As I was riding through village after village (there are literally hundreds all over the country), I had a moment that really hit home with me. Let me explain.

We were traveling down many dirt roads, but this particular one was chosen by the Holy Spirit to grip my heart for these people.

You see, I was looking at all the shacks and mud huts as we drove by them, then I saw it. A boy child, shirtless, no older than 6 maybe, out running around with no shoes on, covered in dirt, not realizing the full extent of his poverty.

I’m not talking about his lack of nice things; I’m talking about the likelihood that he and perhaps most of his village have never heard the name Jesus. This is the most extreme poverty of them all; the poverty of the soul.

For me, THIS is where the present met the past. For you see, I, too, was a poor child that lived on what most in America would consider a fairly remote place out in the country. I, too, lived on a dusty dirt road, and I, too, needed DESPERATELY for someone…ANYONE…to come tell me about Jesus!!

Then, it happened!! I remember the ride to church I took one Sunday morning as a poor little boy, whose soul was in worse condition than his family’s financial status in the world.

But THAT morning, the man of God who took us to church spoke to me the most soul-enriching words this little boy would ever hear in his life time. Whether you know it or not, I will showcase this jewel of truth…

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. -John 3:16

I didn’t get saved that day, but the seed was planted! I didn’t know it at the time, but the Holy Ghost came to my Lodebar and began the process of taking me to the palace of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!! To me, a spiritually crippled and impoverished soul, came the Glorious hope of Christ, and what a sight it was that TO THE POOR THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED!! I’m weeping as I write this, so please bear with me.

This connected me to these precious souls for whom Christ died!! We then stopped in the very next village, as the Holy Spirit spoke to Pastor Emmanuel, our lead pastor, to do so. We shared the Gospel, sowed seeds, and witnessed at least 10 souls pray to receive Christ as Savior.

I then learned that Pastor Robert lives a couple more villages over, but is planning a church plant where we just led some souls to Christ…and THAT excited me!!

I’m excited, because the Gospel is spreading to these poor villagers. I’m excited that they will have a chance to hear John 3:16 and accept its message like I did as an 11 year old boy, and I’m excited that that little boy child that gripped my soul and brought me back to my childhood without Christ, may someday actually have a real chance of hearing and receiving the greatest treasure of them all…JESUS CHRIST!!!

That’s what my soul has been lit on fire for this ministry, and that is how I can boldly and unapologetically invite others to come alongside me to help further the Gospel in this region of the world!!

Will you pray for that little boy, as well as this entire region, that the Gospel will prevail??

Will you help spread the word about this mission project?

And lastly, would you be willing to help get that church planted so that the Gospel will continue to be spread to “the poor”?

Thank you for ALL you do, and we love you dearly!!

Help us plant a church!! Learn how here: garycaudill.com/ghana-pastor-robert/

Pastor Emmanuel took us to the church he pastors. Good Samaritan Baptist Church! He has three National pastors training under him there to take the work over so he can plant other churches when they are ready.

I preached to encourage the people and Dad prayed over them at the end of the service to encourage them. The Holy Spirit was present and we thoroughly enjoyed it there!

I can share the audio later, perhaps, but pics will have to do for now. On our way to lunch and then a restful evening before starting tomorrow.

I’m BLOWN AWAY!! This may be a bit lengthy, but it’s very important to me that I say it.

Time would not permit me to start all the way from the beginning with all the details; suffice it to say that my father, Ravon Caudill, has been supporting this ministry almost from day one of its inception. This means that Dad and Emmanuel have been yoked together in some capacity in ministry for over 26 years now.

From when they first met so many years ago and Emmanuel had a young family and no ministry as of yet, to now a man who has a Christian school with hundreds of students and a mission that trains national pastors to send out and plant churches, and a lot more I don’t have time to mention right now, even Dad was SO blessed to find that since he last came here 4 years ago, Pastor Emmanuel’s ministry has blossomed like the garden of God!!

What makes this so special to me? Well, my father would not have me say it, but I just happen to know that many years ago, Emmanuel’s ministry faced some storms that threatened its very existence. My father then committed to sending a minimum of $100 a week (and at times as much as $400 at a time if needed) for about 6 years to ensure that Emmanuel would not have to close the ministry.

This was not money that Dad raised support for, but what he gave out of his own pocket.

Because of that, today, I see a growing, thriving ministry. I indeed have entered into other men’s labors, but not just any man…my very own father. I’m blessed! I’m inspired! I’m honored!!

So now when I see church plants taking place right before my very eyes through this ministry, in villages that had no gospel witness beforehand, I’m blown away that God did that at least in part, through my Dad!

This is the goodly heritage I am now a part of, because of his sacrifice, Emmanuel’s sacrifice, and many of you who sacrificed financially to help me get here.

Look at what God can do through one man who, as a corn of wheat, dies in the ground only to bring forth much fruit!
Dad will be the first to tell you that he takes no credit or glory for what GOD is doing. But I do wish to bring honor to whom honor is due.

If I preach and others respond, it is because my Dad paved the way for me to be here. It is because Emmanuel committed to toughing it out and being a faithful steward of the ministry entrusted to him by our Lord. Those souls are on their account, not mine!

It was made easier for me because they pioneered a ministry together against all odds and obstacles too numerous to mention.

But here they stand; here WE stand, in the midst of a GREAT move of God, because of men who loved Jesus more than their next breath or next meal.

These men are giants of faith. They are my heroes. I will forever be indebted to them for the examples they have set and the footprints they are leaving me to walk in.

May God give me the strength, fortitude, and determination of these great men of God with which I am truly honored to serve beside these two weeks!

Humbled,

Pastor Gary D. Caudill