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Because Vincent dedicated two years to training his coaches and lovingly pouring his life into them, the coaches are ready to replicate the basketball ministry in other areas of Kumasi. Vincent Asamoah, YLI’s national coordinator in Ghana, started a basketball outreach in Kumasi in 2009. For almost two years, there were no kids in the program. NoContinue reading “Empowering Leaders Through Basketball and Love”

I’m flying to Ghana today for my 20th visit since 2006.  This first of five 2012 trips was happily delayed by the healthy birth of Timothy Zook on January 8th.  Carrie, Katie and John Mark are doing well which allows my heart to be at rest for the next twelve days.  They are so thankfulContinue reading “Today’s trip to Ghana and Coaching Conference News”

A year ago I had the privilege to visit Partners International in Spokane WA.  Partners is an organization staffed with wise and seasoned missionaries and they have made a decision to only serve in the hardest parts of the world.  Partner’s Alex Araujo has led a conversation of how to shape an organization that dependsContinue reading “How can an organization be shaped to catch the wind of the Spirit?”

I often gain new perspective from our Ghana coaches that enriches my own discipleship journey. This sign is hanging on the wall in Adam Brown’s one room, mud brick office in Tamale, Ghana.  Adam’s village ministry has no regular income, which means he is able to do only only a fraction of the village projectsContinue reading ““…little things with great love””

Update:  Naomi texted me with very sad news that the girl in the story below, named Konadu, has suddenly passed away.  Naomi told me that as far as she knows, the girl knows Jesus.  This sad ending makes me even more thankful for Sister Naomi and her eye for the broken. ——————————————————————————————————————————————- Naomi Awuni isContinue reading “Sister Naomi teaches with her life”

Here’s an update on YLI’s national coordinator Vincent Asamoah.  Vincent started the sports ministry Shoot4Life in Kumasi in 2009.  After 18 months of focusing on  training 15 young men and women as basketball coaches and in youth ministry, he successfully constructed a basketball court in 2011 and held his first camp in September, attracting 120Continue reading “Vincent Asamoah builds a basketball court in Kumasi and holds his first youth camp”

My good friend Jonah Manyan was illiterate until his mid-twenties when he began primary school.  He eventually attended bible college and in 2002 became a coach with YLI. When I first met Jonah nine years ago we were both young men about to get married.  Today, Jonah is one of the most influential Christian leadersContinue reading “Jonah Manyan starts a literacy program using the Konkumba Bible”

In rural areas of Ghana, especially in villages, people are not used to relating to a God who loves them deeply, and desires to give them the unconditional gifts of salvation and life. African traditional religions teach that various local gods need to be appeased of their anger and wrath through costly gifts, idol worshipContinue reading ““How much do I have to pay to become a Christian?””

Last Monday I returned from my 10 day trip to Ghana and unfortunately had almost no internet access in the towns and villages I was visiting.  An irony of our work in Ghana is that many of the exciting things we want to report are happening in places where updating a website isn’t easy orContinue reading “Aug 2010 Trip Report – Part 1, Clean water and living water”