Ghana Clothes Dryer

Partners in Literacy Ministries - PALM

While in Nairobi, Kenya, I was privileged to meet w/ some of the Board members from PALM (Partners in Literacy Ministries). PALM was formerly named LEFK (that’s Literacy & Evangelism Fellowship of Kenya). They changed their name so that they could more effectively reach Muslim nations to the north.

The Board of Directors is very actively engaged in the operational strategy of PALM. The Chairman is Daniel Muvengi, (at the forefront of the picture). Daniel also serves w/ World Vision as Regional Director – Faith & Development/Christian Commitments. Also seated at the table is my good friend Joseph Matheka (pictured at the far left), Executive Director – PALM.

The Beauty of Africa is not limited to its people

No One like JESUS!

While worshiping at one of Maxwell’s churches in southern Malawi, I was taught a new song. It goes like this, “I’ve searched here and there. I’ve searched everywhere. But there’s no one like Jesus!” It’s sung in Swahili and other dialects across Africa.

Complete w/hand motions, it’s become a new favorite of mine. There’s no one like Jesus! Amen?

Maxwell is an LEI missionary serving faithfully in his home country of Malawi.

Paying a Speeding Ticket

After preaching earlier in the day we were enjoying a late lunch at the airport while seeing a coworker off on a flight back to the US. I was extremely relaxed after an intense morning. I was relaxed until I got the word that my Monday flight had been CANCELLED.

A cancelled flight meant I needed to get back across Abidjan, Ivory Coast to my hotel, pack and then back to the airport to catch my only other flight option until Tuesday. If I missed the Sunday flight, I would miss a critical meeting w/ the Minister of Education in Ghana. The taxi driver understood my urgency. So in route to the hotel he exceeded the speed limit a bit. As we exited from a particular parkway, we were met by four police officers, one with a STOP sign and the others to give us a citation. But while the taxi was still in motion, Gregory (LEI’s W. Africa Director) extended a certain monetary sum out the window. It was graciously received by the official and off we speed. The ticket was paid without stopping, in time to catch my new flight.

Praise God for my W. African brother who knows how to navigate across the city of Abidjan quickly.

Presbyterian Revival

An hour drive NE of Accra, Ghana in the heart of the Dangme Presbytery, a revival is in process. It started on a Tuesday evening, the night before I arrived and would run through Friday. The theme was Holy Spirit empowering. I spoke on the primary purpose of the Holy Spirit filling, which is PROCLAMATION.

4 years ago I worked w/ LEI missionary Bob Biederman and a team of Dangme speakers to craft an LEI basic reader. Proclamation is at the heart of the Bible content LEI formatted readers. It was my privilege to be back and see the fruit of our labor.
The Dangme Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana had fully embraced literacy as a major focus to build up the body of Christ & reach out to it's community.

May God's Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit continue to empower the Dangme people!

1.8 Billion Nonreaders

As you enter the office of the bible society of Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, you are greeted by this banner . lt’s a beautiful thing to behold. Here is a major translation group embracing the need for literacy. Last month they hosted a literacy symposium to highlight the need for future literacy initiatives. The new head of the bible society for Africa met w/ myself and the Executive Director of Partners in Literacy Ministries and encouraged us to host an East Africa Literacy Training Institute in 2010.

Ivory Coast - Literacy Training Institute

It was my privilege to speak at the graduation ceremony of the Ivory Coast Regional Literacy Training Institute. 25 participants from 8 different countries participated in the two week training event. They represented Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Togo, and Sierra Leone. These participants were equipped to launch literacy programs in their respective countries.

May the Lord continue to bless the new vision for literacy mission across W. Africa. May God also continue to bless Rev. Gregory & Agnes Bangura in their leadership role as LEI W. Africa Regional Directors.

Friends from Benin

This is Daniel & Aboussam, LEI missionaries to Benin. I will be honored to give Daniel a certificate this evening certifying him as an "LEI Primmer Consultant".
This means he has achieved a level of expertise to lead a primer/basic reader construction team.

Congratulations to Daniel for this achievement!

5 pastors cannot read

I met my new friend, Rev. Musa Jambawai while attending the LEI Regional Literacy Training institute in the Ivory Coast May 2009. Musa is the conference secretary for the Methodist church of Sierra Lione. He is pictured standing next to a coco tree. The same tree which his family farms in the mountainous NE Sierra Lione to help support his ministry with the Methodist church.

Musa oversees a circuit of 20 churches, which include training and mentoring pastors the same number of pastors. Out of the 20 churches he serves, 5 pastors cannot read. Seeing the immense need for literacy among his people group, Rev. Musa has stepped forward to become the LEI Literacy Champion for the Sierra Lione Mende Language project. This will include a one wk. primer training and two wk. Mende primer construction project in 2010.

May God bless Musa and the Mende Language Project…


Acts 2:7 Mission statement “A Christian org. …..

Prayer & Praise 2009

Praise God for a recent note from Josephine (an LEI affiliate) from Rwanda.
She reports that 246,940 new BIBLE readers have been created since 1999
using LEI’s Bible content Kinyarwanda primer (basic reader).
123,470 of these new readers have decided to become followers of Jesus.

Thanks for your continued prayers for physical & spiritual protection for the family.
I also covet your prayers for safety for the journey as I travel to the following destinations...

APRIL 3 – Speaking @ Dundee Presbyterian Church, Omaha
21-24 – Speaking @ Knowledge & Connection/Mission Transformation Conference, Houston

AFRICA
MAY 19 - En route to ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (W. Africa) - Speaking @ the Ivory Coast
– International Literacy Training Institute. Meeting w/ LEI W. Africa missionaries
25 - Depart for ACCRA, Ghana – Meeting w/ Representatives from Dangme Presbytery,
General Secretary of Ghana Bible Society and Ghana Minister of Education
27 - Depart for overnight flight to NAIROBI, Kenya – Meeting w/ Joseph Matheka & Partners in Literacy Ministry staff
30 Depart for BLANTYRE, Malawi – Meeting w/ LEI missionary Maxwell Mpitanyanga

JUNE 2 - Depart for JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
3 - Return to the US
21 – Preaching @ First Presbyterian Church, Spirit Lake, Iowa
22 - Speaking at LEI’s International Literacy Training Institute (ILTI) Tulsa, OK
24-27 – Attending the Evangelism Presbyterian Church, General Assembly, Brighton, MI
28 – Speaking @ Cornerstone Evangelical Presby. Church, Brighton, MI

JULY 12 – Speaking @ LEI Mission Sunday at Kirk of the Hills, Tulsa
16 & 17 – Speaking at LEI’s ILTI, Tulsa