Ephesians 4:3 says, “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” In these last days, as we “earnestly contend for the faith”, we are thankful for the unity that the Spirit of God gives to His body, the church. We are thankful for the unity of the Spirit that unites our supporters with us in the fulfilling of the Great Commission. Thank YOU for your faithful prayers and support of our ministry here in West Africa.
As always, the last three months have been very busy. In early May, Angie and I traveled back to the States for her fifth and final post-cancer checkup. To God be the glory, the doctors consider her to be “cancer-free”. I cannot put into words our emotion and relief as the doctor told her that she had graduated from their care. If God had not healed her, He would still have been good, but we thank the Lord that He touched her body and brought healing. We look forward to serving the Lord together for decades. I also saw the endocrinologist while in Sioux Falls. They were able to work with our insurance to get a one-year supply of insulin and Dexcoms that we could bring back to Ghana.
While in the States, we had the opportunity to speak at Vision Week in Logan, Utah. What a blessing to be there and what a great spiritual need there is across the western States of the USA! Brother Keith Shumaker and I were also privileged to host our third bi-annual “School for Church-Planting Missions” in Greenville, SC. We are so thankful for Pastor Danny Moore and Zion Hill Baptist Church for allowing us the use of their beautiful facilities to teach church-planting principles to missionaries.
While in the States, we were blessed to spend time with our children and grandchildren. There is no greater joy than knowing that our children are walking in truth.We are blessed with five grandchildren and a sixth coming in September, Lord willing. The Lord also blessed with churches giving another $19,119.03 toward the construction of Calvary’s Hope Academy. We are down to $80,700.76 needed to finish the building.
We have prayed for a passenger van for our ministry for over four years. We had $2,500 given toward a van when we came to Ghana in 2022. God miraculously provided to buy a brand-new $20,000 passenger van, get it registered and insured for one year. However, when we traveled to the capital to pick up the van, the Muslim dealership owner began speaking with us about Christianity. He asked what we were going to use the van for. When he was told that it would be used for church and ministry purposes, he said since the van we were buying was the most basic he had, he wanted to gift us with a beautiful, comfortable seventeen-seater ($48,000 dealer price) van if we would give him another $5,000. He sells them for $60,000. After praying about it, the Lord directed us to accept his gift. They are registering with the DVLA this week. Next week, we will go get that van. I stand amazed at how the Lord provides what we need in His time.
Additionally, this week, as I was purchasing a car battery here in Takoradi, I spoke with the Muslim owner of the business. He told me that he knew about our “orphanage” and that he wanted to provide the water pump for our building when we are ready to install it. Truly, God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s provision.
We appreciate your prayers as we will be pursuing leads on a few needy children in the coming weeks. Also, pray as we host our fourth annual pastors’ conference at the end of August. We need constant discernment, discretion, and direction from the Lord in every aspect of our life and ministry.
Your missionaries,
James & Angie Ruckman