Why the Apostle Paul was going to Rome, and why we're going to Ghana

As we prepared for this trip to Ghana, I was thinking of how the Apostle Paul was preparing for a trip to Rome, and wrote to the church in Rome in advance of his visit with them. Four reasons for his trip to Rome seemed applicable to our trip to Ghana:

1.) Romans 1:15 "As much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome"

He was eager - "as much as is in me!" - to preach the good news of God's grace in Rome, as he was to all the nations. We are eagerly looking forward to this opportunity to preach the good news of salvation by grace through faith alone in the Lord Jesus who died for us on the cross to the people in Ghana.

Romans 4:5 (my favorite Bible verse) "But to him who does not work, but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted by God for righteousness."

2.) Romans 1:12 "That I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith of both you and me."

We want to be a blessing and encouragement to the grace believers in Ghana, but we also expect to be blessed by them, by the mutual faith of both them and us.

3.) Romans 15:24 "Whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you...and be helped on my way there by you..."

The Apostle was planning several steps ahead -- he'd visit Rome, and then go on with their help to Spain, and beyond. We'll be discussing with the grace brethren in Ghana how we might carry the message of grace to other nations in West Africa where there are no grace ministries. We have contacts from our ministry in NYC with people in several nations in West Africa. Perhaps we will partner with the Ghanaian brethren to carry the message further. Pastor Peter has the vision and he has challenged us to think beyond Ghana.

4.) As Paul was writing to the Romans, he was in the process of bringing a "contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem" (Romans 15:26).

God's will for the Body of Christ is that there might be "equality...that your abundance might supply their lack, that their abundance might also supply your lack, that there may be equality... He who gathered little had no lack." (2 Cor 8:14-15). We go to Ghana with the "heart of compassion" that Paul writes of in Colossians 3:12, to assess how we might be able in some practical ways to share from our abundance to meet needs among the brethren in Ghana as a tangible demonstration of the grace of God at work in our lives -- 2 Corinthinas 9:8-14 - what a wonderful passage, "He has given to the poor, his righteousness endures forever."

Paul wrote "Follow me, as I follow Christ" Pray for us that we may fulfill that ministry.