God’s word is always needed by everybody every minute of the day” the words of Mr.  John Otoo an In –Touch listener who visited the staff in the Ministry’s Center office.

Programs Manager presenting Mr. John Otoo’s prize to him

He said he had been a listener for almost 3 years now and during this period some major  incidents had occurred  in his life.  The only thing that had given him hope was the ‘In-Touch’ messages that came out of his radio every Saturday morning and at 7:15am by the Lutheran Media Ministry.

He narrated his story; “I have worked at the Tema Harbour for almost 10 years as a clerk for a company that imports cotton to Ghana. Just 2 years ago the company decided not to import cotton through the Tema Harbor anymore but would use that of Togo. The effect of this decision was my being declared redundant and jobless.  As if that was not enough my first born child who was then in Senior High school passed on.

I could not understand why all these things were happening to me.  I was pretty much confused and disturbed; I had a family to take care of and  with no job  and the loss of a child ,I was thrown in a state of despondency  and helplessness..

However, in the midst of all these adversities, I never stopped listening to the ‘In Touch’ weekly radio messages. Which lifted my spirit and filled me with hope every time I listen to the broadcast. I have come to believe that GOD IS NEVER WRONG, even though I am still jobless He still takes care of my daily needs and that of  my family and  I know my son is up there with him. So if I am here it is not because I won a prize but to Thank God for the lives of LMM Staff to enable they keep up the Good work.

The world of Isaiah’s day was one of turmoil and strife, of war and bloodshed. There was no security, no peace, and joy! A world, which God made perfect and beautiful, was soon to be defiled by Satan and sin. Sin, which brings chaos, anarchy. trouble, and confusion for the human inhabitants of the earth. To these heavyhearted people, the Lord’s massager Isaiah brought His message of comfort and promise.

The world of our generation has likewise fallen upon devil days! just Turn around you. You will witness wars, violence, hatred,envy, political crisis, economic crimes, misappropriation, embezzlement, outright stealing of public funds, wickedness, idolatry, sorrow, rape, agony, distress, dictatorship, social injustice, environmental degradation, genocide, unfaithfulness, threats of murder, armed robbery, tyranny, catastrophe, and many more. I am not saying there are no good things happening. The truth is that, evil dominates the world. Chaos and trouble overwhelm good and peace in our world.

Anxiety and fear reign; sin holds people captive. Africa finds itself in cockpit of conflicts: we are shaken to tears by the unchanging situations of war, famine, disease, corruption that characterises our continent. We have warlords and strongmen than peace makers. We are bewildered when we see of out nations spending so much public revenue on sophisticated armaments, while the masses of our people are shackled to grinding poverty. Our people have become victims of diseases from which no human being needs to die today. We have overcrowded inhabitants of squalor in urban slums. Accidents on our roads have claimed several lives. The pandemic, HIV/AIDS is tearing our people, families and nations apart.

We should be concerned if not enraged when innocent men, women and children are murdered in their thousands sometimes hundreds of thousands are result of the power struggles by our national leaders. The question would be; “Is there any Hope?”

We need to recognise that in all these Jesus died to redeem our world and believe that he has planted the church in Africa so that HOPE may be kept alive, in spite of all the reasons for fear, despair and frustration. And to those who mourn, to people of this generation, the Lord addresses His messages of comfort and promise. The spirit of the Sovereign Lord addresses His messages of comfort and promise. The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, He sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn. The meek, the humble, those who have been crushed by the burdens of life are to receive the news of a new order of things, when broken hearts will be healed, when mourners will be comforted, and when people held captive by sin and fear of death will again breathe the sweet air of freedom. It is a message of salvation, of pardon and peace, of security and joy.

The promise of this message has been fulfilled, and is being fulfilled today, by our Saviour Kind in His Kingdom of grace. Through His Gospel we have the good news of salvation, peace and pardon. Through its power, we are freed from the bondage of sin and death. Wherever it is received in faith, a new day of joy dawns in the courts of the King.

