Global Field Reports
The report from Ghana National Director, Rev. Sammy Lartey (In his own words)
Finishing the Remaining Task!
The GEM slogan of "going where others will not dare go" was fully brought to bear on the Gemog team in the above just ended project. Great was the faithfulness of our good Lord that resulted in the harvest of 2,745 School children and 2,850 Adults during 7days of intensive ministration in remote villages.
Contrary to the raining pattern of this area, the rains came in heavily without warnings almost everyday of this Project which made accessibility to villages that are only reached by Tractors very Challenging. But ,here , the VITALITY OF THE LAND ROVER for such tasks was Remarkable. For with her 4wheel system, No obstacle can stand on the road of reaching the unreached in this very difficult and neglected area of the Afram Plains.
DEPARTURE ON MONDAY 31ST MARCH
The 5member Gemog team left Kpong on Monday 31st March 2008 at 4.00pm arriving after 4hours drive at Imprison amidst a heavy down pour of rain.
We thus had to spend the night here .I had to spend the night with Ps. Simon in the Land Rover by our equipment for safety sake, whilst the remaining members had to put up with a Good Samaritan. We were up the following Tuesday 1st April at 4.00am for the almost 2hours drive to the river village of Adawso to catch the Ferry to the Project village of Mammy-Krobo. All went well and we arrived to a warm welcome by our host, Rev. David Oduro and his expectant members at Mammy- Krobo after mid day.
TACKLING THE TASK.
This day ,Tuesday 1st saw us at the village of Takoratwene with an initial crowd of 400 adults. Just as this was growing into a very big crowd with the progression of the Jesus Film, the rains set in from nowhere halting everything for almost 2hours..
So hungry was this crowd for the Word that they refused us parking away at 9.00pm with the rain still falling. T hey suggested we move to a shed they had for their food storage. We agreed and moved our wet equipment to this shed which could only take a little over 250 adults. Almost all of this number indicated 1st time decision for Christ. We left this village at 11.30pm arriving home a little after mid night wet with rain but joyfully hot within for the Souls that were saved.
The next day,2nd April School Ministry was wonderful as 6schools were scheduled for ministration from 8.00am to 12noon..Four schools in the Soda community were put together making a crowd of 1,400 students. At the call for decision, 1,200 of this indicated 1st time decision for Christ.
That evening saw a heavy down pour of rain just as the team was setting off for the village of Kwaekese. Not perturbed, we drove through this to the village where the rain still threatening, has just stopped. We had a good crowd and 300 adults out of this gave their lives to Christ by walking forward to testify this to all. This was a village where we were doing a church-planting .We thus spend much time counseling these new converts in their new found Faith.
School ministry the next day was for 3 village schools. A total of 920 students were ministered to. 760 of this gave their lives to Christ for the 1st time. 500 Adults indicated 1st time decision for Christ that evening at the village of Kwesi-Fante where a crowd of 750 Adults turned up for the evening.
We did 2chools on Friday because of the heavy down pour which made it impossible for the 3rd school students to attend school that day. The evening of this day saw a crowd of 650 Adults walking forward to give their lives to Christ at the village of Asanyanso where a church was being planted. Saturday morning 5th March was spent servicing and drying our wet equipment. The evening saw a crowd of 750 Adults defying the threatening rain to watch and hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the village of Mammy-Krobo. At the call for decision, 600 adults indicated 1st time decision for Christ. This is the village where our host, Rev. David Oduro has his small church.
Sunday morning was heavily scheduled for worship services in 2 villages where churches were being planted. Ps. Simon ministered at our host church in Mammy -Krobo whilst I drove Rev. David to Kwaekese for the new church service there. I then drove to Kwesi- Fante for some of the new converts there to the village of Asanyanso for the 1st ever service there. Turn up for these new services was very encouraging. The evening of this day saw the team at Soda Community of Mammy-Krobo. It rained this day from 5.00pm to 7.30pm. Still showering, we set up and by 8.30pm a crowd of 800 Adults had gathered in the Cold chilling weather. 600 out of this hungry crowd walked for ward to indicate their decision for Christ.
DISTRIBUTION OF BIBLES AND NEW TESTAMENTS TO NEW CONVERTS
We had 2,500 Bibles and New Testaments for this project. 2,300 of this was given out during the School Ministry. Each new convert of the Junior High Schools had a copy , whilst only classes 4 to 6 Primary schools students were each given copies. We encouraged the formation of BIBLE STUDIES CLUBS in all schools ministered to. In each school we had a Teacher taking charge of this to ensure effectiveness for the growth of these new converts. Rev. David Oduro, our host is to oversee this for my information..
