Holy Ghost Ministries   January 2009   Allowing God to be God, Once Again! January 2009 In This Issue Ghana 2008 New Faces in HGM 2008 Team Testimonies Bugri Has Water!   Mission Statement   Holy Ghost Ministries is a non-denominational ministry dedicated to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20), showing the love of Christ to people through humanitarian projects (Matthew 25:34-40), and teaching unity in the body of Christ according to the teachings of Jesus (John 17:20-23).   "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered."  Proverbs 21:13   Holy Ghost Ministries is a 501(c)3 tax exempt, non-profit organization involved in Christian ministry, missions and humanitarian projects in the United States and throughout the world.    Our ministry is a non-denominational Christian organization.     Ghana 2008     To God be the glory for a safe and fruitful trip to Ghana in 2008. Getting to be a part of Holy Ghost Ministries for the second time is an experience all in itself. As I said last year this experience has forever changed my life. I can no longer just be content with my own life without thinking about the people on the other side of the world that I know will probably go to bed hungry tonight or may be sick due to the lack of proper medical attention.  While praising and worshiping God with these wonderful people you would not ever think that they lack for anything. I think the Ghanaian in people are teaching me the true meaning of humility and love.   In John3:16 it reads, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life." I quote this scripture because I used to just say it out of memory without thinking about it.  However, it doesn't say for God so loved the United States, it says For God so loved the world. I thank God for showing this to me, and for taking the blinders off of my eyes so I can see that there is a world of hurting people that needs the love of Christ.   Our world as we know it is so busy with getting to work, shopping, getting our nails done etc., that often God takes a back seat - not that we mean to, but just life in general causes it to happen.  In Ghana things are slower and most Christian people plan around worshipping God. He is the center of their life. I pray that God will continue to use me in Ghana and the rest of the world.  I think  that if a person gets an opportunity to go on a mission trip it would be life changing for them.  Why don't you listen to God's still small voice and join me to touch the world, and change your own life?   Sincerely, Cindy Gamso Ghana Team 2007-2008 Medical Missions Directors   Some New Faces in HGM      Ferrel & Janis Minick Philippines Country Directors  with the Valencia Family     Ferrel and Janis Minick have been married for 33 years and have 3 children and 7 grand-children.  They have been involved in Christian ministry throughout their marriage including teaching various Sunday School classes for children and adults.  Ferrel has also served on two church boards.  Their passion has always been for missions with an emphasis on the Philippines.    For 30 years they have corresponded and personally supported a Philippine pastor, James Valencia, since he was in Bible college.  In May they had the opportunity to meet James and his family for the first time in person.  They were so impressed with his ministry and outreach that they have committed themselves to help support their work in a greater way. Pastor Valencia and his wife, Neth, started a church 2 years ago in the area of Trece, Cavite.  This church meets in an open structure covered by tin next to their home but they also have an outreach in an area called Southville which is made up of about 16,000 families that were relocated from the slums of Manila.  These families are extremely poor living in one room block housing with electricity only 2 hours a day.  Each family has 4 to 8 children with no means of paying for education or medical care.  They exist on rice and many are hungry. "The needs in this area are tremendous but we are believing that God will provide and use us to make a difference in the lives of these precious people"   - Ferrel and Janis Minick.    "I have personally known Ferrel and Janis for over 10 years now.  When they approached me with their desire to pursue their ministry in the Philippines through HGM I was very excited for them and for HGM.  The Minick's have a long history of mission support, a family active in ministry all over the world and a genuine heart for the Lord.  Please take time to get to know this new ministry outreach and pray about joining them to reach the Philippines," Jason Rapert.   The HGM Board of Directors welcome the Minick's and look forward to everything God plans to do in the Philippine Islands.  Medical Missions   I can't believe another year has come to an end and our second medical missions trip will be in the works before this month is over. What an awesome year 2008 has been for HGM Medical Missions. God has worked on teaching me to listen to the Holy Spirit and to follow His will. I have been amazed at what happens when you let God be in control of things and rely on Him. I have seen doors open that I could not believe were possible. To God be the Glory!   Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.   This year  HGM  Medical Missions provided medical supplies to the Kormantse Medical Clinic along with  insecticide treated nets (ITNS) for the prevention of Malaria. We also donated medical supplies to the Adullam Orphanage, donated ITNS to pastors and their families  as well as other families at risk for Malaria. We donated ITNS to the DISOP Foundation, which is an organization dedicated to helping the disabled, orphaned, and the poor in Ghana.  I would like to thank everyone that made our journey possible this year. Thank You for your donations, your support and most of all your prayers.                                         