBLE TRAINING NEEDED
Dr David Inja from Wangapally, India
writes:
"My ministry is mainly in the smaller
villages. I use the Torch Kit and seem to connect best
with the youth. Recently some of the young people took
baptism and have chosen to serve the Lord as part-time
Christian workers while others are desiring to serve the
Lord as full-time pastors, but they need Bible training
and do not have the money to pursue this training. Please
pray for them."
Torch showings to 735 people, 62
accepting Christ.
HOME BIBLE STUDIES
Evangelist Ronnie Pandong from
Malaybalay City, Philippines writes:
"May I extend our heartfelt thanks and
gratitude for your continued prayer and material support,
which enables us to work for the Lord. Your films and
videos bring great blessings, as we use them for God’s
glory.
I cannot remember if I
sent you my last Report, because we have been so busy
with work and preaching opportunities, but I trust you
will not be disappointed but patient with us until we can
begin reporting regularly. These last 2 months we have
held 2 crusades and have ministered to more than 300
people, many accepted Jesus Christ. About 35 of them have
now come together for a new home Bible study. We need your
prayers for these new mission works we have started this
month and please pray for us in the midst of economic
crisis here in the Philippines."
EVANGELIZE IN THEIR LANGUAGE
Pastor Richard Kingau from Thika, Kenya
writes:
"The Torch Kit has been a great help to
my ministry for I have seen people of many different
faiths, who would hardly listen otherwise to us preach,
give their full attention to the audiovisual presentation.
It gives us a wonderful opportunity to evangelize them in
their own language, as we tell the story, picture by
picture, with the Filmstrips. This Torch Kit has made my
poor ministry a center of interest to all different age
groups."
Showings to 1,560 people with 3
accepting Christ.
CLEAR THE HOUSE
Pastor Peter Oluyide of Akure, Nigeria
writes:
"We thank God for the Torch Kit for
evangelism. People have responded well to the altar call
after each showing. There was one particular family, who
had been serving a god of iron. After watching the
Filmstrip, UNFINISHED
STORY, they accepted Jesus
Christ, but they were troubled about going back home. They
asked if I could come along with them and clear the house
of their evil worship. Glory be to God! His power is
mighty."
SRI LANKA
LANGUAGE RECORDING PROJECT
Join us in praise to God for our
faithful friends in Sri Lanka. Recording in Colombo begins
March 15. The Set-Up in India will begin April 26.
The Project is underfunded
(help
now).
To complete the editing and important equipping phases
approximately $40,000 is still needed. Weekly reports from
Sri Lanka will be sent by email or mail. If you’d like to
receive these, let us know. Most of all, we appreciate
your prayers. A prayer reminder will be coming this month
with the Prayer Calendar. If you do not normally receive
this, let us know, so we can include you!
HEARTBEAT
by Ken Anderson
I met some fascinating young people in
Israel. Some indicated no interest whatever in their
religion, yet adhere to Old Testament law and ancient
Jewish customs. Multitudes are atheists. They are
extremely loyal and patriotic. My host, Victor Smadja,
took me to meet a young Christian musician, named Nahum, 1st
viola in the National Symphony Orchestra.
Nahum appeared to be about 20 years
old, mild-mannered, warm-spirited. He had invited 3 fellow
musicians to join us. While his friends didn’t identify
themselves spiritually, they were alert and creative and
positive towards the idea of an evangelism drama for the
youth of Israel.
A long afternoon provided a half dozen
mini cassette tapes filled with research data. Moving
outside, Nahum pulled car keys from his pocket. With a
mighty effort he threw the keys high toward the sky,
deftly catching them with a hand behind his back.
"How many of you vote with me on a jeep ride to the Old
City?", he asked. The vote was unanimous.
Moments later we were moving away from the scenic shores
of the Mediterranean on toward Old Jerusalem.
As
we came within view of the Damascus Gate, Nahum slowed his
jeep to a crawl. A camel passing by, sniffed at the
vehicle. I laughed but no one else did. Then I noticed how
serious Nahum had become although I did not yet know the
reason. Nahum stopped the jeep with a clear view into the
Old City.
"It was on the last day of the Six Days
War," he said quietly. "Some other soldiers and I
came in through the Damascus Gate. Several Egyptian
soldiers saw us and might have killed us. Instead,
throwing their rifles aside, they came toward us with
their hands up."
"We surrender," they shouted. "I
motioned for them to move along. I did not realize the war
was only going to be 6 days in length. I doubt that those
Egyptians realized it either. We soldiers proceeded
quietly ahead."
I noticed Nahum was trembling. Tears
came to his eyes. Then, ever so slowly, he drove quietly
ahead. A moment later we turned into full view of the old
temple wall - The Wailing Wall! I have no idea how long we
sat there in complete silence. Nahum wept openly. I began
to understand what was moving him. I began to pray
silently.
Nahum told me that so far as he
understood he and his buddies had themselves set the
Wailing Wall free. Even now, as we looked, there must have
been a hundred Israeli men at the wall praying. Now tears
came to my eyes. "It was the most sacred moment of my
life!" Nahum told me.
"Until then," he continued, "I was a fairly
normal Israeli young person. I believed in God, in prayer.
But now the historical meaning became evident. I realized
those huge slabs of rock dated back to the time of
Solomon." He now began to sob openly. I’ll tell you
more of this tremendous experience in the next issue of
TORCH.
HELP US HELP CHURCHES AND CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS GROW
Make sure they hear what you are saying!
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Visitors to
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You may view
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Your referral
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