AFRICAN MISSION EVANGELISM, INC.

Affiiiale of

Dorothy Eunson
Box 5722 Accra N. Ghana West Atirica

GHANA CHRISTIAN COLIE

Barbara Barkes

339 Wiltshire Drive

Gray,TN 37615

tvbarkes@yahoo.com

Volume 8, Issue 8

January, 2002

ENCOURAGEMENT TRIP TO KERI

The long awaited visit with a year 2000 graduate in the northern Volta region took place between the

every church activity. We ate around a small table in front of the thatched roof, swish (mud plastered with cement) house that Sampson has built. If the
sun was extremely hot and shade scarce, we moved
inside the room to eat. That is also the room in

13"' and 17*'' of December. Our team included

Kwame and Julie as usual, plus Nicholas Otumfuo, pastor in a town 17 miles from Accra. Bro. Sampson Darko had invited him because he is gray

which I slept, and Sampson slept at a friend's house. The rest of our party was housed in the home of an
elder. We took our baths in the usual small roofless

haired and age is greatly respected. The trip took about eight hours, including one stop to visit Hayford Ahiabou, who has planted cross-cultural
churches an hour from our fmal destination. A

largepart of the journey is on decent paved roads, but about three hours are spent on unpaved and
some very rough roads.

shelter at a neighbor's house, and we were given the key to the teachers' toilet at a school close by. On Saturdaywe were joking about the difficulty our tall missionary men would have, ducking in and out of the low doorway of Sampson's house. I was complimentedon my carefulness. That very evening as I entered the bathhouse after dark, I glanced down to be sure of my footing and whacked
my forehead a smart blow on the low lintel!

The very first evening after supper, the three men went to one village for a Bible study, while Julie and I met with the Women's fellowship in Keri. I taught a lesson and Julie interpreted for me. The language of the area is Achode, but most understand Twi very well. Kerosene lanterns were used since there is no electricity in the area yet.
Friday was a bit difficult for me. I was still tired

from thejourney and with my fast metabolism I

need food early in the morning. Not to be.

Sampson had declared a half-day of fasting, praise,

preaching and prayer for spiritual revival. Bro.

Otumfuo was the main leader. It was a very good

service, and I did survive. I do not think I could

have stood up for onemore prayer session. We

finally ate about three o'clock in the afternoon. We

had another service in Keri that evening.

Saturday Sampson had to go to Nkwantato have spare partsput on his motorcycle. It was supposed

to bea rest time for us. A faithful old but lively Kwame and Julie on their wedding day
For a long time Bro. Sampson was only one of two widow in the church who was rejected and
abandoned by all five sons when she became a

Christian, was talkingto Bro. Otumfuo about a

yoimg man she is helping to take care of, who

Christians in his family. An older brother stopped

supporting him in secondaryschool when he became a Christian. He has suffered a lot of abuse

suffers from several health problems. We finally decided we should take himto the hospital in
Nkwanta, a thirty-minute drive away. We had a late
lunch that day and then drove back to Nkwanta to

and contempt from his family, although by the

grace of God that has been somewhat alleviated.

This is why we chose to spend a long weekend with him. He has taken over the oversight of four

visit Bro. Budu Nyarko, another FAME church

planter, thenon to Tutukpene to pay a short visit to

churches from Bro. Christopher Adjei, the man who

hasjoinedthe college faculty.
A lady in the Keri church cooked all our meals for

John Newman a July graduate who has taken up the leadership ofthe church there. Kwame was very often busy driving the truck up and down carrying
equipment or people. Sunday morning he made

us while continuing to participate vigorously in

three trips toPawa No. 2 where we had a joint worship service of people from all four villages.

Pawa No. 2 is a largely Konkomba village and is

the newest "branch". We all sat on benches under

IN THE NEW YEAR

the mango trees. Several youth responded to the

invitation. Bro. Otumfuo was so concerned about the unconverted adults in that town that he and

Brian Jennings returned to Ghana onJanuary 3^^ to resume his teaching duties. On January 4**^ John
Dadzie, college treasurer, leftfor England to study
accounting and business for a year. He made his
own arrangements but the college will pay his

Sampson made an arrangement with the chief to

return at 5 p.m. The chief agreed to beat the gongong and call the people together.

salary to his family for the year. Registration for

second term took place onJanuary 7"", and classes

The men returned to Pawa No. 2 for the meeting of

village adults. The chief said it was the first time

opened on the 8^*^. Groundbreaking for the

library/administration building onthe new campus will bedone onJanuary 25^"^. Irvin and Lena
Kreider, from the Williamsport, PA area, are again staying withus for three months so Irvin canhelp buildthe new campus. They arrived in December and are ready to move into the newly completed
guesthouse.
MRS. BARKES HAS MOVED!

the whole village had gathered for such an occasion.

Our menwere happy withthe respect and attentiveness accorded the teaching/preaching of the gospel message. The people also asked questions.
It is our prayerthat seed has been sown, whichwill
bear fruit in the future.

