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First Baptist Church in Ghana
Reflections Day Seven
Written by Linda Bennett
Distractions
Still in Kumasi, a city north west of Ghana’s capital Accra, this was the first day the team separated. The FBC ministers and Pastor attended a meeting while the rest of the team attended other activities. Our day began with several distractions from our planned itinerary. I had intended to run an errand and attend the meeting with Pastor. Then the first distraction hit, Nana (FBC member and Ghanaian native) had phone battery and car troubles, so we both missed the meeting. Afterwards, there were a series of minor distractions that required our attention. It was as if Satan was trying to divide and conquer, but he did not succeed.
Fortunately, we reconnected with Pastor and the ministers a few hours later for a visit to the Ghana Baptist Seminary. We arrived in time to hear Pastor deliver an inspirational message to aspiring ministers. Afterwards we spoke with students and exchanged contact information with some of them.
Deacon King also apprised me that the meeting held earlier was both informative and interesting, especially the history pertaining to the governance of the Ghanaian Baptist Convention by the Southern Baptist in the USA. Some of the concerns the Southern Baptist had stemmed from cultural differences, such as Ghanaians incorporating the playing of drums in their worship services.
In the evening, we had an interesting ride to church on bumpy winding uneven roads. But we made it safely to the evening church service at Asokwa Baptist Church, headed by Reverend Asante. We entered the church during praise and worship which was being sung in the language of Twi (che – long “e”). Despite the language differences, we still felt the presence of God. Pastor’s message reminded us that we are all God’s special children, whether born in Ghana or the USA.
The service ended with a special presentation of matching traditional Ghanaian cotton wax garments for Pastor and First Lady (wait ‘til you see them!). They were so excited; they put their outfits on right over the clothes they were wearing. Donna pulled out a white accordion fan and strutted off the pulpit with the flair of her skirt swaying as she moved. It was a fun moment for all.
Speaking of distractions, we got so distracted that we boarded the bus and left Deacon King at the church. Don’t worry; we were reunited with Deacon King at a “Tea” that was hosted at Nana’s house.
The distractions continued… On the way to Nana’s house we found the roads even more challenging than we had already experienced. Then, when we almost reached Nana’s there was a blackout in the neighborhood (according to Nana brief blackouts are not unusual). However, true to form, Nana still served the team. By candlelight we sipped tea and ate pastries as Pastor led a discussion about our impressions of the trip thus far. Despite the challenges of the day, nothing could distract us from our mission.
The team felt that the fact finding mission was an extraordinary, sometimes overwhelming and highly emotional experience, from meeting the street kids and AIDS patients to suffering through hearing the real history of our ancestors’ treatment in the slave castle.
Pastor and Donna thanked the team and challenged us to remember how this mission came about. It began with the way our First Baptist family treated two Ghanaian members, one of whom was a former member of Reverend Asante’s church, and the other who became a King.
We need to continue to be careful how we treat each other and strangers!
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people
have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 NIV