SPECIAL NEWSLETTER CONCERNING A NEW EYE CARE MINISTRY FOR THE ALABASTER PROJECT IN GHANA, WEST AFRICA

$16,000 of matching funds is available to Alabaster Project Ministries!

If you have been following the Alabaster Project Ministry for any period of time, you know how successful the dental ministry has been in Ghana, both in providing much needed dental care and as a witness to the love of Christ to those who don’t know Him. We have been praying that God would do a similar ministry in the area of eye care. In August of 2006, Dr. Jim Chamberlain, a pastor and an optometrist from Florida, visited Bethany Village and examined the need for eye care in Northern Ghana. 90% of the problems Dr. Chamberlain found could be solved by glasses and/or ocular lubricants. 10% of the problems require surgical treatment. The cost to set up the equipment necessary to determine eyeglass prescription and eye care and to perform minor surgery is between $27,000 to $37,000 depending on whether the equipment is new or used. A donor has been identified who will provide up to $16,000 of matching funds for any money given the Alabaster Project Ministries to establish the eye care ministry at Bethany Village.

The purpose of this newsletter is to make you aware of the opportunity to set up this new ministry and to have any contributions multiplied by a factor of two. Contributions to the Alabaster Project Ministry between now and March 31, 2007that are designated for the Eye Care Ministry will be doubled and used to purchase the necessary equipment and establish this ministry. You may send your contributions to:

Alabaster Project Ministries-Eye Care Ministry
P O Box 15008
Fernandina Beach, FL 32035

Please indicate on your contribution that it is for the Eye Care ministry in order to distinguish it from the normal Alabaster Project Ministries support. For those who want more detail, the background and specifics of the proposed eye care ministry are described in the rest of this newsletter.

 

A PROTOTYPE MINISTRY

In 2004, a dental clinic was established at Bethany village through the efforts of Dr. Charlie Vittitow, a Louisville Dentist and Alabaster Project Ministries. It has been very successful in providing dental care to the people of Northern Ghana. Native lay persons have been trained in all aspects of dental care and perform two free dental clinics each Monday and Wednesday. Over 100 Ghanians receive free dental care each week.

 

Before each clinic we give the message of salvation. On May 8, 2005 there were 30 patients waiting to be served. After giving the message we then asked how many would like to know how to go to heaven for sure when they die – salvation. Twenty-six out of the 30 patients (ALL UNBELIEVERS) boldly raised their hands. This is unprecedented. On every clinic day we do have several who give their lives to the Lord and we have a record of every new convert.

Recently, we treated a man from the village of Bilisinga. This village is located in the Gushegu-Karaga district. This man accepted Jesus as savior and told his entire family. As a result of his boldness and zeal his mother, father, two wives, and all his children except one has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. Praise the Lord!

Our experience with the dental ministry has given us confidence to pursue an eye ministry. It serves as an excellent prototype for providing a much needed service and extending the love of our Savior to the lost.

EYE CARE FOR NORTHERN GHANA

During August of 2006, a team from Florida consisting of Dr. Jim Chamberlain and Phil Allen joined with Alabaster Project Ministries to evaluate eye problems in the villages around Tamale. Five villages were visited to investigate the problems concerning eye care. Many of the problems identified were mostly due to the harsh climate and lack of any suitable medical facilities.

Fortunately, many of the eye problems found can be solved by glasses and the use of ocular lubricants to overcome Dry Eye Syndrome. The proposed ministry will purchase and set up in the medical clinic at Bethany village the necessary ophthalmic equipment to determine eyeglass prescriptions. We will seek recycled glasses from Lions Clubs which will be given to the patients.

More serious problems such as cataracts, pterygia and glaucoma will require surgical treatment. Eye surgeons will be invited to spend a week or more at Bethany Village performing eye surgery as needed.

Existing eye care in Northern Ghana consists of one clinic located in Tamale. This clinic is supported by the Swiss Red Cross and serves over 2 million people. As a consequence, eye care is almost nonexistent to the native Ghanians.

THE COST OF EYE CARE

The cost to establish the proposed eye care ministry to Northern Ghanians at Bethany Village is primarily for the equipment. The equipment needed to implement the ministry is listed below with the approximate cost:

Auto-refractor ($5K-$8K)
Chair and stand ($3K-$5K)
Phoropter ($3.5K)
Opthalmoscope ($1.5K-$2.5K)
Slit biomicroscope ($3K-$5K)
Tonometer ($3K-$5K)
Lensmeter and supplies ($3K)
Transportation to Ghana ($5K)

Depending on whether we can get good used equipment or new equipment the total cost will be between $27,000 and $37,000. Locals will be trained to prescribe and distribute eyeglasses and provide eye care and hygiene.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Any contributions to the proposed Alabaster Project Eye Care ministry given between now and March 31, 2007 will be matched up to $16,000. Be sure to designate on your contribution that it is for the Eye Care ministry otherwise it will be used for the normal ministry support.

If you know of a local Lions Club that would be interested in sponsoring this work through recycled glasses and/or if you are an eye care professional and wish to participate in the proposed Eye Care ministry, please let us know.

Lastly, please keep this project in your prayers. We want to be able to do this ministry in the LORD’s way, with His timetable and using His resources.

For questions concerning the proposed eye care ministry, please contact Phil Allen at 904-491-1093 or pallen@ece.gatech.edu.

Please mail all contributions for Alabaster Project to:
P. O. Box 15008
Fernandina Beach, FL 32035

To contact the Hammonds in Ghana Write to: 
Alabaster Project Ministries
P. O. Box ER324
Tamale, Ghana
West Africa

All family support should be mailed to:
Mount Paran Church of God
2055 Mount Paran Rd.
Atlanta, Georgia 30327 USA