Harvest Time Today

A recent message received from IHH Missionary Pastor, Ziblim Mohammed.

Dear Brethren in Christ,

I send you greetings from Ghana and Shalom Baptist Church in Tamale. All the Christian brothers and sisters here extend their sincere greetings to you with the love of God. As a local missionary and Pastor, I am more happy to share with you as fellow Christians on the Subject "HARVEST TIME TODAY'', but let me use this as a privilege to thank the senior Pastor, (Kwaku) the leadership and the entire congregation of Abundant Life Baptist Church for your support to Cheryl Read and the Ghana Team, especially your financial support to the Maize Farm Project and the Widow Care Programme, your gifts and donations are highly appreciated by the Church and these widows and orphans.Indeed, this is a clear demonstration of the love and care for the poor and needy as seen in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. I encourage you to continue the good work you are doing and do it as if you are doing it for the Lord and surely you will be blessed here and after life.

Now brethren in the Lord,let me refer you to the gospel of John 4:35 about the subject, harvest time today. While the disciples of Christ were talking about tomorrow, Jesus was talking about today. This passage is simply telling us not to wait and say there is more time. The only time we have is today, therefore lets use the opportunity we have now to serve the Lord, for tomorrow maybe too late. How then can we join our Lord Jesus Christ and the harvesters in the field? Because of time constraint let me share with you three things we can do in order to be part of the harvest time today.

1. Having Passion for Missions and Evangelism
In Matthew's gospel 9:36 the Bible says that when Jesus saw the crowd he had compassion on them because of their helpless condition and harassment by their leaders. We need to develop love and passion for the lost sinners otherwise we would not be mindful of their salvation.

2. Resource Mobilization:
In Acts 2:44-45 the early Church shared their possessions together. They pooled their resources together and the result is that the Lord added to their number daily who were being saved. In other words the Church grew daily. The only way we can reach out to rescue the lost is by sharing our resources. Maybe you do not have time to be on the mission field but God has given you something that can make an impact on the missionary activities. Why don't you bring it to the Church for the promotion of the gospel? There are Missionaries, evangelists and Pastors on the Mission fields who are suffering for lack of resources to do the work. Why can't you support them with what you have?

3.Team Work:
In the same Acts 2:44 we read that all the believers were together and had everything in common. This was the idea of team work. They stand together shoulder to shoulder as a team. The reason why we need to work as a team is that there will always be a weaker ones among the strong. The weaker ones need the strong ones to pull them to stand firm and to strengthen them in the Lord.

Finally, let me conclude by recommending IHH Director, Cheryl Read, to everyone who is looking for an opportunity to serve the Lord in our Mission field in the Northern Ghana. She is honest, trustworthy and a woman of integrity and God fearing. I have served the Lord with her on the Mission field for good seven years now and I have found no fault in her,therefore she is a leader anyone can work with and be happy.

Prayer Request: I want to climax this message by appealing to you brethren in the Lord to pray with Shalom Baptist Church and the IHH Ghana Team in the following projects set up by the Church:

1.Pray for our on going Church building project for God to provide enough materials for completion,we have completed the block work,now we need funds for roofing and furnishing.

2. Implementation of a Mission School (Pre-school) by 2011. We need God's direction and guidance.

3.Orphanage Home by 2012, Pray for funds to put up the building.

4.Mission Medical Center: Pray for funding,God's direction and guidance,medical equipments,etc.

5.Pray for all our mission Churches for growth and pray for the laymen and Pastors on the ground for God's grace and favor on them to do the work successfully.

Thank you in advance for your prayer support. God bless you all.

From Pastor Mohammed (Pastor for Missions, SBC/ IHH-Ghana).

Maize Farm Project Update

In May, we partnered with IHH Missionary Pastor Ziblim Mohammed and Shalom Baptist Church to plant a maize farm. This summer, when the team arrived and went to see the farm, the maize was about 2" high, due to lack of rain. We began to pray, along with many church members, and the rain began to fall.

Here is the latest update from Pastor Mohammed:

This, I believe, is a powerful tool among our people. I therefore want to thank the donors who have given toward this project. At the same time I want to appeal to everyone who is willing to support this worthy cause to save the lives of the lost. We are making a little effort in this ministry, but together we can do more and who knows what your little support can do? Maybe your little offer can save on person from hell fire.

