Second Chances

Uncle Charles (middle far right) and some of the boys.

Today I visited Koforidua, capital city of Ghana’s eastern region.  There I met a group of young men all seeking a second chance at life.  Most of them came to the city because they were unable to finish their education, and they were hoping that somehow they could try again in a new place.  But city life for a young boy is hard, and with no home and no family, it is an almost impossible struggle.  That’s where ECM worker “Uncle Charles,” as he is known to the boys, comes into the picture.  Charles started meeting with the boys on Sunday mornings about six years ago, gathering a handful to hear God’s word.  The number kept growing until there were more than twenty hurting boys gathering amidst the closed shops early on Sunday morning, their only day free from the burden of their tasks as human pack mules, carrying goods all day from one place to another.  The boys not only heard but accepted the good news, and many of them found new life in Christ, and a new hope for living.  Isaac, though now 23, was inspired to go back to school, and will soon finish junior high!  It is amazing what a little hope will do, especially when that hope is based on the truth of God’s word.  Other boys are following suit, and though life is still hard (many of them don’t even have a place to sleep at night), they keep coming, week after week, to hear those words of hope and grow in their fledgling faith. 

Thank you for all you do to help provide second chances for children and young people here in Ghana and throughout the countries where ECM serves!

Meeting Prince

Prince dancing in church. Sorry it's a little fuzzy, but I think you get the point!

Long before I ever came to Ghana and Haven of Hope, I heard about Prince.  I read of his significant spinal deformities, and the need for surgery to save his life. I read of the generosity of so many, the success of his surgeries, and the need for more surgeries.  But nothing prepared me to hold this sweet boy in my arms!  On my first day here, during the morning church service, he jumped onto my lap (as best he could!) and gave me a hug.  I almost had to pry him off when it came time for me to get up and speak!  Today, a week after our first meeting, I watched Prince dance around the activity center, with all the other kids, glowing with incredible joy.  Not a bad dancer!

I'm grateful to those of you who helped Prince in his time of need!  Be assured that your generosity made a big difference!  And thank you to Doug and Sally Wayner, who made Prince's cause their own, so that he would have a chance to live a full and happy life.  Jesus came to bring abundant life and joy - and now Prince is experiencing it first hand!

Meet the Board

I want to take a minute today to introduce you to some members of the ECM Ghana Board of Directors.  There were four dedicated, godly men at today's board meeting, and it was pleasure to meet them and discuss with them the various aspects of ECM's ministry to children.  Let me introduce them to you (sorry I don't have pictures!): Pastor Alex Boamah has been critical to the success of ECM in Ghana since 2000; Anthony Dontah is the head of the government's Gender Ministry in the country's Eastern Region; Moses Kakaw is a social welfare worker in Sogakope; and Mr. Gilbert works for the Ministry of Human Rights in Aflao.  We are incredibly blessed to have these and other capable men serving on our board and providing leadership for ECM Ghana.  The board is critical to the ultimate success of ECM in Ghana, as they give direction and vision from a Ghanian perspective to help ensure that sound, practical, and legal decisions are made regarding our ministry here.  Please keep the ECM Ghana Board in your prayers!

The Door of Return

Today, after spending time with ECM missionaries Jim and Carolyn Driscoll, I had the opportunity to tour the famous Cape Coast Castle and Dungeon, just up the road from their place in Biriwa, Ghana.  Over the coarse of several hundred years, hundreds of thousands of shackled Africans were held in dungeons as prisoners in this place before being shipped across the ocean into slavery.  After weeks or even months of suffering in these horrible conditions, those who survived were led through the "Door of No Return," and "loaded" onto ships as cargo, never to see their homeland again.  A sign hangs over the gate as a reminder of this horrifying fact.

As I looked at that sign, I thought back to the women enslaved in the dungeons of ritual servitude, as well as all those who are shackled by the irons of sin.  They surely must feel that they have passed through the door of no return!

While that sign made me cringe, I was equally struck by the sign that was hung, long after slavery had ended, on the outside of the gate.  It reads, "The Door of Return."  It is meant to be a reminder that though mankind is capable of horrifying acts, it is also capable of learning from mistakes and righting its wrongs.  While this is true, the sign made me think of something more significant.   I thought of the work that ECM is doing to liberate slaves. I thought of the work that Jim and Carolyn and the ECM team are doing in Biriwa, bringing countless souls to Christ and changing lives both for today and eternity.  It made me think of the truth that no matter the sin or shame, there is a way back in!

In John 10:9 Jesus says, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  They will come in and go out, and find pasture."  There is no longer a door of no return, a one-way path to banishment from God!  Jesus provides a way back in, the door of return.  And that is the door that all of us need to walk through!

Scars

I couldn't help but stare at the two vertical scars under both of her eyes, each about an inch in length.  They were quite faded, telling me that she has lived with them for many years. They were not her only scars, evidenced by the others she showed me on her arms and shoulders.  When I asked how she and countless other women received these marks, I heard a chilling answer.  "We are branded," she said, "because we belonged to the priest."

Later that night I laid in bed.  It is hot here in Ghana, and the nighttime temperature was barely below 80 degrees .  The power had gone off, so there was no fan all night, and tiny bed bugs were biting my ankles.  Needless to say, I was neither happy nor comfortable.  Yet as I lay awake feeling miserable, wishing only to sleep, all I could see were the scars.  I envisioned small boys and girls suffering as slaves, and young women being sexually exploited to appease the "gods." I realized that my suffering was small and inconsequential compared to theirs.

Ritual servitude is real, and is carried out today right here in eastern Ghana.  I visited the shrines, but more importantly I saw the scars.  ECM is committed to liberating children and women like the ones I met today from this horrendous life, and giving them new life in Christ.  Our New Life Center is one of two centers in eastern Ghana that seek to bring the good news of Jesus to hurting girls and women.  For it is by His scars that our scars are healed (Isaiah 53:5).

Click here to read more about ritual servitude and to get involved in stopping it!

A Haven of Hope

Haven of Hope kids receiving gifts and letters from sponsors.  A very happy day!

Experience tell us that we can live about a month without food and a few days without water, but it’s hard to live even a day without hope.  Every day we exist requires some type of hope; hope for another meal, hope for happiness and friendship, hope for something greater and more sustaining than anything this world has to offer.  A few days ago I finally had the opportunity to meet all the amazing children and staff of Haven of Hope Academy.  Though it was past the bedtimes of many of the children, they all gathered in the dark solitude to sing me a joyous welcome song as I came through the gate.  This morning I worshipped with them, ate lunch with them, and had the wonderful opportunity to help distribute cards, letters, and gifts from sponsors, which I had carried with me from Indiana.  I was blessed by their smiling faces, laughs, and words of thanks. 

But at a deeper level, I was moved by the hope I saw in their eyes.  I have too often seen despair and hopelessness in the eyes of children who like these children, have been mistreated and even abandoned by the world.  To see that hope in their eyes tells me that this place surely is a haven of hope.  I am grateful to everyone who has had or continues to have a part in nurturing these children, and to those who care for children in other places in Ghana and other countries in Africa.  Thank you for bringing hope where there once was only despair and pain.  Your partnership does make a difference.

If you have not yet helped bring hope in the face of despondency, won’t you start now?   ECM will make it easy for you – all you need to do is call us or visit our website.  Join with us to bring the hope of Jesus to a world desperately in need of a savior!

Now that's a happy face!

Praising God in church

Another happy face!