Northern Outreach and New Church Development in Ghana - February 2020 Update
Celebrating a Decade of Growth in Ghana
The Presbyterian Church of Ghana had its origins 191 years ago when Swiss Reformed missionaries started working in what used to be called the Gold Coast. With close to one million members, it continues to live out its missionary vocation through the establishment of Presbyteries to serve Ghanaian communities in many different locations.
The Outreach Foundation has had the privilege of walking alongside the Upper Presbytery since it was first established by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in November 2010. We rejoice over their ongoing faithfulness to Christ and Christ's work as they prepare to celebrate their tenth anniversary. During this time, they have added more than ten thousand new members to their rolls, which represents approximately one thousand new members a year!
With the theme, "Let Christ be Formed in You: A Decade of Successes and Challenges in Pursuing our Evangelical Mandate," the Upper Presbytery will gather on Sunday, June 28th in the city of Bolgatanga to hold a service of thanksgiving. As part of the celebration, they will be rallying support for a conference center that will serve the ongoing growth and help strengthen the ministry.
Twenty-five ministers dedicate their time and energy to serving eighty-four congregations and one hundred twelve preaching points. The Upper Presbytery has responded to the pressing needs presented by this growth by commissioning more than two hundred lay leaders to serve as caretakers, catechists, and evangelists. All of them receive little or no financial support from their congregations.
As described by the theme, this first decade has not been without challenges. The Presbytery describes some of the challenges as follows:
• lack of places to worship in most areas
• some ministers do not stay long due to unfavorable working conditions
• not enough leaders to serve the preaching points
• many members migrate to the southern regions due to more economic opportunities
• high language diversity (17 different language groups) which poses a challenge because there is a need for pastors who understand the language of each area
Because of the generosity of Presbyterians in the United States, The Outreach Foundation has helped provide bicycles and motorcycles for some of those leaders to travel long distances teaching the message of Christ. We have also been able to contribute to the construction of church facilities where new Christians gather for worship, instruction, and fellowship.
In addition to the congregations, the Presbytery offers witness to hundreds of thousands of people by managing several institutions. Among them:
• six nurseries and kindergartens, two elementary schools, two high schools, and a technical school
• seventy-one K through 12 schools, in collaboration with the government
• a hospital, nurses' training college, regional eye center, and nine primary health care centers
• a water project and three agricultural stations
• a lay training center
Thank you for joining The Outreach Foundation and Presbyterians in Ghana in celebrating this decade of fruitful and sacrificial ministry to the glory of God!
Sincerely,
Juan Sarmiento
Associate Director for Mission
Read more about Northern OUtreach and New Church Development in Ghana HERE.
THE NEED
The Outreach Foundation seeks support for low-cost church construction ($50,000), scholarships for evangelist training ($400 per scholarship), and motorbikes for the evangelists to reach their congregations or start new churches ($10,000). You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.