Zarah from Ghana

In remote  mud-hut, Muslim villages in the Northern Region of Ghana West Africa, a small Baptist church is making a big impact through the Good News Club.  The GNC is a sports evangelism program that gives the poverty-stricken village children a place to belong. 

This is Zarah.  Here is her story as told by Pastor Ziblim Mohammed of Shalom Baptist Church.

Zarah is an adopted child in Yizegu,therefore she did not find it easy to become a Christian.There is an opposition she is facing currently, but it is not an intensive one,we are talking to her parents and now it pears that they are understanding us, the little girl is putting much effort to know Christ, she attends Church services and GNC meetings regularly.I therefore ask you to remember her in your prayers so that she would overcome and grow strong in the Lord.

Please pray for Zarah and all the children who participate in the GNC.

A Ray of Hope for Two Children in Ethiopia

Sisay Girma is and eleven-year-old bright young girl. She was born in a family of six including her father, mother, brother and two sisters. She is the first born child to her parents. Sisay used to live with her parents in a town called Neja which is found in the Oromiya province of Ethiopia. Her parents make a living through farming. However, the income generated was barely enough to cover the consumption expenses of the family let alone provide the means for her to go to school. Hence Sisay did not have a chance to get any kind of education. In search for a better life, Sisay came to Addis Ababa to live with her aunt. However life in her aunt’s house was not any different from the life she had left behind. Her aunt, W/ro. Ayelu is a 30-year-old woman who supports her family with the minimum wage she earns by working as a daily laborer. Sisay spent most of her days taking care of the household chores.

No matter how badly she wanted to go to school, she couldn’t until an organization called Compassion Family International (CFI) gave her the opportunity to be part of its meal plus educational program. At CFI Sisay benefits from the meal provision (breakfast & lunch) and gets the necessary education that equips her with the knowledge she needs to join a formal primary school. Her teacher said, “She used to have a rather difficult behavior at first but now she gets along very well with the other children. She has a good participation in class and is egger to know new things. She is also maturing spiritually”.

Sisay is very happy to be part of CFI’s meal plus educational program. She said, “At first, I used to fight with most of the children as I have never been part of such gathering. Everything was new for me. I used to get upset and cry often times. But now I get along with all my friends and teachers. I love it here and I’m happy.” When asked about her ambition in the future Sisay replied, “I want to go further with my education and become a school teacher”.


Ayansa Uguma is six years old. He lives with his mother in a small rented house. He doesn’t have any siblings. His father died when he was very young. His mother works as a daily laborer and earn a wage that is merely enough to pay the house rent and buy a small amount of food. Ayansa never had a chance to go to school because his mother could not afford his educational expenses.

Having seen the living condition of Ayansa, the local city administration recruited him to be a beneficiary at Compassion Family International (CFI). Ayansa is now one among the 25 children that regularly comes to CFI’s drop-in center to benefit from the meal plus educational program. In addition to the pre-school educational program, CFI provides two meals (breakfast and lunch) to all the children everyday on weekdays. For Ayansa and most of these children, this could be the only decent meal they get throughout the day.

Ayansa is an active, friendly and healthy young man with a bright future ahead of him. He loves to draw and play with his friends. His teacher said, “Ayansa is one of the good performers in class. He’s well-mannered and gets along with all the children”. Ayansa wants to be a driver when he grows up.


Compassion Family International (CFI) is a partner organization of International Hope & Heritage. CFI is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Maize Farm Project

The Dagomba tribe of the Northern Region of Ghana, are farmers.  They plant their crops at the beginning of the rainy season, which just began last week.  They harvest their crops and feed their families.  If there's any extra, they sell it so they can have enough money to send their children to school or to go to the doctor when sick.

But for the widows, there are no crops to sow.  Their children often go hungry.  Some die from starvation or sickness due to malnutrition.

IHH is pleased to be partnering with Shalom Baptist Church and Pastor Ziblim Mohammed in planting maize on a 7 acre plot of land near the mud-hut village of Tamale.  The harvest of maize will help feed widows and orphans in three villages.

