Dear John,

AE Team Leaders have been seeking God’s will in how to respond to the spread of COVID19 through their continent and cities. Let us tell you about how two of our teams are adjusting.

Ghana

Ben Sachie reports that the “pandemic is no longer a dream but a reality for us in Ghana.” As at 14 April there are 641 confirmed cases in the country. The government has been proactive in calling for the lockdown of major cities, promoting health messages, and offering free electricity and some tax holidays to its citizens.. The IMF has announced financial aid.

Ben and AE Ghana Chairman Nii Ammoo have prepared some theological responses to the crisis – Does God really love the world? – which they hope with strengthen the Christian community via Facebook and Youtube. Clear biblical teaching on the questions of suffering are greatly in need at this time.

The ministry of deeds to demonstrate the love of God to humanity is also vital. Ben is looking at how to support the satellite city of Kasoa where AE Ghana has already established good relationships. We will provide more details in future communications.

Ben himself lives in a community where many people are struggling to make ends meet. Since the 7th April he has had to turn on his water tap every day for one hour so that people within the community can have water during the lockdown. He yearns to be able to do even more – such as providing food items to alleviate their suffering. It will also offer AE members the opportunity to talk to them about the corona virus and share the gospel with them.

Togo has not been forgotten:  Ben has established a WhatsApp group with key pastors in Lome to see how they can be encouraged and supported through this time.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia has only 82 confirmed COVID cases to date, although as Africa’s second most populous nation authorities are realistic about the risks. A state of emergency was declared last week, which included shutting down schools, banning large gatherings, and postponing August elections. On top of this, the locust plague in the Horn of Africa continues – with estimates that some one million people in Ethiopia alone require emergency food aid.

AE Team Leader Mel Mesfin and his staff have been busy working out how to mobilising people to reach their own neighbourhoods. They have asked Christian families to write down five neighbours to pray and think how they could evangelise them. They are also forming family cell groups and providing them with study and evangelistic materials. The mission committee is investigating printing gospel tracts that can be distributed to around 40,000 people through 30 partner churches. The aim is that this material would be used for one on one evangelistic approaches.

Please pray

• For Ben and Nii’s broadcasts to be widely distributed, and that the God who came to suffer with us and for us will be worshipped.
• For wisdom in planning aid for Kasoa, and that this might lead to many gospel conversations.
• For Christian leaders in Togo to build on what they have learned and to point their flock to the unchanging gospel.
• That individuals in Ethiopia will be motivated and equipped to share the gospel with their neighbours during this time. That this would lead to a revival of Christians becoming more grounded in knowing what they believe and the urgency of sharing it.
• For all AE staff to model their hope in the certainties of Jesus’ salvation in a time of great uncertainty.

Ben Campbell
CEO African Enterprise
Australasia

PS:  We are posting mission updates daily facebook.  See this link for our food distribution program in South Africa:  https://www.facebook.com/aeaustralia/posts/10158044044368744

PPS: Did you know that AE has a feed you can subscribe to on the popular PrayerMate app?  This is a great way of praying for AE ministry regularly and keeping up to date with current news. If you would like an online update direct from AE CEO Ben Campbell for your church, bible college or bible study group, please contact Ben via [email protected]