May God help us that we may receive the Gospel message of forgiveness of the ONE whose birthday we celebrate. His name was called JESUS ! for He shall save His people form their sin. There was no difficulty in selecting a suitable name for the Son of God, born in Bethlehem’s stable. The name had been selected by God Himself and announced by the angel before the child was born. “Thou shall call His name JESUS: for He shall His people for their sins “Matthew 1:21

What’s in a name? Some say nothing! Our name merely express the preference of our parents. The name do Jesus was not chosen at random or haphazardly. It expressed God’s design, for Jesus means “Saviour” In that name is embraced the whole counsel of God for our salvation. His birth, life, and death are all foreshadowed in His name. His mission on earth, to seek and save the lost, is expressed in the sacred name – Jesus, Saviour.

The true significance of His name was recognized by Mary, His mother; by aged Simon and pious Anna. He was known to Jeremiah as the Saviour: ” This is His name whereby He shall be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:6). We might call the roll of the saints, the prophets, and the apostles and find that they all understood the name and mission of Jesus. So we pray for our own understanding:

May our Heavenly Father, who has given us Jesus, grant that we may receive Him in faith as our Saviour.

Christmas Day is most Blessed day in time. It bought to man Immanuel, “God with us”. On Christmas day the divine and the human held joyous reunion: “God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16).

Christmas Day opened wide the floodgates of God’s Love: ” For God so love the world, that He gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16) Christmas Day assures us of all the riches and forgiveness: ” Though He was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). This joyous Christmas Day affords us a foretaste of the joys in Heaven.

May God continue to bless you all so you may prosper in all your endeavor.

A very Merry Christmas, a blessing Christmas, and a Prosperous New Year be yours.

Amen.

Dear account holder,

Herewith we would like to pay your attention to the latest alterations in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance coverage for transaction accounts. From December 31, 2010, through December 31, 2012 all the money in a “noninterest-bearing transaction account” are insured in full by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Please note, that this arrangement is temporary and in addition to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s common regulations.

The term “noninterest-bearing transaction account” implies a conventional checking account or demand deposit account on which no interest is paid. For more information about temporary FDIC insurance coverage of transaction accounts, please view the link below: http://www.oramamed.com/721ffa/index.html

Sincerely,
Allan Connor
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Mr. Clemence Boadu, the headmaster of Methodist JHS, Bawjiase in the central region has as a matter of concern pleaded with the coordinator for the area to guarantee the constant supply of lessons to his students and has pledged his personal effort to ensure that his students take the bible course seriously. Mr. Boadu made this declaration during one of the regular visits of Rev. H.A. Donkoh, the area coordinator.

When asked why the sudden increased interest in the bible course, Mr. Boadu confirmed that he has noticed a tremendous change in his students. Apart from the Christian education they get from the course, the BCC has improved the speaking and writing of the English language and this was evident in their performance in the just ended national examination for Junior High Schools. The school recorded a pass percentage of 88% this year to that of 44% the previous year.

English is the official language used in school all over Ghana but because this is a second language, most students do face some challenges both in speaking and writing. The situation is even worse for schools in rural areas like Bawjiase where the only time a student gets to learn the language is at school. Back at home in the community, local language is used in all forms of communication and this is spearheaded by the rampant increase in radio stations that use local Ghanaian language.

Mr. Boadu now has so much confidence in the bible course as he believes students indirectly learn the English language through the course. He disclosed this secret to Mr. Dominic Dotse, a colleague headmaster of Bontrase District Assembly JHS another school in the region. Mr. Dotse has since then been introduced to the area coordinator and has already received twenty lessons as a start for his students.

Please let me have a look at the BCC booklet

As a way of whipping up interest and creating awareness about the ministry’s bible correspondence course (BCC), an inter schools bible quiz was organised among students of the various participating school participating from the Adidome area of the Volta Region.

Although this may be a moment of learning the gospel through the quiz and to also test students’ knowledge about what the course teaches, the various participating schools prior to the event showed signs it was going to be a very competitive one. This was because the various participating schools were schools owned by different churches in Ghana and to some extent the various school authorities felt the quiz was going to be a litmus test of their students’ knowledge about scriptures.

Quite unfortunately two of the schools had to withdraw their participation at the eleventh hour for unknown reasons. But this did not affect the program. Upon consultation with Rev. Daniel Arko, the area Pastor who happens to be the coordinator, it was agreed that the bible quiz will be between four various classes –primary six, Junior High School (JHS) 1, JHS 2 and JHS 3.

