We Are Rewarded

Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord. ­–Ephesians 6:7-8

Life as a missionary is hard. There are many days when I hear a knock on the door and I am paralyzed with immobility because I know it will be another beggar/hungry person/scam artist coming to my door to ask something from the white man. When I go out into Nalerigu, people aren’t running up and asking me what they must do to be saved and no-one is thanking me for leaving the comforts of America to come and live among them. I see pictures on Facebook from my friends and family and I long to be able to spend the holidays with them.

Recently, I have memorized/mediated on Ephesians 6:7-8. I am in awe of the fact that I serve a God who sees and knows all and will reward every act of obedience. I am thankful for a God who knows the sacrifices Julia and I are making and will reward us. God will not only reward missionaries but will reward everyone who lives in obedience to God’s will for their life. All of us are rewarded based on our obedience in obeying God’s direction. Julia and I will not be rewarded more for being missionaries; rather we are rewarded based on our obedience in obeying God’s direction.

What does this mean? It means that if God has called you to be a Doctor; than work hard, obey God and great will be your reward. If God has called you to be a teacher; work hard, obey God and great will be your reward. If God has called you to work construction; work hard, obey God and great will be your reward and if God has called you into the ministry; work hard, obey God and great will be your reward. If God has called you into _______________; work hard, obey God and great will be your reward.

God the Father loves all of His children and will disown none of them, but He does not equally reward the obedient, generous and hardworking children the same as He does the disobedient, stingy and lazy ones. We all will inherit Heaven if we know Jesus Christ but there will be those in Heaven with greater rewards.

My encouragement to everyone reading this post is the same encouragement which I tell myself every morning. God sees and knows all and will reward every act of obedience. Brothers and Sisters God has called all of us into our profession and in our profession we must work hard, obey God, because our reward in Heaven will be great!

A Letter to My Daughter

Dear Piper,

Your mom and I are anxiously counting down the days till your arrival. We have read up on all of the "What to expect when you're expecting", and "What to expect during your baby's first year." We are taking bets on whose eyes you will have, whether you will have your mom's good looks or my personality. For our sake we hope you don't have my personality in high school, but, that will be for another letter. We can't wait for the day when we will be able to hold you in our arms.

As you grow you will encounter and learn many things during your lifetime. Most girls enjoy watching the Disney princesses. We are sure that you will grow to love the adventures of Belle, Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, Ariel and all of the other princesses. While watching the princess movies a desire will grow within you to one day be rescued by a prince charming. We want you to know that desire has been placed their by your Heavenly Father. Your prince charming has already come in the flesh to save you and fallen humanity. You and all of humanity were held captive by his power and He came to save you. Wait, I think I'm getting ahead of myself. Allow me to share this story in proper fashion...

Once upon a time. 

To every unbelieving eye, the Great Dragon was the crowned victor, standing over Jesus Christ in the ring of human history, spewing blasphemies, sitting upon his face, placing a crown of thorns upon his head in mockery, and pulling out Jesus' beard as he lay beaten and stripped naked on the dust of his own earth. Placing a knee on one limb at a time, the Great Dragon held in his hands a large hammer and spikes to nail Jesus' body to a Roman cross. With his army of demons and human servants cheering their king and his conquest, the Great Dragon laughed loudly while nailing a mocking banner above Jesus' head that read, "King of the Jews." The Great Dragon raised up the broken, beaten and bloodied crucified Jesus for all to see, so that Jesus would be shamed by the people and spirits he had made who gathered to cover him with spit, curses, and jeering. Jesus breathed his last as the Dragon raised his head in pride to declare his ultimate victory as new King and Lord. Meanwhile, Jesus' body was laid in a tomb, and his followers left in utter silence, leading a path muddied with tears behind them.

But...

Three days later, Jesus your Warrior King rose in victory over death. Seeing Jesus alive, the Great Dragon snatched you as his captive, drew his sword of law, covered with the blood of your sin, and thrust its razor-sharp point at your head, naming every sin you have committed. Smiling, Jesus stepped forward and declared that he already paid the penalty for your sins on the cross, canceled any right Satan had to hold you captive, and defeated your Enemy along with his servants and their works and effects in your life. 

