“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” Isaiah 55:10-11
On Wall Street in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City, United States of America, they say, “Money never sleeps.” They want it to be constantly earning money, and to do that after the market closes, they invest their money in another market in the world so that it keeps producing. They want value to be constantly added.
The same principle applies to God’s Word: It never sleeps. It is constantly working in your life. God wants to invest in you so much that He bought you with the great price of His only begotten Son’s life. He is investing His Word in you, and it’s not going to return void. It’s going to accomplish its purpose in changing your life and causing you to prosper and grow. Whatever He has said He will do in your life, He will do it and nothing can stop it. No one can void God’s promises from working in your life. That promise that He’s given you may not show up for a month or a year, but it will come to pass. The apostle Paul said it this way: “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
So, my dearly beloved in Christ, be encouraged today: God’s Word is always working. Walk in the Word and you will reach your goals and dreams because it is infallible.
LET’S PRAY. And now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord turn His face towards you and give you His peace. May you walk in the divine favor of God. May everything that you put your hands to prosper and be blessed of God because you hear. Be it unto me according to Thy Word. And as the Word of God and the will of God synergize in your life, you will know joy that is unspeakable, peace that surpasses all understanding, and accomplishment beyond your wildest expectation in Jesus’ glorious name. Amen Amen Amen. Fountain!
“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5
For at least 40 years, Joshua looked to Moses as the great problem solver for the people of Israel. He had seen the miracles performed and heard God’s Word spoken through Moses. But Moses was dead, and now Joshua needed the same power to solve problems. Joshua’s time had come, and sooner or later, your time will come as well. God will direct you to lead something for His purpose. When that time comes, the only way you’ll succeed is if you engage with God and hear what He has to say to you. God will move you out of every comfort zone and into what I call “the God Zone” where you hear His voice.
Joshua is in the God Zone, and the Lord opens the conversation with this promise: “As I was with Moses, so shall I be with you.” God was telling Joshua the same thing He told Moses from the burning bush: “I AM the source of your power. I AM the One who parts the waters. I AM the One who rained manna on you in the wilderness. And I AM the same yesterday, today and forever.” He had been with Moses. He was with Joshua. And the same God is with you now!
LET’S PRAY. Dear Heavenly Father, bless them and keep them. Make Your face shine upon them and let the promise of Your Word come alive in their lives. Let them abandon fear, forsake worry and place their trust in the God who has never failed, that the enemies that stand before them are defeated before their very eyes. Therefore, we, the redeemed of the Lord, celebrate what Christ has done and declare victory on behalf of what He will do in Jesus’ glorious name. Amen Amen Amen! Fountain!!!
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Today’s Scripture doesn’t say, “My God shall give me what I want.” It says that He’ll supply all my needs. I need a Savior. I need someone to wash sin out of my life. I need a scapegoat who can bear the guilt of my transgressions and iniquity and die in substitution of what I deserve. I don’t get what I want. But thank God, He loves me so much that He gives me the sacrifice I need.
I don’t know what you want in your life today, but I know that if you need something, Jesus Christ is all-sufficient. Jesus Christ is El Shaddai. He is a way maker. He is a yoke and bondage breaker. He is the Prince of Peace who can soothe your tormented mind. He is the provider who can open up the windows of heaven and shower you with blessings that you cannot contain. He is the healer who can touch a sick body and make it strong again. He is the banner in battle who will give you victory when defeat looks imminent. Stop begging God for what you want and start praising God that He has supplied your every need according to His riches in glory!
LET’S PRAY. Father, I thank You that You’re in this place, and that with our hands lifted and our hearts extended, we can, in faith, reach out and touch You. I thank You, Father, that in reaching for You, You have already reached toward us and given us the blessings of God which are limitless and know no measure. Bless us, Father, with physical strength and divine healing. Bless us, Father, with goodness and mercy that follows us all the days of our lives. Let Your loving kindness and provision be upon us that we would have sufficiency for every good work, and the world would recognize that our Father in heaven is a loving King who provides for His own. We bless You, Lord Jesus; we thank You for Your Word. We stand upon it as the living promise of God that sickness is defeated, sin is destroyed, and we the children of God, live life without limit because You are our King. In Jesus’ glorious name, we receive the blessing. In faith believing, we receive Your answer. Amen Amen Amen! Fountain!!!
Senyo Cudjoe is our primary partner and long time friend. He is the Founder and President of Biblical Discipleship & Growth Ministry. Senyo is also Pastor of Fountain of Life Chapel International.
