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Hello everyone!
I Have been waiting for the right time to send this update out. God’s timing is not always as fast as we hope for, but it is always the best. I am excited to share that I have joined an organization to return to Ghana under! It has been a long journey, which is still in the process, but everything is moving forward. I have been sorting out many logistics and praying through what God’s will and design is in all of this. The name of the organization is Equip International based out of North Carolina and are accredited by ECFA. I have previously done a medical training with them and their name stays true to what their mission is for believers both here and abroad. They equip those led to go overseas for ministry as well as support and keep accountable the ones who are already there. I know Equip is the right fit for me because I have already felt connected with the staff as I have spent time with them in discussions about the Lord’s work oversees and what that looks like for someone like me. They are a smaller organization which make it feel more like family. I have confidence that they will keep me accountable to what The Lord has called me to do as well as be that encouragement that may be needed from time to time while on the field. I would like to now take this time to update and share with all of you the focus of ministry I will have as I return to Ghana.
As many of you already know, I have spent the past few years in the Volta Region of Ghana. In my time there, I have witnessed and experienced the great need of love and care for the vulnerable children in a typical village atmosphere such as the village of Zuime. It is overwhelming to walk around the dirt roads of a place such as Zuime and take in the reality of the large population of neglected and abandoned children and youth. Typically, children do not get the opportunity to finish school, much less even attend at all because their parent or guardian cannot afford it. Most children are being raised by young single moms or elderly grandmothers.
The Lord has placed on my heart to implement an after-school program for students that will focus on reading and writing skills among other areas of learning they may be struggling with. The name of the program will be: Sustaining Love KIDS! I strongly believe That the Lord can use the platform of education as a means to grow and nurture the mind of a child that will provide them the ability to read and write. One of the greatest gifts we have as believers is to read His Word which is alive and active. If a child learns to read, then that skill will allow them the opportunity to discover for themselves through God’s Word the plans He has for them. The ability to read and write can also open a whole new world of opportunities for children that come from vulnerable and hopeless backgrounds due to extreme poverty.
A program such as this will be helpful to a community because the schools in Ghana, especially in a typical village, are overloaded with children in packed classrooms with inexperienced or ill-equipped teachers. Sustaining Love After School will provide care and educational help to children in vulnerable situations and give them a safe place to learn and receive the love of Christ when they may otherwise be left alone until the evening time, or who live with elderly grandmothers that cannot help with their studies.
There are many other possibilities that can out of this program, especially if at the core, it is rooted in establishing a Christ-like love and foundation for children to grow in. Some of the goals and objectives would be to first and foremost provide love and care to vulnerable children for a few hours after school and help with homework while giving extra academic help through reading and writing activities with Bible story themes. This also opens a door as a great way to build relationships with family members of children that attend the program by offering intimate home visits for additional love and support to the struggling families. “Family Days” will be hosted a few times a semester for the families to come together for fellowship and to hear a devotion from staff members. Christ modeled for His disciples the “I do”, “we do”, “you do” strategy as He invested in them for three years before commanding them to go do the same thing. That is why for this program to be fruitful, it is important to invest in a group of teachers that would be the staff of this program so that one day they can take ownership of the program as the locals of that community. Intensive staff trainings, professional development, and spiritual accountability will all be at the core of laying the foundation and sustaining the program in a way that is most glorifying to God.
I am so excited of all the possibilities that can branch from this to point others to Christ. For any of this to even begin, there are some initial “start-up” needs as well as ongoing needs that I would like to take this time to humbly ask you all to prayerfully consider contributing towards in this vision and passion The Lord has placed on my heart for this community in Ghana. I have worked with Equip in creating a “Ministry” budget as well as a “Personal” budget to return to Ghana with. These are a few examples of where I will need prayer support as well as financial support:
Plane ticket back to Ghana/Visa
Initial start-up funds for program needs, resources, NGO documentation
Monthly ministry needs such as snack for the participating children, scholarship funds for participating children, payment of staff, and any contingency.
Personal needs such as: rent, phone/data minutes, upkeep of living space, medical and travel expenses while in Ghana are a few examples.
If the members of the community witness and experience the benefit of this Christ-centered program, then they will be more willing to invest in it themselves financially and spiritually. For this to happen, the foundation must first be laid. The possibilities are countless. The main focus is to provide a safe and loving environment for children to come and have help with their academics, learn about Christ through stories and fun activities, and equip the community to take ownership of being responsible for their children’s education and well-being.
I am humbled to write you all this update because God has been so faithful in this new and more concentrated direction in my life. He does not need any of us but chooses to use us. My prayer is to have open hands and an open heart, and I pray the same for all of you. Thank you all for taking the time to read this update and petition. I want to leave you with a way to respond if you feel led to do so. I am attaching link to Equip International for you to look at for yourself. They recently added my bio and information to the website as well. I will be here in the States connecting and reaching out to all of those who are interested to hear this vision and passion The Lord has given me to take back to Ghana. I would love to connect with any of you who feel this is something you would like me to share in more detail or even share with a group of people you know. I am so humbled and thankful for how God has provided through all of you in my life over the years. The last thing I want to leave with you is a quote from a book I have been reading which articulates very well how we as the body of Christ are united and what our true goal and mission is to be:
Hebrews 12 calls us to “fix” our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith. This is the ultimate motivation as a follower of Christ. If you reflect on Revelation 7:9, then you will see Christ as the Lamb of God sitting on the throne in heaven and believers from every tribe, tongue, nation, and people worshipping Him for all of eternity. The goal is not to be the only one there worshipping the Lamb of God, but to spend our lives bringing as many with us as we can! Those you have led to Christ or discipled will be with you- along with those they have led to Christ and discipled. In addition, those believers who have prayed for you or invested financially in you and your ministry will accompany you. They faithfully provided the means you use in reaching others. It is truly a team effort- a ministry partnership. (The God Ask)
Equip International Website: www.equipinternational.org
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support in this journey The Lord has had me on. I look forward to connecting with any of you interested to find out more about the continued ministry in Ghana.
Sustaining Love KIDS
God bless!
Chelsi Matthews
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