News from Ghana: Oct – Dec 2024
Extracts from Oliver’s Diary –
5th December –
I completed my schools outreach program yesterday at Effiduasi District Assembly JHS A school. Last week Wednesday and Friday I visited Effiduasi DA JHS B and C. During my message at DA. JHS C, I realized some of the students were weeping, I knew the Lord had touched them through His word. In all the schools, my message was, WHY CHRISTMAS WAS NECESSARY. Christmas is near and I wanted the children to know and understand, why Christ had to be born. Most of the teachers were there and I believe they were blessed by the message.
I was given a new revelation of the town where Effiduasi D A JHS A BC schools are situated. The name of the town is ETIA. This small town is given to idolatry and satanic worship, so many of the children don’t go to church. I noticed that when I was praying before and after my message that some of the children were adamant about the prayer. But listen to the message. I talked to her after the meeting, I counselled her on the things of God and encourage her to go to a bible believing church, with the help of Rev Richard Owusu her headmaster a Baptist minister. I bought her a school bag, which she didn’t have.
I leave Effiduasi this coming Saturday for Accra and leave Accra God willing on Tuesday.
21st November –
Last week the schools in this area had a football and volleyball competition. The competition lasted for three days, they started on Wednesday and finished on Friday. With the help of my sisters we provided two cups, one for the winners of the boys soccer match and the other cup for the girls soccer match. In all there were eight schools that competed.
I did the presentation for the two cups
Last week I went to Nsutem Presby JHS, my message was, God’s Plan and purpose for your life. The headmistress and two other teachers were present. The message I believe was a blessing to them.
This Wednesday I visited, Effiduasi District Assembly JHS school. My message was, Why It Was Important For Christ to Be Born. Because we are in Christmas Season. There were Muslims students among them and they listened well. After the message one of their teachers asked the children to pray for me, on about three prayer points. I pray none of the word fall to the ground but on the good ground of their hearts.
This is Effiduasi District Assembly JHS
6th November –
This morning I visited Nsutem Presby Primary. They were children from about 10 to 13 years old. My message was from Matthew19:13-15. I told children of an incident that happened some years ago. It was about a 14 years old boy whose mother told him to prepare and go to church. My wife Comfort went to the same Methodist with them in Accra. This boy dodged to do business on the motorway. He was hit by a truck and died. We are told that parents brought their children to Jesus to bless them. The fact that the children obeyed to go with their parents means they didn’t dodged them, instead wanted Jesus blessing. I wanted them to know how they were so important to Jesus. And that those who seek to come to Him, He will no way cast out. But will fight against all who tries to prevent them from coming to Him. In verse 15b, ‘ … and departed from there’. I think the children were so important to Jesus, He wasn’t going to depart from there, from the children till He had finished blessing them, before departing to His next assignment. I also spoke on the love of Jesus and Jesus laying His for them. And they need Jesus in their lives.
This is Nsutem Presby JHS
My second daughter Muriel did an abscess operation last week at Effiduasi. So she is here with me and her friend Ruth. Ruth helps us with our schools outreach in Takoradi. Every three days Muriel has to go for dressing of the wounds.
I have formed a leadership club in one of the schools, so today Ruth spoke to about 60 of them. She talked about, The Qualities Of A Good Leader. It was a real blessing to the children and the teachers who were there.
School Visitation and Inspirational Talks Report
Speaker: Mrs. Comfort Ossei-Gerning
School: Nkroful MA, Tanokrom MA
Theme: Who is your Advisor
Scripture: 1 Kings 12:8-14 & 2 Samuel 13
Summary:
Rehoboam, a young king took bad advice from his peers instead of his wiser elders. This eventually had him flee for his life to Jerusalem.
Amnon, David’s son acted on bad advice form Jonadab and slept with his sister, Tamar. This led to him being killed by her brother Absalom.
Facilitator: Mrs. Comfort Ossei-Gerning
Theme: Be grateful for what you have and do not complain.
Scripture: Number 11:1,
Summary: In life, we are supposed to show gratitude for what God gives us. In doing so God will bless our little and make it multiply. But when we have problems, instead of complaining we are encouraged to take them to God in prayers. Complaining only arouses God’s anger, which end us up in more trouble.
School: Lagos Town M.A
Facilitator: Madam Ruth
Scripture: 1st Corinthians 15 : 33
Summary: The influence of friends in our lives
Types of friends
Positive influencial friends and negative influencial friends
How these types of friends influence our lives negatively and positively
School: DC Wegley
Facilitator: Ms Eugenia.
Theme: Who is your Adviser
Summary: We talked from 2 Samuel 13:1-14.
We encouraged teenagers to be careful of those they consider as advisers. As it was learnt from the scripture that a bad advise from a friend, loved one or even relative can cause they a great harm. They were also encouraged to be good advisers themselves when their friends run to them concerning a situation. We made them aware that life is mostly govern by decisions and these decisions have consequences, so if they make decisions on the worng counsel it will definitely bring some bad consequences.
We encourage them to compare advises with the word of God or seek a third party if not too sure about a certain advise.
Scripture: 2Samuel 13:14
School: Crusaders
Facilitator: Brother Theophilus.
Theme: Living in Peace with Everyone
Summary: The Bible teaches us to live peaceably with all as much as depends on us. We learn the why, that is living as God, Who shines the sun both on the good and bad. We learnt to do that with using soft answers which turns away wrath as the Bible teaches.
Scriptures: Matt 5:34-44, Rom 12:14-18, Prov 15:1-2
Schools: Crusaders JHS, Tanokrom JHS
Facilitator: Ms. Lamisi
Theme: Evil Counseling
Scripture: Mark 6:15-22
Purpose:
To help students understand the harmful effects of negative influences and encourage them to seek godly wisdom in their decisions.
Also to help them choose the right people to listen to
And seek God’s wisdom
Facilitator: Ms. Lamisi
Theme: In the Days of Thy Youth
Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 12:1, Matthew 22:37
Purpose:
To encourage students to prioritize their relationship with God and live according to His purpose during their youthful years.
30th October –
Today I visited Presbyterian Basis B JHS, last week was Basis A JHS. The name of the headmaster is Rev. Victor Yeaboa, a Presbyterian minister. In the picture he is standing on my right. The meeting was held at the Presbyterian chapel.
God Has a Plan and Purpose for Your Life, was my topic. I made them to them know that they are not a mistake,, but unique and special to God. Though spiritual dead, through repentance and faith in Christ they will be restored to fellowship with God again. And come to know Gods plan and purpose for their life.
There were about six teachers present. I ended with prayers for the children, the teachers and school.
I thank the Lord for using me as His vessel to glory Him. May His word today draw many from the kingdom of darkness and transferred them into the Kingdom of Christ.
24th October –
My first visit this morning was to Presbyterian JHS . There are three different Presbyterian schools in three different areas of the town. God willing I will be visiting the second Presby school next Wednesday. My message this morning was that, The Lord Has Plan and Purpose for Their Lives. Standing by me is the Headmaster of the school, introducing me to the JHS students. There were four teachers there also listening to the message. I pray the Lord will draw many with His courts of love to Christ.