Senyo was born in Ghana, and has been serving local communities through church planting and community development for nearly 40 years.
He is an expert in reaching non-literate people groups, and has trained ministry leaders around the world.
As Covid-19 spread around the world, we heard from Senyo about the need:
“Top Calvary greetings to you all my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. I come to you again in all humility of heart to passionately appeal to your conscience and faith the as a matter of urgency to stand in the gap at this difficult time of Covid-19 global pandemic. To kindly raise funds for the purchase of face masks for the very souls we all have been making frantic effort sharing the Word God in order to lead as many as we can to Christ for them to have relationship with the Lord as fulfilment of the Great Commission.
A law has been passed making wearing of face mandatory of which failure is a crime and attract sentencing to fine or jail term. This has become necessary because of the daily escalation of virus contraction.
To help the rural villages amongst whom we have be doing ministry all this years because poverty intensity hence my humble and passionate appeal for your intervention as fellow Christians. We need a total of approximately 4000 locally produced face masks that can be reused after washing to distribute in the area especially among the people that is the villages we have been doing outreach with the word of God as follows:
1. Mafi Kusrum = 200
2. Kpordiwlor = 400
3. Sasekpe = 400
4. Srekpe =200
5. Kpevenu Tsati = 200
6. Kpevenu Duga = 240
7. Deveme =300
8. Aformanorkope = 120
9. Kopodeke = 120
10. Hayiborkope = 140
11. Avikope =140
12. Adaklu Waya = 300
13. Gidikpoe = 240
14. Kpoviadzi = 300
15. Mafi Kpewu = 120
16. Adaklu Hasu = 300
17. FLCI, Ho = 200
Total face masks = 3880
One locally produced face mask that can be washed and reused is equivalent $1 USD. Each individual person shall be given 2 face masks. Please save a life today by helping to stop the spread. It is also demonstrating our as followers of Christ so as to lead as many to the Lord. Praying you can take up the challenge to raise the needed fund for us to do the needful at time as a way of laying down your lives and comfort in fulfilment of His higher calling the Great Commission.
Serving Him together.” – Senyo M. Cudjoe
We quickly put together a fundraiser and asked you to step up to help our family in Ghana with the safety measures needed. God provided through you – who all showed amazing generosity and kindness.
“We are so very grateful for all you are doing in support for our outreach efforts this difficult time. Christian ministries are doing a lot amongst the people where they have outreach programs. But unfortunately BDGM is the only ministry working amongst the rural communities in Mafi-Kumase Zone covering from Mafi-Kusrum to Klokope and the several villages in that area. Please pray lifting Avedo to Adidome to Mafi-Wute to Adaklu areas that is 33 miles square with over 60 villages. The closest to Ho is Adaklu-Hasu which 30 minutes drive and the furtherance is Klokope which is 1hr 30 minutes drive. The Lord bless you for all you continue to do for us in Jesus glorious name. Serving Him together” – Senyo
When Covid-19 began to become a global pandemic, there was a huge need to help our friends and family in Ghana by seeing how God would provide local resources to help in the areas of sanitation and prevention.
Ghana news began reporting increasing rates of infection:
We received news from Senyo that they had been able to purchase the Veronica Buckets and deliver them to the rural towns around southern Ghana.
“Beloved co-laborers in Christ, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” 2 Corinthians 1:2 – 3 On behalf of our target communities, thus Kpevenu-Tsati, Klokope and Mafi-Kusrum and the behalf of BDGM and my team, l wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to you all especially The leadership of Move City Church, the Elder board, members and other church partners for all that you kept doing for the betterment, well-being and the salvation of our targeted communities.
The wire arrived Saturday and because of the Shutdown of our national capital which was to happen the following days, the Banks opened for work and we were able to cash the money for purchase of the Veronica Buckets,Tables, Taps and Carbolic soaps for the households we proposed.We also bought the food that is rice, oil, tomatoes paste for all the sponsored children. But was a very tedious task because l had to drive quickly to Accra to buy all the things. The items were scares we move from one location to another and finaly arrived back home in Ho at midnight. Unfortunately prices of all goods including foodstuff and the Veronica buckets, Taps went up astronomically with some more than double so the following is what we bought for each of the three (3) communities:
1. Kpevenu-Tsati 35 buckets, 20 Tables, 35 taps and 3 cartons of carbolic soaps.
2. Klokope got 20 buckets, 20 Tables, 20 taps and 2 cartons of carbolic soaps.
3. Mafi-Kusrum got 20 buckets, 20 Tables, 20 taps and 2 cartons of carbolic soaps.
4. We bought foodstuff for all the 38 sponsored children with each child receiving of two 5 kgs rice, 5 tomatoes mix, 1 lit cooking oil, 4 canned fish, 4 tablets toilet soaps for bathing GHC20.
