7th Annual Onegoal Family Picnic in Columbus Ohio

With the theme “Enduring Character”, this year’s Onegoal Family Picnic comes off on Saturday, August 9, 2008 at the Maloney Park (1701 Joyce Avenue) in Columbus Ohio. Under the auspices of the Council of Ghanaian Churches, the Onegoal Annual Family Picnic is the largest event in the Ghanaian community and brings together people from in and around Central Ohio for a day of fun and fellowship interspersed with education and awareness for the entire family.

This year’s line-up of sports, educational, and entertainment activities will include a soccer gala, volleyball, ampe, oware, dame and ludo competitions; sack racing, musical chairs, lemon and spoon races, and a tug of war. Also available will be non-competitive basketball, lawn tennis and martial arts display by Oriental Marshall Art College. Live music will be provided by various church praise teams, as well as by Ivy and the Trumpets of Christ – a 60-strong children’s choir from the Church of Pentecost. DJs Casty and Alonzo of Gye Nyame Soundz will perform throughout the day.

One of the highlights of this year’s picnic will be the Free Mobile Health Clinic Fair sponsored by Ramseyer Presbyterian Church in collaboration with the Synod of the Covenant, Presbyterian Church (USA). This health screening service will make available volunteer health professionals who will check heights, weights, vision, hearing, and blood pressure, as well as screen for skin cancer, asthma, and dental health. Two family practitioners, Dr. Benjamin Nti-Hagan and Dr. Ayesu Offei, have also volunteered to provide follow-up advice and referrals. In addition, a motivational minister (a cancer survivor) will share his inspiring story. There will be valuable information on disease prevention and living healthy as well as various actuarial and insurance awareness booklets distributed by the International Association of Black Actuaries-Ohio Affiliate (IABA).

This year’s event will also honor the memory of the late Rev. Dr. John Kwamena Bassaw, Chairman of the Council of Ghanaian Churches and pastor of Ebenezer United Methodist Church. The Osofo Bassaw Memorial Cup will be unveiled and presented to the winner of the soccer gala.

Elder Boamah, Secretary of the Onegoal Family Picnic spoke profoundly of Rev. Bassaw’s enduring character and service in the community and his love for the people he served. “Osofo Bassaw was always positioned for Christ! He made a strong impact on this community and continually reminded us of our common purpose of making lives better for our people by sharing with them the love of Christ”. Coach Acheampong and Mr. Ottie Agyeman, the soccer consultants for Onegoal Family Picnic, added that the honor of naming the soccer cup after Rev. Bassaw will be an extension of his enduring legacy.

According to Mr. Churchill Agyeman, Organizing Secretary of the Onegoal Family Picnic, the spirit of community that this picnic fosters continues to be the motivation for the participating churches and community partners to sponsor this event from year to year.

Rev. Patrick Amoako, pastor of All Nations Baptist Church, will deliver the 2008 Message on the Park based on the theme “Enduring Character” from Hebrews 12:1– “We have around us people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up”. (NCV).

The 2008 participating churches are The Apostolic Church International, Jesus Power Assembly of God, All Nations Baptist Church, Church of Pentecost, Ghanaian Catholic Community, Ebenezer United Methodist Church, House of Faith Ministries, Calvary Presbyterian Church, and Ramseyer Presbyterian Church. The Onegoal Family Picnic is held in Columbus (OH) on the second Saturday in August of every year. Contact e-mail: onegoalfamilypicnic@yahoo.com