In 2005 my wife Rebecca & I arrived in Ghana as Church-planting missionaries. After a four month survey God made very clear our calling to begin work among the Gonja people of Ghana’s Northern Region. We moved among the Gonjas in early 2006 to begin culture & language learning. The Gonja [or Ngbanyato] are people group about 250,000 in population. Most are subsistent famers. Education and social development in Gonja-Land has been mostly centered in the 4 main towns and very little in the villages. Gonjas converted to Islam as a nation about 350 years ago, however only in the last couple generations or so has Islam spread and taken deep root in the entire population. African Traditional Religion is often mixed with moderate Islam and the people are warm and receptive to strangers, but have historically have shown a general resistance to Christianity. While on survey the Lord led us to the Tulewe Traditional Area of which the village of Tulewe is the center. The area consist of around 20 villages none of which have a Gonja church nor Gonja witness for Christ. The darkness & needs of this area pulled deeply on our hearts, and the chief and elders of the village of Tulewe warmly invited us to come and live.

Language study proved to be a large mountain. After 12 months we confirmed our findings that the language was tonal, though our language assistants were still doubtful. But we had many helpful people and the Imam [Muslim priest] of Kafaba graciously gave us 4 rooms out of his 13 room compound. So we had much language and culture experience through everyday trial, error, more errors and learning. Kafaba is a village just outside the outer rim of Tulewe Traditional area and was a good place to get our feet wet.

The years following have been full of learning & ministering: our 2 sons – Dale & Camden – were born; house building in Tulewe; furlough; moving into Tulewe; establishing contacts and relationships, etc. We spent most of 2010 on medical leave in the USA after Rebecca’s health deteriorated drastically from a long term illness contracted in the USA. We are now back in Tulewe. Rebecca is now feeling much better though not as strong as she once was. God has been faithful and patiently taught us many life lessons along the way.

Currently we are in the midst of Evangelism. During this seed sowing time relationships continue to be a key component as in any Islamic context. Our motto here as been to be AMONG the PEOPLE and follow the heart of Christ’s pattern of incarnation. Basic existing in a rural African village also takes a lot of time, hauling water, growing and preparing food, homeschooling our 2 sons, and keeping up a mud-house and the critters out. We love our life here and especially love the people who have become so dear to us. Currently we have a 2 young ladies from the USA living with us, one helps in the house and the other is a teacher who teaches English Phonics in the village school. Her work continues to be greatly appreciated by the village, and the Lord has given us open doors through the school work.

Evangelism often takes me away whether for evenings here in Tulewe, or on my motorcycle on village trips as we share Old Testament, and Gospel stories and visit in homes. It’s an exciting time. As we sow the seed pray that some will bring forth fruit, some thirty, sixty, and one-hundred fold for God’s glory. He gives the increase.

Thank you for your ongoing prayer & support,

Tanner & Rebecca Leibee