In the meantime Julie and I had gone to the Keri

chapel where I was to teach on giving. It was 8:30

p.m. before we started and people were tired, so I did not teach for very long. Mostly I emphasized that you can tithe only if you love God sincerely and trust him completely. Packingthe truck Monday morning was not a small job. We were bringing some longboards and other

My faithful, wonderful forwarding agent has

moved! Her new address is 339 Wiltshire Drive-

Gray, TN 37615. Mrs. Ellen Elliott, 1600 Buena

Vista Drive, Eustis, FL 32726, still has display

material to lend you if you want it.
PRAYER POWER

items for Bro. Christopher Adjei, plus lots ofyams

given to all of us for gifts. Bro. Otumfuo even

THANK GODFOR: The presence of all the missionaries on the field and in good health; John

bought a small goat for his family's Christmas

dinner. After the job was done, we ate breakfast

Dadzie's opportunity to study in England; reopening

of a new term; safe travel and visits to several

and took our leave aftera very enjoyable visit

during which we laughed a lot. We felt the same as Sampson when he repeatedly said, "I will miss
^ c*
I"

churches in northern Ghana during the holidays; my short vacation; faithful longtime supporters and some new ones in the past year; smooth running of
iny red pickup truck.

PETITION GODFOR: wisdom for those writing a

Our journey took more than twelve hours. The load

kept shifting a little so we stopped at Obanda for Kwame to retie the ropes completely. That took an hour and then Bro. Ahiabou's family served us food. We could travel only slowly but finally reached home safely at 10:30 p.m, with thankfiil hearts. Both David Kalb and Tim Bright also made trips to different parts of the North during the holidays to
encourage leaders and churches there.

constitution for Abeka Christian Church; Francis Ahadzie, a pastor imder 40 who had a mild stroke the day before Christmas; provision for drums for
the churches in Pawa No. 1 and 2 in the Nkwanta

district; continued and increased giving for the new library; spiritual protection for those who work in
areas of intense opp-^sition from traditional idol worship.

God bless you all in the year 2002. In His service, Dorothy

East River Park Christian Church

1207 Broad Street

Non Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Guaranteed Elizabethton, TN
Permit No. 183

Elizabethton, TN 37643

Address Correction Requested

HORIZONS Mission Services

P.O. Box 13111

Knoxville, TN 37920-0111

InliiiitilliinHiillliniiiii tHliniilnilliMlluiliiinil

AFRICAN MISSION EVANGELISM, INC

Affillat* of

GHANA CHRISTIAN COllEGE

Dorotby Eanson

Box5722
AccraN.Ghana
West Africa

Barbara Barkes
tvbarkes(^ahoo.coni
'

FEBRUARY 2002 CONTRIBUTORS* LETTER

Dear Friends in Christ,

GROUND-BREAKING FOR I.IRR ARV

On January 25**", as scheduled, abus took all the students and the teachers who do not already live on the
new campus, to thenew site fora simple butinteresting ground-breaking service for the new students had to stand. After a short song service, Tim Bright gave an exhortation from Nehemiah. The

Library/Administration building. We all met in one of the new classrooms. The faculty sat down, but the

ChiefImmigration Officer ofGhana had accepted an invitation to be our guest of honor and featured speaker. Two days before the occasion, he remembered a previous government engagement. I was drafted by the Principal to take his place! Ifthe students were disappointed, they were too polite to show it. I gave a rather humorous description ofthe cramped and inadequate conditions in which the library, the PrincipaFs ofBce, and the main business office function. Then I shifted to the importance of administration (it's Biblical!) and oflibraries; and related some ofthe features ofthe new building. I
compared thepresent building to a dugout canoe and theproposed new building to an ocean liner. Three
faculty members, including the librarian, and the presidentof the Student CouncU each turned over a

shovelful ofdirt. Meat pies and soft drinks were served aftertheprogram. One week later, during a visit to thenew site fortwo missionary meetings, I was amazed tosee a whole network oftrenches already dug for thefooters. Ten days afterthat a heavy, unexpected rain collapsed
some of the trenches. But we are pressing on.
DAILY ACTIVITIES

Whata mundane heading. Well, life Is sometimes mundane. Except for the power outages wehave been experiencing again in the last few days. Right now the stabilizer is clicking steadity, tryingto cope with fluctuations in voltage. This is mid-term exam week. I recently gotabout twenty new books ready for the shelves (so few!) This afternoon I did the calculations for the Februarysalary adjustments based on the changing exchange rate of $ to local currency. The faculty meeting minutes are waiting for meto
type them, and a description of ten beautiful newBiblical visual aids is to be typed for faculty members. A set ofEnglish test papersand a set of Christian Education assignments (minor) are also waiting. I
probably cannot finish all today. Others are far busier than I, believe me.
CONSTITUION AND BY-LAWS

Our local congregation has never had such documents, but recent events have deemed it important to prepare some. I am one of five on the committee to prepare a draft. I am not sure I should be. Certainly a Ghanaian document Is going to be far different than any I have seen. Some of the ideas I think clear
and important are not necessarily regarded in the same light by the other members. We have had some pretty stormy meetings. I have to remind myself that this is the Lord's business and His church, not
mine. PRAYER POWER:

Thank God for: good health in all faculty and staff and families; enjoyable ground-breaking; IDES grant for two new deep weUs; gradual recovery of the minister who had a stroke; progress in Easter convention preparation; about twenty baptisms In Abeka Christian Church of children 11 and up who

have been very faithfbl and verywell-taught.

