August - Village of Hope

Volume 1 | Number 8 | August 2013
God’s Power is at Work at
Hope College!!!
- By Fred Asare (Headmaster)
Alimatu prepares for Baptism:
Visibly Happy Friends surround Her in Support
F
or a split second, you could have heard
a pin drop as the shock of the
announcement spread throughout the
room. Then, suddenly, as if responding
simultaneously to the baton of an orchestra's
conductor, a bust of joy filled the air! Faculty,
staff and students alike were visibly happy as
they hugged each other in joy and celebrated
at the news they had just heard. It was the
good confession by Alimatu Shaibu that
Jesus Christ is Lord that had changed the
atmosphere during the Sunday worship
service at Hope College from a solemn mood
into a celebration of joy. The celebration was
not because this was the first time such a
confession had been made at a Hope College
worship service or by a Hope College
student. No. Such a confession had been
heard many times before. The celebration
was because of who had made the
declaration.
The first day Alimatu set foot at Hope
College, she made sure that everyone knew
her stand on religion. She was a Muslim - a
very dedicated muslim - and she was not
going to compromise her faith in anyway.
She was not willing to attend daily chapel
services at the College. She was not going to
participate in the public reading of the
Scriptures that students and faculty engaged
in each Sunday morning; and she was not
going to study the Bible, as was required of
every student, because it was not part of the
government-approved curricula for high
schools in Ghana. She also demanded to be
given some time off classes every Friday
afternoon to engage in Friday prayers as
required by the Koran. In fact, Alimatu made
it clear to everyone that she did not want to
be a student at Hope College. She had been
forced, against her will, to attend the College
by her father (also a Muslim) who had heard
about the high quality education being
offered by Village of Hope. During her first
few days at Hope College, it became clear
that Alimatu had not issued empty threats.
She intended to do exactly what she had said
on her first day. As a Christian institution,
we could not give in to her demands so we
called her father to ask him to withdraw his
daughter from the school.
Alimatu’s Immersion
Over the speaker phone in the office, Alimatu
spoke with her father in an uncompromising
manner in the presence of a couple of faculty
and staff members. Her father tactfully
advised her to just go through the motions.
Sitting in a Christian worship service,
hearing the Bible being publicly read or
taught didn't amount to a denial of one's
faith. All he wanted was for her to have a
good education that would guarantee her a
prosperous future as an adult.
Continued on next page
Continued from Cover Page
He reminded her that he was also a
Muslim and even though he knew that
Hope College was a Christian institution,
he had chosen that school for her
because he was convinced that the
education it offered was truly
exceptional.
After a long tense
conversation, Alimatu decided to just sit
through worship services, chapel
services and Bible classes without
participating in any other way. That was
a compromise we were willing to work
with.
At first, she wouldn't sing, write notes or
pass the Lord's Supper tray. She always
sat by the wall and during sermons, she
would would turn and face the wall. But
the Holy Spirit was right when He said
through Paul that the gospel is God's
power to salvation and that the word of
God is sharper than any double-edged
sword. Gradually, God's word began to
work on the heart and mind of Alimatu
and slowly she began to change. First,
she turned from facing the wall to facing
the preacher. Then she began to listen
attentively; then she began to take
notes. Asking questions, singing and
passing the Lord's Supper tray were all a
matter of time.
However, when she
stood up that Sunday morning, after the
sermon, to confess that she believed that
Jesus Christ was the Son of God and that
she wanted to be baptized into Christ,
that took everyone by surprise. Now it
was her turn to convince her father. We
made the call and she spoke with her
father at length, explaining to him why
she had made the decision to convert to
Christianity. From the other end of the
line, the father granted her daughter
permission to do what she believed was
right for her. That afternoon, Alimatu
Shaibu was baptized, along with three
other students who had also made the
good confession.
It was a joyous
occasion at Hope College and in heaven!
Hear Paul again, "I am not ashamed of
the gospel, because it is the power of God
for the salvation of everyone who
believes ..." (Romans 1:16)
Alimatu and Her Sisters in Christ
WE HAVE A DIATHERMY MACHINE!
John & Ellen Agan
of Belton, Texas
donated $2,000
for a diathermy machine
for Hope Christian Hospital.