Due to the high rate of illiteracy in this area, we gave out only 200 to the Adults, directly to some that walked forward and indirectly to some through their various church leaders.
DEPARTURE ON MONDAY 7TH MARCH
We bade our host Rev. David Oduro and his members farewell on Monday the 7th after a photograph with his family. The team then left Mammy-Krobo at 8.00 am for Ekye to catch the Ferry to Adawso for the 5hours drive back to Kpong and Juapong. We got to Ekye at 9.15am. Whilst waiting for the Ferry for the crossing over, we went to the Sun Rise School in this village for ministration to the students. The school authorities acceded to our request and a total of 170 students indicated 1st time decision for Christ ,from a total gathering of 200 students. We joyfully boarded the Ferry at 11. 00 am and had a blessed trip back to Kpong at 5.00pm after a 4hours drive on our very Reliable Land Rover.
CONCLUDING THE CHALLENGING SUCCESSFUL STORY
This Project, titled "FINISHING THE REMAINING TASK" of PRE-EASTER PROJECT 2008, has been very challenging with unusual heavy rains and more hours for a daily activity. But God who want to see many saved from this neglected area gave us the needed strength for this task. Just as was said to Joshua....13 verse 1.....there remains yet more unreached lands in this area that has to be reached. Chiefs and elders of many villages in the area sent word to have us come to them. But we were unable due to time limit and other constrains. We tried in some cases to do this between 2.00pm and 4.00pm but could not.
Whilst thanking God and all who provided for this successful Project, I wish to appeal that Provision be made for GEMOG team to go back to this Afram Plains after the Fall Project. For. the " Macedonia call" from this area is very Vital.
I also wish to appeal for the Provision of a Video or Digital Camera for the coverage of GEMOG projects and activities. I make this humble appeal because all the pictures we took of this project has not been good due to the quality of the Camera used.
To God be the Glory , Great things He Has done .
Submitted by
Sammy Lartey
March 2008 Project
Hohoe, Ghana [GEM] In what might be described as our best project to date, Harvest Ghana 2008 was a tremendous testimony to the grace and power of God! During the two week project in the Volta and Eastern Regions of Ghana our ministry team was able to participate in 69 separate venues which included school assembly programs, nightly film crusades, and our first-ever dental clinics.
Our team included both veteran and new members. In addition to our regular team members of Roy Mason, Jeff Andler, and Mark Chase, we had third-time project member, Pastor James McLean of Grace Baptist Church in Benson, NC and newcomers, videographer Andrew Poe of Apex, NC and Dr. David Ney of Davidson, NC. All the members worked remarkably well together and each contributed to the overall success of the ministry project.
Ghana Director, Rev. Sammy Lartey did an outstanding job in the preparation and implementation of the project. The incredible work in Ghana would be impossible without his tireless work. "We owe a great debt of gratitude to brother Sammy" said GEM President Dr. Roy Mason. "Our ministry would simply be a trip to Africa without the deep spiritual, physical, and logistical preparation by my dear friend Sammy," Mason continued. It should be noted that all of Rev. Lartey's financial support comes through the gifts of Global Evangelism Ministries.
Dental Clinic reveals great needs and opportunities
As mentioned, Dr. David Ney, a dentist from Davidson, NC made his first mission trip as a part of our team. In reflecting upon the project, Dr. Ney revealed, "It is hard to describe the incredible impact this trip has had upon my life. I did not really know what to expect to accomplish but knew that God had called me to join Dr. Mason and his team in Ghana. I knew I wanted to be used of the Lord to reach people with the love of Jesus. I am not a preacher, but I know God can use us all if we allow Him to do so."
Each day, Dr. David was able to see around 40 different patients who desperately needed dental care .While extremely limited in what he was able to do (he simply extracted teeth) he was able to effectively minister to so many people and give GEM yet another platform to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each day another of our team members joined in helping Dr. Ney and also shared the gospel with the people waiting to be seen by the dentist.
GEM Evangelist Mark Chase who served as Dr. Ney's "dental assistant" several days summed up the experience. "God has caused me to do something that I would never think about doing in the US. I stood alongside this dentist, handed him his tools, cleaned instruments, and watched people who had never before seen a dentist, wait and be seen by him. Sometimes it was hard to see what he was doing, but it again gave GEM the chance to show people the love of God."
BAPTISM OF NEW BELIEVERS IN THE VOLTA ...
One of the highlights of the project was the opportunity for ministry partner James McLean to baptize many new believers. On Saturday morning a large crowd from a newly formed church in Peki assembled along the banks of the murky water of the Volta River where both James and Mark shared in the baptismal service. Pastor James said, "It was great to be able to join these brothers and sisters in their walk of faith. I thank God for the chance to baptize these new believers into the church of Jesus Christ."
