Merry Christmas from the Ruckman Family. Thank you for your fervent prayers and faithful support of our family and ministry in 2024. God is showing Himself strong to us through you.
I am happy to report that Angie and I are in much better health than when we initially returned to the States in August. While she has ongoing neck issues, it is better than previously; and my candida overgrowth is gone. We appreciate your continued prayers concerning our health.
On October 21st – 25th, we were happy to work with Missionary Keith Shumaker to teach the second School for Church-Planting Missions. We hosted a good number of missionary church-planters and pastors who are laboring in various parts of the world. It was a great time of fellowship as we studied New Testament Church-Planting Missions. A special thanks to Pastor Danny Moore and the Zion Hill Baptist Church for allowing us to use their facilities and to Brother Duane Moore for sending his wife and parents to do the meal preparation for the week. We are already anticipating our third School in early June 2026.
Since coming home on furlough, Angie and I are busier than ever. Between reporting to churches, recording Bible Institute lessons, visiting family, and deer-hunting, we are thoroughly enjoying our time home. Last week, I made a quick trip back to Ghana to perform a naming ceremony for the first-born baby of a young couple who are very near and dear to our hearts. While in Ghana, I was able to be a part of the first services in the completed church buildings in Shama and Kojokrom. I was supposed to preach nine times, but I lost my voice. I was only able to preach four times. Brother Joe Consford, who traveled with me, preached the other five times. What a blessing he was to me on this very short trip.
In our last letter, we mentioned how the Lord has been providing for the construction of the ground floor of the Calvary’s Hope Academy. Since that letter, the Lord has miraculously provided another $42,000 toward the completion of the ground floor. We only need $15,000 to completely finish that floor. Lord-willing, we will open the Academy in the Fall of 2025. We are also praying now for the Lord to furnish the orphanage with appliances, tables, chairs, furnishings, etc. He will! We will begin construction of the second story as soon as the ground floor is complete. The second and fourth stories will dorm a total of 78 children, and house two house families. The third story will be the school. Please be in prayer that the Lord would send laborers (families who are saved, SANCTIFIED, and surrendered) to help full time in this ministry.
Angie and I are also excited to announce that we have two more granddaughters on the way. Lord-willing, they will be born in April and May. While we are returning to Ghana February 3rd, we will be back in the States in June and July to finish our furlough in the Northeast, have Angie’s fourth annual post-cancer checkup, and see our newest grand-babies. Then we will return to Ghana in August for our next full term.
A special thank you to each individual or church who has given toward our projects in Ghana and toward Christmas. May God continue to bless and keep all of you as we enter 2025. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Jesus returned this year?
Your Missionaries to West Africa,
James & Angie Ruckman
