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FOREIGN MISSIONS: AFRICA

Welcome to Africa!

Sunday evening, September 12, 2010, was focused on Africa missions. Brother Charlie Cochran presented a compelling summary of the
work in Ghana West Africa and his recent trip to Takoradi. He said, “We were sent for the same reason the Bible tells us early missionaries were, to open peoples eyes from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to the power of God.”

When Charlie, Mary Parham and members of her family landed in Ghana, they were greeted with a large welcome sign “Akwaaba” and began a long, hot four and half hour bus ride to Takoradi. Their host was John Eshun, minister for the New Takoradi church of Christ, and the Kansa-Worado church of Christ, and founder and head of the Mary Parham International School for kindergarten through sixth grade.

The mission work this past July included a graduation celebration, ladies class, visits to homes, and delivering hundreds of flip flop sandals for the children in a nearby village. Charlie was also a special guest speaker on the region’s radio station.

Charlie announced the beginning of a Vocational Training School for underprivileged teenage girls. This is an addition to the existing school facilities. This work has just started from a new dream of John Eshun. Brother Eshun created the Mary Parham International School which is a very successful work. Akwaaba (Welcome) to Africa There is little doubt that this great man will effectively develop the Vocational School as well.

Supporting the Montice Howard Memorial Library located at the school was another part of the mission efforts of East Ridge several years ago. Additional books were taken to the library on this trip.

Brother Cochran explained that it is important to go back to mission cities even when the church has already been established there. “It was
the pattern of the early church.” He added, “Paul often revisited places he had been before.” Charlie said, “We spread a lot of joy and
encouragement during mission trips. You should have seen the smiles on the faces of the children when they got their flip flops.” Small things mean so much to them.”

John Blay Eshun is the minister for the New Takoradi church of Christ and the Kansa-Worado church of Christ in Takoradi, Ghana, West Africa.

John is also the founder and head of the Mary Parham International School for ages 4-12 years where the Montice Howard Memorial Library was added and our members visited and built shelves and furniture and filled those new shelves with hundreds of new books bought, gathered and shipped to the students.

John also heads a team of Gospel teachers who go into the villages teaching, baptizing and establishing new congregations. He does follow-up work in this area for our World Bible School students.