News Homepage >August, 2004

DENTAL CLINICS

“I have never seen a dentist, much less visit one”, said Pastor Zackeria Amidu , one of the trained lay dentists. The other two (Ziblim Nindo and Daniel Salifu) chimed in, “We have seen a dentist but never visited one”. Such are the men that God chose to be the first in the world to train as lay dentists. This extraordinary opportunity began with a phone call from Dr. Charles Vittitow of Louisville, Ky. God has put me in touch with a group called I -Tec (the I stands for indigenous), who have developed a dental chair which will allow, suffering people to receive dental help in very remote places. Dr. Vittitow was thinking that the northern region of Ghana would be the ideal place to field test this chair.

The population of the northern region is about 2 million people with only one government employed dentist. Most of the people have never heard of or seen a dentist in their entire lives. Add to this illiteracy, poverty and difficulties with transportation, you get the picture.

Through much prayer, four of us met with Dr. Vittitow and three Godly, dental assistants (Sharon Collier, Lisa Benson and Teresa Oechsei) at Alabaster Project Ministries' facilities – Bethany Village. For three intensive days we breathed and ate dentistry, we learned everything from anatomy to giving shots, from extraction to filling. Under Dr. Vittitow’s supervision and vigilance we drove to villages where we were met by huge crowds of suffering patients and curious on lookers. We treated everyone, regardless of age, religion or sex. We saw and treated over one hundred people, several of them received Jesus as their Savor and Lord. The response is overwhelming and we are praying for more dentists to be involved in this new tool of evangelism.

KENYA

King, Benton, Elyse and I visited Kenya last April, 2004. We were given the opportunity to attend the first African Summit hosted by Southeast Christian Church. The Summit provided sound doctrinal teaching, fellowship with other missionaries working in Africa as well as some much needed rest. It was a blessing to hear how God is blessing the other missionaries. Also, we learned many new ideas and strategies which will enable us to establish better ministries.

We had been asking God to provide a way for us to get to Kenya to meet John Mbugua. John is an expert in water preservation and irrigation systems (designed to improve farming techniques). Our meeting with John more than met our expectations. John took us to the Great Rift Valley and he introduced us to several groups of women who live in the hills of Nakuru. We were informed that these poverty stricken women as a group have paid at least 1/3 ($300 per system) of the cost of their water preservation systems. We were encouraged to say the least, as we are convinced that many Ghanaians will be able to do the same.

We had the opportunity to preach the Sunday message. John had desired to preach to these women about Jesus but his organization prohibited him from doing so. He told us all this after the fact. At some future date John will come to Ghana to assist us with water preservation and irrigation. Thank you Lord.

Thank you Southeast Christian Church, in Louisville Kentucky for making it all possible.

JAMAICAN MISSIONARIES TO AFRICA (ANDREW & LISA WRIGHT)

Andrew and Lisa Wright are trained missionaries (graduates of School for Missionary Development) from St. Elizabeth in Jamaica. At present, they are pastoring a New Testament Church in Westmoreland. We have known the Wrights for 6 years and throughout the years they have related to us their call to Ghana. The Wright family is coming to join Alabaster Project Ministries to serve God by reaching out to the Muslims in the Northern region. In addition, Andrew is a experienced carpenter and will be teaching at the vocational school. These are Godly, dedicated people whose help we desperately need. They need plane tickets for 2 adults and 2 children to Ghana from Jamaica.

A ONCE IN A LIFETIME FRIEND

Do you know Vince Armistead? I do. You see we did not come from the same parents, he was born in America; I, in Africa. In fact we did not even come from the same race, he a white American, me, well a black African. Our stations in life were quite far apart. When he was establishing chemical companies, I was working with a janitorial service. Out of these two different worlds grew a friendship quite unlike most. We had a friendship endearing and enduring to the end. You see, both Vince and I realize very early that there was more binding us than separating us, more unifying us than dividing us. The greatest of these is our desire to obey God at all cost, faithfully to the end.

Well, Vince you beat me there, you beat me to it, but I am plodding on faithfully. You have run the race by the rules; a part of that cloud of witnesses that cheers us onward and upward. My friend Vince, my friend.

…King

BENTON & ELYSE

Benton is now 10 years old. He has been promoted to 6 th grade. Elyse has been promoted to 3 rd grade. Thanks to all of you who pray for our children. God is faithful and it is evident to us that your prayers are being answered.

Pease mail all contributions for Alabaster Project to:
P. O. Box 15008
Fernandina Beach, FL 32035

All family support should be mailed to:
Mount Paran Church of God
2055 Mount Paran Rd.
Atlanta , Georgia 30327 USA