Every successful movement for the Kingdom is going to face opposition. It’s one of the clearest ways we can know that God’s work is threatening Satan’s dominion. But that doesn’t necessarily make it any easier to endure.
Team Expansion’s workers in Ghana know this well.
For them, 2016 was a year of profound growth and celebration. It was also a year for profound opposition.
Profound Growth
Our team in Ghana is arguably one of the most successful fields we have. In 2016, they celebrated 422 baptisms.
They had 244 Discipleship Groups (think, simple churches), totaling 1,694 in weekly attendance.
In addition to these staggering numbers, the team invested in more local disciplers, worked on translation projects, hosted major church planting trainings, created discipleship videos, and served area villages in numerous community health situations.
Profound Opposition
But these great victories did not go unchallenged.
During the year, one of their core disciplers fell away, repented, and went through a restoration process. Two others moved away, and another two lost interest entirely.
The team leader had to make an emergency trip back to the States for health issues. He had several medical concerns come up throughout the year. Thankfully, through extraordinary prayer, many issues resolved completely!
The team leader’s wife also suffered physically, and then was robbed in their home at knifepoint.
And then the worst happened. The team faced a trial they never could have expected. One of their teammates, Mike Squires, who had lived in parts of Africa for most of his adult life, died unexpectedly from complications in the hospital. It was a really, really difficult year.
Present Sufferings, Future Glory
For this team, who is seeing God’s name known and worshiped among unreached tribes in Ghana, they resonate with what Paul said to the Roman Christians: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
They will continue to run the race set before them, knowing that as God is faithful in bringing many men and women to His glory, Satan will be roaring around them. They’ll take the bad with the good, because their victory is secured in Christ.
He already won. The end has been written. God triumphs and evil will fall.
And they want as many men, women, and children in Ghana to know the full victory of God’s salvation, too.