The quality of service provided by Hope
Christian Hospital just went up one more
level. We truly appreciate the generosity
of the Agans!
Diathermy Machine at Hospital Operating Room
Hope Christian Hospital has, again,
recorded the highest attendance ever in our history.
In July, the staff of the hospital saw 1,831 cases.
This means that 10 more people came to the hospital each day than in June.
13 babies were delivered at the hospital in July.
There were 11 major surgeries and 3 minor operations.
God has been good to us and the people in the community
are benefitting greatly from the services of Hope Christian Hospital.
As always, thank you for your support!
Page 2 | Herald of Hope | August 2013
The Village of Hope Group
Needs Your Prayers
We are looking for:
- a new Managing Director for Hope Children’s Village
- a new Managing Director for Hope Christian Academy
- married couples to be House Parents
- 150 new students for Hope College
- additional faculty members for Hope College
- a pharmacist for Hope Christian Hospital
Upcoming Events
- Wednesday to Friday, September 4 to 6, 2013
Festival of Hope at Fetteh Campus
(A time of Christian fellowship, fun, feasting and following Jesus Christ through Bible studies, prayers and worship)
- Saturday, September 7, 2013
Hope Christian Academy reopens for 2013/2014 academic Year
- Monday, September 9, 2013
Classes begin at Hope Christian Academy
- Saturday, September 14, 2013
Hope College reopens for 2013/2014 academic year
- Sunday, September 15, 2013
Students and faculty of Hope College visit churches of Christ in Koforidua, Eastern Region
- Monday, September 16, 2013
Classes begin at Hope College
- Sunday, September 22, 2013
Students and faculty of Hope College visit churches of Christ in Nkawkaw, Eastern Region
- Sunday, September 29, 2013
Students and faculty of Hope College visit churches of Christ in Takoradi, Western Region
August 2013 | Herald of Hope | Page 3
They Still Need
Your Help...
...to go to High School and College
Salamatu Abea
Bright Kwaku Takyi
Simpson Kumbe
Andy Kemevor
Joshua Gbevi
David Gbevi
Michael Osei Baah
Wisdom Agbavi
Any amount you can give will go a long way in helping to educate a needy orphaned child. We only ask that you
indicate on the memo line of your check: High School & College Education Fund. Kindly mail your checks to:
Village of Hope, P. O. Box 670394, Dallas, TX 75367.
Samuel Gyesi
Joyce Oppong
Ishmael Gyesi
Diana Owusu
Comfort Tadime
Matilda Hope
Emmanuel Mensah
Kenneth Gbevi
Francis Bijah
Daniella Osei-Siaw
Mabel Nyator
Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Heartbeat for Hope Needs Your Help!
Ellen Cofie
Needs Your Help! Shawn & Nancy Jones Needs Your Help!
Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help!
Daniel Atta-Yao
High
School
2013
Each
Student
Needs...
Stella Otis
Cynthia Guo
Agnes Dzisenu
Agartha Agyemang
Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Heartbeat for Hope Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help!
Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help!
$1,050
Margaret Tatsi
Mavis Tatsi
Maabe Yaa Ankamah
Shaibu Alexander
Francis Guo
Rebekah Puenu
Alex Bukari
Belinda Owusu
Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help!
Shawn & Nancy Jones Needs Your Help! Darrin & Cheryl Ruddy Heartbeat for Hope Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Heartbeat for Hope
Page 4 | Herald of Hope | August 2013
Adriana Aidoo
Daliel Yaare
Sappah Yahaya
$4,000
Nat Havor
Samuel Edem Cofie
Alfred Cann
Richard Akrong
Bernard Ampomah
College Freshmen 2013
Each Student Needs
Eric Bukari
Stella Kyei Obeng
Dorian & Kym Lain Heartbeat for Hope
Isaac Ayensu
Emmanuel Akrong
Mary Tackie
Juliet Okrah
Abigail Ofori-Amoah
Erica Arhin
Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Courtney Garland
Michael Tetteh
Dawun Taphampah
Dana Taphambah
Bismark Kyei Obeng
Ernest Bukari
Vera Sah
Isaac Adinkrah
Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! MasterCard Foundation Needs Your Help!
Christopher Negble
Charles Bukari
Adisa Abea
Beatrice Wiredu
Rita Okrah
Elizabeth Bukari
Sarah Adu-Poku
Heartbeat for Hope Needs Your Help! Jim & Terri Hambrick Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help!
Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Heartbeat for Hope
$3,000
Continuing College 2013
Each Student Needs
Needs Your Help!
Gifty Adu-Poku
David Darrah
Francis okrah
Isaac Mensah
Francis Havor
Yaw Abotsi
Cinderella Okai
Needs Your Help! Shawn & Nancy Jones Shawn & Nancy Jones Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help!
Benedicta Nanor
Linda Barnie Effah
Joy Bulley
Felicia Arhin
Jennifer Agbenowosi
Shaibu Osman
Asuo Mensah
Francis Flair
Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Bill & Sharon Paxton Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Needs Your Help! Ted & Megan Howard
August 2013 | Herald of Hope | Page 5
Hope College Ends
First Academic Year
Top Row (from Left to Right)
- 1st Worship Service: September 30, 2012
- Opening Day: October 1, 2013
- Japhet’s Baptism: November 18, 2012
Bottom Row (from Left to Right)
- Faustina’s Baptism: December 2, 2012
- Independence Day Parade: March 6, 2013
- French Lesson: July 18, 2013
F
or three academic terms beginning in October 2012, the
administrators, faculty, staff and students of Hope College
have worked hard. On August 17, the school year came to
a successful end. It has been a great year and we are thankful
to God for blessings us in our quest to educate students in
preparation for a lifetime of character, scholarship, service and
leadership to transform their world to impact the world. During
the school year, 21 students asked to be baptized into Christ!
We look forward to enrolling at least 150 students more to add
to the existing 76 pioneering students in the coming 2013/2014
academic year. Thank you for supporting us to come this far.
Administrators, Faculty, Staff & Students of Hope College on the Last Day of the School Year: August 17, 2013
Page 6 | Herald of Hope | August 2013
A Word from Tanya Smith Brice
James 1:27 advises us that true religion is caring for
the orphaned, the widowed, and to keep ourselves
unaffected by the world. The Village of Hope is the
manifestation of true religion. I am amazed by the
simplicity of this gospel directed work. The Village of
Hope provides a home for orphaned children. These
children are not taken into an institution, but into
homes. Each of these Village of Hope homes has a
mother and father who operate that home as if they
had given birth to each of the children who live there.
These children are fed, clothed, and given a place to
live. But beyond that, these children are afforded a
high quality education, as recognized by Ghana's
education officials. These children are afforded moral
and spiritual guidance from their "parents" and from
the plethora of "aunties and uncles" in the other
homes in the Village. This Village provides hope for
the orphaned children of Ghana. In addition, this
Tanya Smith Brice has worshiped at congregations
Village provides hope for other children throughout the
in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas. She is
nation of Ghana, whose parents want them to benefit
currently worshiping at the Sunset Boulevard
congregation in Columbia, South Carolina.
from the high quality education provided for the
orphaned children of the Village. Consequently, the
Photo: Tanya Smith Brice with Emmanuel Opoku
Hinneh of Hope Christian Academy’s Class of 2012
Village of Hope has opened its doors to boarding
students who matriculate through its schools. This not
only demystifies "orphanhood" for the boarding students, but it provides important social benefit to the
orphaned children who want to interact with children with different life experiences.
The Village of Hope is a manifestation of true religion for its many visitors who travel to Ghana each year from
different parts of the world. Youth groups and mission teams may come to the Village of Hope expecting to
see visions of Africa often mythologized on Western television. For instance, Westerners often expect to see
children with swollen bellies, clothed in rags, with flies buzzing around. Westerners are often pleasantly
surprised to find very well-adjusted, clean, well-nourished children who are full of hope. I have witnessed
young American visitors marvel at how different "the African orphan" looked than what was expected. My
response to those young visitors is generally as follows, "This is the Village of Hope". The Village of Hope not
only brings hope to the orphaned, and to the widowed who often have to make the difficult decision to send
their children there. But the Village of Hope brings hope to the youth groups and mission teams. They are
able to see the goodness of God, and experience true religion through the great work at the Village of Hope.
My family has been so blessed by our association with the Village of Hope...the little African village that truly
inspires hope.
- Tanya Smith Brice
August 2013 | Herald of Hope | Page 7
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Page 8 | Herald of Hope | August 2013