The Reward

*The Reward: Music and Video by Matt Papa

September Newsletter

God has given us prayer, not primarily as a method for getting things or changing circumstances, but as a means of cooperating with Him. – Dr. Tom Elliff

Dear Prayer Warriors,

 We wanted to give you a brief glimpse into our life here at training. Below you will find various pictures from around campus as well as pictures from the past two weeks.

Our quad: Home Sweet Home

Building where we spend most of our time in class

She looks very good for her age.

The amazing salsa which Julia made from scratch.

Our beautiful campus

Julia making dough for pizza

Arial view of the campus

The women hard at work. Don't worry the guys cleaned up!

Cutting up the Pepperoni. Harder than it looks.

Final Product!

Not only have we been hard at work listening to lectures and learning how to cook from scratch. We have also been studying Philippians 4:13 and Matthew 5:8 in our quiet time these past two weeks. Please follow these links to read my thoughts on these verses. (Do NOT worry!) & (How to stay pure in a pornographic culture).

Praises from the past two weeks:

•             Julia and I have yet to catch the virus which is going around campus. Every room in our quad has had at least one person sick but we are still feeling well.
•             We have been able to focus in class and have enjoyed the concepts which have been taught the past two weeks. The instructors have provided us with more hands-on/role-playing activities which have helped us to focus. (Yes, we are in our 20’s and yes we still love to play games in school; in fact the more games the better!)
•             We survived contingency (security) training. We had two and a half days focused on how to respond in muggings, carjacking, kidnappings, and interrogations. We learned to keep our cool and stay within “our box” when being interrogated by government workers and criminals. Julia and I are very thankful for this training. The likelihood is high that we will be mugged and/or carjacked while in Africa. We are thankful that if this happens we will know how to respond.
•             Our travel agent has received all of our Visa paperwork. We have heard from our travel agent that we should be receiving our Passports with Visa’s stamped inside on September 10^th!

Prayer Requests: 

1. We received an email this week from our travel agent informing us that there has been talk about moving our departure date from October 4th to October 16th. If the date is pushed back to October 16th we would go straight to another training in Burkina Faso instead of our house in Ghana. We would have to spend a month at training with ALL of our luggage. Please pray that we would be able to leave on the 4th instead of the 16th. Pray that if the date does change we would have peace with the decision and take advantage of the extra days we have in America.
2. Pray for our trip to Washington DC on September 13th. All of us (kids included) will be boarding buses early in the morning in order to drive up to DC. Once in DC we have several assignments which we must complete. These assignments include observing an activity involving internationals in Union Station, identifying as many languages as possible, assisting one or more internationals, riding the metro, and intentionally bringing an international closer to Jesus. Please pray for us as we will be planning and preparing for this trip. Pray that we would be able to research and determine where internationals live and hang out. Pray that we would have an opportunity to interact with/witness to individuals from Ghana or from another West African country.
3. Please pray for sermon preparation. I have been informed that the likelihood is high that I will be asked to preach on numerous occasions. I have been told that there will be no warning, I will be visiting a church and the Pastor will call on me to preach. I am preparing two sermons to have up my sleeve in case this happens. Pray that I would choose texts which would be applicable to churches in Ghana. Pray that God would teach me through my study of His Word. 
4. Please pray that we would focus on contextualizing the Gospel to an Animistic/African setting. I NEVER want to change the Gospel; however, there are times in which certain aspects of the Gospel should be emphasized rather than others. For example, in America we emphasize law and justice. We broke the law and God paid our fine. This is a great way to evangelize in America, however, in Africa where their justice system is corrupt the analogy breaks down. Therefore, in Africa we hope to highlight two aspects of the Gospel. These two aspects are honor/shame and power encounters. When we are sharing with Muslims we will highlight honor and shame. We will explain how sin brings shame between us and God; but, God sent His Son Jesus to take away our shame and bring us to a place of honor with God. When we are sharing with Animists we will emphasize the power of Jesus over other god’s. We will say your gods are powerless to save you from demons, but Jesus is more powerful than the demons in fact He crushed Satan’s head under His feet! We will then proceed to story through the Gospel. Pray that we would share the Gospel in an appropriate way and not water down the Gospel.
5. Please pray that we would be obedient and submissive to the Holy Spirit. We know that God is already at work among the Mamprusi people and we want to join Him in His work. Please pray that we would develop rapid immediate obedience to the direction of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would convict us of sin and conform us more and more into the image of Jesus. Pray that we would learn to rely on Him on a daily basis.

