LIGHTS COME TO BETHANY VILLAGE

Praise the Lord! The light has finally come, it is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. Our three years struggle to have light at Bethany Village has paid off. The government utility company (V.R.A.), which is a monopoly, insisted that we buy our own transformer, poles, wires and pay for an electrical contractor to install our power. We pleaded with them for over two years but to no avail. The cost involved was beyond our means, but God, let me say again, but God had a plan. God spoke to a dear couple to finance the entire installation. May God return their giving a hundredfold. We know that the light is the life of men and since the light has come so will people. Bethany Village is not a concept in our minds but a living, breathing and growing community, come see and be a part of what God is doing here in the 10/40 window.

BOLGA CRUSADE

Last August, Larry McFadden Ministries and Alabaster Project held a crusade in Bolgatanga. The number of people accepting Jesus Christ, as Savior was over 700. What God did in Bolgatanga far exceeded our expectations. The area pastors really worked together to help with the crusade. It was a joy to meet more pastors and to share the vision and witness their enthusiasm as they shared their vision in reaching the lost in the Upper Eastern Region of Ghana. One of the greatest things that happened at the crusade is that a man whose family had been praying for his salvation for 14 years, publicly prayed to Jesus for salvation. This man, Daniel Salifu, born into an unbelieving family and had been an unbeliever all of his life is now a Christian. Daniel had at one point in his life actually lived with a Malam (an unbeliever spiritual leader), and it was just the providence of God that led him along a path that eventually brought him to the crusade. Daniel is 56 years of old and in his own words has now found true joy.

SOUTHEAST IN TAMALE

Southeast Christian Fellowship of Louisville, Kentucky has rolled up its sleeves to join in the fight for souls in Tamale, Ghana – West Africa. Three very able ambassadors and seasoned men of God from Southeast have visited Tamale and its environment to see first hand what God is doing there.

 

(Gen. 10:5) “But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. Brian Wright, Charlie Vitittow and Jim Headlee came down to see what God is doing in Tamale. The only way we can set the people free is to go to the place of their captivity to preach good news to the poor, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release the prisoners from darkness, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Tamale, to give them hope instead of a spirit of despair and fear. This is why we are here and we believe this is why Southeast is joining us.

VILLAGE PASTORS NEED HELP

The plight of the village pastors continues to be a deep concern of ours. These pastors are usually very poor. They pastor congregations ranging from 10-40 people. The congregations are made up of farmers. Often, the members of the churches do not tithe and there is little or no money to support the work of the church much less a pastor’s salary. Many of the church buildings are not maintained properly. Many pastors have left, leaving the members without a shepherd. The majority of the members often return to their previous religion. Many of the churches, which had memberships of 60-80 members, have now dwindled down to a few old women and children.

After praying and seeking the Lord concerning these pastors, Alabaster Project will start a farm which will be used to help train the pastors how to be farmers (*we have learned that even though the pastors farm to maintain existence, they have no knowledge of farming) and offer some means of support as well. Ying Village, approximately 20 miles north of Tamale has given land to Alabaster Project especially for farming. The participants in the program will receive direct, hands on training. If you are interested in supporting this program, please contact Alabaster Project Ministries at the address given at the end of the newsletter. All support is encouraged including: finances, farming equipment, instructors/laborers.

MIRACLE OF HEALING

On November 3, 2002, King was invited to a baptismal service where over 40 people made public declaration of their salvation. It was a joy to witness these new converts, but I have to tell you what happened in the village while we were there. A little boy was very ill with some type of skin disease. His condition was so bad that his bones could be seen through his skin. When I saw the boy I wept, I really felt compassion for him. I asked him, “Have you excepted Jesus as your personal savior?” he said, “yes.” I asked the Lord “why?” This boy is a son of Abraham. Why is he sick like this? The boy said that he believed that Jesus could heal him, so we prayed. That very evening the infection in his body came out and the boy who had not walked for some time and found it difficult to sit, got up and walked! Hallelujah! What a mighty God we serve.

MINISTRY NEEDS:

1. Bibles
2. Maintenance personnel
3. Vocational program director
4. Construction materials/equipment
5. Truck for construction purposes
6. Bus for short-term teams
7. Generator
8. Administrator for Bethany Resource Center
9. Laptop & Desktop Computers
10. Copier and fax machines

PLEASE PRAY:

• Psalm 20 for the Hammond family
• A door will be opened to preach the gospel to the masses of Tamale
• Funding for the vocational school
• Competent workers to build the school
• For the Lord to bless the Hammonds with good health
• For Daniel Salifu/for strength to stand against persecution