Broadcast Journalist receives Doctor of Theology Degree

Dr Albert Ken Dapatem of the Religious Department of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, was among 26 Men of God, who were recently awarded Doctor of Theology Degrees by the Ghana Campus of the Immanuel Bible Institute and Seminary (IBIS), at an impressive ceremony in Accra.

At the ceremony which was the Institute's Fourth Graduation, it conferred various degrees on a total of 102 graduates.

Forty-five students obtained Bachelor of Theology; 29 students were awarded Master of Theology; with two students graduating with Doctorate Degrees in Philosophy.

Preaching at the function on the theme: ’Raising Servant Leaders to Confront the Challenges of the Twenty-First Century, Bishop George Adjeman, Presiding Bishop of the Winners Chapel, stressed the need for leaders to see their status as an opportunity to serve, rather than lord it over their subordinates.

Bishop Adjeman was of the view that servant leadership was crucial to confronting world challenges in the 21st century, and explained that leaders succeeded only when they blended the tenets of leadership and service to humanity.

He charged the graduates to act as agents of the pastoral profession, and help change the negative perceptions about the profession, by enriching lives, building better organizations and creating a just and caring world for all and sundry.

The Presiding Bishop further urged the graduates to emulate Christ by becoming generational thinkers who would accept divergent views, and cultivate the spirit of selflessness and humility.

In a congratulatory message, Dr Fred Opoku-Gyimah, Chancellor of IBIS, said our youth were crying for fathers and leaders with a Christ-centered purpose and direction,

‘Our communities need leaders who can be role models. The nations of this world are looking for leaders with integrity; leaders to serve as examples, not only for the religious bodies, but in every arena of life.’

Dr Opoku-Gyimah reminded Christians that God’s primary purpose and passion for them was to take on His character, and reflect His grace, so that they could receive the power of mentoring to shape people who would in turn shape the world.

Dr John Agyemang Boateng, National Director of the Institute, in another congratulatory message, said its mission was to prepare students who understood current social issues, and had the training, skill and the guiding wisdom to address them, using Theology.

The world, Dr Boateng pointed out, was waiting for a selfless generation of leaders, a movement of Christians ready to lay down their ambitions to follow God’s call.

Reverend Eric Ankrah who read the Students’ Representative Speech on behalf of his colleagues, said the Church ought to arm herself with theological and practical principles to serve the poor, destitute and needy in her midst.

The Ghana Campus of IBIS is accredited by the Christian Council on Education, incorporated, and International Accreditation Organization.

It is affiliated to the Immanuel Bible Institute and Seminary, Brooklyn, New York, USA.

The Institute’s faculty members are made up of experienced, highly trained and spirit-filled local and foreign lecturers and professors.

Currently, IBIS runs three programmes, namely, the Bachelor of Theology Degree, Master of Theology Degree, and Doctor of Theology Degree.

Besides the Accra Campus, the Institute has seven other campuses at Odumase-Krobo, Nsawam, Suhum, Tema, Kumasi, Sunyani, and Takoradi.