ADVENTURES in GHANA - Andrew Strom
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
by Andrew Strom
I just got back from my trip to Ghana in West Africa and I'd like
to thank all those who have been praying. Like all my times in
Africa it was a pretty amazing trip.
By far the hardest thing to deal with in Ghana was the heat. It
was just extremely hot and humid - more so than even Nigeria.
Even though I had a fan spinning right above my head like a giant
helicopter there were times when I just could not bear the heat.
For the first time ever I had to twice pour buckets of cold water
over my head and just stand under the fan trying to cool myself.
Even the sheets of the bed felt warm to the touch and I would
sometimes have to sleep on my damp towel just to find some
cloth that didn't feel hot. Whew! A hot, hot country.
But like always in Africa I was amazed at the spiritual hunger
of the people - how they would stand for hours praising Jesus -
and how they would believe with a simple childlike faith. It really
was an inspiration.
On the last night of our outdoor meetings I was teaching on
Healing and "Full Body Ministry." I explained that God has given
gifts to every Spirit-filled member of His body - and that we are
"all ministers." To demonstrate I called for several sick or injured
people to come forward for healing in the name of Jesus. I told
everyone to observe the simple way I was praying for the sick -
because they would all be doing so in a minute! Praise Jesus -
those people were all healed and I then got all the rest of the
sick and injured people out to the front for prayer. But this time
it was not to be me that prayed. It was to be His body doing
the ministry. (These are highly unusual concepts in Africa).
And so they came. And the healings began. And people began
to crowd the microphone one-by-one telling how they had just
been healed in the name of Jesus. And not one "big man" doing
the healing. Just His simple, faithful children - laying hands on
the sick in His holy name.
As far as I could tell, every single person was healed. But the
thing that really blew my mind was the attitude of the people.
It was like they were not even a tiny bit surprised at the healings.
In the West people react in shock or surprise at sudden
healings like this - but to these people it was like there was
no surprise at all! It was totally the "expected" thing. Amazing.
What a childlike faith.
Of course, deep repentance was preached also - and the
renouncing of every idol and false god. This they did with
enthusiasm - even by name. There is a lot of this kind of
ministry needed in Africa. Virtually every person has been
"blood-covenanted" to a local deity as a baby - with incisions
made on the head or face of the child to seal the deal. We
always get people to cut-off and renounce all this stuff in the
name of Jesus. Very important.
And so, another fascinating trip to the African continent comes
to an end. I praise God for all He is doing in that vast land.
But I am equally convinced that much more is required - and
that there is a real need for foreign preachers in Africa -
especially Repentance preachers. If any of you have an open
door to minister in those nations, I strongly encourage you to go.
Special blessings and thanks again,
Andrew Strom.