This week's giving story comes from LCMS Missionaries Chuck and Jeanette Groth in Ghana, West Africa. It is part of the Groth Report for February 2003.
A favorite song of ours says, "Our God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing our God cannot do!" How well this coordinates with the above question, as we sometimes humanly doubt what our God can do, or as we fail to think of the overwhelming possibilities He has in mind.
Rev. Robert Roegner, executive director of LCMS World Mission was here this month to preach at the ordination of our students and visit the Ghana field. He also shared his vision for missions...an impossibility we say! These are the days of diminished dollars, mission cuts, bad economies and shadows of war. With all this in mind, think of the question above. Is our God too small? Is His arm too short? Or is it that our vision of what He can accomplish through us too small?
Our God IS SO BIG.... There's nothing our God cannot do! Pray and ask God for faith in His big plan--the plan that shares Jesus with the whole world and ask Him to let us be part of that mission.
Our BIG God was at work on Sunday, February 9, when 14 men were ordained as pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana. They successfully completed their seminary studies, vicarage and a year's probationary period in pastoral practice. There were more than 1,000 people at the big celebration of the ordination. There was lots of singing and dancing as the church here made history.
These men were the first Ghanaian-trained pastors. Our powerful God had tripled the number of men in pastoral service here. Our God had seen a vision of the church here become a reality.
Our Big, powerful God was working already with these men as they shared their stories. One of the most exciting stories came from Patrick Ghaaton whose assignment was to an area in the Upper West Region where there were no Lutheran congregations. After a month's time with no "success," Patrick thought of leaving the area. His wife encouraged him to stay and trust the greatness of our God.
The chief of the village appreciated Patrick's work and presence in the village. He called together the sub-chiefs and encouraged them to help Patrick in whatever way possible. One of the first people that came was a man called Dennis. Dennis was a weed-smoking rascal and had quite a reputation. The chief questioned whether this was a good start for a congregation.
In time, several others of poor repute were added to the numbers. Leadership classes began. People began worshiping and studying God's Word together. The chief commented on the changes in the lives of these people. These "rascals" were changed and people saw the difference. Soon in this area there will be 30 baptized and confirmed members. Is God's Arm too short?
Editor's Note: God has given a good start to the whole mission field
of Ghana...from growing congregations to a growing number of pastors. Work like
this is made possible through the gifts of God's people. In order to help educate
and train pastors in Ghana and other mission fields, click on the link below.
Then click "Seminary Training around the World" and add it to your
offering basket. Then click the "View Basket" button and make your
gift online or by mail, fax or phone.
Make
a gift to Seminary Training around the World!