Hopeful Path » Prayer Requests

Blessed Hospital Visitations

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 11:53:36 +0000

We (Leah and Joel; both co-labors in the Lord in Tamale) continued to join in the suffering of hospital patients through prayer every Thursday. The second Thursday in April, we encountered an oppressive spirit; definitely a dark power against which we were fighting. It was hard to pray, hard to concentrate, hard to see past all the sad situations and mournful faces.

We realized that intentional prayer was needed against evil principalities and powers. We stopped praying over people, then prayed specifically that unclean spirits be bound back from God’s work. We continued to pray over people, but the day seemed to be heavy and the hearts of many were low. God allows us all to experience seeming defeat at times. A day brings its own set of God-given problems, opportunities for us to trust Him for the outcome or for us to incorrectly try and fix them on our own. The day of hospital visitation ended soberly without fanfare or a mountain top experience.

The next Thursday, our prospects didn’t look so good again, as we set out to minister. Our primary translator was gone, and our backup translator was sick. Leaving the Center, Leah and I passed our friend “John,” whom we’ve invited in the past, and who has always indicated his reluctance to accompany us. John is also a Dagbani speaker, the language of most hospital patients.

Leah asked, “John, you are welcome to accompany us and translate for us,” she teased as we passed…and to my surprise, he said, “OK, I’ll come.” When it took him nearly 15 minutes to finish his work responsibilities and change his clothes, Leah began to wonder out loud whether inviting him to join us had been a mistake. I encouraged her that its God’s timing. In my heart, God said it is all His timing and for a purpose; so I began to pray for John specifically. We arrived at the hospital 15 minutes later than usual, but we could immediately sense a different spirit from the one we’d encountered the week before. There were smiles on faces, praying came easily.

Friends from the West had given us some stuffed animals to distribute to children, and we took them to give to the kids in the children’s ward. How the faces lit up with smiles as each one selected his or her toy!

“Larensha,” an accident victim, clutches the animals she chose for herself and for her twin at home.

We arrived at one station where an old gentleman lay weak and weary on his sickbed. It was Leah’s turn to pray aloud, and as she prayed for him. She later told me, she felt moved to ask God to please send this gentleman someone soon who could share the Gospel with him in his own language. “Amen,” she concluded, and rose from where she’d knelt by the bed.

In my spirit, while Leah prayed and my gaze was on the old man, God spoke to my spirit. After she prayed I said, “John, How about if Leah and I move on to other sick folks while you stay behind and tell this man the Gospel?” John has been my “right hand” man and close friend and I knew it was going to be outside of his comfort zone, but he manfully rose to the challenge and stayed to talk with the sick man while we went on.

“So how did it go?” we asked John as we left the ward. “It went well,” he rejoiced. “I told him that we were in the hospital not because of any benefit we hoped to get for ourselves, but because we served One Who said to visit the sick and love our neighbors as ourselves. Then I gave him the Gospel, and he said he wanted to believe in Jesus.” “So did you pray with him to accept Christ?” I asked John. “No, I forgot,” he said. “That was a mistake I made.” “It’s not too late!” we urged him. I said, “You can go back and pray with him now! We’ll pray for you as you do so.” He did, and we did, and he came back out glowing…because he’d just led his very first soul to Christ.

At this point in time, I knew I was leaving Tamale while John had no idea. God had spoke to me months earlier about John. He would be an evangelist and preacher to his people; an unreached people group according to the Joshua Project. I knew God was calling him because John consistent loving heart for his people, telling me the need of his people to hear the

“I was sick, and you visited Me”

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:55:00 +0000

One of the new ministries God’s added to my schedule recently is hospital visitation. I’m one of two Americans and one African who are banding together once a week to visit the sick and pray with them.

On our first day, Pastor Amos took us first directly to ICU, past sign after sign reading “No Visitors Allowed” and “Silence Please,” right up to the nurses’ station where he announced, “We are Christians come to pray with the sick,” and before anything could be said about visitors and silence, he continued, “Those in ICU are in the most critical condition, so they need our prayers the most. We need to come in and pray with them.” The staff all obliged, and in we went.

Throughout the hospital we saw people in various stages of undress due to the heat; we saw a boy who was skin and bones; we saw a baby who burst out crying at our approach and screamed at the top of his lungs for the duration of our visit; we saw vacant eyes and listless bodies and hopelessness. One man we visited said that he used to go to church, but had ceased for many years, and was sure God no longer cared for him. We assured him that such was not the case, and led him in a prayer to make his peace with God.

