Ashaiman ...
 by Ted Wheeler

The work in Ashaiman started back in 1982 when eight members from the Tema congregation began worshipping in Ashaiman in a rented classroom.

By the time that Renee, Trevor and I moved there in 1984 the church had grown to around 40 or so. Over the next few years the church grew to around 250. As a result we had to rent two rooms at the school and still this would not accommodate our growing numbers. During this time, due to the efforts of bro. Paul Addo, the grace of God and the work of the entire church we were able to buy 7 acres of land on the main highway going through town. Truly the providence of God was at work for shortly after obtaining the land the church had to discontinue meeting in the school. Quickly a temporary meeting place was erected on the church property and we moved to the new location.

By the time that we moved back to the States in 1989 a permanent meeting place was erected.

Since that time God has continued to bless the work and there are now four churches meeting in Ashaiman (Accra Road, Lebanon, Official Town & Sebrepor) with hundreds of members.

During our trip this past summer all four congregations worked together in a city wide gospel campaign. During the week studies were conducted house to house in the daytime and public preaching was held for two hours each night. The public preaching was held on the grounds of the school where the church first started meeting. It was during this week that we started our radio broadcasting and we had a live 30 minute program each morning at 5:30 am.

As a result of all of this work there was a tremendous response throughout the community. Every where the brethren went people said they had heard the preaching on the radio and the church and the gospel were warmly welcomed.

Although it was very tiring, after getting in bed around midnight each night following the public preaching and then having to get up at 4:30 each morning to conduct the radio program, it was rewarding to see all the brothers and sisters in Ashaiman from various congregations working hand in hand.

During morning services at Accra Road I preached a sermon on church organization stressing the need for every church to be maturing toward having an eldership. There were many questions so I returned on Sunday evening and we spent a couple hours discussing the eldership. The church is now engaged in an in-depth study of the eldership with the goal of appointing qualified men in the congregation to begin serving as elders by mid-summer. (It is my hope and prayer that if elders are appointed this summer that I might be able to be with them on that occasion.)

The Accra Road church has also broken ground on building a two-story school building to accommodate the Ashaiman Christian Centre (grades K-8). Due to the generosity of a Christian sister we were able to send $ 5,000.00 to help with the construction. Recently, they were able to pour the concrete flooring and have begun working on the columns.

The churches in Lebanon and Official Town are currently in the process of putting up their own meeting places. The Sebrepor church is currently in the process of trying to pay for a piece of land so that they can begin work on a meeting place.

Truly the Lord has blessed the work in Ashaiman. The brethren ask for your continued prayers and support.