JULY 3, 2006

Next Stop: Ghana!
By Pastor George Van Alstine

When Pastor Connie returned from her 2005 mission trip to Africa, she immediately started to talk about her dream of bringing a group of young people to that great continent to experience their faith in a cross-cultural setting. I listened and agreed that “someday” we should sponsor something like that.

Well, to Pastor Connie “someday” meant the summer of 2006, which was just a few months away. I said: “Sure! Try 2007 maybe.” But she wouldn’t let go of the vision she had.

Counting the cost is very important. The most obvious cost barrier was financial. We knew right away that air fare, passports, living expenses, etc. would add up at least to $25,000, which sounded impossible. But $3,000 had accumulated in ABC Youth’s Savings Account, and an individual donor gave a $5,000 initial support gift. This was just enough to fuel Pastor Connie’s jets for takeoff. There was no stopping her.

Tom and Heather Stricklin had already introduced our young people to Amazing Grace Preparatory School in Ghana, a Christian school opening educational opportunities to poor children. Last year’s Vacation Bible School offering went to support this spiritual and educational ministry. Here was a natural partnership, and Pastor Connie continued planning in partnership with the Stricklins. Communications with the founder of the Amazing Grace Preparatory School proved that the trip would be feasible and helpful to the school’s program.

But, early on Pastor Connie had made an important decision: While our group’s visit would be an encouragement to the ministry at the Amazing Grace Preparatory School, the major goal would be the spiritual development and emotional growth of our own young people. We did not want to emphasize what we had to offer them, but rather what Christians of another culture had to offer us.

So Pastor Connie began working with the young people. She opened the door to any regular attenders in the two Sunday School classes she and I teach — children ranging in age from 10 to 14. At first, the kids had only a vague picture of what the trip would be like. She emphasized the rigor, not the glamor, the commitment, not the excitement. Slowly, the realities dawned on them. Ultimately, seven young people made the decision to go to Ghana. Also, three other adults were added to the core leaders, Pastor Connie and Tom. The “Ghana Team” of twelve was now set.

This group has been preparing intently for months, meeting every other week. They have studied Ghana’s history, culture and place in world politics. They have learned basic phrases in the Twi language and have tried to understand certain values and sensitivities Americans find strange. They have also tried to become truly a team, learning to get along with each other and to handle conflicts. They have engaged in spiritual disciplines to learn self-denial and the de-emphasis of material things. They have worked hard on a number of fund-raising ventures (Connie calls this “sweat equity”). Most important, each team member has had to look at her or his own spiritual condition, relationship with the Lord, prayer life, spiritual goals.

Now, they’re off! Departure date is Thursday, July 6. They’ll face 19 hours on two flights, followed by a 5 hour bus ride. They’ll get off the bus in an equatorial climate — add 90% humidity to 90+º heat. And then they’ll meet their new friends for more than a week of mutual discovery.

On Thursday, July 20, they’ll return to us. They’ll probably be exhausted, but their heads and hearts will be full of awesome experiences. Hopefully, for each team member this will be a life-changing experience. The Lord may have special plans for some of these young people in cross-cultural missions, in Africa or elsewhere.

The finances? There’s bad news and good news. The bad news is that cost estimates have continually risen, to the point where $40,757 has been spent on the trip (including a $4,000 donation for a new roof on the school’s junior high building). The good news is that donations, after Sunday’s special offering, have reached $40,599! The only expenses ahead are $500 “carrying money” for the trip and the possible reimbursement to team members for some of their shots. (Shots and passports cost as much as $500 per member.) So, we’d like to raise another $2,000 or so. But you all have been great supporters of this venture!

Right now, please pray! Pray each day for the team, their journey, their ministry, their growth in faith. If you call or e-mail the church office, we’ll send you a prayer guide that you will find helpful.

The Ghana Team members are:
Youth:
Chelce Blackwood
Lauren DeVaughn
Caitlin Eby-McKenzie
Caitlin Mendibles
Sarah Oberholzer
Tianna Van Alstine
Benjamin Zobrist
Adults:
Carla Cunningham
Connie DeVaughn
Robert DeVaughn
Tom Stricklin
Laura Van Alstine

PS. See the Ghana Devotional "booklet" to follow along in prayer for the team.