With fear in his eyes, the Great Dragon dropped his sword from your head and was overcome with dread as he understood the victory Jesus had won for you through his seeming defeat. Drawing his own sword of truth, Jesus landed a crushing blow on the head of the Great Dragon, shattering his helmet and bloodying his head. Jesus then stepped toward the Great Dragon and thrust his sword againist his mouth, shattering his teeth and sending the violently down his throat. Then, with a blow to his armor, Jesus doubled the Great Dragon over, leaving him gasping for air and unable to bellow his curses and blasphemies anymore. With a crushing elbow to the back of the head, Jesus dropped the Great Dragon into the very dust in which Jesus himself had lain three days prior, and the blood of the Great Dragon fell upon the dried blood of your Savior. Jesus stripped the Great Dragon of all his armor and clothing as his bowed head and bloodied mouth moaned in the agony of utter defeat. 

Taking your chin in his hand, Jesus lifted your face, looked you in the eye, and told you that your sins were forgiven, your Enemy conquered, and your life liberated from captivity, and that God is now your Father, new life is your gift, and heaven is your home. As tears streamed down your face, Jesus asked you always to remember to see yourself as he does, not in light of what you have done or what has been done to you, but rather solely by what he has done for you as your victorious Warrior King. 
At that moment, you felt freedom for the first time. At that moment, what Jesus had done for you was made known to you by God the Holy Spirit. At that moment, you stepped over the fallen Dragon and embraced Jesus with a passionate joy you had previously never known. 

You were finally known. 
You were finally loved. 
You were finally safe.

You were finally free.

Our prayer for you Piper is that you would one day come to know this prince charming and follow him all the days of your life. We love you!

Serving Him,

Your loving father

September Post

Heal the sick, and tell them, the kingdom of God has come near you.- Luke 10:9

PICTURES:

Patients waiting to be seen on a clinic day. Clinic is run Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 7:00 am-6:30 pm. On an average day the hospital has 600 patients.

BMC was started in 1958 by George Faile. The hospital see an average of 190,000 patients every year. 

Patients waiting to be seen by a doctor.

Construction for a new waiting room and administrative offices. Africans don't trust banks or savings accounts so when they have  money left over they invest in building projects. They will build until they run out of savings and than the building will sit until they acquire more savings. We haven't seen anyone working on this building since November of last year.

Everyday patients are saved at the hospital. When patients leave the hospital the chaplains and I drive out to various villages to help them become connected to a church and ensure they are still taking their medication.

Nutrition Rehabilitation Unit for malnourished children. 

If you thought American Outhouses had the worst smell imaginable, think again.

We do a lot of waiting. A patient could arrive at 10, wait all day and still not be seen by a doctor. +

Photo of the hospital under construction in 1958. Since that day millions of lives have been impacted because of the BMC. I can't go anywhere in Ghana without hearing about the work of the BMC. +

A mother feeding her son at the Nutrition Center. +

Operation. Trust me the nose does not glow red if they hit the wrong spot. +

Patients being seen by a doctor and volunteers on the pediatric ward. +

Volunteers performing a routine ultrasound.+

Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday the chaplains preach an evangelistic message to the crowds who are gathered. Everyday lives are transformed both physically and spiritually at the BMC.

A life being transformed by the Gospel

Baby Welch received her first package of new clothes. We were amazed at how small the clothes are.

Julia at 20 and 26 weeks. She is growing and the people of Nalerigu have begun to notice. One lady told Julia that she was now a beautiful woman. Africans love seeing a white person pregnant.

New life begins everyday at the hospital. Both physically and spiritually. God is good! +


STORY:

The call can be heard well before sunrise. Life in Nalerigu, Ghana begins at 4:00 am with Muslims rising to pray. Animists also rise early to make sacrifices and think of how they can appease their gods. In the midst of this darkness; shines the bright light of the Gospel. This light is the Baptist Medical Centre or the BMC. The BMC was started by George Faile in the 50's to provide quality medical care and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, over 600 patients visit the hospital everyday and the hospital sees on average 190,000 patients yearly. Every patient has an opportunity to hear the Gospel and be transformed both spiritually and physically. We have heard 100's of stories of lives being transformed but I only have space to share three stories...

