Transcription
Issue 13December 7, 2011Greetings to all of you as we prepare to celebrate the birth ofour Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,As usual there is much going on in the life of Pastor Nicholas Salifu in his effort to bring thewonderful gift of salvation to the Kusaal speaking people of Upper East Ghana. I have receivedquite a few pictures and many examples of God’s presence in the ministry of Nicholas and hisleaders.A new experience has been ministering to a deaf/muteyoung boy. The school for people with this disability has beenclosed, Nicholas would communicate with his limited signlanguage capabilities, but when they failed, he and the boywould just write notes to each other.The Harvest ThanksgivingFestivals have been in fullswing and the celebrations1NICHOLAS & DEAF/MUTE BOYoccur at various churches withmembers of neighboring congregations in attendance. The firstHarvest was held atTengnoog Church. Manyspeakers preached on avariety of topics. MarkEVANGELIST MARK AWIDAANAwidaan spoke about theinvolvement of the youthin Church programs. Mr.John Abasiba spoke on the needMR. JOHN ABASIBAto evangelize Muslims. There is avery large Muslim population in the area, and they are buildingmosques with funds from oil rich countries. Evangelist FrancisApam explained the role of women in the church.EVANGELIST FRANCIS APAM1
Mr. Moses Ayadago taught on the topic of the expectation of the congregation of the Pastor,and vice versa. Moses is recommended to attend the seminary in Ghana when admission is madein 2013.MR.MOSES AYADAGOREV. NICHOLAS SALIFUNicholas spoke on the topic of why Ghanaiansshould reject same sex marriages. He recalledthat a few weeks ago the president of Ghana,John Mills, rebuffed the British Prime Ministerfor saying Ghana should approve same sexmarriages. Nicholas said, “All shades of societyhave condemned the practice.”TENGNOOG WOMEN OFFERING THEIRPRODUCE AS THANKSGIVINGDuringthe Harvest Celebration there were manyfestivities including youth choirs from Tengnoog,Ziako, and BugzundeTENGNOOG YOUTH CHOIRBUGZUNDE YOUTH CHOIRZIAKO YOUTH CHOIR2
GENERAL PRAISE TIMENICHOLAS BLESSING THE HARVESTAfter all of the preaching, singing, offerings, and praises, Nicholas blessed the offeringgathered at the Harvest.The Kpaliga Church has very few young children. The membership is mainly elderly people asmost of the youth in this community are Muslims. For this reason the chapel they are trying tobuild there is very important. After the Sunday worship, Nicholas paid a visit to the KpaligaChief. The picture shows the chief with someof his household. More than 50 people live inthe chief’s palace.KPALIGA CHURCH MEMBERSThe community of Bugzunde (where churchleader Lawrence Akidaug lives) has had aproblem with the water quality for some timeand it was decided to install a liner to helpkeep the water pure. Evangelist Mark Awidaan,the church leader at Tengnoog church, hasbeen trained to line wells. The first step wasto get the well lining forms, equipment, andcement to Bugzunde. This was done using thestandard mode of transportation, a donkeyKPALIGA CHIEF AND NICHOLASWELL LINING EQUIPMENT AND "JOHN MULE"3
cart, or as Nicholas calls it, “John Mule” (John Deere). The picture shows it loaded and readyfor the trip. The liner forms are then placed into the well and filled with cement. A cementfloor is poured around the well and a gutter is formed away from it. The financing for theproject was provided by Missionary, Rev. Tim Heiney.CEMENT BEING MIXED FOR THE FLOOR AND GUTTERFLOOR AND GUTTER FINISHED. COVER POURED INMOLD AT RIGHT WILL BE PLACED WHEN IT IS DRYThe Sakpanatenga Churchalso held HarvestThanksgiving and the openingprayer was given by EvangelistDavid Asaana and MadamJuliana Abugri. MosesAbugbilla, the leader ofSakpanatenga Church,explained the importance ofHarvest Thanksgiving. Again manypeople from neighboring Kusaaivillages were in attendance.LEADER MOSES ABUGBILLAEVANGELIST DAVID ASAANA &MADAM JULIANA ABUGRIThe musicalaccompanimentwas providedby thetalenteddrummers.4PEOPLE AT THE HARVESTDRUMMERS AT HARVEST
The first lesson was read by Miss Sophia Abugri, andEvangelist David Asaana spoke on stewardship.MISS SOPHIA ABUGRIAs usual many choirs were in attendance, theBugzunde Church children’s choir, the KpagogoEVANGELIST DAVID ASAANAChurch youth, the Ziako youth, the Sakpanatenga youth, and the Kpalugu youth choirs.5
In addition to the celebration a baby and a young boywere baptized.BAPTIZING THE SMALL BOYTHE BAPTISM SERVICEHARVEST OFFERINGSTHANKING FOR THE HARVESTAfter the offerings were presented andthanks were given, the leaders encircled theofferings and prayed, giving thanks to agracious, eternal God for all of His blessings.LEADERS PRAYING OVER THE HARVESTOn November 25th and 26th Nicholas attended a workshop in Zebilla organized by the KusaalBible Translating Committee. At this workshop it was decided to add two additional vowels tothe five in the English alphabet as well as make additional spelling rules. It was a veryworthwhile workshop.6
