G H A N A H A R V E S T Go ye therefore and teach all na ons, bap zing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. (Ma hew 28:19 KJV) ISSUE 23 OCTOBER 21, 2012 CONCORDIA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL UPDATE The latest venture of Pastor Nicholas Salifu is probably one of the most ambitious projects The Holy Spirit has ever inspired him to do. In addition the burden of another episode of malaria had Nicholas basically flat on his back at the time of the CONCORDIA STAFF AND ROW OF schools opening. At first it THREE NEW CLASSROOMS looked like the enrollment would not be adequate to make it possible to keep the staff of an administrator and four teachers, as only a handful of children appeared on LUNCHTIME the first day. But as the days passed soon there were over eighty children attending the three classes. The plans laid out by The Lord have now begun and each year a new classroom will be built for another grade until there are twelve grades teaching the love of Jesus Christ along with the required subjects that will prepare them for employment or a continuing education at the university level. The children have already learned most of the Lord s AND SOME OF THE CHILDREN TEACHER MARY ABEDUMAH NAPTIME Prayer and the common table prayer, Come Lord Jesus be our guest. Nicholas has certainly met with challenges but with God on his side the children will be taught the word of God. Jesus is the Lord. The dream that The Lord planted in the mind of Nicholas many years ago is now a reality in the ongoing Harvest of Souls for Christ in the far away land called Ghana. BRAVE VOLUNTEER Madam Abigail Sala, a widow, has volunteered to keep the three year old children in order. It looks like Abigail has her hands full as she helps young Pius who is crying. 1
THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION TRANSLATION DIFFICULTIES Mark Awidaan and Lawrence Akidaug have been working diligently translating Article XXIII:12 of the Augsburg Confession when they came upon these words, It was only four hundred years ago that priests in Germany were compelled by force to leave the married state.... When translating this into Kusaal it makes no sense because during Luther s days priests were not permitted to marry. Pastor Salifu then contacted Dr. Robert Kolb, the Augsburg Confession consultant who came to the rescue. Nicholas said Thank God we are surrounded by supporters in the ministry. MARK AND LAWRENCE TRANSLATING WHO CALLS WHEN A PASTOR IS ILL??? During the time that Pastor was very ill with malaria, people came from many of the villages to show their concern about his well-being and pray for him. There were many days he could not even leave the house as was noted earlier, he even missed the opening of the new school. THE FAMIY OF THE LATE ALICE AZURE VISITED FROM WIIDI THESE TWO WOMEN CAME FROM ZUUKU TO PRAY FOR HIS QUICK RECOVERY PASTOR, TOUCH MY HEART NICHOLAS LAYING HIS HAND ON THE HEART OF NICODEMAS Remember the article in the last issue(#22) when the converted soothsayer said I want to be a Christian, how much do I pay? Nicholas previously reported that through his wife and daughters, and The Holy Spirit, he has abandoned his idols and now is a saved child of God. Pastor was reminded of Nicodemas in John 3, so Nicholas gave him the name of Nicodemas. Then Nicodemas said to Nicholas Pastor touch my heart to feel how I have peace in it. NICODEMAS 2
ONE OF THE FIRST MEMBERS OF WIIDI CHURCH NOW IN JESUS ARMS Another of the faithful members of Wiidi Congregation has entered her eternal home. The burial service for Alice Azure was held in the presence of many friends and relatives. Pastor Salifu spoke, Thus says the Lord, Don t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? So Alice who has been baptized will be raised when Jesus returns to judge the world. On that day, Christ will tell Alice THE LATE ALICE AZURE just like all believers that they will live and ALICE BEING CARRIED TO HER reign forever with Him. Alice s FINAL RESTING PLACE granddaughter, Modesta, sang a solo praising God for making her grandmother a Christian. The Wiidi Women s Fellowship also sang inspirational, motivating and comforting songs. At the service a man, who was hold- NICHOLAS AND THE MAN WITH A CAP ing a cap, Ndebila, asked Pastor Salifu Is it true we will see Alice MODESTA SINGING again? Nicholas told him Jesus is the ONLY way to God. After the service the family provided the Women s Fellowship with Coca Cola, and the Church Leaders with local beer COCA COLA FOR THE WOMEN LOCAL BEER FOR THE LEADERS MEMBER OF KPAGOGO CHURCH MISSING Some of the members of Kpagogo Congregation are pictured at the right. More than three months ago, Ayaaba, the husband of, Akaama, the woman standing second from the right left the house in the night and and has never been found anywhere. The couple has five children and would appreciate your prayers. 3