Our second visit was much more sobering. The hospital wards were twice as crowded to the extent that patients were in the hall lanes. The patients themselves seemed to be in much worse condition. There were recent amputees, children suffering extensive burns and that were involved in severe accidents. Our eyes can fool us, right?

The real threat to life for each patient was unseen; their dead spirit for those that don’t know and are known by our Lord Jesus Christ. So we prayed earnestly for spiritual life, physical healing, and protection from evil spirits. So many people here end up hurt or ill due to demonic activity instigated by others who hold a grudge or are envious.

Please pray for the sick and suffering in the hospital to make their peace with Jesus and to be healed both bodily and spirit in the days ahead! Pray for the doctors and nurses too: may they have the wisdom and resources to provide the right treatments.

Thankful to God for Answering Our Prayers

admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:35:00 +0000

I thank God for your prayers, encouragement, sound advice, and tangible support that ensures this mission succeeds in God’s eyes.

Oscar, for whom you prayed last month, is now a Christian! Oscar is attending the Saturday morning Bible Study in my apartment. He stayed after this past Saturday to get his specific questions answered (he was the only non-believer present that day). After two hours, his questions ended. We went through core Christian beliefs, which he believed were all true; however, Oscar would not step in faith toward Christ. He wanted to think more, which I said was a good idea, as God only wants people to come to Him who are truly willing. I asked Oscar to call me when he did accept Christ this week. He called the next Monday, PTL!

Pray for recent converts to Christianity. Pray that they are established well and diligently seek God’s face.
Pray for Yerri, as work has taken him away from meeting with us regularly. For a new Christian and one under persecution, our common enemy can use this time to make him depressed or discouraged. Pray that he prioritizes his time to be fed and grow in Christ.
Pray for God’s mercy upon Northern Nigeria, where our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ are dying and being displaced.
Pray that this mission really meets the needs of those God intends: that nothing I or anyone else does hinder God’s purposes.
Pray for the staff and school children at Rabiconic Primary & Junior Secondary School; that many would come to know, believe and walk with God through Jesus His Son.
Pray for Pastor Amos, whose burden is so great in many ways.
Pray that I keep my eyes on Jesus as I go through my first hospital experience (PTL parts haven’t broken down sooner) so others can not only see Jesus in me, but that some would come to know the Lord. I head to Accra this week for a minor surgery to remove a small mass in my neck.

God Blessing You,

Joe

Pray for Growth in Personal Evangelism and Christian Fellowship

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:28:00 +0000

Since much of my time has been in an office environment (getting the Project Support and Development Office started), I was concerned about my personal evangelism. God always has a better plan; I just need to be willing to change my plans. It seems at first that God wants me focusing on office establishment, campus ministries, and my home church, because amazingly, friends have been bringing men of other faiths to come and talk to me about Jesus, and they have been willing to come! In this way, I have met Mohammad, Ishmael, Hassan, Isalaama, and Oscar (names changed).

I met Mohammad and Ishmael, only once, on a holy high day here. We really met just to share greetings, not our different faiths, but again God had a different plan. Since it was a holy day in their faith, they wanted to share its significance with me. It was humbling to hear Ishmael’s dedication and reverence for his religion. They started asking me many, many questions about my faith in God. Mohammad questioningly said to me at one point that it seemed to him that to be really right before God, one would have to have a totally new start, right?

Mohammad was so perceptive to understand that we all need a new start, to become a new creature, to be born-again, to be clean and pure and stay that way before God. They both said that all of our own attempts to appease God’s righteous anger for our sins would be of no value, which seemed an odd statement to me since they both asserted that all their “good” and bad actions were recorded by angels to be weighed by God for Him to decide if the “good” outweighed the bad, thus determining their eternal resting place: paradise or hell.

We talked about God providing a new birth and new way of life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ: the perfect payment for our sins. In Africa, no matter the religion of the person, all realize that God demands blood, a perfect sacrificial life, for wrongs committed against the only Life Giver!

Isalaama came my way through his relationship with the Director of the Center of Good News. He is a man who has advanced degrees in his religion. For the past 12 years, he has been living in abject poverty due to a falling out with his peers. It was to such an extent, he thought that he was having mental issues. Since meeting with him for over a month now, he seems to be quite rational.

However, Isalaama is working terribly hard to reconcile some of the religious precepts, in which he is steeped, with his logic and with the Bible. We always talk about life (which in Ghana always includes God); he seems to be in turmoil as he seeks the truth over Who God is, what He desires, and how we should respond to Him. We meet almost every Tuesday for life discussions and for my Arabic lessons. In this way, SGM is supplying a small income for him and I am gaining (ever so slowly) a skill the Director of Good News wants me to possess.

