Good Morning Osenase

[Sunday, 27 September 2015 –Osenase, Ghana] — Our entire family gathered for a cookout in our back yard. Enjoying a cooler afternoon on the deck while watching the kids laugh and bounce on the trampoline brought smiles to my face. The smells from the grill the, the sight of my family, and the wonder of home were, at once, both peaceful and precious.

IMG_1559Suddenly the crowing roosters, the people sweeping and the nearby mosque jarred me from my sleep and I knew I was still in Africa.  Someone says the morning Muslim call to prayer is beautiful to their ears, but to me, “not so much.” This noise at 0430 is a stark reminder that much of the world is still searching for answers in life.  This, like so many other things that we all do, is a human effort of gaining God’s acknowledgement and approval.

I am learning that many people who operate under the banner of religious activity are still lost in their sins.  Throughout this project we have met people who identify themselves with a religious label have never personally responded to the invitation of God, through Jesus Christ.  Nearly every day we will say, “Everybody hopes to go to heaven but everybody will not go to heaven!  Rather, only the children of God will spend eternity with Him in this prepared place.”

The Bible says “11He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,” (John 1:11-12 nasb).  This is the eternal hope of Gospel preaching.  We have stood in 88 separate venues over the past 8 days and nights where estimated audiences of over 24,000 individuals have clearly heard the Gospel message.  Only eternity will reveal the number of people who have genuinely received Christ.  Our team is thankful that God is allowing us this opportunity to share in the progress of the Gospel.

It is imperative to remember that none should go so that others may respond.  We “go” out of obedience to the commission of Christ – “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel …” (Mark 16:15)