December 2006
Hi Everybody,
This is a first from me. I have decided to start my own newsletter, since there have been many changes in my life. This year has been A YEAR OF NEW BEGINNINGS in every sense of the word. There have been countless surprises, but I will name just a few new beginnings here. The Lord says, “Behold, I make all things new”. Rev. 21:5.
…New Beginnings in Business
On the 9th of July I began a new phase of my life when I moved to the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) Centre in Tema to embark on my Children’s Ministries Institute® training. I have had this soft spot for children for as long as I can remember. It is nothing but the hand of God that got me registered in this course which cost over ¢4 million ($500), and for the next 3 months I lived in Tema. God is sooooo good! I have to think and pray seriously about what to do with my transcription business now since I am really more interested in children’s business. To tell the truth, business is really slow, and I haven’t been advertising either. I have this secret fear of being overburdened with tons of work that I can’t finish; I don’t know if that has anything to do with it. I visited the orphans at Osu Children’s Home with some goodies for Christmas, and I hope to resume my weekly visits from February next year.
…New Beginnings in Learning
In Tema, the Institute, as it is called, soon proved that it was going to be quite demanding. There were many practicum assignments expected of us, and we were kept extremely busy. We were taught how lost children were and were told of the need to catch them young for Jesus. We were taught Christian Principles; shown how to give captivating bible lessons, use the wordless book and generally how to behave around children. Children as young as five can be saved if the gospel is brought down to their level.
We were also taught how to instruct other people in child evangelism and were given solid leadership principles by our teachers.
In the fourth week we had to write a 20 page paper within a week, defending the biblical basis of child evangelism. It was like writing a thesis, the college paper I never wrote. It was a frenzied time, but I got an A+ for the paper I produced; God’s grace alone. We graduated on the 29th of September with a ceremony at the First Baptist Church, and I gave a testimony about my twelve weeks there.
It was a whole new experience, and I thank the Lord for it.
…New Beginnings in Ministry
Since returning from the Institute, I have become a Sunday school teacher at church. It is a challenge handling the preschool aged kids, but He who has called is faithful.
I am now a voluntary worker for CEF, and I have helped out at the at the Channel R studios (a local radio station) a few times, helping out with the Good News Club on air that is broadcast every Saturday. I will go more often when I am put on the programme.
I started a Good News Club on the 3rd of November with a grand total of 3 children. Since then the club has grown to 11, and most of my children have accepted Christ. There is one boy in particular that I am praying for. He is yet to accept. We meet on the front porch on Friday afternoons. I need strength, since most times even though I have prepared, I find myself getting stressed out when Friday is approaching.
A friend of mine started a school programme and invited me to help out. We go to Calvary Methodist School at nearby Adjiriganor once a fortnight to give the morning devotions. We tell the children bible stories and missionary stories and teach them memory verses. My real interest is counselling hurting children, which I did a bit of at Tema, but I haven’t yet found a real avenue for that. A degree in child psychology would really come in handy here, but unless that door opens, I will make do with what I have.
Since I started working with children, I have seen the Holy Spirit’s work in 79 children who have come to know the Lord. One time at the school programme, the whole of Class 4 & Class 5 accepted Christ! I would like to get more involved in the lives of these children.
The verse that says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” has now taken on greater meaning for me. I know what lies ahead is not going to be a walkover, but with Jesus in the boat I can smile at any storm.
… Praise & Prayer
Praise the Lord with me for the opportunity to go to CMI®. Thank God that it has opened my eyes to the great need around me; the harvest which is waiting. Pray that the Lord Himself will direct my paths.
Praise the Lord for the new doors which are opening in my life and the fulfilment which I now find in CEF, working among children.
Pray for the Good News Club which has started, and for my 10 saved children, that they will truly be like Jesus. May many more children be saved through this ministry!
Pray for a helper for the club, who will share the responsibility with me, and pray that the gracious Lord will provide the materials needed to sustain a club like this. At the moment I have only one book with 5 stories, and I need more books, song sheets, a flannel board, etc.
Pray that I will be able to train other teachers through CEF (I am also an instructor of teachers) and impact the lives of my preschoolers. Do remember me in your prayers, as we have an enemy, who would really love to see God’s work fail. Please let me know if you want to make a pledge to pray regularly so I can make you a prayer partner and send you frequent prayer bulletins. I hope there will be more new beginnings next year…
“Even so, it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that even one of these little ones should perish.” This verse is found in Matt. 18:14. Have you ever thought of telling a 10 year old about Christ? The Saviour is waiting with open arms. Have you taken up His offer of love yourself? Will you accept the privilege of being the one to usher the little ones in? Will you heed the urgent call to salvage the souls of these precious ones so that they also can be found in glory? God richly bless you, and the best of the Season to you!
Yours in His Vineyard,
Akosua M. Dankwa
A little Something I shared last Sunday
A short discourse on two kings: without mentioning their names I’m sure you’ll know who they are.
The first king had a problem with fear; he was always afraid of what people would say about him. He was an angry king, and he was insecure. He tried to kill the man who would be his successor. He tried several times, but he did not succeed.
The second king was a man of war. He once told a lie, and as a result a whole settlement of priests was killed. One day, while he was supposed to be at war, he saw a woman having her bath. Instead of turning his eyes away, he looked, and looked, and looked, and finally he called her, and had his way with her. When he realised she was pregnant, he ordered that her husband be sent to the frontline so he could be killed. He then took the woman as his wife! What a wicked king! I would have said the first king wasn’t as wicked as the first king, but God rejected the first king, and he called the second king a man after His own heart!
The difference between these two kings was their heart attitude. Saul persisted in his sin, but David repented in sorrow, and went on to serve God with all his heart. I am not advocating going to do all the wrong you want to, saying that God will forgive you, but I say to those who have fallen into some sin or the other to come back to God in repentance. God will accept you and restore you.
I would like to appeal to all of us. If someone does something that you would never do in your lowest moment, please do not judge that person. The bible says we should restore those who have been found in sin gently, and speak the truth in love. The one you are harshly criticizing may be the one after God’s own heart.
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