Covenant TGIF Message from Ron

Last week’s message was on a global mission in Ghana that Covenant became involved with in 2016, the King Ministry, and how our early involvement really helped that ministry expand their dental and eye clinics.  The Covenant members involved in that work all agreed their effort was clearly God-led because of the great success they had in getting more medications and equipment donated than expected and sent to Ghana.  

Today, I want to share another example of an early opportunity that was presented to us to support the King Ministry.  During this early involvement with King, Victoria and Paul McArthur learned about a boy we knew as “Cowboy” that presented to King’s eye clinic with a serious and undiagnosed eye disease and malformation that no one in Ghana could possibly treat.  Because of his condition, Cowboy lived in the bush country away from his family and it was impossible to contact him.  Although there was nothing more she could do, Victoria continued to pray for Cowboy, as his situation had truly touched her heart.  

On June 25, 2016, Frank and Brenda Dolwick, church members at that time, brought a visitor with them to church.  This was not uncommon, as Frank did this once or twice a year when he would have visitors in town to give lectures in the Oral Surgery Department at the University of Florida, the department that Frank chaired.  During our call for prayer requests that morning, Victoria just felt moved, that she needed to ask our church members for prayers for Cowboy, that somehow He could find the needed treatment for Cowboy’s serious eye condition.  So she raised her appeal to the church that morning.  After church ended, Frank’s visitor immediately went to Victoria to speak to her.  He introduced himself as Dr. Gary Parker, an oral surgeon who happened to work on a ship named the Africa Mercy, part of the Mercy Ships project serving in Africa.  The Mercy Ships mission is to follow the 2000-year-old model of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor.  Their vision is to use hospital ships to transform lives and serve nations, one at a time.  Their core values are to follow the model of Jesus, seeking to love God, love and serve others, be people of integrity, and to strive for excellence in all we say and do.

Victoria showed Dr. Parker some pictures of Cowboy and Dr. Parker stated that he could help him if Cowboy could get to his ship.  Victoria immediately contacted King to give him this good news.  The only problem is Cowboy was out in the bush and there was no way to contact him.  However, he suddenly appeared at King’s compound and was told of this potential help.  The Africa Mercy was in a harbor in the country of Benin, two countries to the east of Ghana, and about 300 miles as the crow flies from Tamale (see attached map).  It was not an impossible journey, but a very difficult one, especially for a boy with no official papers documenting who he is.  King assigned someone to take Cowboy to the Africa Mercy, where Dr. Parker performed two successful surgeries.  He will need more surgeries but his eye has been saved and his disease has moderated.  

The total financial cost of this project was $700, most of which was used to support Cowboy and his friend for 2 months while they had to stay in Benin between surgeries.

Cowboy was so happy with what occurred for him that he decided to become a Christian.  Also, Cowboy’s father was so pleased with what happened for his son that he, a non-Christian, came to King and said “I give Cowboy to you”.  King accepted this offer because this was a high honor in their society.  Cowboy moved to the Alabaster compound, and was trained to lead their farming operation.  He eventually married, his wife became a Christian as well, they had a baby boy, and continued to farm for Alabaster.

Think about Victoria’s action that Sunday morning at Covenant.  She could have thought this is an impossible task.  What can one person possibly do to help this boy half way around the world get the major medical care he needs to overcome his medical issues?  But she prayed incessantly for Cowboy in the days and weeks since she heard of his plight, and something moved her to bring it up in church that particular Sunday.  That is the only day she mentioned it at Covenant.  What are the chances that a world renowned oral surgeon who works in Africa would be sitting in the Covenant congregation that morning, exactly the one person who could make a difference for Cowboy?  What are the chances that all of Victoria’s prayers might be heard and make a difference for Cowboy?

Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 21:22 – And whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive it all.

The end result is that Victoria’s prayer was answered in a most definitive fashion, immediately that moment she raised the issue, the solution was presented to her by God in His House.  Indeed, this is God’s story and Covenant was God’s place to bring Cowboy’s healer to work his miracle on Cowboy.  Our prayers are indeed answered in God’s time and with the way He wants it to happen, if only we have the faith in Him to do so!

John 4:48 – Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”

Hebrews 2:4 – God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Don’t ever give up, don’t ever believe something is too big for you to handle, always trust in God to meet every need, because …………………

Luke 1:37 – For nothing will be impossible with God.

[NOTE: Many thanks to Madge Bush and Victoria McArthur for documenting this important information from the King Ministry for our Covenant history records.  In large part due to this ministry, Victoria and Paul decided to join Covenant Church.] 