Petition God for: God's will to be done concerning the desire of a mission called Medics for Christ to establish a degree program for Emergency Medical Technicians from a Christian point of view as part of GCC/S's offerings; wisdom, courage and honesty in church leaders dealing with problems of Immorality in the church; safety from snake bite and armed robbers for all who live and work at the new campus; more gifts for the Library Building Fund; wisdom and patience for those writing a draft constitution and by-laws for our local church. Just this week I read through financial reports for October through December 2001. I thank God for your generosity and faithfulness. In Christian love, Dorothy

AFRICAN MISSION EVANGELISM, INC.

Affiliate of

Dorothy Eunson
Box 5722

GHANA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Barbara Barkes
339 Wiltshire Drive

Accra N.Ghana

Gray, TN 37615

WestAfrica

tvbarkes@yahoo.com

CONTRIBUTORS AND PRAYER PARTNERS

APRIL 2002

Dear Friends in Christ, "MOST POWERFUL. LOVELY CONVENTION WE HAVE EVER HAD*

This was one pastor's comment on our recent national Easter convention of the United Christian Churches

brotherhood, held in the river town ofDambai in the northern Volta Region. There were over 2000 people present (it's hard to get a complete accurate count). Morning teaching sessions for youth and adults and AIDS workshops on Saturday afternoon were held insix languages. Children's sessions every morning were held in nine languages. The joy ofmeeting fellow Christians from so many areas and tribes was great. Just think what
heaven will be like! I'll tell you more in the bigMay general newsletter. These bi-annual conventions are a
powerful factor in binding us together.

Four members ofdie planning committee had made apre-convention trip to Dambai the end ofFebruary. Since January, there have been hours ofpreparation ofchildren's materials, letters to all the teachers, photocopying of
programs and lessons and arrangement ofloans to pay for up front expenses. I do not get much else done other than necessary school work for months. But it isworth it. And praise God, special donations from some ofthe churches and the convention offerings more, than paid back all the loans.
MISSION EMPHASIS WEEK

Ghislain Sylvester, veteran missionary serving in Mali, flew to Ghana to be our guest for the week. He has always planned his work to be sustainable by the local people after his departure and had many, many usej^ ideas to share with our students in challenging them to reach out beyond their own people and culture with the gospel ofChrist. He is French Canadian, so itwas anew accent for our students to struggle with!
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SEMINAR LED

In the midst offinal convention preparations and end ofschool papers and exams, Iwent to an evangelical church on a Saturday morning to lead in aseminar on how to manage the time in a Bible study. To be frank, I don't have much confidence in myself, but the participants made lots ofcontributions and I heard later that they
thought I did an excellent job. Praise God for that.
MISSIONARY CONFERENCE IN IVORY COAST

Our West African missionary conference occurs the same year as our national convention. Six ofushired a van and driver and went together to Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast. Tlie Shefflers had extra business to attend to and

drove their own vehicle. Staying ata beach resort was quite a change from the facilities we had atour national

precious part ofthe conference is tlie fellowsliip we enjoy. Seven ofthe Iweniy-two present will not be in West
Africa for the next conference, either because ofretirement orrelocation, so there was a note ofsadness there.
PRAYER POWER

convention. Chris DeWelt of College Press was our featured speaker. Ireally enjoyed his talks. Iwas the song leader. We all gave field reports and had some mformal discussions on topics pertinent to our work. Avery

Thank God for: continuing good health; asplendid Easter convention and enjoyable missionary conference; exams marked, grades prepared, and syllabi ready for third term; early rains; Brights' first grandchild~a boy, in
Cincinnati..

Petition God for: strength, wisdom, and patience for third term beginning 29"' April (my last as ateacher); re energizing ofthose writing aconstitution for Abeka Christian Church; productive Board ofDirectors meeting on 15 ' May; new missionaries for all of West Africa, the most heavily populated section ofthe continent;
continued progress on Library/Administration Building.
Grateftilly in Christ,
Dorothy Eunson

AFRICAN MISSION EVANGELISM, INC.

Aniliole of

Dorolhy Eunson
Box 5722 Accra N. Ghana

GHANA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Barbara Baikes

339 Willsliire Drive

Oray. TN 37615

West Africa

tvbarkes@yatioo.com

Volume 8, Issue 9

May, 2002

THE BEST EASTER CONVENTION YET

recruited after their arrival on Thursday to help pack and move things when needed. The missionaries all stayed in rest houses separate from the Training College, though none had electricity. The one I was in actually had running
water of a sort, but I learned not to flush the toilet

The seven person Convention Planning Committee, of which I am the secretary, worked on the plans and preparations for more than a year and a half, including two trips to the river town of Dambai in the northern Volta Region, the site of the convention. Especially, since January, I spent many hours preparing children's materials with the help of Kwame Amevor and a young man from a church 18 miles away who is a student at the college.
There were also letters to be sent to the teachers, finance committee members, and churches that

immediately before taking a shower or the water pressure dropped to virtually nil. I took my own food and a little kerosene burner. Also my own
drinking water.

