From the Heartland of Ghana: Finding Our Way Home This Easter

From the Heartland of Ghana: Finding Our Way Home This Easter

As the frost thaws and we look forward to the new life of spring, our AWANA-SOHG Bible Teaching Programme has been hard at work preparing the hearts of our children for the most important season of the year.

This March, we focused on a theme that hits close to home for all of us: The Essence of Easter. Our goal was to help the kids understand that Easter isn’t just a date on the calendar—it’s the story of a Father’s relentless love.

A Simple Truth: Matthew 18:11

We started the month by digging into a verse that serves as the “north star” for our ministry. The children spent time memorizing and reflecting on these words:

“For the Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost.” — Matthew 18:11

We shared with the kids that, much like a child wandering off in a crowded market or a sheep straying from the pasture, we all have a tendency to go our own way. But the beauty of the Gospel is that God doesn’t leave us out there. Through Jesus, He comes looking for us to bring us back to the safety of “The Father’s House.”

Life Lessons from the “Runaway Son”

To help the kids really “get it,” we walked through the story of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15. We focused on a few points that sparked some great conversations:

• Freedom and Boundaries: We talked about how the younger son thought “freedom” meant doing whatever he wanted, which only led to trouble. We encouraged the kids to see the guidance of their parents and teachers as a fence of protection, helping them grow into a bright and stable future.

• The Courage to Say “I’m Sorry”: We taught the children that when we mess up, the best thing we can do is follow the son’s lead: go back, look our loved ones in the eye, and ask for forgiveness.

• The Open Door: We explained that Jesus is the one who holds the door open for us, showing us that no matter how far we’ve wandered, we are always welcome back home.

Why Easter is a Celebration

As we look toward Easter Sunday, we’ve been reminding the children that while the cross was a heavy sacrifice, the story doesn’t end in sadness.

Jesus didn’t just point the way home; He cleared the path. He took our mistakes upon Himself so that we could be part of God’s family again. We told the kids: Easter is a victory march! It’s the day we celebrate our “welcome home” party and our freedom from the weight of sin.

A Word from Isaac Nii Adjin Lartey

Our AWANA Coordinator, Isaac, was so moved by the children’s response this month:

“The kids were all ears! They were asking great questions and really connecting the dots between Jesus’ love and their own lives. They’ve come to see that the death and resurrection of Jesus is our ultimate reason to celebrate.”

Thank You for Your Support

To our sponsors and friends across the miles: thank you. Your support is the bridge that allows us to share these life-changing truths with the next generation here in Ghana.

From our family at Star of Hope Ghana to yours, we wish you a blessed and Happy Easter.