In the same way that Yerri came into my life, Hassan appeared as a result of meeting Leah, my American co-laborer here. Hassan is a taxi man who gave Leah a ride about a month ago and has come by our office a number of times. Of course, Leah always brings Jesus into the conversation (right from the start); people here not only don’t mind, they enjoy the discussions. Hassan is a fine young man, so traditional in his mannerisms and attitudes. He is not free to think beyond his father’s limits, which is not a negative, but displays an interdependence that is useful in the African context. He asked his father for permission to continue our discussions, to which his father said yes, as long as the father stays informed of them.

Listening to Hassan talk about his father’s responses about our talks, Hassan’s dad’s motivation is grounded in the welfare of his son. Hassan said that he wants to be a Christian, as it really makes sense to him, but he wants me to discuss it with his father further. His father has agreed to discuss it with him and wants to meet me, so we are to meet sometime after the holidays. Please pray that our meeting does indeed come to pass; that I go in real love, being respectful and gentle; and that we connect on many levels. Pray that his father sees the great value in knowing Jesus Christ, and that a truly rewarding life on earth and eternity hangs in the balance.

Oscar has been harder to connect with as he is busy working (PTL). He is very faithful to the traditions of his religion. However, the more he has pursued God through them, the more he has been troubled by a number of questions that he would like to resolve. They also revolve around the sufficiency of Oscar’s works before God, and the Personhood of the Prophet Jesus, Whom his religion says was sinless, born of a virgin, and brought by God into the world by His word ‘Be.’ I am not pretending to know his religion or know his holy book: Oscar is the expert; however, God has given me insight into Who He and His Son is through the Bible. So I listen to Oscar, then just share my faith with him. It is not my place to convince Oscar or change his mind; rather, I need to just share my life with him. God can surely testify Who He is and what He desires. Ultimately, we all must decide Who God is and if we will respond to His will; whether we believe it or not, we will all stand before Him to explain our response.

Lastly, because the Center of Good News is so respected around the world, I have had the honor of meeting Christian men and women from all walks of life whom God is bringing to the Center for varying reasons. I have met a renowned Christian who is an apologetics scholar; another who has established 167 mission training schools around the world; a man equipping indigenous ministries with advanced technologies to reach people through the airwaves; a businesswoman with a compassionate heart and capacity to help many; and a couple to whom God has given a deep burden to help those most vulnerable—orphans.

It is comforting to know that God never sleeps, has limitless resources—earthly and spiritual—and that His plans will be accomplished according to His ways: not according to mine or those of any other man. The longer I am here, the more I realize that I can’t out-give God! His benefits are inexhaustible—joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control, hope, faith, and love—oh, what a full life God brings today and for eternity! May we all live in peace with God and each other throughout the next year. Please pray for all those mentioned, as the Lord leads.

November 6th, 2009: Prayer Update

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:15:00 +0000

There has always been opposing philosophies and elementary principals of the world that challenged the Church, however the real danger to the Church is complacent and sleeping Christians! There is a WAR all around us; we need to wake up and be watchful and appeal to the Only One who can fight for what is right.

Prayer is so vital to deliver the Gospel and much needed relief to those seeking God. There are so many things to be thankful for first. We have been blessed by your sacrifice to enable this work to make a difference in real people lives here. We thank God that he continues grant the leaders here divine wisdom so we are able to work along side our friends here of other faiths. We thank God for his favor toward those that come to a saving knowledge of His Son Jesus the Christ. We thank God for His indwelling Spirit, who continuously provides all things according to God’s will.

I have been given work that is impossible for me to do! Please pray for God’s wisdom, power and plan: that we clearly see what God desires, while we are sensitive to His daily leading with great discernment.

After visiting some villages this week (see home page), I “caught” a fungus. I thank God for this little nuisance, it is giving me a very small glimpse of what the daily challenges in the village must be like. Please pray it goes away without too much fuss.

Please pray for the many projects that are being undertaken. Pray they are well organized, effective, and fully supported. Pray for the seven villages we just visited, especially for the children’s health and education. Pray that superstitions would not prevent adults from taking children to clinics and that our work would have medicines available to help them in their great need.

Pray for my various ministries, I am involved in: discernment for my role in my home church (preaching, teaching, and administration), leading Bible Study on Saturday morning, helping lead a new university student ministry, Saturday Art Market House Church, Joe’s Kitchen Ministry, and personal evangelism.

Oct. 12, 2009

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:32:00 +0000

Hope all of you are well and safe; enjoying being in the presence of our King and God. There is much happening in Ghana to pray for as there is in the US! Your encouraged to let me know your prayer request to, just go to the Contact webpage and write your prayer request or just say HI!

