Ghana Update – November 2015 – Samson Abukari – Country Director
“Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them”. (Romans 2:14-15 NIV)
Introduction
Our God is a good God and His love endures forever. He is faithful to us and each day He reveals Himself to us in different dimensions. His continuous desire is that man will get to know and enter a relationship with Him. God has indeed, written His law on the hearts of man that we will be guided daily in light of His law. It is our pray that we will become conscious about this law and live it out.
Transformational Mentoring
Isaac and Samson had the privilege to participate in a 3 day transformational mentoring training in Tamale which was organized by COF in partnership with Partners International (PI). Participants were taken through what transformational mentoring is, current leadership values, the value shift that is needed, various leadership covenants etc. Dr. Rene the West African director of Partners International was the lead facilitator. There was an opening for U4A’s potential partnership with some Churches and Christian organizations in the Upper East Region of Ghana.
“In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus”.(Ephesians 3:4-6 NIV)
Introduction
The Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has continued to be the only hope for humanity. Through the Gospel there is hope for all nations, tribes, languages and everyone in the universe. All that is required is for people of all nations, tribes and languages is to accept the gospel, then they will automatically qualify to be heirs of our heavenly father and partakers in the original plan of God. May everyone understand this mystery and equally, take part in it.
The Timothy Initiative Facilitators Training
Samson, one of The Timothy Initiative Facilitators, participated in a facilitators training that recently took place in Tamale. It was a platform for sharing how the Church planting trainings, of those facilitators who began a few months back, have been using the training and to equip them with additional training. Samson had a discussion with the East African Director of the initiative who expressed interest in partnering with Unite 4 Africa in East Africa for their Church planting activities.
Discipleship Training
Samson, after participating in the Discipleship training offered by the South East Church in July 2015, has begun implementing the lessons that were taught and has established a discipleship class in the Moglaa Baptist Church. The class has a vision of establishing reproducible Churches in four different communities.
The Timothy Initiative Program
The Timothy Initiative Church planting Class that Samson is leading has moved into its tenth week. Each week everyone is greatly challenged with thought provoking issues regarding the current perception of the Church about the great commission efforts that are being made. The class has reached the point where individuals are challenged to come up with strategies they will be personally pursuing for the completion of the task of the great commission.
Prayer Needs
Keep praying for the students who took part in the Mercy Academy classes that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in their lives and lead them to the point where they can make decisions to follow Christ.
Pray for The Timothy Initiative students that the Lord who has begun stirring them up for the work of the great commission will give them the grace to continue to implement the lessons that are learnt each week.
Keep praying for the Gospel work in Northern Ghana especially, for the penetration of the good news among the various people groups which have not yet experienced the grace in the good news.
Yours in His Vineyard Samson Abukari (Country Director, Ghana)
Ghana Update – August 2015 – Samson Abukari – Country Director
“We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”. (1 Thessalonian 1:3)
Introduction
It is a delight to be reminded that our faith in the Lord must always produce work, as we labour as result of love for ourselves and the salvation of others and the good of humanity, and that we need to keep on enduring to the end not by our own strength and might but because of the inspiration that we have in our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Bridges Training
We were by the grace of God able to carry out two separate Bridges Trainings in two different communities. The first training was at Kpachani and the second one was at Yagbon. we had over 50 participants taking part in these trainings.
Ghana Update – September 2015 – Samson Abukari – Country Director
“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”(Ephesians 2:3-5)
Introduction
What a joy to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. We all were once ruled by our sinful nature but thankfully the love and mercy of God we are now victorious and alive in Jesus Christ. The grace of God is something that we have to cherish greatly for by it that we are who we are.
Bridges Training
By the grace of God we were able to have training at the Gingani A/G Church. The training was an exciting one with lots of words of encouragement. Participants willingly shared how the principles of training. About 30 participants took part in the training.
Ghana Update – July 2015 – Samson Abukari – Country Director
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven”. (Hebrews 1:1-3)
Introduction
What a great joy to have the Son as our Lord and Saviour? Since he is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of God’s being. He does not just sustain all things by his powerful word but he also provided purification for our sins.
Bridges Training
Bridges for Neighbours training was carried out at the Kukuo Baptist Church. 18 participants took place in the training. It was a great joy having some of the characters in “Ibrahim the Dreamer” movie participate and had the opportunity to see movie for the first time.
