WOMEN'S MINISTRY PLANTS A NEW CHURCH

CHURCH PLANTING AT ASSIN AKROPONG

It has been ten (10) years ago since we intended to establish the Lord’s Church in the above mentioned town which is about 15km away from Assin Fosu. Preparations do fall out any time we make an attempt to plant the church. We can now say that the good time has come for us to see our long time dream come to pass.

The women’s fellowship (Ladies Ministry) Church of Christ, Assin Area, has been very instrumental in this work. After humbly and carefully following the instructions and the training from the Preachers, this work has been successfully accomplished. It all came about after series of meetings were conducted comprising of the sister leaders of the Ladies ministry, and some preachers to plan this new plant. Time was spent at meetings looking at the broad sweep of church planting in order to plant a simple church.

Having identified the things that would be needed and the cost involved in this program and listing all down, went on recruiting some  sisters who have sufficient experience in evangelism to work with. Date and time were chosen, a car to convey us was arranged for, and it was the next thing to make the journey to Assin Akropong. We then arrived there peacefully around 3.00pm.

It started from Monday 8^th – Sunday 14^th October, 2012 with the Ladies Ministry and one brother as the sole sponsors.

Forty-four ( 44) people registered  as participants: 4 Preachers, 10 men, 30 women.

The work was structured and  conducted this way: NIGHTLY STREET PREACHING, DAWN PREACHING, HOUSE TO HOUSE BIBLE STUDIES, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.

Twenty- one (21) people were enrolled in a week long Bible correspondence course, and eighteen (18) out of the 21 received certificates of completion.

One Hundred and Fifty – one (151) were contacted and engaged in house – house Bible studies.

Large number of audience draws near to listen during nightly street preaching.

Everything came to an end on Sunday when eleven (11) souls were won into Christ and His Kingdom as first fruits to start the church in that noble community. Three others who also visited on Sunday promised receiving their baptism later.

WORSHIP AND CHURCH SERVICE NEEDS PROVIDED: Communion tray, Communion cups (40), Communion bread, Communion Plates, Hymn Books (10), Table Cloth, Collection Bowl, Communion Wine, Wine Filling container, Baptism Dresses, Membership Book, Worship Activities Form, Evening Service lamp, Pulpit Stand, and a  wall Clock.

Two building plots have been purchased for church building in the near future. You can imagine how much it cost them financially.

CALLED BY GOD

Greetings from Ghana. We started with the celebration of the funeral of our late President John Evans Atta-Mills who passed away on the 24^th July 2012 at age 68.  The funeral started from Wednesday 8^th August as he is laid in state for Government authorities, Ministers, Members of Paliament. Diplomatic Corps, Foreign Presidents, etc. to do filing past of his body.

Thursday for the public to file past the body; thus whoever want to see the body, then Friday will the day for his burial, and Saturday as the final funeral rites.

PRESIDENT MILLS……Safe Journey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ebenezer Korsah is a minister for Stationview Church of Christ, serving other four Churches of Christ in addition, and again a Deaf Minister is full of compassion to have a 15year old quiet and humblel deaf girl stay with him purposely to care for, empower and encourage her to learn dressmaking. They were born twins (one hearing, one deaf). All efforts have been made to take her to school, she refuses. I and my wife have four children as a Christian family, and though we don’t have much, is still our heart-felt desire to stay with this poor deaf girl who comes from a very poor family, a single parent, with children of eight (8) , and at times what they even eat is a problem. Because we have deaf sign language background, we have easy communication. She feel so comfortable going about her house duties. You can see her in the picture.

FIRST SUNDAY IN 2012
It was a day all Christians and even non-Christians wanted to meet Jesus Christ and to start the year with Him. Interestingly, it became a day people desired to renew their Christian life or to start it afresh. This resulted in our church pews filled with capacity. So far as my congregations are concern, the members were happy to sing expressing their first praises, say their first prayers, give their first moneys, and dine the first time with the Lord in this year. Gratitude was duly offered to God for ushering us into this new year 2012. The congregations such as Juaso, Brofoyedur, Ketukrom, Adjetey Camp, and Stationview have started very beautifully with their Church Programs of activities and lessons.

CHURCH@ 50
The Regional Lectureship marking Church of Christ at 50 was a great success on September 17, 2011 from 8am-12 midday. Whereas the National Launching in Accra recorded the attendance of 831, the Regional Lectureship recorded an attendance of 587 including 32 Preachers, 6 Elders and 4 Deacons.

The next programme of activity was CLEAN UP EXERCISE and BLOOD DONATION at Winneba Government Hospital which took place on Saturday October 29th, 2011 at 8.00am. Our target for the blood donation was 100 pints needed 100 people. According to the hospital authorities this would be the highest blood donation ever since in this hospital, but surprisingly, we could donate 2001 pints, the work load on the laboratory technicians became so great. Stationview, Juaso, Brofoyeduru sent 32 members to donate blood.

While the blood donation was on going, others were also doing the clean up exercise at the hospital as directed by the authorities. Singing and praying with the patients in beds at the hospital also went alongside with the blood donation and the cleaning. A nearby village where there is a congregation of Church of Christ was also blessed in our celebration when we donated clothing and other items to the township.

Church of Christ has operated in Ghana for the past 50 years; that is from 1961 – 2011. It is therefore important to consider the emergence of the local churches in the various areas in terms of districts and regions as a whole. With regard to the history of the Church of Christ in Assin, it started in the latter days of December 1982 at Assin Juaso. It is interesting for PCC to know that Juaso Church of Christ being the oldest in Assin is 29 years now. The first worship was held on December 17th 1982 with the attendance of 3 adults, 2 children and 2 visitors. HURRAYYYYYYYYYY.

BAPTISM
Our evangelism strategy is that two weeks every Sunday we close from church early so we can reach people in our communities and study with them.

On Sunday 16th October, three (3) people were baptized at Stationview who were study prospects at St. Andrews senior High School where we have a campus church. These students have been very good and took our Bible Studies with them serious.
Two souls were also baptized at Assin Brofoyeduru on Thursday 6th October 2011. They became our prospects after the gospel campaign held there some months ago, and now have understood our message and have shown much interest in becoming members of the Church of Christ.

An interesting pictures for to know love in the church, cooperation among christian sisters in Assin area of Ghana, and the joyous mood of the deaf church members in Stationview Church of Christ- Assin Fosu.