West Africa Ministry 2009 Trip

Day 7 - Kumasi, Ghana

Dear Family and Friends: Aug. 8, 2009

Today was probably one of the most rewarding days of my life and it is really hard to even put into words. The day started with breakfast with my dear friend, partner and mentor, Winston Lynch, and his wife Rita. He caught me up on his world-wide ministry and especially how the Kenya churches are progressing. Janice was feeling better now and joined us too.

The graduating students had a faculty robe specially made for me and brought it to my room to wear. When we arrived at 9:30 AM (it was scheduled to begin at 9AM), only the graduates were there. Things finally got going at around 10:30 and the seats were about half full, but there were 1500 chairs under four tents set up (last year they had 800 attend, but were hopeful for more this year). All 67 graduates had on cap and gowns and all their families and friends were in formal dress. Several had tribal costumes on and one tribe looked like the Dalai Lama with one shoulder bared.

Well by noon the place was full with many now standing or sitting on a concrete wall around the grounds, making over 2,000 people there!!!! It was on the scale of an ORU graduation. There was a paparazzi crew of 15 cameramen like Hollywood constantly taking video or pictures. Many denominational pastors were there, as well as some gov’t representatives. Nine nations were represented including the U.S. They love to dance here, and Janice and I joined in during the music program at the beginning. They really went wild when we did that. It was so joyous-just like I think getting to Heaven some day will be as they were all smiling and waving white handkerchiefs as well.

This Crio Bible College has only been operating three years, but now has 140 graduates and of those over 100 have been ordained!!! So now I see why the Lord had me spend all that time studying myself to write this curriculum over the past 15 years! As the founder of Crio Ministries/Bible Colleges I also was able to award copies of my book to the outstanding graduates which was a blessing too. Our basic curriculum has over 60 lessons, but they have added some other subjects and give the students practical training in evangelism and preaching. The vision to have highly trained and well prepared pastors to work with is becoming a reality way beyond my "poor power to think or imagine."

My message was on the "measure of faith" (Rom. 12:4) being specifically faith for your calling, and it was very well received. They are so responsive, and it is easy to get fired up for such a crowd. I told them there was a "great cloud of witnesses" (Heb. 12) of the missionaries who perished here watching them today and that they were celebrating along with us in the spirit. I am so humbled to have their ceilings as my floor to build the Kingdom on.

So I am not sure you would recognize me here, but it is on video if you dare to see. I then prayed for them to receive a fresh "measure of faith", followed by Bro. Winston laying hands on them each. Afterwards they received their diplomas and awards. Agatha, Dr. Gabriel’s wife, then gave a challenge to the graduates. Then Pastor Harrison’s wife gave Janice a dress made in the pattern only queens can wear here. Janice liked this status, but I told her it stops as soon as we leave, ha.

After dismissal many of the graduates wanted individual pictures made and I think my eyes are still seeing spots from the flashes. Then we had pictures made with the Crio pastors.

So at 3PM we left and stopped at a craft show nearby with many of the artists, woodcarvers and seamstresses there to show their wares. We found the quality to be some of the finest we have seen in Africa, and we bought many souvenirs and grandkid gifts at very reasonable prices.

When arriving back at the hotel we finally had some free time alone, so we went to the pool to swim and relax. Then we had a buffet dinner that they called "BBQ evening", but Wild Horse in Okla. is still the best for me. I did have some flank steak that was very tender (usually in Africa all their beef is cooked well done and very tough).

Tomorrow we speak at Bro. Harrison’s church and then prepare to go home. Thanks for all your prayers as this trip is monumental to our ministry and service to Him.

In His mysterious ways, Ron and Janice