Ghana Update – June 2015 – Samson Abukari U4A Country Director, Ghana
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NIV)”
Introduction
God initiated the reconciliation of the world to himself in Christ Jesus without counting our sins against us. God in addition to this entrusted or committed to us the message of reconciliation which has earned us the opportunity as Christ’s ambassadors. What a privilege to be the representatives of no other person than the Lord Jesus Christ. It is our prayer that everyone who calls him/herself a believer of Jesus will grasp this understanding and live it out.
Ghana Update – April 2015 – Samson Abukari U4A Country Director, Ghana
“And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.’ (Matthew 18:17-19 ESV)”
Introduction
The season of Easter is here again and as we consciously reflect on the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, may it make a great meaning to us and empower us to be effective witnesses of this great work of Christ in our individual and personal lives.
Ghana Update – March 2015 – Samson Abukari U4A Country Director, Ghana
“Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:10-12 ESV)”
Introduction
The willful choice man made in the Garden of Eden caused man to die spiritually. However, God in His rich mercy made a provision in His son Jesus Christ for man to live again. God has presented man another opportunity to choose eternal life or death. It’s our prayer that more and more people will choose Jesus in order to enjoy this eternal life which has been made available to everyone by our loving God.
Ghana Update – Feb 2015 – Samson Abukari U4A Country Director, Ghana
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:13-14 ESV)”
Introduction
It is a great privilege for Christ to stand in for us that we are made TOTALLY free and not only free but that in Christ we have received the qualification to be partakers in the blessing of Abraham – what a privilege?. It is our hope and prayer that everyone will catch a glimpse of this great privilege and make every effort to enjoy it.
Ghana Update – Dec 2014 – Samson Abukari U4A Country Director, Ghana
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 ESV)”
Introduction
As we draw closer to the very end of the year 2014 a careful reflection of the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord is needed with a thankful heart. Let us give thanks to the Lord for his goodness over our lives since the beginning of the year till this very last month of the year. As we remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ may you receive an insight this great and wonderful work the Lord has done for the universe.
Ghana Update – Jan 2015 – Samson Abukari U4A Country Director, Ghana
“I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Put me in remembrance; let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right. (Isaiah 43:25-26 ESV)”
Introduction
We are counted among the blessed ones as we have been offered an opportunity to be part of the living in this early part of 2015. The past year 2014 had some challenges but in the midst of it we were showered with many blessings which when examined critically, one will no longer remember the effects of those challenges.
Ghana Update – Nov 2014 – Samson Abukari U4A Country Director, Ghana
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people.” (Isaiah 43:19-20 ESV)
Introduction
The Lord is doing something new in our lives but sometimes we cloud our lives with so many past trials and temptations and some cases past disappointments such that we are deprived the opportunity to see what the Lord is doing. It is good to reflect on what the song writer said “count your blessings and name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done”. Open your eyes and begin to see the new things the Lord is doing just around you.
And this is his commandment that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.” (1 John 3:23-24 ESV)
Introduction
The name of our Lord should be praised forever and ever. In his love he has revealed his son to us that by believing him we can love one another. As we continue to abide in him we are confident that his spirit will also continue to abide in us that we daily improve in our love for one another even as the Lord has commanded us.
Ghana Update – Aug 2014 – Samson Abukari U4A Country Director, Ghana
Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ‘The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ‘There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31 ESV)
Introduction
We are grateful to the Lord for his mercies upon our lives and that of our neighbors. As we strive to love the Lord with all our hearts and with all our souls and with all our minds, it is our prayer that he will grant us the grace to do it well and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Monitoring Visit to Kpachani
We paid a visit to the Kpachani Community to see how they are faring and also check on the Water Catchment systems to see its performance. The community as always were very lively. Most of the people had gone to work on their farms as we are in the farming season of Northern Ghana. This year the rains have delayed and the few that the community was fortunate to be blessed with was not that much for the catchment systems to harvest much water. One of them had collected a little and we are very hopeful that both systems will fill up to capacity in the following months.
The love that has been extended to the community by U4A has brought them a blessing as the community has been selected for the construction of a six unit classroom block to be constructed for them. As at the time of our visit some preparatory work had been done and the construction work is set to commence soon.
Ghana Update – July 2014 – Samson Abukari U4A Country Director, Ghana
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Matthew 8:28 – ESV)
Introduction
We join the songwriter in saying “that to God be the glory!” We also praise Him for all the great things he has done for us this month. It is our prayer and belief that our God will continue to extend his love unto us day after day. That is why we trust that all things work together for the good of those who are called even when we do not have answers to situations that come our way.
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