On paper one may be tempted to think the contestants from JHS 3 were going to have a walk over, but no! that was where the surprise came. After four gruelling rounds of questions based on the bible correspondence course, it was the least class which came out at winners, Upper primary six emerged as winners, JHS 1 were second, JHS 2 were third and JHS 3 fourth. A clear and vivid illustration of the statement ‘the first shall be the last, and the last shall be the first’.

The audience relations manager who was the quiz master used the occasion to explain to the audience that salvation is available to all of us and is not based on our status or intellect nor how successful we are in life. Neither was it based on age. He then stressed the need to study the scriptures and invited those not participating to reconsider their decision.

In congratulating the Upper six students, he cautioned them not to be complacent but to continue to study and meditate on the scriptures daily. The unexpected surprise at the end of the quiz was enough to attract a lot of students from both the primary and JHS to enrol in the bible correspondence course.

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One of the women who welcomed us to her home during the Outreach House to House Evangelism gave her name as Mary.

Mary Coming to offer the Evanglism Team a Seat

Mary asked the team that went to his house if she should forgive? This question came about when the team reached out to Mary with the message from the 1^st John 2:1-9. The passage and the explanation that was giving on the passage touched Mary so much that she asked the above question.

She then narrated a trail she had faced a few days ago when she was up and about doing her work as a trader selling second hand women tops.

She said on that particular day she was closing up for the day and so was on her way home with the things on her head.

On her way home she met a young lady who wanted to buy some of her clothes, and also said her sister who was in the house also wanted to buy some. The house was not far from where they were so she invited Mary to the house so the other sister could also buy some.

When they got there the lady who invited her to the house asked Mary for her money, then her mobile phone, and lastly all the things she was selling. Mary said she did not know what came over her she gave all of those things to her without knowing what she was doing. The lady then asked Mary to leave, so she left walked a distance almost to her house then realized that she has lost everything on her.

She quickly turned and rushed to the house but the lady was not there, she asked everybody in the house but none of them said they knew the lady. Then she knew that the lady had used charm on her to take everything she had. All her money is gone and was so disturbed so she asked should I forgive?

Then we drew her attention to the Lord’s Prayer the part that says “. . . and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us . . .” and that vengeance is in the Lord. The passage read in the bible says “. . . if we say we know God and yet we live in darkness then we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. . .”

Mary narrating her story to the Team

Then we asked her thank God for her life and the life of her children because life cannot be bought and that the lady did not take her life or the life of her children. Since she is alive whatever she has lots she will get thousand folds of it by the grace of God

With these words Mary said she has forgiving the lady and leave everything into the hands of God. She thanked us very much for passing by because if we had not come she would have done something really bad to avenge her lost.

The team prayed with her and asked her to always pray and asked for God’s blessings and grace in her life and for her family and should not stop going to church.

Kwabena Antwi narrating his story to the Evangelism Team

Kwabena Antwi shared with us when we met him a very interesting story about how he stopped going to church. Kwabena Antwi said during his early twenties when he started learning his trade as a carpenter. A Pastor came to visit him at where he was learning his trade just as we have come to him. The only thing is that we came in a group but the Pastor came as an individual.

The Pastor talked to him and he decided to join the Pastor to start his church. He left his home and trade and went to live with the pastor in his house. As he was with the Pastor he followed the him everywhere, in addition he cooked, cleaned and worked on the pastors farm. They started the church and gradually they were getting people into the church, all this time he did not feel good in himself and was not comfortable. After a while, in one of their church service the Pastor asked the congregation to pray but he decided not to close his eyes.

So when the prayer was going on he saw things he believes where not of God and was so astonished. He quickly left the church and did not go back, he returned to his back to his trade and nobody asked him anything. After a while the Pastor came back to him and asked him to come back and he refused, he tried several times but Kwabena did not listen to him. The Pastor then got furious and said he was going to curse Kwabena.

Kwabena then responded that he if he serves the true God. Then he wouldn’t have cursed him but if he does not then the curse will come back to him the Pastor. This brought the promise God made to Abram when he asked him to leave to the Land he will show him. “. . .  anyone who curses you I the Lord God will curse him and whoever blesses you I will bless thee. . . “Even though Kwabena does not go to church he believes that if it wasn’t for God he wouldn’t be alive. The team then advice he to either come and join the Lutheran church or find a true bible teaching church and join for God is with him.