Thank you for your prayers! 

Serving Him,

The Welchs

How to remain pure in a pornographic culture:

Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.-Matthew 5:8

The International Mission Board has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to pornography and extra-marital affairs. One mistake in the area of sexual purity will force a Christian worker to return home. We have heard a lot of talks concerning the need for sexual purity. I choose to memorize Matthew 5:8 this week because the verse deals directly with the issue of purity.

Why do I want to remain pure on the field? Why should I value purity? Why must I bounce my eyes when I see a beautiful woman who is not my wife? Why should I refrain from looking at porn? I believe the answer to each of those questions is given in Matthew 5:8. Why bounce my eyes? I want to see God. Why remain pure? I want to see God. Why refrain from porn? I want to see God.

The pleasure of seeing God is greater than the pleasure of porn or any other sexual sin. Who is this God who is greater than sexual sin? He is the God who spoke the world into existence. He is the God who clothed Adam and Eve when they sinned. He is the God who covenanted with Abraham, Moses, David, and us. He is the God who choose Israel from all of the other nations. He is the God who rescued Israel from captivity and destroyed the Egyptians in the Red Sea. He is the God who is mad when people disobey Him and His sad that people can not come back to Him. He is the God who instituted the sacrificial system. He is the God who sent prophets into the world to call men and women back to Him. He is the God who left the glories of Heaven to live among us. He is the God who has been tempted in every way like us, yet without sin. He is the God who calms storms, feeds the 5,000, casts out demons, and raises the dead. He is the God who was beaten for our sins. He is the God who had nails driven into His hands and feet and a spear thrust into His side. He is the God who died. He is the God who three days later ROSE from the grave. He is the God who sends us out on mission. He is the God who sits at the right hand of the Father. He is the God who is slow to anger and rich in faithful love. He is the God who is forgiving of wrongdoing and rebellion. He is the God who will destroy Satan with one word from His mouth. He is the God who has chosen His elect from before the foundation of the world. He is the God who holds the world in His hands. He is the God who is our greatest treasure and source of joy. He is the God who satisfies the thirsty and cares for the orphans and widows. He is the God who placed the stars in the sky and knows them by name. He is the God who formed us in our mother's womb and knows every hair on our head.

Why remain pure? The answer is simple, I want to see God! 

Do NOT Worry!

Don’t worry about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication make your requests known to God.-Philippians 4:6

            Philippians 4:6 is a popular bible verse which a lot of Christians have memorized. I choose to memorize/study the verse while at training due to my worrying personality. I tend to worry a lot. When I read/recite Philippians 4:6 I am reminded that I am not to worry about anything! I worry about Ghana; I worry about language learning, team dynamics, our paycheck, and living without air conditioning. I worry about what will happen when we return from the field; will we find jobs, a house, cars, insurance? These days I tend to worry a lot.

            Paul rebukes my worrying and commands that in everything through prayer and supplication I must make my requests known to God. I am commanded/ we are commanded NOT to worry but to give all of our worries to God through prayer. When I am sitting in class or lying in bed and I begin to think about an issue which will cause me to worry; I am commanded to stop and in that moment turn it over to God in prayer. If I don’t worry about anything and give everything over to God in prayer than I would be able to pray without ceasing and would grow closer to Him.

            Praying about everything and making my requests known to God forces me to get real with Him. I share with God my deepest thoughts, fears, and worries. When I share my deepest thoughts, fears, and worries I grow more intimate with Him. I place my worries at the feet of the one who owns it all. I no longer need to worry about the future concerning jobs because I have given it over to the One who provides for the birds of the air and if He provides for them, than I can trust He will provide for me. I don’t have to worry about language learning because I have laid the worry at the feet of the one who made the tongue and who instituted all of the languages. I don’t have to worry about team dynamics because I have laid the worry at the feet of the one who has lived for all time in a team. When I give my worries to God; I grow closer and more intimate with God. God is teaching me not to worry but in everything by prayer and supplication to make my requests known to Him.

