Remembering....

I remember when it was just an idea. I remember listening to my mom read a message from Madi with tears streaming down her face. That message was the beginning of something big. Before that point, my mom was sort of confused. She knew that God had given her a vision for a concert to benefit the Father's House. She also knew that we didn't have connections to people who could help. At that point, we kind of knew Madi, but not really. We had no idea she had those connections. The connections we didn't have.

I remember when Madi and her parents invited us over one evening. She shared her entire vision with us and it was exactly what God had shown my mom. It was clearly a God thing.

I remember the night when Madi announced that “We have a venue!!!”at a Ghana Rock meeting. I think that was when it all became real. We all realized that “It Is going to happen!”

God has blessed us so much already and I can't wait to see what He does next!

It's Ghana Rock!

Sarah Garrett

i refuse.

So, designing a website has been a much more difficult task than I had originally thought it would be when I told Madi that I would take care of it. Sad thing is, the only part that I have to do is make it look the way we want it to... my father, the expert of web design, is the one stuck with the hard part of putting everything together and getting it put out there. So after about 16 hours straight of messing around on Photoshop with my dad, we finally have.... a header. That's it. But stay tuned! We're working as hard as we can to get this thing going as soon as possible! (:
As much as I wish that I could say that this blog is all about how the new website is up and running and looking good... its not. (Although, hopefully that one will be coming soon! ha) Instead, this blog is about how being a part of GhanaRock is changing ME.
Over the last few months that we've been planning this concert, I've become more and more aware that, in fact, the world DOES NOT revolve around me. (Turns out my mom has been right all along.) I've realized lately, how stuck on myself I have been when there are children all across the world who are being exploited and taken advantage of. Yet here I am - fully clothed and sittng in a warm house - stressing out about my own problems that are just tiny mole hills in comparison to the mountains of problems these innocent children are faced with daily. It's not something we neccessarily like to think about, but pushing it to the back corners of our minds doesn't make it any less true. Planning this concert has really opened my eyes to all the people who are hurting all around me, and it's also made me realize that there IS something that I can do about it. I've been so richly blessed and it's about time that I start doing something to be a blessing to others who don't have it as good as I do. 
In the words of Josh Wilson, "I could chose not to move, but I refuse." I could choose to sit back and watch people suffer, and thank God that its not me... but I refuse to not do anything.
-Kayla Hoffman

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25: 37-40

Psalm 111

I found this Psalm that reminded me of Ghana Rock. Read it and you will see what I mean...

Psalm 111

1 Praise the Lord!

I will thank the Lord with all my heart

as I meet with his godly people.

(our meetings on Mondays!!)

2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!

All who delight in him should ponder them.

3 Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.

(so true....)

His righteousness never fails.

4 He causes us to remember his wonderful works.

How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

5 He gives food to those who fear him;

(The Father's House community feedings in Keta)

he always remembers his covenant.

6 He has shown his great power to his people

by giving them the lands of other nations.

(the donation of 7 acres on the coast of Ghana used to build The Father's House)

7 All he does is just and good,

and all his commandments are trustworthy.

8 They are forever true,

to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.

9 He has paid a full ransom for his people.

He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.

What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!

10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.

All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.

Praise Him forever!

 It is so fascinating to see how much we have already grown in wisdom through planning Ghana Rock, as God reveals His perfect plan to us gradually. I have been floored by how quickly our prayers have been answered and at what the Lord can do with a handful of teenagers who are faithful and obedient to Him.
Blessings,
Katie Hensel :)

our BIG God!

Anyone ever tell you how amazing God is? Probably, but I want to remind you...

My GOD is so BIG
SO strong and SO mighty
There’s nothing my God cannot do, for YOU!

Seeing first hand this song come to life is changing me in ways I didn’t know I needed to be changed and I’m loving every minute of it.

Here's to our BIG God,
Madi :)

a haiku just for you

Hey everybody! As Ghana Rock has come along I have been seeing God at work in this world! Yes, it's true He is present and at work!!! All you have to do is open your eyes and see it which, in conclusion, has been my favorite part so far in this planning process. I hope that through this blog you can see how he is at work. Just for fun here is a haiku that I wrote for Ghana rock! Hopefully your Ghana get it!

