Dear friends,
“Every need supplied; every moment satisfied” is the story of our lives. I cannot believe how much has happened since our last prayer letter two months ago. God has certainly shown Himself strong to our family and ministry.
As many of you know, my sweet wife was diagnosed with uterine cancer in February. That shocked us! But it did not shock God Who, in direct answer to the prayers of His people, touched the doctors’ hearts to move quickly with surgery (because of our going back to Ghana). The surgery was completely successful. Not only was the cancer removed, but there is no need of radiation or chemotherapy! She has been given the green light to go to Africa on the condition of returning to the States once a year for “surveillance” and a heath check-up. We praise the Lord for healing Angie. A huge thank you for all the cards, notes, gifts, and prayers for Angie through this ordeal.
In other family news, our second son, Jesse, got engaged to Leah Nissley and will be getting married on June 18th in Staunton, VA. We are thrilled that God is giving Jesse a wonderful young lady who loves the Lord.
Angie and I will finally have a “daughter”. The newlyweds plan to join our home church, Eastside Baptist Church.
Because of Angie’s cancer diagnosis, we turned Falls International Baptist Church over to missionary-pastor Jeremy Holloway on March 14th, two weeks earlier than anticipated. God has already blessed in this transition as they have seen several souls saved since taking the church plant. We are so thankful for the Holloway family. Micaiah remains a member and is serving the Lord faithfully at Falls International Baptist Church.
Angie and I are on an eight-month furlough and busy reporting to our supporting churches. If we cannot get to your church this furlough, you will have precedent on our next. Our ministry update video is available as well at www.ruckmans2africa.com. We excitedly anticipate returning to Ghana on January 4th, 2021.
As of the writing of our last prayer letter, we needed $37,800 for three church plants in Ghana. We needed
$20,000 for the building that is being constructed in Apremdo, Ghana; $11,500 for the land/building purchase in Agona; and $6,300 for the purchase of two plots of land in Shama. To God be the glory, within the last three weeks, the Lord has provided $31,350 of that amount. I stand amazed at how God answers every prayer we pray in relation to fulfilling the Great Commission.
Your Missionaries to West Africa,
James & Angie Ruckman