August Newsletter 2

If you want to go fast; go alone. If you want to go further go together.-African Proverb

Fellow Laborers,        

 We have switched gears these past two weeks. We have switched from focusing on where we stand with God as an individual and as an organization; to focusing on where we are going and who the people our we are engaging with the Gospel. We have had sessions on Anthropology, Worldview, Animism, How to learn languages, as well as assigned reading every night. We are mentally engaged from sun-up to sun-down. In the midst of our study God has been enlarging our hearts for Ghana and the Mamprusi people. If you would like to read about Ghana, the tribes we will be working with (Mamprusi), or their primary belief system (Animism), please follow these links…

Fast Facts on Ghana

Fast Facts on Mamprusi

Fast Facts on Animism

            The class which has impacted the both of us was on language learning. In the session we were able to pick up practical tips for learning a language as well as understanding the main reason for learning another language. The main reason why Julia and I will give the majority of our time to learning Mampruli is that we desire to share with the Mamprusi tribe that God speaks their language. God values the Mamprusi tribe and we show that value by speaking to them in their native language or mother tongue.

Praises:

• We have made it through our first two days of shots. Julia has received six (five on one day), and I have had four. We made it through without crying too hard! We learned that the total cost for the both of us to receive all our shots is $3,400 and we don’t have to pay a dime. We are thankful for Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the thousands of churches which give every year so that we could receive all our shots.
• We have mailed off our Visa applications to the Burkina Faso and Ghana embassy.
• We have remained connected to Jesus growing in our relationship with Him. In our quiet time we have begun utilizing SPECKA questions (if you’d like to know send me an email and I will explain) which help us dive into a text.
• We had sessions on church planting found throughout the Book of Acts as well as a focus on T4T (Training for Trainers). God is growing our heart for church planting. We are excited and eagerly anticipating planting a church in Ghana which will remain after we leave.
• We have learned from the field that we will be driving a Jeep (not a Wrangler) in Ghana. We are excited to go off road and maybe teach the Africans how to do a little muddin.
• We have been able to serve our quad mates by babysitting in order to give the couples with kids a night out.

Prayer Requests:

1.             Please pray for our health. Sickness is spreading around training and two individuals in our quad have caught the flu. Please pray that we will remain healthy for the rest of training.
2.            Please pray that we would redeem the time at training. We have been here four weeks and the classes are beginning to become a chore. Please pray that we would not just make it through but rather we would focus, learn, and not complain.
3.             Please pray that our VISA paperwork would be processed and approved by Burkina Faso and Ghana.
4.             Please pray that we would retain all of the information we are learning about Ghana and our people group.
5.             Please pray that God would erase negative thoughts in our mind when it comes to language learning. Please pray that we would begin to trust God for our language and cultural acquisition.

Finally, I have been challenged these past two weeks from Revelation 12:11. If you would like to read my devotion please follow this link…Am I willing to die?

Thank you for your prayers and support. You are a valuable member of our team. We would be unable to accomplish all that we desire if it wasn’t for your faithful prayer. Thank you!

Serving Him,

The Welchs

Am I willing to Die?

They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.-Revelation 12:11

            These past two weeks I have been meditating on Revelation 12:11. While meditating on this verse I have been asking myself, “Am I willing to die for the Mamprusi people of Northern Ghana to come to know the Lord? Am I willing to lay down my life if that is what God requires?”

            The individuals quoted in Revelation 12:11 understood that Satan was defeated and thrown out of Heaven because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ death on the cross gave the martyrs quoted in verse 11 power over Satan and his forces. The individuals confessed Christ even in the face of death; they never backed down. They were willing to die rather than reject Christ and I have been asking myself if I am willing to do the same.

            I would like to say that I would answer yes in a heartbeat; however, I am not sure if my reasons for saying yes will sustain me in Ghana. At first I thought I would answer yes because being martyred would make a cool story and will allow me to become famous. These aren’t valid reasons which will sustain me in Ghana. A valid reason for dying would be if I truly cared about the Mamprusi. Thinking on this question I came to realize that I am going to preach the Gospel and maybe die not because I love the Mamprusi people but because God loves them!

            I realized that God loves the Mamprusi and His love working through me will cause my heart to also love them; therefore, I can be willing to go no matter the cost. If I am ready to die it frees me to preach Christ. If I am ready to die I am able to live in the village without AC. If I am ready to die I am able to eat the “nasty” food which they will serve me (bush rat, caterpillar, and snake). If I am ready to die I am able to share Christ with Muslims and entire villages. I am freed when I come to a place where I am willing to die.