Thank God for the tireless ministry workers here at MAB.

Lift up Pastor Moses, especially: there is much needed from him and many obstacles both spiritual and earthy that he has to go through to do what God has for him.

Please pray for travel safety for the many families traveling back from Rev. Johnson mother’s funeral.

Pray that I would continually yield to the Holy Spirit, so that many would come to know Jesus and many that do would grow in Him through this mission.

Ask Jesus to pull down the strong towers of unbelief that buffet the Gospel message and from evil spirits from snatching the Word implanted in those truly seeking God.

Please pray for God’s wisdom and understand as we discern and integrate my role in the broad mission here.

Thanks for all your prayers and please keep them coming our common enemy does not tire!

Blessings,

Joe

September 5th, 2009

admin — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:33:00 +0000

Thank you for your continued prayers. My prayers for you and your family have been to more clearly understand God more, his will for you life and that you walk with him pleasing each day.

Pray that people in Ghana are receptive to God’s love and that I am an expression of his gentle and respectful love. Pray that I walk with wisdom and discernment according to God’s plan, being pleasing to him. Pray that your gifts are used in such a way that people experience God’s love for them.

Pray that my confidence in God expands and that I walk the way I truly am in Christ, totally dependent upon his power to accomplish all he has each day in the physical and spiritual realms. Pray for peach and comfort for my family, whom I miss already, they too are experiencing a cost from my mission–many are not Christian but God is faithfully using all these circumstances to glorify his name.

June 8th Prayer Requests

admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:43:00 +0000

Thank you for your continued prayers and for remembering these in your prayers:

Continued good health of Rev. Johnson Asare and his wife Lydia, leaders of Center of Good News. Also for good health and well-being of the staff at the Center of Good News as they are on the front-line delivering much needed help.

Personnel support for this year’s Kids Camp.

Africa 2009 Conference: Building Trainers for the Future, that it is well attended and meets the need of African church leaders.

Construction of the new Women’s Training Center and Orphanage in Tamale goes according to schedule and safely.

Short-term missions teams, that will be going to Tamale, for travel safety, good health, and that they grow in the Lord during their trip.

Mission preparations and support to go well. For me to patiently wait for God to accomplish the many things he wants to accomplish in others and myself through this preparation phase.

Thanks for remembering us in your prayers!

May 22, 2009

admin — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:52:00 +0000

Thank you for your prayers. Lets pray for one another, especially as we see the day of the Lord approaching! Your family and friends need your prayers. Your church needs your prayers. Rev. Johnson and those in Ghana need your prayers. I need your prayers.

Thank God for his abiding love and steadfast faithfulness in all times and in all circumstances. We can only live a satisfying life in Jesus by daily deciding to be owned by him and to obey his every loving command. Pray that we give more of ourselves to Jesus each day. Jesus has already given his all, pray we accept and live in truth.

Thank God for his daily provision in our lives. Lets express our gratitude, for he cares about all our needs and meets them in ways that words can not express! Thank You, our Lord and Savior Jesus.

Thank God for his mercy for we all fall short. Pray also for those that hinder us, so that they may somehow see the Light and so that we do not stumble in the same way.

Thank God for faithful and submissive leaders. It takes a strong and loving leader, sincerely wanting to please God, to shepherd a flock, especially in the USA. Why? We, the flock: we demand our rights, we want things our way, we deserve, we are owed, we are equal, we we we…. Pray that we learn to make it a joy for our pastors to lead us by putting away our own selfish ambitions and live as Jesus does; daily carrying our own cross, dying to self by loving God and pastors, who GOD has put in authority over us!

Only in Jesus, to him be the glory, honor and power forever and ever.

The Battle Rages

admin — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:24:00 +0000

Pray for tribal chiefs to come to faith in Jesus Christ and those chiefs that know Him already remain steadfast in faith, rejoicing in God through Jesus Christ His Son. Pray that leaders understand the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus; counting all other things as rubbish.

Pray for tribal members, who watch and follow the example of their chiefs, give their lives over to Christ and aim for the upward call in Christ Jesus, while never backsliding.

Pray that Satan’s and his minions’, visible and invisible, plans and actions are overthrown by God as they move to capture the hearts and minds of tribal chiefs. Ask God to bind and throw demons of fear into outer darkness, those that are causing havoc within these tribes.

Ask God to send spirits that cause confusion and calamity upon people intent upon upsetting the faith of some and preventing others from coming to Christ. In the midst of their confusion and plight, pray these evil doers repent of their wicked deeds and they too come to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the “gods”:
2 “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.