We are thankful that God has provided the funds for the planting and harvesting of the crops.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

Summit VI - Christian Alliance for Orphans

Summit VI

You and individuals from your church community are invited to attend the Christian Alliance for Orphans’ national Summit VI! This national conference is designed to help Christians start and grow orphan ministry in the local church, including adoption, foster care and international orphan initiatives.

Summit VI on April 29-30 in Minneapolis, MN will bring together grassroots advocates, pastors, orphan experts from across America and beyond—as well as many new to the issue seeking to learn how to engage.

Featured speakers include national champions of orphan care and adoption, including John Piper, Doug Sauder, Mary Beth Chapman, Jedd Medefind, Tom Davis and Al Mohler. Compelling voices from the global church will address attendees as well, from Africa and Eastern Europe to Central America. Music will be led by Steven Curtis Chapman and other artists. Meanwhile, more than fifty workshops will deliver practical know-how for orphan ministry—from supporting families with post adoption challenges, to effective models for church foster care programs, to partnerships with indigenous churches for overseas orphan care. In addition, families in the adoption process will have the opportunity for five “Hague Hours” from national experts such as Dr. Karyn Purvis at no additional cost.

If God has stirred hearts in your church for the plight of orphans, Summit offers the biggest and best opportunity of the year to learn how to act upon your convictions. Many churches will send multiple individuals in order to fully access the full range of resources, workshops and other opportunities available. To learn more and register now, visit the Christian Alliance for Orphans website at www.christianalliancefororphans.org.

Goats for Ghana.

Want to buy a pair of goats for a widow in Ghana?

IHH team members will personally deliver the goats for you this summer and you will get a picture of the family you help!

Cost:  $40 a pair

Click here. Then choose Widow Care: Ghana.

Mission Trip Slideshow

Ever wonder what going on an international mission trip looks like?

Click here to view a slideshow.

Christmas in Ethiopia

The people of Bole Bulbula celebrated Christmas earlier this month. The church hosted an all-day service that was attended by many adults and over 300 children from the village.


The children from the church presented drama, spiritual songs and dancing which was amazing and inspiring. Pastors Abdissa and Getahun presented messages, and many heard the message about Christ's birth for the first time. A large number of people accepted Christ for the first time.


The children were given gifts of combs, soaps, shampoos, and lotion. It was a great time of celebration.

Children performing drama of the Christmas story.

Pastor Abdissa bringing a Christmas message.

Children from the church happy for Christmas!

A small gift for each child.

Friends celebrating Christmas together.

Pastor Getahun bringing a message of salvation for everyone.

Feeding the Children

IHH wants to thank the donors who helped provide these much-needed supplies to the orphan home in Ghana.  It just so happened that on the day our facilitator, Paul, went to check on the orphans, they were out of food and the manager of the home had been making phone calls asking people to help.  She was so thankful for the generous donation.

The children you see in the picture are some of the orphans who live at the home.  They are healthy, happy and well-cared for.

John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."   Luke 3:11

Hope is on the Way

Everyone knows that water is a precious commodity in most parts of Africa. 

And almost everyone knows that there are two seasons in most African countries:  rainy and dry

But hardly anyone realizes how difficult life becomes during the dry season for those without clean water. 

To get an idea, imagine:

• cooking with water the color of tea leaves
• walking 3 miles, one way, to the nearest clean water source only to find no water pressure in the pipe
• not bathing for weeks
• having a sick child who drank unclean water
• having sick animalswho drank unclean water
• being continuallly dehydrated
• not being able to go to school because you have to carry water, which is an all-day ordeal
• carrying 50 lbs of water on your head for miles
• watching babies die due to water borne diseases

In the village of Sankpem, the rains have ceased.  Daily life is a struggle.

But hope is on the way.  And many of you helped.  Thank you.

Ghana Mission 2010

Click here for more information.

YAHAYA

Yahaya - July 2009

Sick due to lack of healthcare and nutrition

Uneducated due to lack of funds for school fees

Yahaya - December 2009

Receiving good nutrition and healthcare

Receiving an education for the first time

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.                 Luke 18:16