Christian Service Farms in Ghana Struck by a Severe Rainstorm.  Can You Help?
Request by Rev. Walter Otten, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Berwyn 
On April 10th a severe rainstorm hit Yahoman, a village in the GA West District of Ghana. The rainstorm ripped off roofs and damaged buildings. One of the areas badly affected by the storm was the Christian Service Farms, which has a stock of 250 pigs. Five piggeries were badly damaged as well as a grinding mill used for preparing animal feed. 
The farm began operations in 1982. The farm has trained Ghanaian Lutheran Pastors and Lutheran Evangelists in basic farming techniques as well as the raising of pigs, cattle, sheep, rabbits, chicken and fish farming. The farm has supported the Pastors and Evangelists who started their own farms. It has also supported the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana.
 
Christian Service Farms estimates the damage at $300,000. As a result it has paralyzed the activities of the farm. Rev. Walter Otten, Assistant Pastor at Good Shepherd Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Berwyn and President of Lutheran Heritage Foundation received the following letter from Dr. Paul Kofi Fynn, Managing Director of Christian Service Farms.  Click here to read the letter.  Any assistance will help them to rebuild and continue to support the Lutheran Pastors, Evangelists and the Church at large in Ghana.
 
Click here to donate to Christian Service Farms, Ghana

Rev. Otten Returns from Ghana

Consider Helping with Immediate Need!

LCC filmed Rev. Otten about his Mission Trip o Ghana and their needs.  DVD is available FREE to Congregations - 55 min. in length.

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full article from Pastor Otten Contribute to the Tent Maker Ministry

Pastor Walter and Ruth Otten have returned from their teaching trip to Ghana. While teaching the catechism to the students at Accra Seminary, Pastor Otten became aware of a pressing need. A seminary student, Matthew, painfully and regretfully revealed how much time had to be spent by pastors in Ghana to provide for the material needs of their own families. When they finish their training and begin their work they will not receive a salary as pastors. They have to provide for their families in the spirit of St. Paul, as "tent makers." Little time is left for the work of the ministry. "We are here," Matthew said, "to prepare to become pastors, to proclaim the Gospel to the lost." Could his "professor" help? The last words of Matthew in the dialog, as he spoke for the entire class, were, "We are not asking for a fish, just teach us to fish." What Matthew was seeking was financial aid in securing something as simple as a mill, which he and others in his village could use to earn money to support their families. Then they could spend more time serving as pastors.

Pastor Otten promised to do what he could to support the pastors of Ghana in their "tent maker ministry." Pastor Otten told the President of the Lutheran Church of Ghana, Dr. Paul Fynn, that he has set a goal to raise $25,000 for the "Tent Maker Ministry." Through the office of the President of the Lutheran Church of Ghana gifts will be made available for the pastors of the church so that they can earn money through "tent making" enabling them to more efficiently provide for their families and thereby devote more time to their call to serve the Good Shepherd. $8000.00 has already been raised for this effort.

Those wishing to support this effort are invited to send their gifts to Lutheran Church Charities. The Lutheran Heritage Foundation will match all gifts and use the matching funds to publish a translation of the catechism into the major tribal language of Ghana. English is the official language of Ghana but few in the villages of Ghana, where most of our Lutheran churches are, speak English. Because of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation's generous offer to match your contributions, your support will not only provide the pastors with a means to support their families but will also give them the important tool of catechisms as they minister in their villages.

UPDATE - Pastor Otten and his wife, Ruth, Left Nov 1 to teach in Ghana
Thank you for your Support in Making this Possible

Pastor Fynn at the School

Pastor Walter Otten

Pastor Paul Kofi Fynn, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Accra, the capital of Ghana and President of the Lutheran Church of Ghana has asked Pastor Walter Otten, who recently retired from St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Brookfield, Illinois and his wife, Ruth, to "... come over and help us."

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Pastor Otten and his Ruth will be traveling to Ghana on November 1, 2006, and will be responsible for all of their own travel expenses.

If you would like to support their teaching trip to Ghana click here

Pictured Here:  Rev. Heuser of Zion Lutheran Church in Bensenville, IL presents a check to LCC President Tim Hetzner for Pastor Otten's Teaching Trip to Ghana

Thank you for Making a Difference.
Your support allows the message and compassion of Christ to reach around the world.

To help the ongoing mission of the Lutheran Church in Ghana click here

To purchase Catechisms for the teachers of St. Paul Lutheran School in Ghana click here