could bring their sound equipment and/or musical instruments. Photocopying of programs and lessons had to be done in stages, and loans had to be arranged to pay for up front expenses. It was also important to train another man to keep financial
records, so that I could be relieved of much of that

From the first prayer meeting on Thursday evening till the music and dancing celebration Sunday night, everything went pretty smoothly. As usual, having offering devotions and announcements interpreted into five languages dragged things out a bit, but we haven't found a perfect solution to the problem yet. The general praise and worship services and

offering were followed on Friday and Sunday by

teaching sessions. All the people were divided two
ways - men, women, and youth, and also by language - at least six of them. We studied the

work. I did not get much else done other than

necessary school work for months. But it was
worth it!

Bible to seek the truth on two popular theological

Three pastors and a schoolteacher were the main local arrangements coordinators and church

members helped them. Theyall worked very, very hard. The major facility was a very neat and attractive teacher training college. It was a very nice place, but over 1500 conventioneers plus children really overwhelmed the rooms, toilets, and bathrooms available. Fourpolytanks were brought

and set up on the grounds and local men who supply river water with small tanks pulled by garden
tractors were engaged to try and keep tanks full. Well, it helped, but manypeople still walked down

terms often misused in Ghana - "Anointing" and "Deliverance". Friday afternoon there was the annual youth Bible quiz and a Leadership workshop on "Team Building" and two other topics. I believe ten teams participated in the quiz. For manyyears, Abeka won the quiz because the village schools are often poor in quality and there was not much competition. Nowadays, there is real competition

and Abeka only tied for 4"' place. It was really very
interesting.

to the river to bathe inside small shelters set up for

that purpose. People were really jammed into rooms for sleeping. Even though canopies and chairs were hired locally and fi"om a town across the river and a couple hours away, we were still short of seating and shade from the bumingsun.
Eight prayer warriors traveled to Dumbai on the

My mornings, after the general worship, were spent a hundred and fifty yards from the canopied area
under some shade trees. We had children's classes

in nine languages, each under their own tree. This

time we had more teachers so that the same people

didn't have to serve all three mornings. Unfortunately, because of the shortage of chairs,
virtually all teachers and children stood the first

Monday before Easter to begin their intersession.

day. The second day we scrounged a few benches

and the third day a few more, but some of us never

On Wednesday, my truck carrying five men, and a

private car with four more men went to the site as
"the technical team." We still had exams on

did get to sit down. In addition to the two lessons,

we had one picture each day for the children to color. We had planned for two, but the committee decided we shouldprepare for 200 kids, so of

Wednesday so I went on Thursday with Rifes. The

technical team helps set up the canopies and sets up

the generator, lighting system, sound system, and electronic musical instruments. It was good to see
those men taking time off work to serve the Lord in

course, and we had more than that the first day.

The first day we had only small bucket of water for over 200 kids, so of course most didn't get a drink.

this way. At night,they all stay in the same room

Seeing the number of children, we broke open

packets of 4 small cookies and gave each child two.
The second day, the caretaker of a local borehole

with the equipment for security. Other youth are

took pity on us and lent us a big container that

would hold perhaps eight gallons. Unfortunately it got to us too late to do much good. On Sunday, we got it early, and through the morning the children drank every drop of it. Friday night we learned Kwame would have to make a long trip to a bigger town to take a small child to a hospital and would have a chance to buy more cookies. So Saturday and Sunday we gave each child the wrapped pack of four. We still had to buy some extra in Dumbai. Sunday, we had 341 children in our classes. It was an exhausting but rewarding aspect of the
convention.

performed while the congregation sang, and at least three tribal groups did their unique songs and
dances. For once, all of us missionaries were seated

together on the windward side, and we were

inundated several times with clouds of dust stirred

up by the dancing feet.

In spite of the heat and shortage of facilities, the joy of seeing old friends and meeting new one is just indescribable. Everyone we asked was enthusiastic in spite of minor troubles. I will miss these
conventions a lot when I retire. I have left out a

Saturday afternoon AIDS workshops were held in the same groups and languages as the morning
classes. One of the men from our church who has

had special training had trained other church members and college students, so we had enough
teachers.

hundred interesting details, but our time has run out! Praise God that special church contributions and conventions offerings more than paid back all the loans. Pray that the enthusiasm engendered there will continue to empower the churches throughout the year.

Both Friday and Saturday evening's evangelistic services were held on the convention grounds. I was always too tired to go back for that, but I heard
they went well and some souls were won.

THANK GOD FOR: a wonderful convention, including the souls on and safe travel for all ho
attended; the fact that for the first time in three

conventions I didn't come home sick; an enjoyable

missionary conference in Ivory Coast the same month; the reopening of the college for third term

On Sunday, the preaching centered on the Lord's Supper and then everyone partook of the communion. This year, the pastors, elders, deacons, and deaconesses were all asked to help serve so the serving time was reduced.

studies; faithful supporters of the college and

missionaries.

PETITION GOD FOR: more grace for Abeka's

constitution committee; good preparation for an

evangelism program in Abeka and June; God's guidance in many changes and developments for the future of the college: God's mercy and blessina on
*u

Sunday afternoon more than three hundred people

boarded the big river ferry and crossed to the other

side. There was much singing, dancing laughing and socializing. On the return trip the ferry captain even took us on a little extra side trip.
Some churches chose to leave Sunday afternoon and evening even though we had encouraged them not to. When I saw the big crowd gathered in the evening for the music and dancing, it was hard to believe anyone had left. Musical groups from the

JKL u^^UAA^ i\j

Swiiuui xC'C.

(FORWARDING AGENT'S NOTE: Please pray for strength and comfort for Dorothy's brother, Bill,
who is suffering with pancreatic cancer and for his

family. Also, for strength for Dorothy at this time.)

Contented in Christ, Dorothy Eunson

various churches sand, tambourine troupes

East River Park Christian Church

1207 Broad Street

Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage Guaranteed

Elizabethton, TN
Permit No. 183

Elizabethton, TN 37643

Address Correction Requested

HORIZONS Mission Services

P.O. Box 13111

Knoxville.TN 37920-0111

AFRICAN MISSION EVANGELISM, INC.

Affiliate of

Dorothy Eunson
Box 5722

GHANA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Barbara Barkes

339 Wiltshire Drive

Accra N. Ghana West Africa

Gray,TN 37615 tvbarkes@yahoo.com

AUGUST 2002 CONTRIBUTORS LETTER

Dear Friends in Christ,

GRADUATION AND ENTRANCE EXAMS; AN ENDING AND A BEGINNING

the close of avery busy third term, graduation was held on July 20^*^ at the partially completed new campus. The work crew, some students and some ofthe faculty had loads ofwork to do to prepare aclean flat space between the classroom building and rising library/administration building, hire and set up canopies, chairs and portable toilets, and get everything needed for the 'stage', which was the verandah ofthe classroom building.
Students, Abeka faculty, and some ofthe visitors rode to the site in rented buses, college vehicles or afew
private cars. Because the campus is a bit far out ofthe city, only 800 chairs were hired. Attendance was low

when we started, and we felt a bit sorry for the graduates; however, people continued to pour in, and well before the end every chair was full, people were sitting on the steps ofthe classroom building, and hundreds had to stand for the rest ofthe program. As usual, itturned out to be a colorful, exciting, joyous celebration. About
forty-four graduated from the four different programs.

Entrance exams on the 30*^ and 31^ July brought 47 hopeful candidates for the tests and interviews. Some were unable to do well enough and were referred to the short term August course. Two had not yet reached our minimum age requirement of23. Thirty-five were accepted for the fulltime programs beginning in September. School fees have more than doubled this year, so pray that these men (only one woman) can find sponsors so they can study. We have a few scholarships but will need more as the years go by. Late entrance exams will be
held on September 3''' and 4^'\
RECORD-BREAKING CHURCH LEADERSHIP RETREAT

"Leadership Ethics" was the theme ofthis year's retreat held in the college chapel. Brian Jennings did an excellent job preparing the lesson materials and making the main presentations. Athree man Ghanaian panel joined him to make responses and to answer questions from the audience. Many people said itwas ofgreat value in applying scriptural principles to their lives as leaders. The second day is aday offasting, prayer and
reports from various individuals and churches. It is a blessed time.

In between sessions, people converse and various meetings are held. I heard heart-touching accounts ofdaily problems encountered by the cross-cultural evangelists in the North. Right after the retreat I bought awater filter for one couple whose only source ofwater is apond in which the cows also wade to drink. Even boiling
the water does not help the taste.

At the end ofApril, some women decided that Women's Fellowship leaders in the churches should have special
lessons and programs during the retreat. They were given permission toplan it. There were a total of 35
women who came and benefited, even though it taxes our facilities to the limit.

The men numbered 154 for agrand total of 189. TTie annual retreat is one ofthe functions that encourages the
leaders and promotes the bonds of loveamong the churches.
^ PRAYER POWER

Thank God for: my good two week visit to the U. S. in June to visit my family, especially my brother Bill who is ill with pancreatic cancer; completion ofmy last term offull-time teaching (in September I will teach only Orientation); great graduation and Leadership Retreat; new staffbeing hired for September; the safe birth ofmy
'grand-daughter' Dorothy Ameyo Amevor to Kwame and Julie Amevor by C-section onJuly 6 (mother and
baby doing fine); interest of potential students.

Petition God for: wisdom and good time management as I tackle the library work that has been piling up for years; wisdom and strength for the Administration and Academic Affairs Committee as they guide the college
through doors of change and opportunity all opening almost at the sametime; comfort for the Kalbs and for the

family ofMr. Kalb's driver who was ina motorcycle accident and died inthe hospital ten days later; (Dan was a good man and a very hard worker); safe return to Ghana inmid-August for Tim and Twyla Bright, who went to
the U. S. for several important family milestones.