            This meditation is being used by the Holy Spirit to transform my heart. God’s heart is for the nations and God is growing my heart for the nations; specifically for the Mamprusi people of Ghana! God’s heart desires the Mamprusi worship Him; therefore, my heart desires the Mamprusi to worship God and if asked I am willing to die for the Mamprusi to come to know Christ. Christ is drawing the Mamprusi to God and His plan cannot fail! If asked I am willing to die so that the Mamprusi may know and worship the true and living God. 

Fast Facts on Mamprusi People

• Ethnic group located in Northern Ghana and Togo
• 450,000 living in Ghana
• Largest tribe: 10,000 Smallest tribe: below 100
• Language: Mampruli
• Ruling tribe in Northern Ghana (Nalerigu); place a great emphasis on Spirit Worship in everyday life and ceremonies.
• Agriculture and animal raising: sheep, goat, and guinea foul are kept by most households
• Men and women both participate in all aspects of farming
• Men aspire to polygnous marriages
• Kola nuts are given to the head of the wife's family by the husband to receive her hand in marriage.
• A woman is allowed to leave a marriage if she is unhappy, however, she is NOT allowed to return to her family.
• The village chief is both a religious and political institution.

• Held responsible for the fertility of the land and people
• Primary Religion: Animism and Folk Islam
• Number of Christians: About 2%
• Adult men, particularly, are hard to reach with the Gospel.

*Info from Go West Africa.org

*Pics Haun and Go West Africa.org

Fast Facts on Ghana:

• Ghana is the closest landmass to the artificial "center" of the world.

• Ghana is known as the "trigger" of Africa because it is a respected and influential nation on the continent.
• Ghana is hot! The North is hotter and drier. Dec-Feb. coolest and driest time of the year. March-July is very hot, and August-November is the rainy season.
• March 6, 1957 Ghana gained it's independence from Britain.
• National Flag is red, yellow, and green with a black star. Red: blood of those who died defending freedom; Gold: great mineral wealth of Ghana; Green: lush forests. Black Star: symbol of unity in the struggle against colonialism.
• Human relationships are considered the most valuable possession.
• Land of music, festivals, and traditions.
• 60% Christian, 20% Muslim, 20% Animism
• Right hand is used for everything. (NEVER shake with your left)
• A Ghanian is never too busy to talk, help or be your friend.
• You are not allowed to leave a Ghanians home without a full belly. (MUST finish your plate, if you don't the host will be offended).
• Sexes do not eat together. Men with men, women with women.
• Everyone eats from the same communal bowl. Anyone may join!

*Taken from Culture Guide: Ghana

Fast Facts on Animism:

Fast Facts on Animism:

The belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena.-Dic. Definition

The worship of spiritual powers who indiscriminately and unpredictably bring both good and evil to their followers.-Quest for Power by Robert Blaschke

Have a fatalistic worldview

Belief in a Supreme Being which is high above us, there are lesser gods, spirits and ancestors which we are able to communicate with. People speak with these lesser gods through witch doctors, shamans, and sangomas.

Motivated by a search for PEACE and harmony. They live in FEAR of the lesser gods.

Always searching for peace or Alafia. Alafia is an ideal state of being for the animist which is characterized by balance and harmony. Alafia can be lost and imbalance created when something bad or out of the ordinary happens. When Alafia is lost, there is a fear driven urgency for its restoration.

Tips on Sharing the Gospel with Animists:

Address FEAR-contrast fear with rest, freedom, and security in Christ (Col. 1:27-29, 2:15; 1 John 4:16-18).

Emphasize relationship with God through Christ.

Build relationships with the people-they must see you modeling it over time. It can take YEARS.

Focus on solid Biblical Teaching-Don’t get too dependent on other methods/strategies. Strive for understanding and transformation in Christ- (Col. 1:27, Is. 43:10).

*Taken from David Hooten's teaching on Animism at ILC.

