Aputara Ministry Report for May, 2009

Dear Partners,
We trust that this finds you in a good health and spirit. We are fine here in Ghana. Below is a report of our ministry.

MINISTRY REPORT OF STEPHEN AND MERCY APUTARA
Navrongo, Ghana, May 2009
[Note: Some information has been altered or omitted to protect the privacy and security of the Aputaras.]

“Brother Let me be Your Servant.
Let me be as Christ to You
Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my Servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey
We are brothers and sisters on the road
We have to help each other walk the mile and bear the load
I will weep when you are weeping
When you laugh, I will laugh with you
I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.”

The month of April saw us celebrating the death and resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ. The whole denomination was supposed to hold a national Easter Convention in a town call Techiman in the south of Ghana. But there was not enough space available there to accommodate the estimated number of participants. The total membership of Bible Church of Africa in the country is about 10,000. So instead, we held regional and district conventions throughout the nation.

In the Nankani area where I minister, the Easter convention was held in Navrongo. About 600 people attended the four days convention. It was a time of spiritual renewal and soul searching.

Baptism:
A total of 111 people were baptised on Easter Sunday morning in a reservoir. It was all joy to see some family members and friends come to witness the baptism of their wives, children, husbands and friends. It was so symbolic.

Outreach:
We are reaching out to the P—u community, east of Navrongo. A few members from that community have started coming to church and are being discipled by the elders each Sunday.

P–a:
The church in P–a is not picking up as we expected. The influence of Islam is so great in the town of P–a. We will never give up until the Lord establishes His church in P–a. We are still doing house-to-house witnessing till we’ve seen this journey through.

Funerals:
On the 25th April, I attended the burial service of Reverend Eastwood Anaba, his two daughters, and four members of his church. They all died in a car accident on Good Friday. It was a big loss to the Anaba’s family and his church (Fountain Gate Chapel.)

On the 1st and 2nd May, I preached at the funeral service of Charles Bandari’s mother. She was 78 years old and went home to the Lord.

Meetings:
In early May, I travelled to Accra to attend SIM Strategic Planning meeting. While there I am attending the Bible Church of Africa council meeting and will be preaching in one of the BCA churches.

Family:
My son K— finished University this week. Thank you for your prayer and financial support that kept him through four years of un-interrupted studies.

Both J— and P— are back to school (senior high school) after the Easter holidays. Japheth is currently the president of the student council and also prayer secretary of Scripture Union in his school.

E— will be going for his field practical soon. E— is an orphan we took care of in school. He has finished one year of his four year university studies.

Mercy is enjoying her ministry with the kids in our community and the church. She has 18 kids in the community to whom she provides food and leads in Bible study.

Holiday:
You may wonder what I am going to say. It is not about my kids’ holidays. This time it is Mercy and I taking a holiday. It sounds funny to me. But it is true. We are taking a holiday and will go far away from home. Pray that the Lord will provide for this to happen.

Communications:
My internet service in the house is spoiled. I had a problem with my laptop (the only computer in the house). This is due to the multiple use of it by many people. I have lost all data on my laptop. Pray that this problem will be solved for easy communication.

General News:
The rains have started. It is a good sign for now. Yet, food prices continue to go higher and higher. The cost of living very high…(This is part of the global economic problem.) Inflation in Ghana is high. Many families are without food and seed. It is sad that in the cause of sharing the Gospel, you asked if they have prayer needs and the response is “Yes, we need food”. You hear this from person to person, family to family. May God intervene!

Well, it is not about me, it is not about my ministry, it is about His ministry. May His Kingdom Come, and May His Will Be Done.

What a Big Privilege to be part of your ministry. I value this wonderful partnership of sharing. I view you all in His Ministry here in Ghana.

Thank you for your partnership support.

Your brother and sister, and His Servants,
Stephen and Mercy Aputara