Ghana (MNN) ― Oasis International's Ambrose Brennan says news of the brick-making machine they're using to build a security wall around the Prampram Health Clinic in Ghana is spreading.
A partner developed a manual block-making press that makes interlocking block, eliminating the need for mortar. The press doesn't use electricity, a bonus in areas without generators and unreliable service. The only ingredients needed are sand, water, cement, and sun.
Oasis grew interested in the press because of its involvement with the upgrades and expansion of the Prampram Health Clinic. The facility services roughly 10,000 residents. Set in a rural area, chickens and goats frequent the space, so a wall needed to be built to improve cleanliness and security.
Quick construction that doesn't require the use of electricity means small buildings can be put together nearly ten times faster than before. As a result, interest has grown among other faith-based agencies who are working in the area.
Brennan says they built a small storage shed on the ministry grounds so these groups could see for themselves how the brick looks and how a building is constructed.
He adds, "We had a group from the Salvation Army. They're interested in building small houses and headquarters for their pastors, many of whom do not have any housing at the current time. When they saw the machine and when they found out that from the floor level up it took us only two days to construct this building, they were pretty excited about it."
The capability to build without mortar often acts as the foundation to evangelism, church growth and new ministry. "The people actually see they're getting nothing out of this, and yet they're constructing a building for us. And that just naturally opens them up to communication and opportunities to present the Gospel."
