Story by Joseph & Karen Essiful- Ansah
July 1st is an important date on the Ghanaian Calendar for citizens celebrate Ghana’s Republican status. This year, members of the Men and Women Fellowships of The Methodist Church Ghana’s North America Mission have much more to celebrate.
The two Fellowships converge in Newark, New Jersey to hold their Delegates Conferences, for the Women Fellowship it will be the first ever Conference, giving its membership the more reason to be grateful to God.
The theme for this Conference is: “Your Mission, Your Gain and Your Impact in the Women’s Fellowship”. Some 60 Delegates will be crisscrossing the Continent’s North-eastern corridor to be part of this epoch making event which will be addressed by Mrs. Freda Abakah, Connexional Secretary of the Women Fellowship. Mrs. Abakah has been specially invited to grace the occasion on behalf of the Connexional Women Fellowship and arrives shortly from Ghana.
The Conference activities include a Revival led by Mrs. Esther Agbosu and Evangelist Edwin Oppong Boateng, an Open Forum and Delegates will be expected to file Reports in a bid to render account for their stewardship since the Mission established a Co-ordinating Council to mobilize women in the Mission in 2007. As usual a Thanksgiving Service would be held to climax the event at Ghana Emmanuel Methodist Church, Newark, N.J. which is hosting the Conference.
An elated Mission Women Fellowship President, Sis. Sarah Abiana Cofie, told the Reporters, “I am very certain that we would not have made it without God’s help. Our regular Monthly Prayer Phone Meetings have paid off. Praise be to God.” She added that the Mission Executive Body is grateful to V. Rev. Dr. J.A.K Bonful, immediate past Mission Chairman and Opanin Kwadwo Fosu, immediate past Lay Chairman who thought them worthy to be entrusted with the Mission Women Fellowship and Brothers Baffour Amoateng, NAM Lay Chairman, Joseph Essiful-Ansah and Edwin Oppong Boateng for the encouragement and prayer support which has brought the NAM Women Fellowship this far.
The Men Fellowship in turn will be holding its 2nd Bi-annual Delegates Conference concurrently. The theme for that Conference is ““Working Together In Oneness for His Church”. Bro. Daniel K. Owusu, the Chairman of the Association of Methodist Men’s Fellowships, North America Mission, revealed that the theme was specifically chosen for, “it’s about strengthening relationships, encouraging one another as we all get ignited with a passion for a Mission”. A major part of the Conference will be Election of new Officers as the tenure of office of the current team led by affable Bro. Daniel Owusu comes to an end. An Induction Service for the new Officers will be held as part of the joint Thanksgiving Service, the climax of both Conferences.
Brother Daniel K Owusu said the leadership of the Association will continue their efforts on strengthening the Circuits, mobilize the men of the Church in fellowship with Jesus Christ and with one another, would endeavor to bring into its fold more men, particularly the young ones who have outgrown the Youth Fellowship and do not belong to other Organizations and raise funds to make charitable donation to support the Men’s Fellowship projects in Ghana. The Chairman added that the priorities outlined above provide a map for the future of the Association. The Guest Speaker of the Conference is Very. Rev. Dr. J. A. K. Bonful, immediate Past Mission Chair and Superintendent Minister of Washington Mission Circuit. He is also the Minister-in-charge of Calvary Redeeming Methodist Church, Rockville, MD.
The two Conferences coincide with another ground-breaking event in the North America Mission – the triple celebration of the host Society, Ghana Emmanuel Society of Newark, New Jersey. The said Society will over the same weekend be formally inaugurated as per the Constitution and Standing Orders of The Methodist Church Ghana, mark its 10th Anniversary and just as important have its new Church Building dedicated to the glory of God. Located on 1177 Broad Street, Newark, NJ, 07114, Ghana Emmanuel Society’s edifice marks a new era for the Society, is a plus for the NAM and a colossal gain for The Methodist Church Ghana. The Ghana Methodist of Toronto, Canada, also owns its place of worship and both belong invariably to the Mother Church with Headquarters in Accra, Ghana.
When the dust settles, Delegates, Observers and members in and around the New Jersey Circuit and the Mission as a whole would find the events’ memories fade away slowly for all three epic events would go down in history as monumental and memorable and the chorus would undoubtedly be “TO GOD BE THE GLORY”.