These are participants of the Kusaal Bible Translation WorkshopThese two ladies were members of the Sakpanatengabut when they moved to the south and did not find anyLutheran church, they joined the Church of Pentecost.They came to Nicholas and asked for a copy of Luther’sSmall Catechism so they could give it to their pastor.LADIES WITH CATECHISMLeadership training classes are held on a regular basis and are attended by both leaders as wellas those being trained. Along with the supplies needed for the required classwork, the mealsalso need to be provided. This is one of the expensed connected with the ministry that may notbe large, but it is still a necessary cost.LEADERSHIP TRAINING CLASSMEALTIME7
The Harvest at Bugzunde Church includeddiscussions on various topics, and reports werepresented. The topics included: How husbands andwives could live peacefully; the responsibilities ofthe youth in the church, and what the membersshould dofor theirleaders.A DISCUSSION GROUP AT BUGZUNDE HARVESTThe foodofferings that were brought to the Harvest includedcorn, soya beans, beans, pepper, millet, etc.FOOD OFFERINGSNicholas preached on Mark13:32-37, encouragingeveryone to serve the Lord and one anothergladly because the Lord has saved us from oursins.WOMEN AT THE HARVESTNICHOLAS PREACHING AT BUGZUNDE HARVESTAt the Harvest a woman praised God forbringing her brother to faith. She had beenpraying forhim for morethan fiveyears. As inthe otherHarvestcelebrations,Youth choirs from neighboring churches attended, there was alsoa drama performed by the Bugzunde youth. The drama was abouthow God created a perfect world for Adam and Eve, but theserpent deceived them into disobeying God. We are like Adam andEve, but God in His mercy sent His Son to suffer and die for oursins to reconcile us to God.WOMAN PRAISING GOD8
BANSAKPANATENGA YOUTH SINGINGEarlierthis year a church was started at Wiidi and recently Nicholas visited the women leaders of theWiidi church.A goat was made available for Madam Faustina Abugure.Through the “Goat Program” a source of income is providedfor widows and olderwomen with no support.WOMEN LEADERS OF WIIDI CHURCHGOAT PRESENTED TOMADAM FAUSTINA ABUGURE9
Kpaliga Church also had their Harvest Thanksgiving service.This church has a chapel built out of mud. It was built nine yearsago. It has collapsed every three years and had to be rebuilteach time. Now they have laida foundation for a cementblock chapel. TimothyAdaam amember of Bugzunde churchencouraged them to speed upconstruction of their newchapel. Evangelist MarkTIMOTHY ADAAMAwidaan Encouraged the Kpaligachurch members to increase their giving to the Lord.EVANGELIST MARK AWIDAANRecently Rebecca Akuka drowned in the White VoltaRiver near herhome. Traditionallythe funeral ritesfor a woman areTHE BANKS OF THE WHITE VOLTA RIVERheld on the fourthday after death(for a man it is three days). The service was held at theNICHOLAS AT REBECCA"S SERVICE home of Mr. Akuka.The evangelism effort at Naransaug has given birth to another new congregation. With thepermission of the chief and his elders, the evangelism effort was carried out after severalrequests were received for Nicholas and hisleaders to start a church. All praise to God, thefirst service was held on Sunday, December 4th,2011. The man on the right in the picture toldNicholas “The message I heard from you lastweek when you came to my house has made meto come to hear more about Jesus. I will bringall my family”. Next to the old man on the rightis Nicholas’ son, Baba. It is Nicholas’ hope thatBaba eventually becomes the leader of thi schurch. Michael Asaan of Naransaugcongregation will probably be the assistantleader. There will be more information regardingBABA SALIFU (center) AND THE OLD MAN(Naransaug in the future. This is just the beginningand we are blessed to be able to witness this planted seed grow through the years. Isn’t itexciting?10
MICHAEL ASAANMUSLIM MOSQUEMEMBERS OF THE NEW NARANSAUG CHURCHMUSLIM MOSQUEI’m sure you remember how difficult it is to be an evangelist/pastor in an area that has such alarge Muslim population. Nicholas has told us all about the Mosques that are placed on the roadsevery few miles apart. They are well kept, permanent structures. Here are pictures of two ofthem in the area where Nicholas’ congregations are. They are just there, there is no specific“Congregation” that worships there, they are in no community, but in case someone is travelingpast at prayer time, they are for anyonesconvenience.The “Face of Ghana” for this issue is MarkAwidaan. Nicholas writes; “Mark is a native ofTeesnatenga, a village near Ziako where Nicholascomes from. He is the leader of the newly openedchurch at Narangtengnoog.When the Lutheran church was started in 1983,Mark was 19 years old worshipping idols with his11MARK AWIDAAN