Ghana Rock is great,
through it God is saving kids,
come praise and worship!

Have a blessed day!
-Micah Levinson

meet the group!

Hey everyone! As many of you have read, our previous blogs have been mostly about the concert and the process, but we thought that it's about time that we go ahead and introduce ourselves and give you all a little more information about the planning process! Our group is made up of 8 teenagers who meet every Monday night for a time of planning, prayer and fellowship. We call ourselves Gideon's Soldiers because we believe that God will use our small group of mere teenagers to make a difference and bring Him glory- much like he did in the story of Gideon in the book of Judges. Our weekly meetings are a time for us to share not only our ideas for the concert, but to share the ways that we've seen the Hands of God working through the process.

Last night's meeting was even more special because we were joined by the Garret family!

MEET GIDEON'S SOLDIERS:

(Left to Right) 

Randy Schreoder, Katy Folk, Katie Hensel, Madi Vincent, Kayla Hoffman, Marie VandeVrede, Sarah Garret and Micah Levinson.

We are all so excited to be a part of this! Especially as time gets closer to the date of the concert and as more things start coming together. Thank you so much to everyone who has been following us on our blog and on Facebook! And be sure to check out the new video for the Father's House featuring the song "I Refuse" by Josh Wilson!

Father's House - Ghana from Matt Garrett on Vimeo.

ask and you shall receive

“Keep asking, and you will receive what you ask for.
Keep seeking and you will find.
Keep knocking and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives.
For everyone who seeks, finds.
And to everyone who knocks the doors will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8

With these verses on our mind, we sat down tonight to write our very first fundraising letter. Finding comfort in the fact that the worst anyone can say is, no. It was exciting to think about how God will stir in the hearts of everyone who will read that letter, prompting them to take action and support Ghana Rock. Out of frustration we both hoped that maybe whoever reads this letter will have kids the same age as the kids we are trying to reach out to (by doing this concert) making them have a heart for it… later realizing that neither of us have kids, yet we have a huge heart for the cause. With lots of prayers for the right words, and focus we finally finished the letter, and it is awesome (If I do say so myself…). Continue to pray for the people who will receive this letter, that they would be moved and as excited as we are.

Praying for the letters even before they are sent,
Katie and Madi

 

 

...the story behind it.

Planning a concert can’t be that difficult, right? Maybe it is when it’s your concert, but when it’s God’s concert crazy things happen. The Fathers House International caught my attention. The story behind it, of God just providing everything captivated me. It made me see God in a much bigger way than I have ever before.

I sat in the kitchen one day, eating my lunch when, “I want to plan a concert, raise lots of money, and save kids in Ghana,” came out of my mouth. I had toyed with the idea a little. I knew that I knew the right people, people that could help me actually pull it off. I never thought about it realistically though. To my surprise, my dad had thought the very same way. He thought about a concert, and he wanted to save Ghanaian children too. Who knew?

You see, The Father’s House built an orphanage where God told them to build it, they were GIVEN (which, means free! ... I don’t want you to miss that part!) the land, and started construction knowing that there were no orphans in the village. The Father’s House is located in a village outside of Keta, Ghana. Though the village is poor, it is custom that the extended family cares for the orphans and abandoned children, even if it is just a place where they can lie their heads down at night. If it were me, I hope I would have been as faithful. Faithful enough to know God had a bigger plan in store for this orphanage.

During construction and the period of time where they had no orphans, The Father’s House began a weekly feeding and Bible lesson. This feeding has the average of 300 people attend every week. In this predominantly voodoo area, they are taught about our God’s love. That He loves them, and knows them each by name. In late 2009 The Father’s House discovered how horrible child slavery was on a lake the size of Rhode Island. It became clear, they were going to rescue these children. The Father’s House found their orphans God had so clearly picked out for them.

My vision, it isn’t about money, though I’m not opposed to saving these kids’ lives. But my vision its about the glory of God. His story, which He has let me be part of. It would be a whole lot easier to sit back and just pray. To pray for The Father’s House. But honestly, for me, that would be a cop-out. I can do so much more than pray. I can be getting the world to be praying with me. Planning a concert focused on that... that is my vision.

For more information about The Father's House check out their website: www.Fathershouseghana.com

With all the glory to God,
Madi Vincent