Since late 2004 African Hope has been ministering in the Northern Region; predominantly in the West Gonja area with the Gonja tribe and the Fulani, which are nomadic herdsman. Many years of relationship building have come to fruition just this year, but not because I was being obedient. Sometimes God uses others to accomplish what he has called you to accomplish.
While visiting the North you soon discover the oppression, the famine, the depression and the fact that the area is predominantly Moslem. There is a direct correlation between all these factors. As you enter Larabanga you notice the deteriorating red mud brick buildings, the lack of any community infrastructure, and the heaviness of oppression. Just being in the area is physically draining, even the inhabitant are in bed by 9:00 PM and most nap for 2 hours each midday to escape the heat. The Northern Region is more tepid than the coastal region which lies on the equator due to the lack of oceanic tropical breezes and its proximity to the Sahara Desert. The heat alone can be inhibiting to outside activities and traveling. This all being said it is a place in need of Jesus and the truth that will set them free.
The 14 hour trip over very rough roads, through Moslem strongholds and into the Enemy’s Camp has been a very rewarding ministry. Many friendships have been established over the years and we have seen many come to Christ. A few years ago I was blessed to speak on the first day of a church plant. Under a mango tree we ministered to 42 people who were searching for the truth; it is one of those days you can never forget! We have been working with an orphanage, several schools and several churches in the area, but our focus switched to Larabanga, the home of the Ancient Mosque and a Moslem stronghold. In this village they introduce themselves as living in Larabanga which is 100% Moslem. It is always in there introduction. Being who I am, there was a challenge in this statement: So I prayed!
Over the years I had handed out Bibles to the Moslem leadership and to the Local Chiefs. Only a few thousand books had made it to this area, but there was a tremendous need for educational materials. In a dream God showed me a small library placed directly in front of the Ancient Mosque with a sign board with the words African Hope Library Larabanga. I asked the Imam of the Ancient Mosque and his Son, Sadik, to consider such a building to house educational materials for the youth of this village. I seeded the library with several boxes of books given to Sadik. We discussed the African Hope Library on several subsequent trips but the location was not good for them…not at the Mosque. I explained that it would draw attention to the mosque and that others would need to come to the area to enjoy the books, but they would not budge in their decision. So I prayed!
Prior to traveling to the USA for furlough in 2007 I made a final trip to Larabanga, made my petition, and asked them to partner in the construction of the library. Knowing that there was no money and little desire for the project we distribute several additional boxes of Christian Literature for an additional seed to this project. We returned to the USA and communicated with Sadik a few times through email; a two hour trip for him to reach the Internet Café. He did ask what types of books we would share and if he could put his study materials on the shelves. Of course he could, it was a library, not a seminary. While in the USA we collected another 100,000 books and had them shipped to Ghana, praying that some of them would reach the unreached in Larabanga.
Upon our return to Ghana we received many text and phone messages from Sadik. He notified us that the Library had been built and awaited the promised books. I was very skeptical, but explained I would visit him the first week in May with a team of pastors visiting from the USA. Much to my astonishment there a new concrete building with a tin roof; directly in front of the Ancient Mosque. As you park to visit the mosque you must park your car in front of the library building. Sadik did a grand opening as we arrived; he was quite proud of the construction and pointed out that this building is the newest and the nicest in the entire village. It was empty and needed shelves and books. Sadik was assured that Preston and I would come next month with books. We have delivered these books and now plan to bring another truckload next month; one thousand books that will be placed in the African Hope Library, Larabanga.
God showed me a valuable lesson, even when I thought this library project would never be accomplished. He completed this project using Moslems with no money, in a stronghold devoid of Christian, to build a library to house The Word. He is an awesome God!
Keep Praying
Pastor Charlie
Tags: accra, ancient mosque, books, budd, charlie, Charlie Budd, chief, christian, damongo, fulani, furlough, ghana, god, gonja, jesus, larabanga, library, mosque, muslim, nomad, nomadic, northern, Northern Region, preston, region, sadik
