Exciting Growth in Ghana!
Ghana Church Plant — So Far So Good!
INTRODUCTION
September 2024 marked the fifth year since we moved to Ghana as a family to plant the first Commission Church in the country. (We have since returned to the UK for the past 2 Commission Festivals). So, five years and counting, the vision remains the same — ‘’to plant a grace and Spirit filled church that plants other churches’’. With the help of an amazing Ghana church-plant team consisting of Kevin Bartlett (Madrid), David Maskell (Salisbury), and Pelumi (Southampton), we can say, so far, so good!
FAMILY LIFE
Our family of four has only grown in age (and I hope in faith, too), not in number. By God’s grace, our two children are growing well both physically and spiritually. Emmanuel, our oldest, was almost 9 years old when we left the UK; he is now 14. Mary, our youngest, was 3 years old and is now 8 (9 years next month).
It has not always been smooth, though. We have all had our fair share of malaria infections and many other diseases and discomforts associated with living in a developing nation like Ghana. But we have enjoyed good health mostly. Both Emmanuel and Mary are in school and they seem to be content with their schooling. Emmanuel is preparing to sit his Basic Certificate Education Examination in 2025, the first major external examination in Ghana for junior secondary school students to determine their secondary school placement. He is putting a lot of effort into his studies because he wants to do well.
By God's grace, Theresah (my wife) and I are both doing very well. As a family, we have had amazing help and support from Grace Church (Salisbury), Commission, and individuals across the family of churches throughout our five-year stay in Ghana. We are so grateful for this help and support, which has enabled us to do what we are doing.
CHURCH LIFE
The church is a young church and still a church plant. One of the things we had to do last year was change the name of the church from Grace Community Church to Good News Charismatic Church. This is because Grace Community Church is a registered name for another church in Ghana, so we couldn’t legally use it.
But despite the unfortunate event of the name change, we still saw God move powerfully among us. We have seen people saved and added to us, filled with the Holy Spirit, receive and use spiritual gifts. We have witnessed some amazing healing. Whenever we meet, we have an expectation that God will move by His Spirit among us, and He does regularly move among us.
Last year, with the help of Grace Church (Salisbury and Amesbury) and the Ghana Church plant team, we also expanded our building, which can now seat about 130 adults and has two classrooms for about 30 kids. We are currently focused on evangelism and training potential leaders. We currently have two potential leaders on the ongoing TFL — New Nations course.
PIG FARM
As part of our strategy for our long-term commitment to Ghana and beyond, we started a piggery business with the hope of helping us become financially independent as soon as possible. Although we have encountered some difficulties, the latter part of 2024 gave us a glimpse of hope for better things to come this year and beyond. We still believe that things will turn around soon.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR US:
That we would continue to enjoy good health, and that Emmanuel will be able to do well in his upcoming national exams.
That Good News Charismatic will continue to be charismatic in practice and that we will continue to see people saved, filled with the Spirit, and receiving and using spiritual gifts, including signs and wonders.
That the pig business will really pick up this year and beyond.
Thank you all for your ongoing support and love.
God bless!