Tarkwa, Ghana Africa
 January 17, 2010

Greetings to the saints!  I trust you are all well and enjoying the fullness of Christ. 

This is not an update in the general sense, but more specifically I need to inform you of the place the Lord has led us to so we have a clear understanding of the Purpose.  The Lord never intended there to be lone rangers, we are a Body and the whole Church is vitally related, every member dependant on the other no matter the distance.   I have been meaning to write for some time, but struggled with just what to say and how to get across the unique situation here.   Recently we as a team sat down and discussed some frank questions like: “why did the Lord bring us here?”  “What is the *Lord* doing in Ghana?”  etc..

To start with, I believe way back when I first came to Ghana I stated my reason: first and foremost was simply God’s calling, but secondly was to “make disciples and send them to the unreached tribes.”    Well the Lord has been teaching us and bringing us along and not exactly changing our vision, but bringing us into a greater understanding of his Purpose that is in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

“Making disciples” is a seemingly simple phrase, but in reality, it’s not so straightforward!   We may get the theory in our heads and feel we have an adequate comprehension of the process, but in the end this is the Lords work and he will do it his way not ours!   We have never believed that what we called our “5-week discipleship course” was all there was too it!  We have made it very clear to those who complete the course, “you really have not completed anything, but are starting--or continuing--something of eternal impact and importance!”   True, you can impart a lot of information in 5-weeks, but clearly there are no shortcuts in discipleship.  We have been “called into the fellowship of his Son” as apprentices learning Jesus: a classroom is a very inadequate place to “teach” that!  However, because of the unique situation here, the Spirit always has liberty in the methods.  (Note Acts 19:19-10, clearly triumphant due to the anointing and not the method.)  Are we called to make disciples?  Absolutely!   Is it His Vision to make disciples?  Yes--but, that is not all, but a step in his marvellous vision and eternal purpose!   We must guard against narrowing his purpose down to a formula or putting up permanent residence on a method.   So we continue to teach people, but as far as the methods are concerned, we (really speaking for myself) are more and more aware of the necessity of total dependence upon our Lord and Head and his anointing.   We are not throwing away the 5-weeks course by any means, but simply put: the methods are only of eternal use so long as the anointing is present!

“Un-reached tribes” is another interesting and often loaded phrase that is tossed around!  The precise definition though may vary.  Are there whole tribes in Ghana that have never heard the gospel, or, do not have one single believer amongst them?!  Long story short:  I don’t know!   Bring up JoshuaProject.org and they will tell you “yes!”  In our very very limited actual contact with some of the tribes in the Northern region we were a bit surprised to find some of these “unreached” tribes actually had a handful of, what appeared to be, believers.  It’s not uncommon to find a “church” building--or three--out in some very small villages.  (Granted these are not very “remote” villages!)  Again “reaching the unreached tribes” is often some people’s reduction of the purpose of the Church; however that is also just a step in God’s immense and glorious purpose. 

Our on-going work here in the South has come to an interesting head.  As I have told you in times past the South here is bursting with “Christians” and “churches.”  It makes for interesting “evangelism” to say the least!  We have our fellowship meeting here on Sundays, and we also have our two open air Bible studies in neighbouring villages.  However we have been a bit disappointed with the sporadic attendance, not to over simplify the situation: but partly owing to the fact that most are members of other denominations.  Only a handful have heard the call of Jesus and left their denominations and begun assembling here on Sundays for fellowship in the presence of Christ. 

Now this is nothing new to you all!  Our fellowship is very familiar with people who come for a few weeks or months, “really enjoy the people!” but then move on, perhaps going back to the traditional institutionalised “church.”  It’s difficult when you grow up under a man who calls himself a pastor and leads a patterned service every Sunday, when that tradition is ingrained into you--barring a mighty work of the cross, an open and Spirit led meeting just doesn’t “feel” like “Church!”  Here in Ghana, the reproach of going outside the camp is particularly severe.  To leave the religious culture is on par with John 9:22.  Well all that to say we are at a place of waiting on the Spirit to do his mighty work of dividing Light from Darkness.  The religious organisations are so deceptive in their appearance of being the truth, that the people are hopelessly blinded unless the Spirit reveals the Truth.   This may seem obvious, however we have quite a number of people who we have been holding bible studies with who continue partaking in traditions and meeting at a place they know is not pleasing to the Lord--and often downright blasphemous.  With our scheduled trip up to Bupie, where 15 denominations are represented, we are especially looking to the Lord to do a mighty work.  While we look out, all may seem like confusion and loss, but the Lord sees the Body of Christ with perfect clarity! (Oh for just a glimpse from his perspective!)  We are praying that the Lord would see fit to bring a greater sense of unity of the Spirit amongst the believers that are here, “to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.”  The Lamb that was slain is worthy!  We trust the Lord will raise up a testimony of his presence all for his glory and not just to fulfill “our” vision but truly to establish the Lordship of Christ in and through us now and forevermore!  Of course this is not just for Bupie, Bole and the region around Tarkwa, but also here in the southern part of Ghana--and also in Snohomish, etc!! 

Please pray the Lord would bring clarity and vision--and anointing--for us as to the work that He is doing and the methods in which to accomplish it!  ..and if not, then more grace to walk without seeing;) 

Oddly enough I write this on the eve of Sam’s departure, this was not related in my mind but hopefully the Lord’s plan.  I trust this brings more clarity for you all and enables you to join with us in spirit in a greater and more profound way.  

May the Lord bless and keep you!  Thank you for your prayers and support! 

 

Your son and fellow labourer, --tim

 

Rev 5:8