All these were distributed yesterday Sunday to all the 3 villages by our team 7 including Aaron and our cameraman. As soon as we arrive in one village 4 tea members fix taps on the Veronica buckets and two of us distribute the food and funds to the children and their caregivers. Because we could not get enough money to buy the buckets for all the 198 households, we grouped the households and help them agreed to set up the bucket for hand washing at the central house of the group. We use the opportunity educate them on the virus and how to wash their hands. We also urge and encourage them to live in peace and harmony. Early this morning we got a call that the neighboring village of Kevenu-Tsati their land owners at Kpevenu main town came up again like they did in 2018 concerning the borehole. So, l mobilize the team we went round Ho township to buy 16 Veronica buckets which are already fitted with taps and 16 tables from my ministry support and drove to that village to prevent quarrel Beloved, life in third world villages is something else especially when is about survival of the fittest. There is misunderstanding which breeds envy and jealousy,leading to hatred,anger quarrel etc. There is an adage in my language which says “A hungry man is an angry man” Though our culture is community based, in challenging times as this things become everyone for himself. While we know the world at large is going through difficult times we continue to pray very fervently the Lord hides us all here, your nation USA and the world at large under the protective shadow of His wings until the destruction is over. It is our very fervent prayer also the Lord touch the hearts of more benevolent and philanthropic people to hear our cry for help so that we can at the end of it all lead more and more souls to the Lord. We pray the Lord’s richest blessings upon you all for answering to our unexpected urgent appeal for help. “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace” May He open the floodgates of heaven by bring calmness and abundant blessing upon you all for living 2 Corinthians 1:2-3 in our lives.Because He cares”
Throughout the years we have seen God do so many amazing things through our continued partnership in the Volta Region of Ghana. One opportunity was in the village town of Klokope. The village had been promised help with development in the past, but nothing had come except for disappointment, so the first visit was not very exciting. Beginning with support for the orphaned children through caregiver families the relationship began. This is the note we received from Senyo celebrating what we have seen God do from that point on:
“Good morning and Fountain! In His Light we see light, we see blessing, we see opportunities and healings. What a joy unleashed on the people of Klokope by the Jesus Christ all because of Move City Church’s willingness to venture into far away Volta Region of Ghana, Africa in fulfilment of the Great Commission. Hearts, for that matter, the souls of the people of Klokope are saying thank you God for the visionary leadership of MCC who defied all odds to invest their time, finances and prayers on their behalf. Those prayers are seeds that were sown in their hearts and also for their needs that have been ignored by the authorities for years if not centuries since their great great grandparents came to settle there.
To Togbe Larry Andrews and Pastor Jesse Colburn who were the first responders. Then, Ron & Sue Stevens and Josh & Morrisa Berkley, Sister Courtney, April Wood and Emma Keninger who were second responders. Pastor Allan Bushnell and Patricia Bracken who were the third responders with the Reinforcement Base Team as backer of The Move City Church community, the people are saying: May the good Lord richly bless you, keep you all safely united and answer all your individuals, families and ministry’s prayer needs in Jesus mighty name.
The people are saying since the first day Move City Church, elder Togbe Larry Andrews and Pastor Jesse Colburn stepped into Klokope their needs of many years began to receive attention.
8. Now the road has just been open for easy access.
They are filled with thanksgiving to God for your lives and praying God’s blessings upon you all from on high most importantly the leadership team of Pastors and the Elder Board whose visionary initiatives we seeing the goodness of the Lord today.
Because He cares,” – Pastor Senyo Mawufemor Cudjoe
Today we are celebrating all of the blessings that God has allowed for Klokope over the many years of investment, trust, and partnership. These projects and accomplishments were not the work of one person, but have happened through the work of local contractors in Ghana, local volunteers in the towns, funds from individuals, oversight and motivation from the local church (Fountain of Life Chapel International) and ministry (Biblical Discipleship and Growth Ministries) and even attention and support from the government of Ghana.
Please celebrate with us and consider partnering in some way to see more of these things in more towns in rural Ghana in the future!
We received news from Senyo that the repair work on the roof of the school house in Klokope had begun and been completed. This building is used for education of Elementary children, and also serves as the means of collecting water for the water collection tank of that town.
“The contractor this morning completed the re-roofing of the Kindergarten building at Klokope. The people of Klokope planned cleaning the Rain Water Harvesting Tank tomorrow. This is because there are intermittent rains so they don’t want to miss any of it.” – Senyo
On this day Senyo and Sue walked around the school and talked about the need to repair the roof due to it’s poor condition and because of the rust contamination running into the rain water harvesting tank. They also talked about the fact that there was no longer a school teacher in the community, due to the government relocating her. So all the school age children were taking the long walk to another community for school.
When Pastor Jesse announced there were still openings for people to join an upcoming mission trip to Africa, I thought “What a great opportunity for Jon and I to serve the Lord together!” We immediately agreed to go to our first meeting that day so we could see “what it was all about” and then talk about it more afterwards. Our good friends Sean and Angela even volunteered to take care of our three children before we even knew if the trip was possible for us. The whole idea of going on a mission trip together was spur of the moment but we were trusting God to open doors if it was His will.
Now Jon only needed to do two things in order to be able to go. He needed to get approval from his boss at work and he needed to request 10 days off from a group called B-troop, a volunteer opportunity that he had committed to almost a year prior. The approval from work came easy, but B-troop just couldn’t change their schedule to work with the dates Jon needed off. We were both so broken hearted! It was obvious Jon couldn’t go, so I didn’t give it a second thought. I figured we’d just try again next time. But then Jon told me I should consider going without him. He said, “B-troop is my obstacle. Not yours.” Now if you know me well, you would know that I like to live in my very small comfort zone. Going on a mission trip with a group of people I barely knew at the time… to teach women and children who don’t speak english… about things they have never heard of before…in a country I had never been before…without my husband even there……THAT was DEFINITELY out of my comfort zone!
I prayed for God to give me a clear answer on whether I should go or not. I couldn’t imagine doing something so big without Jon right there beside me. But God spoke to my heart. From the beginning I believed that if it was God’s will, then He would send us…both. But I never once thought, what if He only sent one of us? God made me realize that if Jon and I were to go together, I would lean on him, instead of Him, to guide me through the trip, or to help me when i’m feeling lost, or to step up for me if I didn’t feel capable of doing something. So although my flesh was still unsure, I eventually decided on going without him. For days I kept thinking I have no idea what to expect or what I would be doing there, or if I would even be good at it if I did know. Needless to say, I had built up a lot of anxiety about going! But a couple days later, a wise man saw my anxious heart at church and said “You will have no idea what you are doing. Nobody will, not even them!” And that was my confirmation from God that this was going to happen and that I needed to go alone. After that, everything fell into place fast!
The last week before leaving was a blur and nothing seemed real until we finally landed in Ghana, Africa. I felt my comfort zone disappear and my anxiety was no longer there. I felt God’s love cover me and He gave me peace and excitement and wonder all at the same time. These feelings stayed with me for the next 10 days (maybe even longer!). Although I might have gotten nervous once or twice while teaching, I never once felt a restricting comfort zone or a pounding anxiety attack. I heard God speak loudly and clearly and I felt His presence among the people there every day! It was one of the most amazing blessings God has given me. I was able to see people come to Christ right before my eyes!! I was able to see others worship Him with passion and joy, and they had so much love within their hearts that they couldn’t help but share it with those around them. They had no comfort zones or anxiety about sharing God’s love and joy.
My heart will never be the same. I have fallen in love with everything about Africa, especially the women and children I now know and hope to see again soon. Because of this trip, God has renewed and filled my heart with even more love for Him. He has given me the confidence to continue to step out of my comfort zone in the future. I’ve always known blessings come in obedience, but this mission trip definitely opened my eyes to things I never knew I could be blessed with.
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8
One of the opportunities that was brought to our attention in the village town of Klokope was a need for increased sanitation in the form of a multi-seat composting latrine or sustainable outhouse (keep in mind there is no running water to these remote rural villages!).
The current situation for the entire community was a shared hole in the ground, with a small structure for shade.
There was a plan already in place with the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, a local contractor and material available, along with architectural drawings for what was called a “Kumasi Ventilated-Improved Pit” or KVIP for short.
Work began the day we received and delivered the funding for Phase One. The people of Klokope began clearing the land, and preparing the materials.
Soon after the ground was prepared, bricks made, and supplied gathered, construction began.
Finally the project was completed, and the people of Klokope have since then enjoyed the blessing of dignity and sanitation in this area. We are grateful to God, the generosity of so many, and the hard work of the local community to care and invest in the well-being of themselves and others.