Sincerely,   Cindy and Greg Gamso, HGM Medical Mission Directors   Quick Links   Our Website   Make a Donation   Philippine Ministry   Medical Missions     Please help us by forwarding our newsletter to a few of your friends.  Dear HGM Partners and Friends,   As we bring 2008 to a close, we want to thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support this past year.  Through praying, giving, and loving people like you, HGM was able to do more than we ever have before.   In 2008, HGM made it's 6th trip to Ghana West Africa.  We are happy to report that many accepted Jesus Christ as their personal saviour, 2 new water wells were completed, 1 KVIP toilet was completed, 3 scholarships were funded at Southern Ghana Bible College, gifts and toys were distributed to school children and orphans, the gospel was preached and plans were laid for the completion and commencement of various other projects that have been selected.  Thank you for your support in every way.   Today begins a new year with new opportunities to do more for our Lord.  In 2009, HGM intends to continue the mission that God has entrusted to us - preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20), showing the love of Christ through humanitarian projects (Matthew 25:34-40), and teaching unity in the body of Christ according to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:20-23).   I had no idea in January 2002 that I would see HGM grow to be an international ministry that has reached thousands of people from Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, The Netherlands and Ghana West Africa.  God truly had much more in mind for us than I could have imagined.  When you include the reach of our internet presence, and consider the correspondence we receive, we touch dozens of countries around the globe.  It has not been through our own power or might, but by His Spirit.   I deeply appreciate each of you that choose to support God's work through this ministry.  Since 2002, no one has ever taken a salary from ministry funds.   When you give money to HGM, every cent directly supports the humanitarian projects, scholarships, medical missions and evangelism efforts that we undertake.  We are truly a ministry of volunteers and we are grateful that new volunteers keep joining us.    In this spirit, we are happy to announce that Ferrel and Janis Minick have joined HGM as our new Philippines Country Directors.  Please take time to get to know these special people by reading about them in this newsletter and visiting their new ministry page at www.holyghostministries.org.   HGM is allowing God to enlarge it's borders.  We appreciate your support now more than ever.  I am certain that 2009 will be a year of exceptional growth for all of us as we take another leap of faith in pursuit of God's calling.   May God richly bless you, your families and everything you put your hands to.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.   Jason Rapert Founder & President Holy Ghost Ministries, Inc. Bugri Has Water! Pastor Elisha B. Awombire and friends use the new water well funded by HGM in October 2008.    In October 2008, Jason Rapert, Bret Carroll, Tracy Leach and Cindy Gamso represented HGM in Ghana West Africa.  Helping them throughout the mission were Missionaries Garrett and Kelly Nichols and their son Seth, their trusted driver Christian, Isaiah Addison, John Appiah and many others.  The team completed several projects including the following:   Water and Sanitation Projects: *Dawhenya - KVIP Toilet System $7,000 *Kukurantumi - AA house water well $8,500 *Bugri - Northern Ghana water well $7,500   Medical Missions Projects:    *Malaria Nets - various villages  *Kormantse Medical Clinic - donation of supplies   Miscellaneous Projects:   *Site inspection of completed 40 x 80 tabernacle for church in Penyi *Funded HGM Scholarship Fund at SGBC $3,000 *Gave gifts of toys and candy to school children and orphanage * Received gift of 20 acres of land for Mike Pike Orphanage from Kormantse II village elders  *Donation to DeGraft Ministries for use of van in the field $1,000 *Obtained Rotary Partnership memorandums of understanding for future International Matching Grant projects in the Upper East Region of Ghana   The Ghana 2008 mission team was invited to the north of Ghana by Garrett and Kelly Nichols specifically to assist the area with potable water projects including the area of Bugri pictured above.  This region of Ghana is one of the poorest and most neglected in all of Ghana, and is one of the harshest climates in all of West Africa.    Needs of the Bugri Community   Bugri is a community situated in one of the most deprived regions of Ghana:  The Upper East.  It is a rural setting about 60 miles from the regional capital of Bolgatanga.  It has a population of about four thousand people who are engaged mainly in peasant farming.  The language spoken by these people is Kusaal.  The people are commonly referred to as Kusasi people.    This community lacks some very basic human needs some of which I will list below:   1.  Clean Drinking Water   The whole community has only two boreholes (water wells) serving the over 4,000 people.  Due to the inadequate number of boreholes many turn to drink from either hand-dug wells or other sources of water which leads to diseases such as malaria, typhoid, cholera, etc.   2.  School Block   As part of my church's outreach program, a school was started in 1993 and has since realized a drastic increase of pupils.  The school which is housed in an old building structure as a temporal block is increasingly becoming too small and weak, hence the need for replacement.   3.  New Church Auditorium   Due the the increasing membership of our church we are in need of a new structure.  The church embarked upon the construction of a new church auditorium six years ago from funds we raised locally.  We have raised pillars to support the roof, but we need financial help to complete it.  