Last weekend we visited the "witches camp" in the village of Gambaga. In traditional African understanding, when bad things happen (deaths, accidents, diseases, etc.), they are often attributed to witchcraft. Villagers identify unfortunate women as the suspected witches and often banish them from the villages as a means of self-protection. These women are left with no homes, no families, and no means of support. More than 100 years ago the chief of the village of Gambaga began permitting these women to come and live on his land.

Twenty years ago the Presbyterian Church of Ghana began a ministry to these women. A woman pastor/social worker has been caring for this community of women for the past 20 years. Through her efforts they have been able to become self-supporting, receive medical care and education for their children. She is a truly remarkable person who is deeply loved. I had the privilege of preaching at her church on Sunday.    

This is the church building in the rural village of Nyerzee. On Sunday morning it is a lively place bursting at the seams. Dozens of children meet outside under the trees for Sunday School. Adults squeeze together on benches inside. The congregation is thriving and growing and needed more space. They prayed and gave and saved and worked to build a new, larger chapel adjacent to the current one. A foundation was laid and slowly walls began to rise.

 Last month through a gift from the Outreach Foundation of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. they were able to add a roof and have begun to worship in their new church home.