On March 6, 2022, Ghana celebrated 65 years of independence. In addition, Hope Fundamental Baptist Church for the Deaf celebrated its 5-year anniversary. We had a high attendance of 122 people. This was an incredible day, with much celebration. Our members stepped up and really took leadership of this celebration, leaving our family to truly enjoy the day. We marvel at what God has done and what He is still doing here in Ghana.
Like any missionary, we would like to share only the good and happy times. We know there are seasons of highs and lows in the ministry. Our anniversary service was definitely the high before the storm came. To be candid, March also marked one of the hardest months since our family has been here. We received a phone call that one of our teenage girls was assaulted while away at school and was now pregnant. This was a deep cut to our family, as this girl has been a part of our family for the past four years. My wife and I went to the police station and helped her file her report. We mediated, interpreted, and advocated for her with her family. It was and continues to be hard. We certainly covet your prayers for this girl, our family, and our church.
This was a hard punch to the jaw. This had us staggering a bit, but it has also taught us patience as we wait on the Lord. It has given us experience, and we are not ashamed to square up and punch holes in the darkness. “. . . but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
This experience also brought about a Gospel coalition within our church. We have some members who have been trained in soul winning, and they do a phenomenal job in seeing people saved every week. To put it simply, that is not enough. We are now taking our Sunday afternoon split classes and wholly dedicating them to teaching everyone who comes to church how to share the Gospel. We have been doing this for several weeks now, and we are just scratching the surface. This has been truly inspiring to watch men and women, who do not read well or use the English language fluently, memorize Scriptures in the little spare time that they have. (Remember, they literally work all day long to make ends meet—barely.) This coalition has also been a means to confirming their salvation within their own hearts.
Please pray for us, as we are planning our Deaf Conference for August 2022. We are sticking with the theme of marriage. Last year, our conference was canceled due to the speaker testing positive for COVID. We were able to attend some of Fundamental Baptist Church International’s Marriage Conference last year. There is a strong desire from our Deaf to learn more about a God-honoring marriage, and we praise God for that!
It has now been 5½ years here in Ghana without a furlough. We are planning for ours now; it is much needed. We will be focusing our travels in the Midwest and on the East Coast; then, Lord willing, we will be planning to be in the Southwest and on the West Coast during our next furlough. Please pray, as we are now trying to secure a vehicle. Please let us know if you would like to schedule a meeting with us.
Your co-laborers for Christ,
Rocky, Melanie, Rocky II, Malachi, Tyler, and Marissa Hall