Today we went up high to the mountains of Aburi. This is a picturesque town taking you back in time with its winding streets and rustic houses. It is a small town that has some of the best breathtaking landscaping in all of Ghana. The temperature feels like a perfect air conditioned room with a nice and gentle breeze. Aburi is also known for its beautiful Botanical Gardens. All kinds of plants from all over the world permeate the entire garden. We entered with the sounds of worshippers making a joyful melody to the Lord. Everyone was singing and praising God, including little ones with the hands clapping and their feet dancing. The newly put together palm leafs roof, with a bamboo frame structure, gave it a tropical feel. The church was outwardly excited when they heard that outdoor outreaches would begin again with the showing of “The Passion of the Christ” movie. There is a vision to reach the lost at any cost. Here is a church that has doubled since we last preached. Pastor Botwe,the senior pastor, receives biblical and leadership training every week in our home. All of the New Life Global Outreach pastors have a deep-rooted commitment to be grounded deeply in the Word of God. The mission vision is ongoing through the power of Christ. We see the results everyday, seeing the impact that God’s kingdom is doing. Only we together can do it. Man’s greatest need is Jesus...God’s son, eternal life for the lost. Time is running out, the bible says we must work while it is daylight. Feliza shared from the Word of God on, “Renewing your Mind.” Today many people are trying to get holiness without wholeness, without healing. As the song goes, We are never too broken to mend. All that is needed is the touch of the Maker’s hand. Gather all the broken pieces and bring it to where it all began. The longer the anguish, the longer we wait. It’s never too soon or too late. At the altar, so many lives had deep spiritual surgery. Even some came for prayer as they have been battling thoughts of depression and suicide. There was a tender moment in the presence of God. People being still before the Lord.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Obedience (a children's ministry lesson) by Marisol Cabrera
This was a lesson that our youngest daughter Marisol put together to share with the children in Sunday School today, Sunday, Jan. 20. we decided to post it and share it with you.
Who knows what obedience is? Obedience is doing what your parents, whoever is in charge or even God tells you to do. Obedience is also doing it with a happy heart and not with a grumpy or angry heart. You should also do it right away when you are told. I’m going to tell you a story.
There were two boys. One named Kojo and the other one named Ebenezer. One day Kojo’s father told him to get some wood to make fire. Kojo didn’t want to so he didn’t do it right away. Instead he went to play with his friends. When he came back he got the wood but his heart was very angry so he decided only to get a little bit of wood. Was kojo obedient?
On the same day kojo’s friend Ebenezer was also told to get wood. So he ran right away and got enough firewood to cook his supper. Because Ebenezer did it right away he had a lot of time to go play with his brother. Was Ebenezer obedient? Jesus wants us to obey whoever is in charge including Him. We are going to draw a picture of us obeying our parents.
Who knows what obedience is? Obedience is doing what your parents, whoever is in charge or even God tells you to do. Obedience is also doing it with a happy heart and not with a grumpy or angry heart. You should also do it right away when you are told. I’m going to tell you a story.
There were two boys. One named Kojo and the other one named Ebenezer. One day Kojo’s father told him to get some wood to make fire. Kojo didn’t want to so he didn’t do it right away. Instead he went to play with his friends. When he came back he got the wood but his heart was very angry so he decided only to get a little bit of wood. Was kojo obedient?
On the same day kojo’s friend Ebenezer was also told to get wood. So he ran right away and got enough firewood to cook his supper. Because Ebenezer did it right away he had a lot of time to go play with his brother. Was Ebenezer obedient? Jesus wants us to obey whoever is in charge including Him. We are going to draw a picture of us obeying our parents.
Time to Build by Angelo Cabrera
There was a man who once searched and searched for a treasure. Once he found the treasure, he then sold all that he had to buy the piece of field. This man’s decisive action was representative of one overtaken by joy. After months of looking and intense searching, for the right piece of property to build the house of God, the enduring faith has overwhelmingly paid off. Finding and buying land is not as easy as it sounds in Accra, Ghana. It is not like buying land in the United States. Now we have half an acre to build. We are going to build to the glory of God!
The piece of land is situated in a location where there are no churches in its vicinity. The people in the community have already let us know they are awaiting our arrival with great expectation. The land has already been cleared of bush and stumps. Some people have the tendency to move markers to take land that is not theirs so a wall has to be built around the property to protect the boundaries of the land.
We have reached our space capacity where the church meets on Sundays. There is a similarity with the children of Israel, in their journey to the holy land, meeting in tents and all that is portable. Nevertheless, everyone works together united to make it all happen.
Today the official announcement, “Land has been bought!” was made to the church. Everyone rejoice, clapped, danced, shouted for joy, and every eye gleamed with anticipation. Everyone feels God is on the move and we are moving with him.
The purchase of this piece of land is so on time. We do not have the capacity right now to accommodate the children for Sunday School or Children’s Church. Just today we had 20 visitors come to the Sunday morning church service. We are raising pastors who need a training center to meet. Every week we train over 20 pastors and we just don’t have any more room in our home to accommodate them. We are looking forward to having an office at the new church. From here the central church can partner even stronger with the new church plants in Ghana.
Some will say to me, that’s a good problem, the growth and the expansion of the kingdom. Our response is, it is a good problem, but it is still a problem. We need the space and room to grow. Families buy or build bigger houses as they grow, so it must be too with the church.