Last week’s message was on a global mission in Ghana that Covenant became involved with in 2016, the King Ministry, and how our early involvement really helped that ministry expand their dental and eye clinics.  The Covenant members involved in that work all agreed their effort was clearly God-led because of the great success they had in getting more medications and equipment donated than expected and sent to Ghana.  

Today, I want to share another example of an early opportunity that was presented to us to support the King Ministry.  During this early involvement with King, Victoria and Paul McArthur learned about a boy we knew as “Cowboy” that presented to King’s eye clinic with a serious and undiagnosed eye disease and malformation that no one in Ghana could possibly treat.  Because of his condition, Cowboy lived in the bush country away from his family and it was impossible to contact him.  Although there was nothing more she could do, Victoria continued to pray for Cowboy, as his situation had truly touched her heart.  

On June 25, 2016, Frank and Brenda Dolwick, church members at that time, brought a visitor with them to church.  This was not uncommon, as Frank did this once or twice a year when he would have visitors in town to give lectures in the Oral Surgery Department at the University of Florida, the department that Frank chaired.  During our call for prayer requests that morning, Victoria just felt moved, that she needed to ask our church members for prayers for Cowboy, that somehow He could find the needed treatment for Cowboy’s serious eye condition.  So she raised her appeal to the church that morning.  After church ended, Frank’s visitor immediately went to Victoria to speak to her.  He introduced himself as Dr. Gary Parker, an oral surgeon who happened to work on a ship named the Africa Mercy, part of the Mercy Ships project serving in Africa.  The Mercy Ships mission is to follow the 2000-year-old model of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor.  Their vision is to use hospital ships to transform lives and serve nations, one at a time.  Their core values are to follow the model of Jesus, seeking to love God, love and serve others, be people of integrity, and to strive for excellence in all we say and do.

Victoria showed Dr. Parker some pictures of Cowboy and Dr. Parker stated that he could help him if Cowboy could get to his ship.  Victoria immediately contacted King to give him this good news.  The only problem is Cowboy was out in the bush and there was no way to contact him.  However, he suddenly appeared at King’s compound and was told of this potential help.  The Africa Mercy was in a harbor in the country of Benin, two countries to the east of Ghana, and about 300 miles as the crow flies from Tamale (see attached map).  It was not an impossible journey, but a very difficult one, especially for a boy with no official papers documenting who he is.  King assigned someone to take Cowboy to the Africa Mercy, where Dr. Parker performed two successful surgeries.  He will need more surgeries but his eye has been saved and his disease has moderated.  

The total financial cost of this project was $700, most of which was used to support Cowboy and his friend for 2 months while they had to stay in Benin between surgeries.

Cowboy was so happy with what occurred for him that he decided to become a Christian.  Also, Cowboy’s father was so pleased with what happened for his son that he, a non-Christian, came to King and said “I give Cowboy to you”.  King accepted this offer because this was a high honor in their society.  Cowboy moved to the Alabaster compound, and was trained to lead their farming operation.  He eventually married, his wife became a Christian as well, they had a baby boy, and continued to farm for Alabaster.

Think about Victoria’s action that Sunday morning at Covenant.  She could have thought this is an impossible task.  What can one person possibly do to help this boy half way around the world get the major medical care he needs to overcome his medical issues?  But she prayed incessantly for Cowboy in the days and weeks since she heard of his plight, and something moved her to bring it up in church that particular Sunday.  That is the only day she mentioned it at Covenant.  What are the chances that a world renowned oral surgeon who works in Africa would be sitting in the Covenant congregation that morning, exactly the one person who could make a difference for Cowboy?  What are the chances that all of Victoria’s prayers might be heard and make a difference for Cowboy?

Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 21:22 – And whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive it all.

The end result is that Victoria’s prayer was answered in a most definitive fashion, immediately that moment she raised the issue, the solution was presented to her by God in His House.  Indeed, this is God’s story and Covenant was God’s place to bring Cowboy’s healer to work his miracle on Cowboy.  Our prayers are indeed answered in God’s time and with the way He wants it to happen, if only we have the faith in Him to do so!

John 4:48 – Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”

Hebrews 2:4 – God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Don’t ever give up, don’t ever believe something is too big for you to handle, always trust in God to meet every need, because …………………

Luke 1:37 – For nothing will be impossible with God.

[NOTE: Many thanks to Madge Bush and Victoria McArthur for documenting this important information from the King Ministry for our Covenant history records.  In large part due to this ministry, Victoria and Paul decided to join Covenant Church.]