"As cold waters to a
thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Proverbs 25:25
2005 - News & Updates
June - Thank the Lord for God's people. This month,
Bro. Alen and Sis. Elena Laukert, from Germany, traveled to Ghana
with a burden to fellowship with the saints there. I am sure they
proved to be a blessing. They stayed for 10 days. As a result of
their love and concern, they paid for a well to be dug at the
mission house. It is a strenuous job to get water and it will be
wonderful to have water available close by. Please pray that water
will be found as the workers continue to dig.... Lord willing, Bro.
Alen will write a report of his trip that we can publish on this
site.
June 7, 2005 Lord willing, I will be leaving this
week to go to Canada to be with the congregation there, and then I
will proceed, with my family, down to Oregon to be in the camp
meeting. I am looking to the Lord for an increase in strength. I am
still praising God for healing me of the spasms in my body, but I
have other needs that I am looking to the Lord to heal. I am in
continual discomfort/pain in my neck and back. Due to the condition,
I am staying very fatigued and at times I lose strength in my legs
and unexpectedly fall down. Apparently, due to the damage in my
neck, my spinal cord is being pressed. Medically, the long term
prognosis is very bleak, but my faith is in God - and in Christ, all
is bright. I have been feeling the burden of the work in Africa and
would desire to make another trip, but physically, I am unable to at
this time. I would appreciated continued prayer. --Bro.
Michael Smith
June 7, 2005 There are various works within
Nigeria. Some of the congregations are established and others have
many spiritual needs. Bro. Alphonsus Okwuosha seems to be a brother
who is grounded in truth. I have traveled with him in Nigeria in the
past. Due to compromise among one of the congregations, Bro.
Okwuosha with others, left their old congregation so that they might
worship in Spirit and in Truth. They are seeking God to provide them
with a permanent place of worship.
Here is a quote from a letter I received from him: "Dear one, we
are not ready to compromise a little bit in the name of oneness. the
'gate' is narrow. In fact, my advice to all in this evening time is
that we should not depart from the stand of our pioneer ministers in
lifting up the standard in all areas."
May 22, 2005 A report was received from Bro.
Atobrah from Tadieso, Ghana. He is thanking God along with the
congregation for working a miracle in the life of one of the
congregation. A six year old boy had an extreme fall from the top of
a house and survived with nothing wrong. Thank the Lord for His
protection. We have received word that gives us hope that Bro.
Atobrah's wife will be reconciled to him. Please pray that God would
restore this marriage.
May 9, 2005 Bro. Maxwell is reporting that he has
been teaching "to stop fornication and adultery because it is great
sin." In Ghana, sins of this nature are rampant and there are many
babies born out of wedlock. The congregation had been seeking advice
as to how to view and deal with these children. When God looks on
these babies, He sees innocent children who need to be nurtured and
brought up to know and serve the Lord.
May 4, 2005 Bro James Badu from Tanoso, Ghana wrote
and stated that they held a meeting and three souls were saved. We
thank God for that harvest and pray that souls will continue to be
added to the kingdom.
April 19, 2005 I received a call from Malawi. I had
inquired about the condition of the orphans in a previous letter.
Apparently, there was crop failure recently and many of the people
are going without food. Orphans, who live with other families, are
the last ones to receive food. Thus, many are going hungry. Funds
are being sent for this need as they are made available.
April 18, 2005 Bro. Failos and the ministers and
saints from Malawi and Mozambique send greetings to all the saints
in America. The saints in Malawi and Mozambique are doing
fine. They had a baptismal service in Zomba District where
there are 5 congregations. A women's meeting was held on March 20
and over 200 women were in attendance. They are desiring a
missionary visit this year to have more teaching with the ministers.
Please pray that the Lord would lead in this decision.
April 4, 2005 Bro. Emmanuel Atobrah from Ghana is
planning to have outdoor preaching services in various places this
month. Please remember this outreach that souls would respond to the
gospel message.
April
4, 2005 Bro. Failos was recently able to distribute more
blankets to the orphans in Malawi and Mozambique. The blankets were
purchased by funds sent in by people in the United States that are
concerned for the children who have no covering in the cool mountain
air in Africa. The effort to distribute blankets is ongoing as funds
are made available. A donation of $5 will purchase one blanket.
The saints in Malawi and Mozambique are doing well and they are
continuing to spread the gospel.
Some of the planned meetings this year are listed below. Let us
pray for the success of these gospel efforts.
June 27-29:
Msikita Mission, Malawi
September 16-18:
Muguliwa, Mozambique
October 7-9: Zomba,
Malawi
October 22-23:
Kilowe, Mozambqiue
March 21, 2005 The picture below was recently taken
of some of the Church of God ministers in Nigeria. (There are
three visitors pictured with the ministers).
March 17, 2005 Bro. Maxwell from Ghana reports that
the saints are all doing well and that things are going smoothly.
Things are even more difficult financially in Ghana due to new
government changes. They have raised petrol prices by 50% which is
causing the prices of everything else to increase. The brethren in
Ghana are still desiring a vehicle to be able to travel and spread
the gospel. Transportation is very expensive. Bro. Maxwell stated
that "....we need vehicle to go round to spread the gospel
throughout the country....we don't want the work to be like the
years past. We want big change....We want to promote the work in
Ghana."
Feb 10, 2005 The name of the school in Ghana has
been changed to 'Holy Life International School.' The school
has hired three teachers and their monthly salary is 150,000C each (~$17).
Bro. Maxwell is struggling financially to try to pay the teachers.
Many of the children cannot afford the school fees. If you would
like to help with this educational effort, please contact me.
michael.w.smith@sbcglobal.net
Feb 4, 2005 It is with saddened hearts that we
received a report that Bro. Atobrah, a minister in Ghana, is going
through a severe battle. His wife left him and has moved to another
town. Please earnestly pray that God would restore this home and
that Bro. Atobrah would be kept in the power and love of God.
Feb 2005 A ministers' meeting will be held this
month in Nigeria in the city of Kwale. Let us pray that it will
prove to be beneficial to the furtherance of the Kingdom of God.
Jan 2005 Below is pictured the newly purchased
vehicle and some of the brethren following the campmeeting. Note
that the vehicle has been equipped with speakers for evangelistic
work.
June - Thank the Lord for God's people. This month,
Bro. Alen and Sis. Elena Laukert, from Germany, traveled to Ghana
with a burden to fellowship with the saints there. I am sure they
proved to be a blessing. They stayed for 10 days. As a result of
their love and concern, they paid for a well to be dug at the
mission house. It is a strenuous job to get water and it will be
wonderful to have water available close by. Please pray that water
will be found as the workers continue to dig.... Lord willing, Bro.
Alen will write a report of his trip that we can publish on this
site.
April
4, 2005 Bro. Failos was recently able to distribute more
blankets to the orphans in Malawi and Mozambique. The blankets were
purchased by funds sent in by people in the United States that are
concerned for the children who have no covering in the cool mountain
air in Africa. The effort to distribute blankets is ongoing as funds
are made available. A donation of $5 will purchase one blanket.
