Da Onyame Ase!
A word from our Executive Director, Ash Zook
Friends,
Da Onyame Ase (thanks be to God) is a line in a Ghanaian children’s song, Da N’Ase. Da N’Ase is like the American song, “Jesus Loves Me”. It’s often the first song a child learns in Sunday School. Similarly, it is spiritually deep despite its lyrical simplicity. “We thank God!” not “Wow, that’s awesome!” is the reply when good news is shared in Ghana. Somehow divine gratitude seems to come more easily for people who possess little, than for those who are buried in excess!
I remember in 2009 visiting the most impoverished village I had seen to that point. YLI board member, Mike Moye was with me. Surrounded by sick children I couldn’t help but imagine my own young children sitting among them on the dusty ground. It was incredibly unsettling. I said a few words about God’s love which felt useless as they left my mouth. Then, I asked Mike if he would share a word with the children. Instead of talking, he responded by singing Jesus Loves Me. It felt Holy. The wrestling match in my heart happened as we drove out of the village that day. I had no doubt that Jesus loved those children as much as my own, and I knew that discipleship demanded something more from me personally and from YLI as a ministry. Continuing to just teach about discipleship from the comfort of churches was not an option when beloved children of God suffered for lack of water. That village Kpenchila, became the site of the first YLI water project. Da Onyame Ase!
YLI’s ministry and training is centered in Love.
1. We pursue an intimate love relationship with God.
2. We build loving friendships with lost people.
3. We disciple other people out of love.
Love sounds happy and free, but in practice, love is often uncomfortable and costly. Jesus’ love for us came at an incredible cost. His obedience to God’s love required that he leave the comforts of heaven, endure immense suffering and die. This is the love He invites us into.
Because of their participation in Jesus’ divine Love, YLI Coaches radiate joy in the midst of levels of physical hardship, financial poverty, and threat of persecution that are unknown to us in the United States. I can testify that, like the poor widow from Luke chapter 21, YLI leaders give all they have because Jesus gave all of Himself. We are thankful for what He endured out of love to save us. We are thankful to you for supporting YLI leaders, who don’t just talk about love, but leave their comfort zones and live love.
Da Onyame Ase!
Ash Zook, Executive Director
YLI Coaches singing “Da N’Ase” just for you
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