Beyond Campus

Rebecca wondered what she’d do next.

She loved sharing the gospel on campus. As Evangelism Coordinator in her GHAFES campus group (the IFES movement in Ghana), she’d mobilised and equipped fellow students in outreach.

But how would she continue this passion after graduation? How might she respond to the Romans 10 verse that stirred her spirit – “how can they believe in the one of whom they’ve not heard”?

Then, Rebecca discovered the opportunity to serve through the GHAFES Short-Term Involvement in Community Service (STICS) program. She sensed God’s call to take the next step – beyond campus.

Same Country, Different World

STICS places recent graduates in under-served and unreached communities across Ghana for twelve months of cross-cultural missionary service.

Rebecca’s posting turned out to be way beyond campus. She accepted an opportunity to serve in Prima, a rural village in the Mamprugu Moagduri district in northern Ghana – around 14 long hours by road from the capital Accra.

It was a different world. Now, she was serving alone in a community that traditionally does not recognise women as spiritual leaders or ministers. She recalls:

“When I first arrived, I faced several challenges. Being a lady on my own wasn’t easy. But God gave me the grace I needed to persevere.”

Rebecca built meaningful relationships with families and faithfully served the community by teaching in a school. She also consistently shared the message of Christ. As trust grew, doors opened for deeper ministry.

Different Culture, Same Gospel

Towards the end of her placement, Rebecca organised a retreat for the community. She saw God move in remarkable ways:

“I was surprised to see men fall under the power of the Holy Spirit as I prayed over them. One testified that a heavy burden was lifted from him. These are men who usually have no regard for women, so I was surprised to see God use me in this way.”

Beyond campus, the gospel was breaking through every cultural barrier, regardless of human expectations.

At the end of her year’s service, the villagers’ reaction demonstrated how much her faithful witness had touched their hearts:

“I assured the people that others would come in my place, but they just kept crying. And the Muslim headmaster of the school tried to get me to stay. I give God all the glory for this great impact.”

Pray

Let’s pray for Rebecca, Prima, and GHAFES, celebrating its 60th year of ministry – “equipping students and graduates to serve as agents of change on campuses and beyond”.

Praise God for sustaining and working through Rebecca. And give thanks for all GHAFES STICS missionaries who leave the familiarity of campus life to serve in rural, under-served, and unreached communities across Ghana. May young graduates continue to hear God’s call to cross-cultural mission.

Pray for the community of Prima, asking that the seeds of the gospel planted by Rebecca will continue to grow. Pray for those who encountered God’s power during the retreat, for the headmaster, and the community leaders – that they will come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Pray that God will continue to bless GHAFES ministry so that students and graduates may proclaim Christ on campuses and in communities across Ghana.