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The construction of churches in communities that lack resources
is a tremendous testimony in our sharing together. The PC(USA)
provides a portion of the financial resources for materials and
the congregation provides the ministerial vision and labor. Many
of the congregations are the result of evangelism efforts of larger
congregations in district capitals where the congregants desire
to spread the gospel to villages where the church doesn’t
exist. The actual construction of the church building becomes
the local congregation’s vision and tool to engage non-believers.
In the Garu district in the Upper East Region of Ghana the church
is reaching out to many. New members to the church are typically
women and children, as the men will remain home on Sundays with
their various fetishes. However, the construction of chapels or
provision of roofs draws the attention of the local men who are
initially apprehensive to the church’s activities. Their
curiosity is drawn to the singing, preaching, and praying at the
sites to the point where in two communities many of the non-believing
men provided the necessary labor for the project and ultimately
joined the congregations, discarding their fetishes. The average
cost of an aluminum roof for a structure made from mud and cement
is approximately $1,500, which will last at least 20 years or
more with maintenance. The gospel is spreading in northern Ghana
in areas where there weren’t churches, and now there are
a number of unroofed structures awaiting assistance for a roof.
Wendy’s appointment as site coordinator for the PC(USA)’s
Young Adult Volunteer Program is well into its second year of
receiving volunteers. With God’s help, the program’s
inaugural year 2001-02 was a success, with volunteers serving
within the Presbyterian Church of Ghana as a librarian and teachers
of math, English and computer skills at both the primary and secondary
levels. The PCG openly received the volunteers and allowed them
to operate as their skills and gifts allowed. It was especially
rewarding to see the volunteers, despite the cultural differences,
work together as one body in God’s kingdom with God’s
people. Currently the 2002-03 volunteers are undergoing a one-month
orientation covering local language, Ghanaian history, and culture
from Akan and Ewe perspectives, depending on the work site. The
volunteers will serve both with the PCG and Evangelical Presbyterian
Church, Ghana. At the conclusion of orientation the volunteers
will depart to the sites where their assignments will include,
depending on the site, teaching English and math, developing office
procedures, and providing basic computing skills to staff members.
In addition to their work assignments, the volunteers will live
in communities of faith where they will learn from others as Christians
and individuals.
The children continue to grow and expand their horizons. All
are very active in the Accra Ridge Church’s youth ministry
and extracurricular activities at their school. Brandon (16) experienced
the workaday world this past summer, as he was a volunteer computer
assistant in the Ridge Church School computer lab. During the
past academic year, he played on the varsity soccer team and served
as volunteer teaching assistant at Labadi Primary School, helping
with English and math. For this academic year (11th grade in the
U.S.) Brandon continues on the soccer team and is a member of
the Student Representative Council. Lastly, and very importantly,
Brandon is preparing for his "O" level examinations
in June 2003 for physics, French, math, economics, English, and
English literature. Sometime between now and June he’ll sit
for the SAT.
Now Marcus (14) for the third year running is a member of the
Student Representative Council. Last year, he was the only member
of the French Club for the entire academic year, so we couldn’t
deny him the opportunity to participate in Séjours Internationaux
Linguistiques et Culturels in Paris for the month of July. In
Paris, he studied French language and culture, traveled throughout
the country, and lived with a local family. For his effort in
56 hours of language study, he received the designation of "excellent."
Justine (12) had a great school year and spent her free time
traveling with Wendy and the Young Adult Volunteers to various
sites in Ghana. She knows more about the Ghana and its people
than her brothers. This summer she attended tennis camp and really
got the opportunity to know the children in our neighborhood (many
of whom are squatters residing in vacant lots and incomplete homes).
This has been good for her as she experienced how Accra’s
young urban poor live and play. All of the children are Christian
and it is fascinating to hear them exchange Christian songs with
Justine. In fact, our identity is tied to Justine. In this particular
community we are known as Justine’s mother, father, or brothers.
We ask that you pray with us as we approach in new season in
our lives, Gar and Wendy will be seeking employment in down-sized
America; Brandon’s preparation for his exams, re-entry into
the American school system as a senior, and college selection
process; the family’s continued care and safety; the health
of our parents; and the work of our partners in the region.
Faithfully,
The Kelley Family
The 2000 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 33
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