May 5th was a memorable day at
the Village of Hope. On that day, a graduation ceremony was held for the
second batch of 9th grade graduates from Hope Christian Academy. In addition
to that, the Prestoncrest Church of Christ house was dedicated to God.
About 1,200 people from all over
the country attended both ceremonies. The day began with a procession of the
graduates and teachers with a few special guests to the basketball court and
soccer field which was the venue for the graduation ceremony. After prayers
and singing, there were speeches to advise and encourage the graduating
class and their parents and relatives who attended in large numbers. The
special guest speaker for the occasion was Brother Lawrence Oduro who is
the principal of Ateiku School of Evangelism and the director of the Rural
Evangelism Development Project. After the speeches, each graduate was
presented with a certificate and a Bible with his or her name imprinted on
the cover. Then the graduates knelt down for the elders of the church who
were present to lay their hands on them, pray for them, and bless them. That
was the high point of the ceremony, as they were sent forth from Hope
Christian Academy with the blessings of God. In all, 16 students graduated.
We have high hopes for these 16 former students. Please pray for them as
they go to high school and onward into life.
Following the graduation
ceremony was the dedication of a duplex that is now home to 48 new children
at the Village of Hope. Charley Johnston, an elder of the Prestoncrest
Church of Christ in Dallas, TX, delivered a speech on behalf of the elders
and members of that congregation that funded the construction of the duplex.
Afterwards, Gary Brentley, another elder of the Prestoncrest church, offered
a prayer of dedication for the house. With the assistance of elders of the
Vertical Centre Church of Christ in Tema, Ghana, (who oversee the work of
the Village of Hope) the two elders from Prestoncrest cut a ribbon and
unveiled a plaque to officially commission the Prestoncrest house. The
audience was then given a tour of the house. Amidst much joy and jubilation,
the day's activities were brought to an end.
It was indeed a wonderful and
happy day in the history of the Village of Hope - a day that will be
remembered for many years to come.
Servant of the LORD,
Fred Asare
