The second quarter of 2024 has been busy and rewarding. It began with our youngest son, Micaiah, getting engaged to a young lady named Hannah. Their wedding will be September 13th in Lindsborg, Kansas. We are thrilled to see the last of our children getting married in the perfect will of God and look forward to welcoming Hannah to the family.
In Ghana, when a baby is born, the family keeps the baby inside for up to three months. Then, there is a naming ceremony. This is a joyous occasion where all the family and friends gather for the naming of the baby. In the last month, we have had two such ceremonies at our church. In both cases, we had nearly 200 in attendance. Most of them were lost, but they heard clear gospel messages. We were honored and humbled that both young families named their baby daughters after Angie. We now have three Mama Angies in the church. One of these babies would have been aborted had we not made a visit and pleaded with the mother not to kill her baby. We paid for the expenses of the baby so that she would not be aborted. Life is beautiful and precious.
Our spring semester of the Bible Institute has finished, and we (faculty and students) are enjoying a much-needed break. This semester was by far our busiest with the most classes and the most students. Our students did great. Next spring, we will have our second group of graduates. We anticipate sending young men and their families throughout West Africa in God’s time.
Angie has been busier than ever between junior church, Bible club, and teaching ladies in the Bible Institute. Additionally, she has worked hard taking care of myself, our house, and a young intern. Recently, she has been having neck and back issues that have caused nerve pain. Additionally, I am struggling with ongoing health issues. Would you continue praying for God’s healing, grace, and strength for us?
The Lord has provided another $7,445 toward the Shama church-plant bringing the needed amount to finish the building down to $13,496. We stand amazed at how the Lord continues to meet the needs for the church-building projects here. We are still praying for $12,544.32 to finish the Kojokrom church-plant building. In the last thirty months, the Lord has provided the money to fully finish two church buildings and to remodel at Mt. Calvary Fundamental Baptist. We are praying that God will provide to finish these last two buildings before we leave on furlough in August.
To God be the glory, we are finally breaking ground on the Calvary’s Hope Academy. We plan on having a groundbreaking ceremony the week of our Pastor’s Conference. Yes, we are excited.
For the last ten months, we were blessed to have a young man intern with us. He was a great blessing to Angie and me as well as to the ministries here. On Monday morning, he travelled back to the States to begin the next phase of his life. The Lord used him in many ways, the greatest of which was his help in starting a choir at the church. We miss him.
Two weeks from now, we will have a Pastor’s Conference. We are expecting seventy-five pastors and laymen from several nations of West Africa. It will be our privilege to host our pastor, Jason Jett and his wife, as well as the president of our mission board, Dr. Scott Caudill and his wife. Would you pray for God to work mightily
as we focus on “The Work of the Ministry”? We are expecting great things from God.
Your Missionaries to West Africa,
James & Angie Ruckman