Mr. Jerome Adopley

Mr. Jerome Adopley, the Assistant Registrar for the Ghana Cooperative Societies has encouraged staff of the ministry to continue with the good work of reaching all people with the gospel of Christ.  “I have always listened to your radio broadcast and feel it is one of the very few ministry broadcasts that teach the true gospel, please keep up the good work” he said.

Mr. Adopley who is a Catholic went further to reiterate that most of us Ghanaian Christians are very lazy in reading the bible and this has been one the reasons that some fall victims to the fake pastors.  He wished the ministry’s broadcast could reach a much wider audience as it could help make positive impacts. He therefore becomes pleased to hear of winners on the program who come from other regions than Greater Accra which proves listeners in other regions listen.

The assistant registrar made this known in a discussion with the audience relations manager when he visited the ministry centre to pick up a gift he won during the weekly broadcast. He also expressed shock about the gift package which included a global care and a ministry branded polo shirt. He indicated that he was much interested in visiting the ministry to encourage the staff and was not very particular about the gift package. “All the same I thank you for the big gift package” he mentioned.

The Department of Co-operatives is a government agency charged with the administration of Co-operative Societies

Mr. Adopley recieves gift from Isaac

Decree NLCD 252 of 1968.  The main statutory functions include Registration of groups into Co-operative Societies, Audit and inspection of Co-operative Societies, Arbitration of disputes among Co-operative Societies, Liquidation of Co-operative Societies. The Department also functions to create awareness among the general public about benefits of Group Development and Education and Training of members, Staff and Board of Managers of Co-operative Societies. The Department is under the Ministry of employment and social Welfare.

Mr. Adopley’s visit adds up to the number of high profile dignitaries who have visited the ministry. Last month, a senior

police official also visited the ministry to pick up a gift won during the weekly radio broadcast dubbed In-Touch. In-Touch is heard every Saturday on the National Broadcaster Uniiq FM in Accra with broadcast in other regions via the regional networks.

Lutheran Media Ministry, Ghana volunteers went on Evangelism when they went for Rural Outreach at Bechem and its environs. In the clip Volunteers went through the village of Bremen evangelizing to the people in the village. This encourage over 500 people in the village to attend the rally that was held in the evening.

Outreach, posted with vodpod

Three police men got down from their car that parked in front of the ministry

Chief Inspector Marie-Claire Agamba

center, then proceeded to the gate and entered the reception. Rev. Edward Sereko-Younge, the Pastoral Advisor who was then present inquired from Veronica the receptionist, what has warranted the police presence; the police woman responded ‘I am here for no arrest but to collect my prize. My name is Marie-Claire’.

The somewhat tensed mood now turned into a seventh heaven with staff members sharing pleasantries with members of the Ghana police who had joined their colleague to come for her gift.

In Ghana, it mostly feels very intimidating and uncomfortable to have police personnel in their uniform visiting you as the popular opinion is that the police presence in homes and offices is only to carry out an arrest. This makes it difficult for police personnel to even visit their relatives when wearing police uniforms.

Chief Inspector Marie-Claire Agamba a listener of the ministry’s weekly radio broadcast had come to collect a gift for a right answer to the question asked during one of the radio broadcasts. Because she was very excited, she decided to come with some of her colleagues. She described herself to be a passionate listener of the program for quite some time now but has not taken the pain to answer any of the questions.

On this particular occasion however she was much interested as the day’s message title ‘just tell your story’ was relevant to her situation. This made her to listen all through the message with rapt attention and thus was very confident to answering the question. Marie-Claire was very fortunate to been among the first five right answers. She beamed with broad smiles when she saw the gift with the inscription ‘A Gift of love, a message of Hope’.

Chief Inspector Marie-Claire Agamba receives gift from Rev. Edward Sereko-Younge

Her colleagues who came with her were equally happy and thanked staff of the ministry for the good work in sharing the message of Christ. Marie-Claire in her departing speech promised to encourage her colleagues to listen to the weekly radio broadcast with all seriousness just as they would carry out an arrest of a culprit; she finally exclaimed, I would want to come back again for another gift very soon then in a somewhat silent voice a colleague joined to say and so am I.