August Newsletter

Prayer is God’s invitation for us to co-operate with Him.-Dr. Tom Eliff

            

Julia and I arrived at Field Personnel Orientation on Monday, July 30^th. We quickly moved into our quad and met all of our quad mates for the next two month. We even received official name tags! Monday-Friday we are in training from 8:00-3:00pm. These first eight days we have focused on that which is most important on the field; our spiritual walk with God. We have had sessions on prayer, Bible study, Spiritual Warfare, and Doctrine. We leave training each day exhausted from the mental exercise of focusing and learning! Last Sunday, we had a mapping ceremony where everyone at training stood up before the group and said where they were going and placed a picture of their family on a map of the world. I wish I could have taken a picture of the map, however, due to security concerns I was unable. Julia and I were amazed at the dedication of the families which are being sent out. We are in class every day with giants of the faith; these dads and moms have left everything to follow Christ and serve the people in the country they are headed. I was brought to tears singing praises to our Savior with these incredible men and women. We are thankful for their commitment.

           

        One of our assignments while in training is to memorize six verses of Scripture which will be useful to us while on the field or in training. I will be including a breakdown of the verses in each newsletter. If you would like to read my thoughts on the verse for these two week please follow this link (A Slave to My Lord)

Praises:

•  We have arrived safely at Field Personnel Orientation. We our bonding with our quad-mates over Spades, Ticket to Ride, and Catch Phrase.
• We have had the opportunity to meet a couple who has been to Nalerigu. They said the village was rural with only one paved road, however, the people of Nalerigu and the team which works at the hospital is filled with joy and have a love for life which is contagious.
• We have begun to unplug from our life here in America. We have begun to shut off our cell phones (yes, they can do that), we have no television (what’s the Olympic medal count?), and very little access to the internet (yes, you can survive without Google).
•  We have been challenged to study the Bible, pray, and serve others.

Prayer Requests:

1.       Please pray that we would redeem the time at training; rather than looking towards our assignment. Pray that we would focus in the sessions, learn from our teachers, and enjoy life with our quad mates.
2.       Please pray that we would remember and live our John 15:5. Please pray that every day in the midst of our busy schedule we would spend time with God in prayer and the Word.
3.       Please pray that we would serve our quad-mates.
4.       Please pray for our Visas. We will be applying for our Ghanaian Visa as well as our Burkina Faso visa. Please pray that we would correctly fill out the forms and we would receive the visas in a timely manner.
5.       Please pray for us on Friday, August 10^th and Friday, August 17^th. We will be receiving shots on those days. We each have to receive three-four shots on each day. Pray we don’t cry like babies.
6.       Please pray for the country of Ghana. The Ghanaian President passed away last week and the country will be in mourning August 8-10. Please pray for Ghana’s leadership.

Julia and I are thankful for Southern Baptists, Lottie Moon, and the Cooperative Program. We are thankful for the sacrifice of so many which make it possible for us to be here. Thank you.

Serving Him,

T and Julia Welch

A Slave to My Lord:

In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, “We are good-for-nothing slaves; we’ve only done our duty.”-Luke 17:10

            

           Luke 17:10 and the parable which Jesus tells before the verse came crashing down against my pride like a ton of bricks these past two weeks. Jesus in verses 7-9 tells a parable of a Lord who has a slave working out in the field and when the slave finishes working hard, the Lord expects the slave to make his dinner. The slave does all of this work without a thank you or any act of gratitude. Even more shocking the slave doesn’t even expect to be thanked! Jesus than sums up the parable in verse ten in which Jesus says, “In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, “We are good-for-nothing slaves; we’ve only done our duty.”

            

           My pride was crushed when I read this verse. Individual have been patting me on the back and congratulating me for going to the field for the past two months. Individuals unintentionally began to place Julia and I on a pedestal and I am ashamed to say I believed them. I began to think that I was the best thing to ever happen to missions and that God needed me. I began to believe that because I said yes to missions, God would bless me, my family and our ministry.

            

           God used verse seventeen to remind me that He does not need me. God will accomplish His purpose with or without me. I am nothing more than a slave obeying my Lord. When I view myself as a slave it teaches me not to expect anything from Christ. I am able to do whatever my Lord asks of me even if it means laying down my life. Christ, my Lord, called me to go and I obeyed. I am not special, I am not extra spiritual, rather, I am nothing more than a slave who heard my Lord’s voice and obeyed.

           

             In conclusion, God has been stripping me of my sense of entitlement these past two weeks. God has been teaching me that His Kingdom does not need me and I have the privilege of serving God. In the same sense that it is foreign for a slave to disobey His Lord it should be foreign for us to disobey our Lord. Have you been obeying your Lord?