The structure will serve a dual purpose - church services and school training.   4.  Toilet Facilities   The whole community has only one public KVIPtoilet and none of the households has a private toilet.  The community is therefore vulnerable to all kinds of diseases.  We need help to build better sanitation facilities.   5. Orphans   Orphans are left to survive on their own, hence so many have stopped schooling after the death of their parents due to their inability to support themselves.  In fact, they face a lot of unpleasant challenges such as no food to eat, no clothes to put on, etc.   Rev. Elisha B. Awombire October 26,  2008     Ghana 2008        Making my 3rd journey to Africa was nothing short of God's promised provisions once again.  Each year I have made the trip, I have always felt like I have received far more blessings than I could have ever possibly provided to anyone by making the trip.    This year's journey was one of the toughest yet.  We traveled many miles on bad roads, trying to adhere to a nearly impossible schedule and constantly having more added to it.  By the 3rd day I was already exhausted and we had just gotten started.  I allowed the enemy to take control of my thoughts and began questioning why I was there?  For what reason did I make this tough journey once again?  Why did God provide miraculously once again for me to make the trip? I began to focus on all the tough aspects of the trip rather than focusing on God's plan for my presence on the trip.   We had traveled 4 hours after a very busy morning and arrived late in Kumasi.  The team was scheduled at a church for an evening service.  Rather than depending on God for my strength, I was looking to my own capabilities and opted to sit the evening out and rest before an 8 hour drive the following day.  That evening God and I had a wonderful conversation.  I tried to present my case to Him, and He gently guided my thoughts back on track reminding me that even if I wasn't aware of His plan, He was in control and He did have a plan.   Each day of the trip after that contained the best blessings ever!  I was allowed to make good on some promises to children at the orphanage we visited the first year, by returning and delivering requested gifts.  The kids were not only thankful for the gifts, but were reassured that the love of God was real, and I reminded them that like my visit, when I said that I would return, even though it took longer than they wanted, or longer than expected, that God would never let them down, and that HE would never leave them or forsake them.   I then received such a blessing witnessing such a precious spirit of God on the side of the road with some children as Jason led many of them to Christ.  On Sunday, we were privileged to be able to worship with our brothers and sisters in Bugri and Basayonde for morning services, and my biggest blessing coming near the end of the trip where we were welcomed with such excitement by the DISOP Foundation, where God reminded me sweetly that it is not our ability but our availability that he seeks.   I think the thing I learned this year that I want to share most of all is this.....You can always find reasons why you should not go to Africa, or why you should not do what God has told you to do, or why you should not give what God has given you to give.  The excuses are plentiful. "God, it's too hot, God, I may need the money next month, God I can't speak, I can't preach, I can't afford.... " and you're right, YOU can't.  But with Christ... all things are possible!  If you make yourself available, he will take care of the rest.    Tracy Leach Ghana Team 2006-2008  HGM Administrator           Till I Burn Out For Thee   Oh, give me, Lord, Thy love for souls, For lost and wand'ring sheep. That I may see the multitudes And weep as Thou didst weep.   Help me to see the tragic plight Of souls far off in sin: Help me to love, to pray, and go To bring the wand'ring in.   From off the altar of Thy heart Take Thou some flaming coals, Then touch my life and give me, Lord, A heart that's hot for souls.   O Fire of Love, O Flame Divine, Make Thy abode in me, Burn in my heart, burn evermore, Till I burn out for Thee.    by Eugene M. Harrison  Dear Friends, As you have read, 2008 was very busy for me and all of those who have volunteered.  We owe a special thanks to the following individuals, entities and organizations:   Holy Ghost Ministries, Inc. Board of Directors - HGM International Board of Directors in Ghana - HGM Board of Advisors - Pastor Glenn Chadwick and Freedom Church of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas - Pastor Pat Smith and Living Faith Church of Festus, Missouri - The Iovino Family Foundation of New York - The Merrill Lynch Foundation - the Conway Rotary Club of Conway, Arkansas - Rev. Frederick Kyereko and Southern Ghana Bible College - John Appiah, HGM Ghana legal counsel - Philip Miron, Shaneen Kelleybrew-Sloan and the law firm of Hyden, Miron and Foster of Little Rock, Arkansas - Missionaries Garrett and Kelly Nichols - Tracy Leach HGM Administrator and webmaster - Cindy Gamso HGM Medical Missions Director - Rev. John Sniper HGM International Board of Directors - Rev. Isaac DeGraft and Olivia DeGraft, HGM International - Isaiah Addison of the DISOP Foundation.   There are so many people to thank, I surely have forgotten to name them all.  Above all, we thank God for the privilege He has given to us to serve Him and carry out His will through ministry.  We also sincerely thank each of you that have become partners in prayer and financial supporters.  I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your support.   Be watching for our upcoming news about projects we are undertaking in 2009.  We also need your prayers as HGM embarks upon new international ministry opportunities.   God bless you and Happy New Year!   Jason Rapert Founder & President Holy Ghost Ministries, Inc.