family. Mark was one of the young men who were attracted when he heard the Gospel messagein Nicholas’ house. Wanting to know more about Jesus Christ, Mark enrolled in the pre-baptismclasses. Mark was among the first people to be baptized in October 1985 at Ziako. He was inthe “Salifu’s Harvest” video.Because Mark had never been to school and seeing the potential in him, Nicholas encouraged himto join the literacy class which he had opened. Within six months Mark had learned to read andwrite Kusaal. He with other young men who had become literate in Kusaal were enrolled into theLeadership Training class that Nicholas has set up to get young men into the church’s leadershippositions.Nicholas encouraged Mark to enter the formal school. He was admitted into class five insteadof class one because he was a brilliant young man. He finished Primary school, continued toJunior Secondary school and further into the Bawku Technical Institute. In the technicalschool Mark acquired the skills of well lining.” (As shown in the Bugzunde well project) “Later inhis life, Mark undertook a certificate course in the University of Ghana on animal rearing andfarming techniques.After the Leadership Training class, he also enrolled in the national Theological Education byExtension (TEE) that took him four years to complete and was commissioned as an Evangelist.Mark has served the church in several ways. He has served the following churches as leader:Ziako, Sakpanatenga and currently the Narantengnoog church. In all the churches that he led,he prepared several people for baptism. It was Mark who organized the Ziako youth choir andwomen’s fellowship to be vibrant groups in the Kusasi area.Today Mark is devoted in leading the newly opened Narantengnoog church. He rides his bicycleat least twice a week to the church which is nearly 15 miles away from his home in Teesnatenga.Currently he is organizing a youth group as well as women fellowship group. He is assisting DanielAzuuga in the church to teach adults how to read and write,Mark is married to Diana and they are blessed with four children. I performed their weddingabout 15 years ago. Mark told me after his training in the University of Ghana, “Pastor, with mytraining I can find a job in Accra but I want to join you to lead our people to Jesus.” Mark toldme if the church could assist him start a small piggery project near his house to help him, hisfamily and the church. He has written an application to the church head office for nearly threemonths and no response has come so far. Our prayer is to find support for Mark to start thepiggery project.”This project would cost about 700.00 to provide for pigglets, room, feed, and drugs. Thiswould help Mark support his family because like any other leader, except David Abuguryaab whois a professional teacher, he receives no salary. Besides he will also be doing a tent ministry.The sixty page translation of “A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories” has been sent to Thailandfor printing. Nicholas is now working with LHF to support the printing of the Kusaal LutheranService Manual that has been translated and adapted for use. It is a sixty page book with theOrder of Service using the Five Settings from the LSB, topics on Holy Matrimony, Blessing ofTraditional Marriage, Burial, Memorial, Litany, Kusaal songs, etc. When printed this would be thefirst Kusaal worship book and the second in the ELCG.12
The newly built Ziako Chapel is finallyfinished far enough that the first service washeld in it. One major unfinished area is thefloor, which is still dirt. When the funds areavailable a cement floor will be poured.DAVID ABUGURAAB LEADING WORSHIPZIAKO MEMBERS BRING FOOD TO THE NEW CHAPELThe other unfinished area is the altar. It is hoped tobe completed in 2012. At this first service AbrahamNderaug gave testimony of how God brought him tofaith. We have followed this construction from thebeginning and many of you who have contributed to thisABRAHAM NDERAUGproject can feel a sense of joy and satisfaction.As we begin the Advent Season in preparation for the birth of our Lord and Savior JesusChrist, we are reminded that the work begun by the Lord continues every day, not only at homebut also in the far reaches of His beautiful creation we know as planet Earth, especially in thearea of Upper East Ghana. There the mercy and love of Christ is proclaimed among the Kusaaipeople by the dedicated servant of God, Nicholas Salifu, and his organization of Evangelists andLeaders. Most of them have no means of support, but know that our Heavenly Father willprovide for them tomorrow as He has today. It is unbelievable that one man could accomplish somuch in a month, but with Almighty God at his side “nothing is impossible”.Without the birth of that special Babe on Christmas day, none of this would be possible. Mywife Charleen and I pray that all of you have a blessed Christmas Season, and many blessings inthe coming year.Remember LHF and Concordia Seminary, St Louis in your gifts. You may still send funds toNicholas through TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 3765 McKELVEY RD., Bridgeton, MO 630442002. In the notation area write ‘Nicholas Salifu’.May God’s Spirit enrich the lives of you and your family.phil13
A new experience has been ministering to a deaf/mute young boy. The school for people with this disability has been closed, Nicholas would communicate ith his limited sign w language capabilities, but when they failed, he and the boy would just write notes to each other. The Harvest Thanksgiving Festivals have been in full swing and the .