God bless you all. In Christ's love and service, Dorothy Eunson

Honoring Long-term Servants

TforotHy "Eunson
QUana
yW^iait motivated or influenced you to leave the United
States for the foreign mission field?
My parents brought us up to know and love the Lord and missions. They gave generously to missions, hosted visiting missionaries in our home and received numerous newsletters which I read avidly. The Great Commission is there for all to read, but the challenges and stories from missionary speakers, the encour agement at church camp to commit one's life to "full-time Christian service" as it was termed then, and the example of my parents increased my interest. After graduating from Milligan College, I went to Florida to work in youth, music, and secretarial ministries in Eustis and Orlando, not forgetting my dream, but still feeling unqualified. While at First Christian Church, Orlando, Francis Reid per ceived my great interest in missions and began to encourage me to act upon it. With his guidance, I moved ahead and came to Ghana in 1968 with the backing of that church, the church in Eustis, my home church in Bloomburg, Pennsylvania, and others.

was special that drew you to the people among whom you serve?
There was no attraction to any particular continent or people. I was ready to go anywhere. It happened that
when Mr. Reid began to probe my interest, Kent Taylor had just visited the church and told about the needs in

Ghana and his plan to join the faculty of Ghana Christian College. I decided to write to Cjnril Simkins, who was the one person I knew working with the college, and ask if a person with my education and experience would be of help. He and Dick Hostetter wrote back and said, "yes." That is how the Lord led me to Ghana.

^as your commitment to devote your lifetime to mission work made 'Ui from the beginning or did it develop over a period of time?
In the beginning I don't recall thinking about either a lifetime or a particular span of years. I just became a missionary. When people asked me during furlough when I was coming home to stay, I told them I didn't know. I have also said that God will have to hit me over the head with a two-by-four to let me know I should stop. With my declining strength, sight, and hearing. He may be using a little gentler method.

at have you done to "cope" with being separated by miles and time zones from your family?
When I arrived in Ghana, I had the feeling that at last I was where I wanted to be. The first Christmas was a little difficult, and letters were always eagerly received and read; but the only time I was seriously homesick was when I went to a village for seven weeks of language study. At that time I was homesick for Accra and my friends and colleagues there, not America. My parents and brothers and sisters never made it difficult for me to leave them and return to Ghana. They have always been very supportive.

I became a very active member in the local Christian Church that meets in the college buildings. They have been my church family, with one young family being especially close to me during these "slowing down"
years. I also have personal friends among the other preachers and their wives in the brotherhood. Most of the time I have had the fellowship and caring of other missionaries working with the college,

although there have been a few times when, for a period of months, I was the only non-Ghanaian present in

14 HORIZONS

at mistakes have you made in ministry from which you learned and altered your approach to the people among whom you serve?
Like many idealistic people, I thought I could correct what I perceived as excess es in the life of the church, such as very loud congregational prayer, very loud music, a delight in uniforms for various groups in the church, and heavy expen ditures of time, energy and money in the observance of funerals. I was unhappy when my advice was not taken. I finally learned to participate in and enjoy what I can, and refrain from or observe quietly (most of the time) what I cannot. There is no such thing as an acultural church, and there is much to thoroughly enjoy. Some years ago some other Christians and I worked very hard to organize a shepherding plan for our local church. It was well-structured and clear in its requirements for the shepherds. Soon after its inception, it was time for my furlough. When I returned to Ghana, the shepherding plan had collapsed and nobody seemed to care. The ones designated as shepherds had been unable to meet the demands of sustained com mitment to visiting their "sheep." My expectations had been too high and I viewed the collapse of the plan as a personal failure. It took me a long time to accept the fact that the program had been too demanding and the people were just not ready for it. One mistake that has not been corrected is my failure to learn a local language. All the Ghanaian faculty of the college, many church leaders, and all the college students speak English, but their mother tongues are many. Even though the latter fact was our excuse for not learning one, the great benefits of learning a local language have been lost to us.

at has been your greatest source of encouragement as you have served od among these people?
In the early days of the brotherhood of Christian Churches in Ghana, the "care of the churches" fell mainly on the shoulders of one Ghanaian, Christian Adjei, who is also the President of Ghana Christian College and Seminary. Today there are many capable committed leaders who are faithful in their local churches but are
also concerned and active in the area around them.

It is also a joy to see one's local church family grow and see young people growing up and accepting responsibility in the church and in the brotherhood. Additional encouragement comes from the faithful long-term service of the Ghanaian faculty and the growth of the college from a body of 25 to 30 students to close to 90 today, with some doors opening right now for great expansion of our programs and potential growth on a brand new campus.

at are the strongest cultural obstacles to the Gospel message among e people of your country?
Animism has shaped Ghana's culture for centuries. The fear of retribution from the gods if one repudiates them for Jesus Christ is very real and prevents some from accepting Christ. Even after accepting Christ, some will slip back to the old sources of spiritual power in times of extreme poverty, illness, childlessness, hurt, or ambition. Christians planning to travel abroad do not spread the news freely, for fear someone will spoil their opportunity by using juju. The heavy expenditure for funerals is rooted in the traditional belief that if the elderly are treated well at death, they will bless the living from the spirit world of the living dead.

at would you say to anyone considering devoting their life to mission

ork? You will not regret it. Besides the joy and satisfaction of helping others to know Christ and grow in Him, your own faith will be stretched and strengthened as you practice it in a different culture. You are forced to re-examine your life and determine what is truly Christian and what has been influenced by your culture. Your life will be enriched by knowing and loving people of other cultures.