Julia and I minister to patients with Tuberculosis. One of the patients, "M" was a mechanic in Kumasi which is a city about eight hours to the south of Nalerigu. When "M" became ill no-one was able to diagnose his illness. He visited every hospital and medicine man in Kumasi, yet, no one was able to help. He gradually became worse until he was sacked from his job and due to his weak lungs had to be carried everywhere. A family member heard about the BMC and organized transportation to the hospital. When "M" arrived he was rushed to a doctor who immediately recognized the symptoms of TB and began treatment. Today; he is able to walk with the help of a cane and has two months left of treatment. He will eventually return to Kumasi in good health and has been promised his old job when he returns. He praises God and the doctors at the BMC for saving his life. "M" represents just one of millions whose lives have been transformed over the years.

"A" is a former animist who arrived at the BMC trusting in amulets, talisman, and medicine men to heal her. When all of her animistic practices failed her she agreed to come to the BMC. While at the BMC she encountered the power of Christ. She encountered Christ through the love which the doctors showed her. She encountered Christ through the daily prayers with Chaplain T and she encountered Christ through the Bible stories shared by Chaplain Rebecca and Adam. One morning by the power of the Holy Spirit she took off her amulets and charms and trusted in Jesus Christ. "A" represents just one of millions whose lives have been transformed over the years.

"L" is a former agnostic doctor who agreed to serve at the BMC for two months. Before coming "L" sent an email inquiring about the religious commitment which would be required of her during her stay. When she learned that nothing religious was required of her she agreed to come. God began pursuing "L" as soon as she stepped onto the BMC compound. At the BMC "L" began to ask questions about Christianity. "L" spent two hours at our house one Thursday afternoon asking question after question about the claims of Christ. "L" was confronted by Jesus's words in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no-one comes to the Father except through me." One night during a devotion I shared the Gospel with numerous volunteers who weren't believers. "L" approached me afterwards and said that she knew that she needed to become a Christian but wasn't ready. I didn't press her but urged her to continue reading her Bible and the Gospel of John. The next night over dinner "L" surrendered her life to Christ. "L" represents just one of thousands of volunteers whose lives have been transformed over the years. 

God is doing amazing things at the BMC. New life begins everyday; both physically and spiritually. 

DEVOTIONS:

The Visible God

The Kingdom Family Commitment

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. New life begins everyday at the BMC; both physically and spiritually. Pray for those who are saved at the hospital. Pray they become connected to a local church and begin to grow. Pray that patients would realize that power doesn't reside in amulets and talisman but rather in Jesus Christ. Pray for the volunteers who come and serve at the hospital. Pray they are encouraged and transformed because of their time here.
2. Julie has entered her third trimester. We are 2/3 of the way there! I don't know whether to shut for joy or shake with nerves. Baby Welch is kicking, moving and growing by leaps and bounds. Please pray that God prepares Julia and I to be Godly parents. Pray that God saves Baby Welch at a young age and she walks with Him all the days of her life.
3. We had a volunteer team come and serve the patients with tuberculosis this past month. They repaired ten houses and saw five people repent of their sins and trust in Christ. Please pray for us as we seek to disciple new believers. Pray for the Pastors that they would shepherd their flock well.
4. The weather is changing once again. We will be coming out of rainy season where temperatures have been in the mid-upper 80's and entering into our second hot season. The temperature will once again return to over 100. Pray that we would find reprieve from the heat. Pray Julia remains comfortable in her third trimester.
5. Pray for Julia and I as we seek to be salt and light in the community. Pray we would have tongues to speak and ears to hear Maumprulli. Pray we would be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves when navigating culture.

Thank you for holding the rope for us!

Serving Him,

The 3 Welchs

+Picture taken by William Haun