“We have received something that is not to be kept by us, but to be given to others,” says Isaac, a Ghanaian Christian. When he heard the Gospel for the first time in 1992 from a couple in the neighboring country of the Ivory Coast, Isaac decided to leave Islam and follow Christ. He boldly declared his faith in 1995, and since then has been a passionate advocate for sharing that gift far and wide.
In 2008, Americans Terry and Amy had just moved to Ghana and were on their way to the northern city of Tamale. The previous day, a visitor who knew Isaac had given the couple his phone number after hearing about their work with “orality, storytelling, and cultures that have a high percentage of people that can’t read or write.” They met up with Isaac on the way to their new home, and the partnership was born.
In Isaac’s wandering between communities, he had learned that many people “loved the message” but were “not educated.” Isaac’s team realized that they needed to change their method to emphasize the story of the Gospel, appealing to the hearts of the people by entering their oral traditions.
About half the people in Ghana’s rural villages are illiterate, and more “don’t appreciate learning through books,” says Isaac. Together with Terry and Amy, he discovered disciple making, “which made it much simpler for ordinary people to learn the message of God, obey Christ, and be able to share with others.” Since then, they have seen great growth and passion in the Ghanaian church as believers mature and multiply.
To hear more of what is happening in Ghana and how Zúme aids in the effort, listen to our Multiplying Disciples Podcast.