16

HORIZONS

Accra with our mission. When I was in the hospital for six days with severe malaria and typhoid fever, it was Ghanaians who took care of me. It was also helpful to have a close and close-mouthed friend in another mission with whom I could blow off steam when things got stiessful within our own mission. Now, e-mail is a great means of communication for sharing the joys and the worries with family and friends at home. And last, but not least, the Lord is always present with a listening ear when we pray and cry.

at changes have you observed in mission con cepts over the years?
Others have mentioned the shift from long-term missions to shorter terms,

Teaching women at a Leadership

Retreat

and the popularity of mission trips by youth groups and work teams or other representatives from supporting churches. I would like to focus on one change in mission strategy that I have observed in Ghana. In the 70s, all the missionaries associated with Ghana Christian College agreed that we would not support local preach ers in order to prevent the churches from becoming dependent on foreign help. Somewhere along the line, things changed. A few of us have been instrumental in getting foreign support for some local preachers, and some foreign support comes through other missions for church planters. Such support has fostered much faster church growth, especially in northern Ghana which was largely neglected until fairly recently. I do
not support people, but I am a channel for a modest contribution to a brotherhood Roofing Fund to which local churches can apply for help.

at are some specific ways in which you have seen God's blessing upon
your ministry?
My arrival on the field in April 1968 was nearly cut short in July of the same year when some Ghanaians made efforts to deport us because we had not given them the material help they expected. Then Principal Ron Rife worked with a lawyer to get the college's own immigration quota so we would be independent of any particular group of churches but could serve them all. The quota was signed the day before the official who was sympathetic to us left office. Years later my truck was seized by a quasi-governmental body for five weeks during a period of political upheaval. It was the only vehicle the college had at the time. We had to beg the people to let us "borrow" the truck to pick up David and Debbie Couch at the airport who
were returning from furlough and then give it back to them. Even though it had always used oil mercilessly, the truck was eventually returned to us with only minor body damage. Though not as dramatic, God's blessing has been seen again and again as we "pass through the waters." I have lived through several serious illnesses, three or four coup d'etats, government intimidation of churches, discovery of a breast lump (benign), interpersonal conflicts among missionaries, and disappointment in churches and/or their leaders. God gives us the strength to keep going. One of the current blessings keeps us all in awe. In plan ning a badly needed new campus, we could not see how we Monitoring an exam at Ghana Christian College few missionaries with limited support could ever do it. First God provided the money to purchase land. Then He proceeded to provide the money step-by-step. So far we have five beautiful faculty houses, one guest house, and a very large classroom building that some local folk nicknamed "the castle." A library/administration building is going up, and God continues to provide. Another great blessing is the fact that I have had the same forwarding agent for all my years of service in Ghana. Mrs. Tom Barkes and I became friends at Epachiseca church camp in the early '50s. We both attend ed Milligan college, near Johnson City, Tennessee, and she responded readily when I asked her to be a partner in my work in Ghana. She has said she will stay with me till the end.
OCTOBER 2002

15

AFRICAN MISSION EVANGELISM, INC.

Afftliole e(

Dorothy Eunson
Box 5722 Accra N. Ghana West Africa

GHANA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Barbara Barkes 339 Wiltshire Drive

Gray.TN 37615

tvbarkes@yahoo.com

Volume 8, Issue 10

November, 2002

Dear Friends in Christ,

NINETY STUDENTS BEGIN NEW SCHOOL
YEAR

completed this year's college budget, which should have been ready August
Am I a librarian or what? Yes, I am. Doris Rife

Thirty- three new students came to join returning students to make up this year's student body.
School fees were more than doubled in a move

designed to require students to foot more of the bill for their education. At the same time, we have tried to obtain more scholarshipmoney for those who

helps a lot in mending books, and I, too, mended 30 or 40 in August. I also organized students holding vacation security jobs to clean the library and all
four thousand books in it before the new school

really do not have the resources to pay. Since they

are required to finish paying before they can take
term end exams, the next few weeks will show us

who is really struggling.

NEW TEACHER HIRED

The Administration moved quickly to hire one of last year's degree graduates, Mr. James Yamoah. James was already a Universitygraduate and had taughtfor several years in secondaiy schools (high schools) before the Lordled him to prepare for
vocational ministry. He was an excellent student

year began. This required wiping inside the front and back covers where mold spores were growing. I also did the selection and crosschecking necessaiy for a $3,000.00 plus order for new books. These began to trickle in the second half of October. And yes, I have processed some of the books in storage, produced cards on the computer, and got them on the shelves. Not as many as I would like, but some. Doris helps in filing the cards. Most of the daily supervision of library use is done by student librarians, with one nominated by the student council and confirmed by the faculty to be Head Student librarian. Last year the student
council judged that a Higher Certificate studentwould make the best Head this year. Usually, we look for degree or diploma students. This year's student is superb: very conscientious and thorough. He has learned the method that works to call my attention to something that I need to help with: he writes it in a note. Then I don't forget to do it. Years ago, it was like pulling teeth to get students to volunteer their time to help. We have no money to pay them. Gradually, through the grace of God, the

and president of the student coimcil during his

senior year. He continues to hold the role of national youth pastor in the Christ Resurrection Church. Presently, he is living in the men's hostel in

the same room he usedas student council president.