While it is impossible for GEM to participate in the baptism of all the new believers in Ghana, we do honor the wishes of the various churches who ask to help them in this way. Always remember that the local churches in Ghana have the extreme responsibility to disciple all of these who make decisions in our various ministry venues.
THANK GOD FOR THE BIBLES!!!
This phrase was repeated over and over again by our friends in Ghana. Whether it was coming from the students in the schools, or the villagers during the evening crusades, when people heard the gospel message they wanted to know more about God's love for them. They asked for it and
you gave it to them -- the blessed Word of God!
Because of the generous support of our friends in the US we were able to purchase and distribute bibles to each school where we conducted school ministry. In all we distributed over 15,000 pieces of literature which included whole bibles, New Testaments, Gospels of Luke and John and gospel tracts. Your gifts enabled us to purchase and distribute over 10,000 bibles and New Testaments. On behalf of everyone connected to GEM, we express our deepest appreciation for your love, prayers, and support.
 "To God be the glory great things He has done." Harvest Ghana 2007, which began from Saturday, 15th September ended successfully on Tuesday, 25th September, 2007. Over 14,200 souls were brought out from the kingdom of darkness into that of light and love. But this was not without toil as the GEM team, led by her president Dr. Roy, has to go out in heavy rains to areas never visited by a white man (deep remotest villages). To put it blankly this was a project in which every team member received the mark of Christ in their bodies as did Apostle Paul, (Gal. 5:17.) Dr. Roy Mason with Jeff Andler and Mark Chase arrived safely in Ghana on Thursday, 13 September around 7:30pm. They made the two hour trip to Akosombo the following Friday amidst transportation disappointments. That same day they spoke at the first program where 200 souls were won for the Lord. The difficulties the team went through the following day with transportation, prompted Roy to prophesy that this project was going to be very successful, but not without much toil! This indeed was a prophecy which came to pass. Praise be to our good Lord who gave us the spirit of endurance to persevere -- making us more than conquerors. It was all joy seeing people walk through the heavy rains to hear the Word for the salvation of their soul. Also the smiles on the faces of these as they receive copies of New Testaments that was made possible to them by beloved and concerned brethren in the USA. One outstanding unusual event that was registered at the evening programs was the presence of the Chiefs of the various villages. These did not just come but dedicated their decisions for Christ. Each of these was presented with a bible! Some even went further by coming of the Sunday morning worship service. To God be the Glory great things he has done!Yours, in HIS service,Rev. Sammy Lartey
Report on GEM Project, "SAVE GHANA 2007"
To God be the Glory, great things He has done. This very challenging project took off on Saturday, 17th March and came to a successful end on Thursday, 20th March, 2007.
We were blessed to witness 13, 709 individuals indicate their first-time decision for Christ! Again, "To God be the glory!"
Report on New Testament distribution:
Children in villages of the Afram Plains attach no importance to schooling. They prefer (or parent pressure) going fishing and farming since these are the main occupation of their parents.
Our Bible distribution to schools was thus selective since few of the children who made decisions for Christ could could read. Teachers, (all who received these NT) were challenged to ensure that these young children are taught the WORD to grow thereby. Some of these NT were also given to pastors of churches that worked with us for giving out to adult converts who will come to church for the firs time.
Cinema Crusade Report:
So successful was this that some villages that heard of the evening JESUS film crusade made frantic efforts for the team to be in their villages also. But this was not possible due to our schedule for 22 villages. These requests and response in decisions, show a great hunger for the Gospel which has eluded these for long and has thus resulted in most of these villages going into Idolatry for their occupation (farming/fishing).
Conclusion:
We left Afram Plains on Wednesday, 28th March at 0800 by ferry and arrived at Kpando around 1230 Here , try as we can, we could not turn down the request of Pastor John (who followed us to the Afram Plains on hearing of happenings there). We thus stopped over in Kpando to do a final crusade at two places where Pastor John has his churches.
The result was unbelievably fantastic as over 3,000 people gave their lives to Christ. The joy of this took over our tiredness. We left Kpando around 2300 and arrive back home around 0230. Although exhausted, we were full of joy for having been used of the Lord for such a great harvest of souls.
God has been so good to us during this challenging project. None of us took ill inspite of the harshness of the weather couple with other unfavorable conditions. We were more than conquerors.
Gratitude:
I wish to prayerfully thank all contributors and Loving family of GEM for their prayers and diverse efforts that made this (and all) projects possible. 1 Cor. 15:58
Submitted by, Rev. Sammy Lartey, National Director |