Up to this point, since we got to Ghana, we have never asked for your financial help on our blogs. We do not take the charge of stewardship lightly, even more, with oversees missions. Today, I feel compelled; to ask you what can you do to help this great work. It is time to build. The season has come and we together can rise to the occasion. Pray and ask the Lord God to help you in making this possible through your favorable giving. Become an impact player today. You can give whatever amount. On our website, you can click E-give, and look for Africa Missions. Whatever you give, will be used to build the house of God. It is a legacy that will impact souls ‘till Jesus comes back for the church!
The piece of land is situated in a location where there are no churches in its vicinity. The people in the community have already let us know they are awaiting our arrival with great expectation. The land has already been cleared of bush and stumps. Some people have the tendency to move markers to take land that is not theirs so a wall has to be built around the property to protect the boundaries of the land.
We have reached our space capacity where the church meets on Sundays. There is a similarity with the children of Israel, in their journey to the holy land, meeting in tents and all that is portable. Nevertheless, everyone works together united to make it all happen.
Today the official announcement, “Land has been bought!” was made to the church. Everyone rejoice, clapped, danced, shouted for joy, and every eye gleamed with anticipation. Everyone feels God is on the move and we are moving with him.
The purchase of this piece of land is so on time. We do not have the capacity right now to accommodate the children for Sunday School or Children’s Church. Just today we had 20 visitors come to the Sunday morning church service. We are raising pastors who need a training center to meet. Every week we train over 20 pastors and we just don’t have any more room in our home to accommodate them. We are looking forward to having an office at the new church. From here the central church can partner even stronger with the new church plants in Ghana.
Some will say to me, that’s a good problem, the growth and the expansion of the kingdom. Our response is, it is a good problem, but it is still a problem. We need the space and room to grow. Families buy or build bigger houses as they grow, so it must be too with the church.
Up to this point, since we got to Ghana, we have never asked for your financial help on our blogs. We do not take the charge of stewardship lightly, even more, with oversees missions. Today, I feel compelled; to ask you what can you do to help this great work. It is time to build. The season has come and we together can rise to the occasion. Pray and ask the Lord God to help you in making this possible through your favorable giving. Become an impact player today. You can give whatever amount. On our website, you can click E-give, and look for Africa Missions. Whatever you give, will be used to build the house of God. It is a legacy that will impact souls ‘till Jesus comes back for the church!
The Great Commission and the Great Commandment by Angelo Cabrera
In Moments Like These
Do you remember that old chorus we used to sing at church, it went like this, “In moments like this, I sing out a song to Jesus, I sing out a song, sing out a song to Jesus, singing Hallelujah . . .” Today, at the Sunday morning service in Ghana, we had one of those moments in the presence of God. In happened during worship time, when the glory of God descended upon us, and we felt the weight of his presence. Everyone knew God was there. Just at that very moment I felt the word of the Lord come to me. I hesitated for a moment, to be truthful, to share it with the congregation. Nevertheless, I recognized God was waiting to do something in the hearts of the people. I spoke a word where God wanted to release joy for the spirit of heaviness. People came to the altar. What happened next…we mounted on Eagle’s wings, and nested in the joy of his presence. All received a “lifting” from their present situation to ultimately behold the face of the Lord Jesus. In moments like these we are transformed as we behold.
Pastor Feliza preached with precision to the hungry heart. Based on 1 Corinthians 13, she spoke on “Love.” The world is waiting today for the church to put love in action. By the way, all of the Sunday messages are translated into Twi (one of many local languages). Everyone who came heard the word of God with gladness.
We had over 20 visitors today. People are coming, old and young, single or married, and babies to children. Imagine that! They all looked so happy to be in the house of God. Our desire is to reach the lost at any cost. Doing whatever it takes to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Let’s take the word of hope to the least, lost and the last! Let’s fulfill the Great Commission in our generation.
Do you remember that old chorus we used to sing at church, it went like this, “In moments like this, I sing out a song to Jesus, I sing out a song, sing out a song to Jesus, singing Hallelujah . . .” Today, at the Sunday morning service in Ghana, we had one of those moments in the presence of God. In happened during worship time, when the glory of God descended upon us, and we felt the weight of his presence. Everyone knew God was there. Just at that very moment I felt the word of the Lord come to me. I hesitated for a moment, to be truthful, to share it with the congregation. Nevertheless, I recognized God was waiting to do something in the hearts of the people. I spoke a word where God wanted to release joy for the spirit of heaviness. People came to the altar. What happened next…we mounted on Eagle’s wings, and nested in the joy of his presence. All received a “lifting” from their present situation to ultimately behold the face of the Lord Jesus. In moments like these we are transformed as we behold.
Pastor Feliza preached with precision to the hungry heart. Based on 1 Corinthians 13, she spoke on “Love.” The world is waiting today for the church to put love in action. By the way, all of the Sunday messages are translated into Twi (one of many local languages). Everyone who came heard the word of God with gladness.
We had over 20 visitors today. People are coming, old and young, single or married, and babies to children. Imagine that! They all looked so happy to be in the house of God. Our desire is to reach the lost at any cost. Doing whatever it takes to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Let’s take the word of hope to the least, lost and the last! Let’s fulfill the Great Commission in our generation.
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