BANSAKPANATENGA WELLBEING LINED A community well in Bansakpantenga is being lined through funds from St. John Lutheran Church in Waverly, Iowa. These projects are a combined effort between the people and those providing the funds., as the labor and whatever materials are available locally are provided by the member of the church GIRLS CARRYING STONES READING SCRIPTURE or village and the specialized labor and major materials are provided by supporters of Ghana Harvest. This is an event that doesn t happen every day, so everyone congregates to watch the progress. The day begins with scripture being read before the construction begins. In this case stones were gathered by girls at a source a mile away from the well site and carried in containers placed on their heads. After the well is dug the water has to be pumped out with a pumping PUMPING OUT THE WELL machine. Then the well must be cleaned before the liner construction can begin. The liner forms and other specialized equipment are waiting on the sidelines and as soon as the CLEANING THE WELL well is cleaned, the forms will be set quickly before the water seeps back into the well. While all of this is going on, Nicholas is teaching the young children to read and understand the Bible and it s application to their life. NICHOLAS TEACHING A WIDOW WITH MANY TRAGEDIES Amaasum became a widow more than twenty years ago when her husband died and left her behind with four small children. She did all she could to care for the children. The oldest son became mentally ill. The next became very ill and died. The third was knocked down by a car. Nicholas told her never to lose confidence in God because God understands her situation more than anyone else. Please remember her in your prayers THE WIDOW, AMAASUM 4
A WIDOW IN BANSI This is another widow who is having difficulty in raising her family without any assistance. Nicholasvisits her and encourages her to remain steadfast. NICHOLAS CONSOLES AN OLD FRIEND The mother of a childhood friend of Nicholas recently died and Nicholas had the opportunity to console the family. The deceased was the wife of Abande and the mother of Akaama, an age mate of Nicholas. They grew up together and used to play when they were young. Akaama s mother died a few weeks ago while in Southern Ghana. When the family returned home Nicholas consoled them. Although Akaama s mother was not a Lutheran she was a Christian. However Abande, Akaama s father is still an idol worshipper. Please pray for them. ABANDE, AKAAMA,and NICHOLAS RECONSTRUCTION CONTINUES AT BUGZUNDE CHAPEL Work continues at Bugzunde Chapel as the reconstruction is slow and tedious. The amount of hand work that is done is amazing, and the lack of many construction aids that we are familiar with makes it seem like an almost impossible task. Yet the Lord is with these faithful workers as they prepare a special place to worship Him 5
NEWS FROM ZIAKO The photo on the left shows the newest members of Ziako Congregation and Pastor Salifu. Most of them came to church because someone told them about Christ. The message Nicholas gave them was just as through someone the Lord has saved you, you too should tell someone about what the Lord has done for you. On the right you see Ziako students who are in Junior or Senior High School (except for the two squatting). There is a need to provide $300.00 each for four of the students to help with the school fees as their parents cannot afford them. NEW ZIAKO MEMBERS JR and SR HIGH MEMBERS HARVEST TIME AGAIN It looks like the beginning of harvest time again. While the harvest of souls never ends, the harvest of crops has it s own season. Now is the time to gather the crops and store them for the coming year. This year there is a new helping hand. The new three wheeled motor cycle is making the harvest chores a little bit easier. It can haul corn as well as workers as is seen in the photos. It seems there is no rest for the Kusasi John Mule HARVESTING CORN HAULING CORN HAULING WORKERS 6
ODDS N ENDS MEMBERS OF KPAGOGO VOLUNTEER PAINTING SCHOOL BENCHES WIIDI EVANGELISM TEAM HELP CONTINUE THE HARVEST As you have seen as you look through the pages of this newsletter the harvest is ready but the workers are few. You can, with your prayers and gifts see that in the land where the Kusasi people live God s word is taught, and help is given to those in need. There are so many people that have not been able to know the love of Jesus Christ, and to feel the comfort and the peace in their heart like the converted soothsayer not only feels, but knows. He knows that God s love is real. Help by making a regular commitment to GHANA HARVEST 143 Helen Place Collinsville, Illinois 62234 We can help tell the love of Jesus in a place where you cannot go, but you can go with your tithes to help Pastor Nicholas Salifu as he continues to serve the Lord our God. May the love of Jesus Christ remain with you all, phil 7