Church Planting
Adaklu Dorkpo
The very first village we went to for evangelism in the beginning was Adaklu Dorkpo where there was no church. Some people responded and we kept going back. Along with the help of a couple of local people, and short-term volunteers from abroad, we did much discipleship in that village. Looking back, although unplanned and unorganized, it became a group of believers which became the church.
While we had traveled home one year, our local personnel had stopped going there for discipleship. However, some of the people continued to believe in Jesus and tried to live for Him. Over time, another church group came in and started an official church there. Today, there are two churches in this village, and a government school.
Adaklu Kpodoave
In 2010, we went to almost every village in the Adaklu district for evangelism. At this time, we again came across a village that had no church, the village of Kpodave. We were asked by the village people to come and start a church for them. At this time, pastor Ward Taylor from Simcoe Ontario Canada was with us. We all felt it was the right thing to do. So we committed to starting a church there, along with a local pastor, who would be the main leader. Over time, Living Gospel Church sponsored a building for this church. This was a big blessing for this remote village. Katharine, along with other ministry partners, spent quite a bit of time in this village teaching the woman and children.
At one point, while going to minister in a Sunday morning meeting, I realize there were issues among the church leaders, and also that another church group had come in. This church was part of one of the largest denominations in Ghana. I personally did not think it was needed to have two churches in such a small village, and our leadership was not strong, we prayed about what to do and felt it would be best to hand over the building to that church, so the two would gather as one church. So that is what we did, trusting it was the best for all the believers in the community.
My Father’s House Church
In 2010, we went to almost every village in the Adaklu district for evangelism. At this time, we again came across a village that had no church, the village of Kpodave. We were asked by the village people to come and start a church for them. At this time, pastor Ward Taylor from Simcoe Ontario Canada was with us. We all felt it was the right thing to do. So we committed to starting a church there, along with a local pastor, who would be the main leader. Over time, Living Gospel Church sponsored a building for this church. This was a big blessing for this remote village. Katharine, along with other ministry partners, spent quite a bit of time in this village teaching the woman and children.
At one point, while going to minister in a Sunday morning meeting, I realize there were issues among the church leaders, and also that another church group had come in. This church was part of one of the largest denominations in Ghana. I personally did not think it was needed to have two churches in such a small village, and our leadership was not strong, we prayed about what to do and felt it would be best to hand over the building to that church, so the two would gather as one church. So that is what we did, trusting it was the best for all the believers in the community.
Many couples, especially in the rural villages, don’t properly get married, but just end up living together. Some go through some traditional rites, but the biblical agreement of a holy, sacred, matrimony of a binding covenant is missing. So we had a repenting and wedding celebration.
MFH Building. Sponsored by PJ Trailers, Peter Thiessen and Family. This building is now being used for church meetings, for daily morning devotion with our school children of 200+, for prayer, and for conferences.
My Father’s House Church
Adaklu Davanya
I was asked many times by people from Davanya to come and help them with a church. We did go for evangelism a few times, started with more serious bible studies, and eventually built a building for them. At this time Dorchester Christian Family Center started funding church buildings in rural villages. This was such a huge blessing for our church building projects here and in the north.
By this time we had started My Father’s House Church where we live, so this was now a sister church to My Father’s House Church, about a forty-five minute drive from the main church.
My Father’s House Church Mampala
North of Ghana
I was asked many times by people from Davanya to come and help them with a church. We did go for evangelism a few times, started with more serious bible studies, and eventually built a building for them. At this time Dorchester Christian Family Center started funding church buildings in rural villages. This was such a huge blessing for our church building projects here and in the north.
By this time we had started My Father’s House Church where we live, so this was now a sister church to My Father’s House Church, about a forty-five minute drive from the main church.
Pastor Nuhu and pastor Ebenezer have been instrumental in keeping this church going. And pastor Daniel, who is a young man who went through some bible school, he is now the main leader there.
Tuna Church Up North
While we did boreholes in another area up north, a place called Tuna, about an hour drive from the city of Wa, we again came across a village that seemed to be ready for the gospel and needed discipleship. I believe they had a catholic church that was not actually doing well. And pastor Emmanuel, who we were working with, had been here before. But when we came to dedicate the water project with Light to the World, it was very clear to me that this place needed ongoing spiritual help, the teaching of the word and discipleship.
Pastor Emmanuel committed to the work of ministry there, and Light to the World bought him a new motorcycle to get to that village and other villages easier. So a church was again started. However, pastor Emmanuel seemed stable and was already part of another ministry, we did not take that as one of our churches, but helped them get started.
We helped them build a building up to a certain level, in hopes that they will move forward on their own, along with pastor Emmanuel’s leadership.
My Father’s House Church Basakuraa
Up North
We have come across many villages in the North of Ghana, from Yendi heading north up to the Burkina Faso border, and near the borders of Togo, that are ready for the gospel. There are churches doing ministry in the area, but it seems that the true gospel that has the power to truly change the people is more rare. Many of the villages do not have much support or no support at all. Basakuraa did not have any church or help from any other ministry as far as we know. But the people responded to the gospel.
Here again, we saw the need for a building for a meeting place. Praise the Lord for provision.
Here are the people who are the church who meet in the building that is a huge blessing. I get to minister to these beautiful people.
More open doors and needs.
We now have three villages in this general area up north that need a church building. With the financial support from Dorchester Christian Family Center we have started and are working on two of these villages as I write this.
My Father’s House church. Togo
Then, across the river going into Togo, we have a church there, that was started by pastor James. I have been there several times for ministry. It is a place of fertile soil where the people have responded to the gospel, and when we come to hold meetings, people start coming from villages around the area. Last year (2024) we had over 700 people including children. After three days when we left, we saw people coming again from other villages, hoping to receive ministry. What had happened was, the Lord had healed some people and these people went testifying of what God was doing, so people kept coming.
This village is also in need of a building. They do have a small mud building. But they need a bigger one because of the people that are coming. So we hope to help them also. It is another good place to sow financially.
This church was locked down, and pastor James along with a couple of the church leaders were arrested because of having church illegally. Pastor James had tried to get help before this already but had not received any help. After the arrest, the Lord used us with connections we had in Togo to reopen this church. This is also a church that has become part of our ministry. My Father’s House Church, Togo.
Evangelism, Discipleship, and Church Buildings
The doors are open and the need is great. I see the need for evangelism on a larger scale. We want to work with local churches on the district level, work together with the church leaders to reach more of the rural villages. We need a P. A. System that can reach up to five thousand people outdoors, and a generator to run the system. Or, if it could be a chargeable system that can run for at least five hours strong with one charge. I would be very glad to receive advice and help on this.
There is also help needed to build small churches in rural villages. We do not build a church building fully on our own. If we have done evangelism and the people respond to the gospel, that is the first step. Then, if we see they are interested in the ongoing teaching of the word and walking in the ways of the Lord, and they are taking initiative to start the building project, at least getting the land secured, and get some cement and start molding blocks etc, then we feel we can come in and help.
We are also praying for people who would be willing and able to help disciple these young churches. Maybe come for three to six months at a time and take responsibility for two or three village churches in one area. If you are interested and perhaps feel the Lord’s calling on your life, let us know.
