Monday marked the first Ramadan that Inusah has not taken part. Last year Inusah decided that he would become a Christian and reject Islam after the fast. So, this year marked the first time that he has eaten during the days of this month-long event.
Pastor Andrew and I decided that we would visit Inusah and celebrate his new liberty in Christ on Monday. See, here when the Muslims break their fast, it is cause for great celebration. They will cook food, many times killing goats and rams. They feast, and here in Ghana anyone that visits the house will be fed.
We knew that Inusah’s family would not allow him to take part of the celebration since he was a convert to Christianity, nor would he want to take part since it was a part of his former religion. Though he is happy in his new found faith, we thought that it might be a hard day for him, since there were so many past memories about this day. So we decided to help make it a good day, one of celebration about his liberty in Christ.
Monday was planned to be a day to celebrate Inusah’s freedom from Islam. When we arrived on Monday afternoon, Inusah was not ready yet, so we waited in his room as he prepared. This is when something funny happened.
See, the practice here is to give food to anyone that arrives. So they heaped a plate full of white rice and stew for us. They wanted Andrew and me to eat. What to do? They wanted us to eat, yes, but they also wanted to remind Inusah that they had shunned him. They would not offer him food, and they made sure that they served us food in front of him. He did not ask and had not planned on being there long enough to be served.
As Inusah’s younger sister left the room, Andrew and I looked at each other. “What should we do?” So we asked Insuah. He said that he needed to get ready, but that we could eat some. We told him that we would eat a little, as not to offend the family, but just enough, and we were still going out with him to eat. That seemed to settle everything.
So we prayed over the food. (This is a real I Corinthians chapter 8 experience. That is the passage that talks about eating things that are offered to gods. A missionary gets to really experience the Bible in some ways that a pastor in his home culture does not). After asking God to bless it and dedicating it to him, we ate. It was really good food, but we ate just enough not to offend and then left. (Pray for Inusah’s sister, we are trying to get her an Arabic Bible and trying to witness to her).
After Insuah was ready, we headed off to Campus for a time of fellowship. We went to one of the dorms and ate some really good local food, jollof rice. We tried to get Inusah to buy a ton, but he settled for a large normal portion. After some eating and chatting, I asked each person, ”What was the best thing to happen in your life this past year?” We started with Andrew and worked around the table. This was Inusah’s answer, “The best thing that has happened to me this year is becoming born again. As a follower of Christ, I can have peace!”
Well, that just made the whole day better. After about two hours we all headed back home. Please continue to pray for Inusah, his family, and others that he is seeking to witness to. Also pray for the Lord to give him specific direction in regards to his future.
On the 6th of December the Bible Study had its fourth baptism. There were three adult men that where baptized. The first was a man named Dennis. He has been attending meeting off and on for almost two years. In the last year he has become very faithful and attends almost every Sunday morning. About ten months ago he came to the realization that his old church was not teaching correct doctrine. After finishing his "Way of Peace' Bible study he accepted Christ. Then quickly told us that he wanted to be baptized. Pray for him to grow in Christ, and find a good wife to marry.
The second to baptized was Bismark. Bismark attends meetings with his wife and son. They are very faithful. Bismark was raised Catholic, but after arriving in Kumasi he quite attending. After Dora invited his wife, they began to attending services. After God worked greatly in his life, including healing his son that was at deaths door, Bismark became very serious about the things of God. After finishing our "Way of Peace" Bible Study, he trusted Christ. He made a hard decision to be baptized, since the Catholic churches here are very rich, but he did not flinch when he felt it was God's will. Please pray for his wife. She attends, and my wife is studying with her. Please pray that her religious background will not harden her to the gospel.
The last to be baptized was Nat. He is a young community college man, that chose to join our church. He has attended a church called, "Deeper Life", which is a form of old holiness church. After many months of talking with Nat, Pastor Andrew felt that he was truly saved, but had not been baptized. Nat has been born again for about five years. He knew he should be baptized, but had not official joined the Deeper Church. Please pray for his growth and victory over sins in his life. He is desirous to grow, but has confessed to some besetting sins.
Also pray for the new groups of believers that will start baptismal class in the new year. Pray that some that have finished classes already will make the decision to join our group.
Patty visitation partner, Gifty, has traveled. Currently she is seeking a replacement. We are praying that maybe Dora, the lady pictured, or another lady from the studies will join my wife to spread the good news.