James* wife and three children are still in Kumasi,

169 miles fi:om Accra, prayingfor the day when the

apartment the college has its name in for becomes
vacant.

ONLY A LIBRARIAN-ALMOST

'job' has increased in popularity, and this year is the

best so far. So many have volimteered that their
'shifts' are much shorter and no one is
overburdened.

It is a wonderful relief to be free of English classes and Christian Education classes, I enjoy the
students, but the physical and mental stamina to

teach and to prepare lessons and mark assignments and exams is not there anymore. I still teach Orientation, largely library skills, two hours a week. I also take part in the twice-weekly chapel services, faculty meeting every Wednesday (I am the secretary), the weekly faculty prayer meeting or the
monthly prayer meeting with our student advisees,

VICTORIES BEHIND-CHANCE AND OPPORTUNITY AHEAD Graduation and Accreditation

We all gave thanks to God and breathed a sigh of relief, when, at the graduation ceremony in midJuly, the Chairman of the National Accreditation

and monthlyAdministrative Conmiitteemeetings (another secretarial job of mine). Because our office manager (also a fiilltime teacher) is overloaded, he
has asked me to take care of textbook orders. None

Board announcedthat our accreditation as a tertiary

institution had been renewed for another three

of the responsibilities is huge, but altogether, they

take time and energy. On behalf of our mission,

AfricanMission Evangelism, I keep track of student

scholarships and also figure out the amount needed

for the monthlygrant to the college. The latter is

rarely the same two months in a row. In the middle

of Octoberthe Acting Treasurer and I finally

years. The students were jubilant. It was part of a very happy day: the first graduation ceremony at the new campus. We will not move for another year, but thanks to a Herculean labor by the construction and maintenance crew, including David Kalb with a grader and a hedgehog, the area in between the classroom building and the library/administration building (under construction) was cleared and set with hired canopies and chairs. Only 800 chairs were hired because we thought the distance, about

15 miles from the present campus, would prevent

more people from coming. At first, the attendance

system. The curriculum is being adjusted in order to

was very low, butas the program progressed people kept pouring in until every seat was taken, people sat on the numerous steps of the classroom building, and hundreds stood for the ceremony. It turned out to be a very exciting day, with graduates' parties
being held in empty unfinished classrooms and

allow the students to choose areas to minor in along

with their Bible major. At the same time, Lord willing, a new Master's Degree program in Christian Leadershipwill begin. All of this takes

hours of discussion, planning, writing and rewriting

on the part of the Academic Affairs Committee, especially Ron Rife, our educational consultant as

underthe canopies afterthe ceremony.

Overseas Council International

For two years or more, Ron Rife has been in contact

with Overseas Coimcil International, a U. S.

well as professor. Pray for the Principal, Christian Adjei, the Academic Dean, Joseph Nsiah, Ron Rife, Manuel Adjei, and Brian Jennings now in the U. K. continuing his doctoral work until January. The workload they cany is incredible~far, far greater
than mine. PRAYER POWER

organization whose mission is to help upgrade

evangelical theological education in second and
third world countries. We have had several visits

from various representatives, and last year they held

their annual conference for institution^ leadership

training here in Accra. Manuel Adjei, one of our teachers, did muchof the legwork for local
arrangements for the conference. OCI was so

pleased thatthey are holding it here again this

December. OCI has 'taken a shine' to our school.

Although wearenottheir typical evangelical school, theyrespect our theological stand and our
open door policyto Christ-loving students of all

Thank God for: a great college graduation and another superb record-breaking Christian Churches leadership retreat in July; a fine student body, faithful support from churches and individuals for and throughus missionaries; the encouragement, challenges and help given and pledged by OCI; renewal of accreditation by the Ministry of

Education; my 65^ birthday inNovember.

Petition God for: wisdom and strength to complete thorough preparation for all the coming changes; the help of Seminary of the Nations (Christian Church college professors) in ourMaster's program through mini-courses to be taught here; my sensitivity to God's will concerning myfuture plans.

churches. Inanswer to prayer, early this year they

gave us a Category Three status, which means we

could apply for grants. Wedidso, andthey have pledged, as they raise the necessary funds, to send us some funds for construction, some forlearning resources (library, tables and chairs for classrooms), and money to support Joseph Nsiah's doctoral -studies througli distanceIcamnig. When this~heip ~" actually materializes, I will inform youof the
amounts.

There is more to tell, but it must wait till January if

Christ tarries. God bless you all, _
In Christian love,

Dorothy Eunson
Academic Developments

Whenwe movethe library, offices and students to the new campus in August 2003, we will also

change from a trimester academic year to a semester

East River Park Christian Church

1207 Broad Street

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Elizabethton, TN
Permit No. 183

Elizabethton, TN 37643

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