AFKICAN evangelist

Cyril Simkins, Missionary

1914. Accra Ghana, Africa
Robert L. Mize, Forwarding Agent
Route 4, Admiral Drive
Concord, Tennessee 37720
JULY, 1969
'0
GOD'S WORD FOR AFRICA
(BAo^he/L S-^kini pu-ttuig the Btble tnto the hancU
ofi an AftAtcan pAeacheA]
We have just purchased, here in Ghana, another SlOO worth of
Bibles to give to the students and to others. In general, it is
true that Bibles can be purchased here more cheaply than theycan
be sent from America, We want to thank the people who have sent
money for Bibles and inform them of what we are doing to distri
bute these Bibles to the people of Ghana.
HDAD TO DAMASCUS
A few weeks ago, I went with Derry
Smaage to a village in Ghana which
is named Damascus. It is a village
about 100 miles from here, and lies
deep in the bush. At the time I did
not realize how difficult it would
be to reach it. We left about 6:00
in the morning, but did not return
home until 11:00 at night. When the
Apostle Paul was on the road to Da
mascus, in Syria, it was three years
before he returned to Jerusalem. I
began to wonder at times if it might
not take us three years to get back
home. We saw some good examples of
bad roads.
When we turned off the main road,
the road became progressively worse.
The farther we went, the worse the
roads became. The ruts grew so deep
thatt-hacarwouldnottravel iir
them. Twice we had to get out and
dig the car out or push it out of a
difficult place. We tried one road,
and it became impassable, we turned
around and went back to another. Af
ter managing to get across a danger
ous bridge, we went on to more ob
stacles. At last, we found oursel
ves buried up to the axle in a mud
hole with water in it. With the
help of some Africans who came by,we
managed to push the car out back
wards. We then parked it alongside
the road and started out by foot.
We still had 7 miles to go, but by
taking a short cut thru the forest,
we could get there by walking only 5
miles. After walking this 5 miles,
we felt more like resting than prea
ching. It was 1:00 when we arrived,
but the people were waiting for us
at the church. Therefore, we com
menced the church service.
The service was very pleasant. V/e
were imoressed by these people. We
were not only pleased with the wel
come received but also with the ser
vice itself and the men who took
charge of it. About 4:00 we finished
the service and started home. As
soon as we left, someone brought us
news that a little infant child had
died. He was the child of one of
the church leaders, and had been
sick for several days. We turned
around and went back to see them.
Again, we began the 5-mile walk
back thru the forest to where we had
left the car. When we reached it,
we still had 100 miles to drive be
fore we were home. I don't know when
I have been so glad to get home.How
ever, the trip was worthwhile. The
trip was a valuable experience.
PLAN TO VISIT
NEARBY MISSIONS
Mr. Simkins has been trying to ar
range a visit to our next door neigh
bor, Nigeria, during the summer holi
days. The purpose is to visit the
mission work there. In fact, it is
hoped that a visit can be made to
other places such as Congo. Congo
is not far away, but it may be diffi
cult to get to the place where our
missionaries are. Mr, Simkins has
been asked to teach missions in one
of our Bible colleges when he comes
home next time. It is hoped that a
first-hand visit with our mission -
aries there will be of considerable
help in this. It will also help our
mission work here to know what others
are doing, and how they are handling
our ever-present problems. In all
probability, Mrs. Simkins will remain
in Ghana.
THADITIDIVS
DF GHANA
THE TALKWG DRU/tS
The use of musical instruments is
socially controlled, some being res
tricted to chiefs, and some are used
for the praises of the head of a
state or of his divisional chiefs.
In states, where single instruments
can be used by anybody, one may find
ensembles of such instruments res
tricted as they may be the preserve
of a chief or a privileged class.
Host of these instruments are used
to provide music for the dance; but
some are used for other purposes -
providing rhythms for walking or wor
ding* giving signals or alarms or as
talking drums. One drum imitates the
cry of a crocodile and another that
of a leopard. This imitation may be
to convey that the rulers are regard
ed as being as powerful as the ani
mal whose cries are imitated.
The talking drums which convey mes
sages, recount the history of the
people, recite proverbs and wise say
ings or singing praises of rulers
and distinguished persons have mysti
fied the world. The body of the drum
is carved out of a tree many times.
There are special carvers for this
and it is taboo many times for the
drummer to carve his own drum. The
drum head is made out of an elephant's
ear and stretched across the rim of
the drum and held tight or released ,
by hammering in or loosening the pegs
The regulation of the pegs helps to
differentiate the tones of the drum.
Meeting at Alajo
During the visit of John Snyder,
Minister of the Hessville, Indiana,
Church, we arranged a meeting to be
held at a nearby village named Alaja
A. r. Kuevi arranged the meeting,
which we financed with the mission
funds, John Snyder preached the
first two nights, and Mr. Simkins
preached the last night. After the
services, we would take those who re
sponded to the invitation to the oc
ean to be baptized. One night we
baptized 20 and the next night bap
tized 18.
In order to follow up this meeting
we have instituted regular services
in this village. We are renting a
place, and trying to get a church
started. Every Sunday evening, one
of our African preachers holds ser
vices there. We plan to get another
church established in this area.
Six Students
Graduate
This year we have six students who
have received their two-year certi
ficates. These students are: Alfred
K. Appianing, Julius Sackey, James
Tandoh, "Victor Agyeman, John Adjei,
and Samuel Djumah. Four of the six
are now preaching regularly in a lo
cal 'church.
We have four third-year students.
At least three of these are planning
to enter the fourth and final year
next September. Next school year
will be the first year in which we
will have all four-year classes. It
will also be the fourth year of pre
paration for Ghana Christian College.
We intend to give the fourth year
students a degree ipon their success
ful completion of the four years of
work.
THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER
Hickory Valley Christian Church
6605 Shallowford Road
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421
WEEDS
We can use in our Sunday School
some Sunday School papers. If you
have some and would like to send them
to us, just address them as follows:
Ghana Christian College
c/o Cyril C. Simkins
PO Box 5722
Accra, Ghana, Africa
These papers are for children. We
need two's and three's or three's and
four's. We can also use Junior Life
and Weekly Reader.
For the college students, we can
use adult teachers quarterlies. Any
of the above will be welcome. Tracts
in English language are always wel
come, These tracts should be about
some clear New Testament doctrine,
and should be written in simple,
clear English. Our students are al
ways willing to distribute any of the
tracts.
Simkins Missionary Funds should be
sent to:
Cyril C, Simkins
% Robert L, Mize
Route 4, Admiral Road
Concord, Tenn, 37720
GHANA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE Funds
be sent to:
Roy L. Lumpkin
3714 Rosalee Terrace
Chattanooga, Tenn. 37416
should
Nonprofit Orgonizafion
U. S. Postage
PAID
Chattonooga, Tennessee
Permit No. 92
Missions Service
Box 5B8, 50'^ W. Jefferson St
, I.Ll'i.nc:*.c c '-
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED