Children Ministries Report

CHILDREN MINISTRIES DEPARTMENT

The department during the period under review organized some programs.
Churches were given GCs specially designed 28 fundamental beliefs for children dubbed “God Loves Me 28 ways. It is expected that before the child leaves the children ministries class he/she have learnt all our fundamental beliefs and understood why he/she is an Adventist the concept.
In March, the children took part in the Global Youth Day Celebration which was branded adopt
They also celebrate Children Sabbath on July 27.
Local Churches organized quizzes among the Children

Camp-meeting
The conference bought camp-meeting readings for the children ministries.

Youth camps.
Children in the department attended Youth camp-meetings in their respective districts and zones across the conference.

Future plans
The division is organizing a convention for children ministries leaders and I am pleading with church leaders to sponsor the children ministries leaders to attend this all-important program for the benefits will be plentiful.

Challenges

  1. Poor attendance to meetings and workshops.
  2. Improper place of worship for the children.
  3. Little or no supervision of the activities of the children by church leadership
  4. Inadequate resource for the department.

RECOMMENDATIONS

  1. The department should be resourced with more Adventist literature for children and their leaders.
  2. Church leadership should sponsor children ministries leaders to attend more workshops, seminars and conventions to equip them with the requisite skill they need to bring these little ones to Christ.
  3. Church leadership should take keen in interest in the spiritual growth and development of our children.

Appreciation
I am indebted to God for his spiritual leading and guidance.
I am grateful to the leadership of the conference, pastors and all workers and local church leaders who in their diverse ways made this report a success.
I will be ingrate if I fail to recognize the selfless service of our children ministries leaders who have remained dedicated to call to nurture these little ones in spite of the challenges.
God bless you all.

Humbly submitted by
Children Ministries Director MICG
Mrs. Veronica Nkansah Sarpong

Women’s Ministries Report

WOMEN’S MINISTRIES REPORT
FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY – DECEMBER 2019

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalm 40:5
The department has accomplished some success for the Lord and the ensuing pages tell it all
Pastor chair, the department is committed to;
• A. NURTURE (REACH UP WITH GOD)
Revive women to have an intimate relationship with God
• B. EMPOWER (REACH IN WITH GOD)
To provide leadership training, seminars and resource materials to further develop women ministry leaders.
• C. SUPPORT EVANGELISM (REACH OUT WITH GOD)
To involve women/ young women using their individual gifts to reach out to friends and neighbors so as to bring them to Christ.

EVANGELISM
As one of our objectives explains, women are empowered to reach out with God, thus women are always encouraged to actively get involved in bringing souls to Christ. In this regard, women within the conference organized three major campaigns.
1.WAD/NGUM SUPPORTED THE WOMEN DURING THE PRE-WAD CONGRESS 2019.
SITES
i. Bremang –East Church Of The Nkontwima District Won 15 Souls.
ii. Achiase District opened a new church at Ntiri Buoho won 15 Souls.
iii. ADASS: Temple Crusade Were Organized.

  1. SOME CHURCHES ORGANIZED TEMPLE CRUSADED AND IN ALL WE WON 95 SOULS TO THE GLORY OF GOD.

SPECIAL DAYS CELEBRATION

Date Theme Author
March    
June The call to arise and shine  
August Love changes all things  
November Lord save my family Mrs. Veronica Sarpong

WAD CONGRESS
To the glory of God MICGC presented 92 delegates during the WAD Women Ministry Congress.
List of Delegates for WAD Women’s Ministries Congress

MID-CENTRAL GHANA CONFERENCE

NO DISTRICT NUMBER OF DELEGATES
1 Shepherdess 5
2 Director 1
3 Abofour 0
4 Achiase 5
5 Akomadan 2
6 Bantama 14
7 Barkese 0
8 Boamang 6
9 Bohyen 13
10 Bremang 3
11 Kodie 2
12 Maakro 5
13 Kronum 4
14 Namong 1
15 Nkenkaasu 0
16 Nkontwima 10
17 Ohwim 7
18 Offinsso 3
19 Old Tafo Mile 3 10
20 Suame 4
  Total 95

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE CONGRESS
Community Service

The conference benefited from the WAD Congress in three different ways.
• As Part Of The Congress ADASS Received A Construction Of Modern Wash Room For Both Students And Staff At Cost About 8000
• Kwaman Basic SDA School also had washroom for both pupils and staff.
• The Department also donated items such as Industrial Machine, Shoe Grinding Machine, Last etc. at a cost of GH?4,500 to an orphanage and a home for the physically challenged- Action Foundation-Offinsso.

TOPICS DISCUSSED AMONG OTHERS.
i. Serving after Jesus model
ii. Lovingly praying for the prodigal son
iii. Serving Christ as queen of hope
iv. Effecting parenting in the 21st century
v. Aging gracefully
vi. Women and legal issues
vii. Loving him for Christ
viii. How to handle hurts and frustration.
ix. Choosing life partners.
x. Workshops on victims of domestic abuse

CAMPUS MINISTRIES
• A YOUNG LADIES DAY WAS AT WESLEY SHS ON MARCH 23, 2019.

RETREATS
• Nkontwima district young ladies organized young ladies day at Bremang East on13th April 2019.
• Namong district organized a weekend retreat at Sakam. About 50 women attended. The guest of honor was Nana Afransor the queen mother of the town.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
• Offinso district donated foodstuffs and toiletries worth GH?3000 at Action Foundation
• Old- Tafo Mile 3 also visited Kumasi Central Prisons and made donations worth GHS 1500.00
• Kronum district also made some donation to Denase Orphanage

HEALTH
Nkontwima District climbed the Nsuta Kwaman Hills as a way of de-stressing the body and also admiring God’s wonderful designs

END IT NOW
Offinsso and Suame District organized Abuse Prevention Day. They marched through the principal streets with ply-cards.
They had on these cards expressions among others as
i. stop child trafficking
ii. respect the right of the child
iii. children are also created in the image of God

WIM DEVOTION BOOK 2020

WOMEN FROM OUR CONFERENCE CONTRIBUTED TO THE 2020 WIM DEVOTIONAL BOOK.

THESE ARE:

  1. Mrs. Dorcas Osei Afriyie
  2. Mrs. Regina Oduro Baafi   
  3. Mrs. Mary Amponsah Boateng
  4. Mrs. Abigail Asante Djin
  5. Mrs. Veronica Sarpong
  6. Mrs. Ophelia Nkansah Tonto
  7. Mrs. Grace Owusu Amoako

 These books are sold and the profits are used to sponsor our needy but brilliant young ladies.

SCHOLARSHIPING OUR SISTERS
Mid-Central Ghana Conference received an amount of 2000 cedis from the SOS fund from the Northern Ghana Union . This was used to support four of our young women, they are ;
i. Sandra Owusu Acheaw-Offinso District
ii. Wendy Lartey-Bohyen District
iii. Lauren Dian-Ohwim District
iv. Pat – Kronum District

WORKSHOP
1.Ohwim district organized a day’s retreat at Ohwim church.
2.Boamang district organized wealth creation workshop. They learnt how to make different soaps like bf, geisha, guardian, sunlight key soap and detergents like omo, parazol and dettol.

FELLOWSHIPS
Offinsso district at Obuasi
Abofour , Nkenkaasu and Akomadan zone(ANAZONAL) at Abofour Central Church in February.
Amakye Bare in the Barekese district inaugurated the Women Ministries on August 10, 2019.
Kronum District made a donation of 10 bags of cement and clothings to Denase orphanage

SPECIAL DAYS
PASTORS AND ELDERS APPRECIATION DAY
Most of the women leadership led the churches to appreciate our spiritual leaders.
Maakro church did it in a grand style, the organized dinner for the elders and the spouses and donated other gifts as appreciation for their selfless support to god’s work.
Suame church organized a night with our mothers ‘, to celebrate the mothers in the church. The mothers in turn also shared their experiences with the church and admonished the upcoming ones to be dedicated to the call to motherhood by god.

VULNERABLE DAY
Some churches organized a special day for the orphans and the vulnerable.
They made donations in kind to the orphans, widows and the aged in the church. They commended the aged for holding onto the call from their maker and handing over the baton to the younger generation.
A special dedicatory prayer was made for all the groups. Districts that organized this program include Ohwim, Bremang and Achiase.

Challenges
a) Poor attendance to meetings, workshops and programs.
b) Church leadership should take keen in interest in the spiritual growth and development of our women who are the majority in the church.
c) Little or no sponsorship from the church to support women’s program.
d) To acquire a land for Ntiribuoho Church.

RECOMMENDATIONS
a) Church leadership should take keen in interest in the spiritual growth and development of our women.
b) Women leadership within the conference has decided to support the newly opened Ntiribuoho Church with GHS 20,000.00 through solicitation. I plead with church leadership to give them room to solicit from the members to support such a worthy course.

Appreciation
I am indebted to God for his spiritual leading and guidance.
I am grateful to the leadership of the conference, pastors and all workers and local church leaders who in their diverse ways made this report a success.
I will be ingrate if I fail to recognized the selfless service of our Women’s Ministries Leaders who have remained dedicated to work God’s vineyard in spite of the challenges.
God bless you all.

Humbly submitted by
Children Ministries Director MICG
Mrs. Veronica Nkansah Sarpong

Youth Ministries Report

Mid-Central Ghana Conference
Youth Ministries Report (January-December 2019)

January

  1. Youth evangelism: Boamang District (19 souls baptized)
    The youth of Boamang district embarked on a two-week evangelism crusade at Abroma.

March

  1. Global Youth Day
    Under the theme; “Adopt”, the youth all over the conference adopted various institutions like prisons, hospitals, children homes, local churches, etc. and donated items and cash to them. This marked the beginning of the youth week of prayer.
  2. Youth Week of Prayer
    The theme for this year’s week of prayer was “Back to the Basics” which dealt with issues regarding the local church and what we actually believe as Adventists. The week of prayer was well organized in all the churches.
  3. TYI : Mass baptism @ Bantama
    Total Youth Involvement followed immediately after the YWOP which ended with a mass baptism at Bantama and Offinso. The Bantama site recorded 19 baptisms and Offinso also recorded 20 baptisms.

Band dedication at Offinso Ampabame on March 9, 2019.

  1. Community Pathfindering: the department has started a program dubbed “Community Pathfindering to win children who are non-Adventist. This program has so far won a young girl to the church at Offinso Ampabame and her mum has also joined.
  2. “Give Him 20” it is a program for the youth to give Christ twenty minutes once every month in prayer.

Second Quarter:
April

  1. Leadership workshop phase 1
    Leadership workshop was organized for the KMA Federations at Bremang Central Church on April 07, 2019
    Facilitators
  2. Comrade J. J. Appiah
  3. Comrade Opong Mensah
  4. Pr. Robert K. Nyarko
  5. Mr. Stephen Boakye
    The phase 2 of the workshop was done as planned at Abofour on April 14 with the same facilitators.
    GACU Convention
    About one thousand (1000) choristers gathered at Asante Akyem Agogo from 23-28 April, 2019 for the biennial GACU convention.

JUNE
The conference took part in the Union-wide youth leadership workshop at the NTC Barekese, with about 70 delegates.
The conference also organized a conference-wide youth games at Offinso- Namong.

September
PF DAY

The annual pathfinders’ day was held throughout the conference with the theme “Created with a Purpose” on 21/09/19.
Conference Inter- Federation Drills Competition
The conference held an inter- federation drills competition to climax the pathfinders on 22/09/19 at Boamang

October
Music workshop

The music department organized a two-day conference wide music workshop at Nkontwima church premises from 4-5 October, 2019 for all choir, singing band, music, quarterts, and all choral group leaders respectively, as well as organists, and elders in-charge of music. Fee per participant was Ghc 50.
Facilitator was Newlove Kojo Annan.
Conference Inter Federation Bible Quiz
The conference organized a Bible quiz for all the federation at Tafo Mile 3 church premises on 12/10/2019 with Breman-Nkontwima-Tafo youth federation (BRENTYF) emerging as the winners for the PF Club and Boaman-Offinso-Namong youth federation (BONAYF) also emerging as the winners for the AY.

Singing Band Fellowship
The Mid-Central Adventist Singing Band Union (MICGASBU) converged at Ahenkro on 19/10/2019 to fellowship with the theme, “Pass it on; Engage, Equip, and Empower for Service and Leadership.” The guest preacher was the conference president.

Music Week
As per the calendar of special events, the annual music week was conducted successfully throughout the conference from 20-26 October, 2019.

Health
During the year under review, the health department was able to organize various health programs such as, health screening, health walk, and health emphasis week.

Sabbath School Report

“Our Sabbath schools are nothing less than Bible societies, and in the sacred work of teaching the truths of God’s word, they can accomplish far more than they have hitherto accomplished. The Sabbath school, when rightly managed, possesses marvelous power, and is adapted to doing a great work, but it is not now what it may and should be. The influence growing out of Sabbath school work should improve and enlarge the church; but in no case should it ever be allowed to divert from the interests of the church. There is a most precious missionary field in the Sabbath school, and if there are now omens of good, they are only indications and beginnings of what may be done.”—Counsels on Sabbath Work, p. 9.
It is true that “No man, woman, or youth can attain to Christian perfection and neglect the study of the word of God. By carefully and closely searching His word we shall obey the injunction of Christ, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.” This search enables the student to observe closely the divine Model, for they testify of Christ. The Pattern must be inspected often and closely in order to imitate it.” —Counsels on Sabbath School Work 17.

OBJECTIVES
By the leadership of the Holy Spirit, this department seeks:

  1. To Intensify the Study of Scripture in the Local Churches.
  2. To Organize a Quarterly Visitors Day and Fellowships.
  3. To Organize Workshops for Superintendents, Secretaries to Improve their Efficiency.
  4. To Take Inventory of all Sabbath Members within the Conference.
  5. To Embark on Regular Visitation to Inactive Sabbath School Members in the Local Churches.
  6. To Increase the Bi-quarterly Order of Lesson Study Booklets Across Board.
  7. To Join Forces with Children’s Ministries Director on the Most Effective Ways to Improve the Quality of Teachers and Lessons for Children Department.
  8. To Design Innovative Programmes to Boost Interest in the Sabbath School Activities.
  9. To Create More Sabbath School Branches within the Conference.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES IN THE CONFERENCE

  • 13th March was designated as Friends of Hope Day. This day was dedicated to visitors intentionally invited for worship.
  • 27th March was earmarked to create awareness on People with Special Needs. The initiative was to bring to the understanding of every church member the all-encompassing nature of God’s Church.
  • 1st June was set aside as a day for Correspondence Courses Promotion
  • 28th September, was Sabbath Guest Day.    

WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED

  • Workshop was conducted in Maakro on 20th April, 2019 with highlights on: The Work of a Care Coordinator, Making the Sabbath Program interesting through musical inclusion, the importance of the Discussion Leader/Teacher among others. On this day also, all Sabbath School Teachers and other officer of the department were given certificates and Awards.
  • On June 1st 2019 a workshop a Work and Award ceremony were organized for all Sabbath School Teachers in Bremang district at Bremang Central.  
  • On 12th December, 2019, Kwaprah church in the Nkontwima district organized a workshop on how to improve Sabbath School activities in the church.

Sabbath School Workshop at Maakro in pictures

Publishing Ministry Report

Introduction
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Elders, Colleague Ministers and Workers, Institutional Heads, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am privileged to present to you a brief report on Publishing Ministry as a departmental director for the period of March – December 2019.
Mr. Chairman, as a Church with the gift of the Spirit of Prophecy, we should always be mindful of the fact that literature evangelism or Canvassing to be precise, should be our passion and needs be pushed on to the fore with much earnestness and effectively, as Ellen White urges, because it the work of God which is profusely blessing bearing to those that take it on.- Colporteur Mins. p17.
Therefore, as a Conference it is our serious charge to lift the Story of Calvary aloft for people to have the best glimpse of the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the hope He has for those that believe in Him through the spread of literature.
Mr. Chairman, I took up the task as a Publishing Ministry director of the Conference with the above responsibility as a focal point.

PLANS AND STRATEGIES
My main focus of the duty was on sales and sharing of Adventist literature, through which witnessing of the gospel be accomplished; the need to recruit personnel for the Conference as Literature Evangelists was first.

  1. Recruitment of Literature Evangelists
    • Train, equip and empower LEs through workshops seminars.
    • Replenish ABC with the necessary books and stuff
    • Nurture Church members on how to best promote or sell Adventist literature.
    • Form Publishing Ministry Council to plan for the ministry
    • Visit and supervise Churches, sites, and stands of promotion and sales.
    • Recruit Local or Regular LEs, Student LEs and Part-time LEs
  2. Map up strategies to distribute free Adventist literature
    a) Deposit free books at Hospitals, Banks, Shops etc. for people who are not Adventists and cannot either have time to attend Adventist evangelistic programs.
    b) Identify donors to fund the cost of the books in order that it could be freely distributed.
    c) Take inventory of old stock and ascertain the quantity available in order to make out where exactly to begin.
    d) Provide or ensure accommodation for Student LEs for their temporal stay of work.
    Provide Cupboards at vantage Church premises thus Bantama, Maakro and Bohyen Churches to showcase available literature at the ABC. This will communicate to members and non-members to patronize them at ease.

STATISTICAL REPORT ON LITERATURE EVANGELISTS FOR THE PERIOD
I. Regular LEs –
a. Full Time: 25
b. Active LE: 15
II. Part-Time LEs – 9
Total sales – GH?14,002.80

Workshops
Sunday 10th March 2019, was scheduled for a workshop and recruitment of LEs. After letters of notification had circulated through Churches and districts as well as text messages on the various platforms of the Conference, the workshop was carried out at Bantama Church premises with only a hand full of participants.
It was a gross disappointment since that was the first time of dealing with that department and also no recruitment of literature evangelists was made, for none yielded. Unfortunate situation was that though, I was not discouraged.

Recruitments
On this aspect of mobilizing personnel for the department, the Union director, Pastor Richard Armah Tandor joined hands with me moving from Churches and to districts, promoting and trying to recruit LEs at the expense of his own resource. Among others are: Sunday, 9th February, the Publishing director, Pr. SK Adusei attended a workshop in Offinso for Publishing, promotion, recruitment and training.
On Sarturday, 16th March, 2019, Pr. Armar Tandor the NOGH Publishing director assisted the conference director at a visit to the Old Tafo Mile3 district for promotion and recruitment of Literature evangelists.
Additionally, on Sunday 14th July, 2019 another Publishing workshop was scheduled for promotion, recruitment and training of LEs at Bremang Central Church. As a matter of fact, all those workshops could not yield the results aimed at having a band of literature evangelists the Publishing Ministry needed.
It is still our earnest prayer of enlisting LEs for the Publishing Ministry of the Mid- Central Ghana Conference.

Student Literature Evangelists
The Publishing Director for the Northern Ghana Union Mission, in the month of May 2019, after a NOGH publishing advisory committee meeting notified the office of the publishing director, MICG of taking charge of all four ladies student literature evangelists who had come from Babcock University in Nigeria for a period of four month from then.
These student LEs were welcome and resided at the Nkontwima Church guest house for their period of stay till they finally left for Babcock University in Nigeria where they came from.
On behalf of the leaders of the administration, I would like to use this platform to express profound appreciation to the Nkontwima district Pastor and his elders for the generosity exhibited towards our student literature evangelists during their period of work. May the Lord replenish whatever you expended on their behalf.
After they had left, the ABC – Mid-Central Ghana Conference had disposed off a greater quantity of books which heather to had been a bottleneck of the Publishing Department of the Conference.

BANTAMA CHURCH AS ABC ANNEX
As part of the plan or vision of carrying out literature evangelism, Bantama was cited as a point of ABC annex for the conference. After submission and acceptance of proposals to the Administrative Committee meeting, Bantama Church premises was accepted as an Adventist Books Center Extension for the Mid – Central Ghana Conference.
Currently, the Northern Ghana Union Mission has offered a metal Container of 12′ long for display and sales of Adventist literature. However, sales and display have not as yet begun, due to some little work that needs to be done, couple with the problem of the actual positioning of the container at the Church compound. It is hoped that by the close of the first quarter, things might have been straightened for operation to begin.

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE / BOARD
On Friday 23rd August, after it had been accepted by the Administrative Committee, to set a committee or board responsible for editing materials that are written from the conference and those from our Churches to the public domain, the MICG Editorial Committee/ Board was given birth to. It was since announced to Churches about the birth of this board.
It was also announced that the board had come out with a News Letter which all matters of interest in the Church, within the domain of our Conference are warmly invited for edit and publication. Interested and completed works could access this E-mail address: micgeditorial@gmail.com. The committee or board still waits patiently for completed articles to work on.
Challenges

  1. Church members lack commitment and willingness to yield to be recruited, for fear of being dispossessed of their livelihood.
  2. Members believe that price of Adventists books are so costly, and that depending exclusively on it might render them out of business.

Gratitude
We really appreciate how far the Lord has led us. It is our prayer that as we have set the pace in the new year, may He guide us through His will in order to accomplish our set goals.

Submitted by,
Pastor Stephen Kwadwo Adusei
Director, Publishing Ministry

Communication Report

Introduction

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Elders, Colleague Ministers and Workers, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am privileged to present to you a brief report on the above ministries as a departmental director. Mr. Chairman, as a Church in this worldwide ministry, we are enjoined of making known the liberty, healing and hope taken hold of in Jesus Christ. Therefore, the Communication ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in its role, interlaces with the other departments or ministries for the best accomplishment of the mission Christ bids us.

In this regard, our focus is to ensure that programs that are carried out by other departments are well communicated, fully covered and reported. In sum this report covers the abridgement of activities carried out within the period of January – December, 2019 but Mr., Chairman, due to the handing over of administration as well as departmental directors within the period of transition, the report covers events from March to the end of the year.

MICG 2nd Quadrennial Session -2019

This great program took place at the Barekese SDA Nursing and Midwifery Training College Campus from Wednesday 23rd to Sunday 27th January, 2019 with the theme, “Faithfulness to His Prophets”.  This spiritual convocation was meant for revival, accountability of the previous administration and election of new leaders for the Conference, for the next five years tenure of office.

After two days of report presentations by the former Conference President, Executive Secretary and the Treasurer of the previous administration, the Northern Ghana Union President, Pastor Kwame Kwanin, assisted by the Executive Secretary, Pastor Kwame Annor Boahen and the Treasurer, Pastor Osafo Marfo led to form the nomination committee for the election of Officers or leaders. This was done for the election process to commence. After a protracted period of deliberations, the under listed names were submitted or recommended by the Nominating Committee for approval. This was voted on and was finally accepted as the next leaders of the Mid – Central Ghana Conference as their appointments stated against their names below:

Pastor Osei Kofi – President

Pastor Alexander Marfo – Executive Secretary

Elder Samuel Kutten – Treasurer

Pastor Agyemang Badu -Ministerial Secretary

Pastor Eric Frimpong – Director, Stewardship

Pastor Kyei Baffour Jnr – Director, Personal Ministries, Sabbath School and Adventist Men Ministries

Pastor Robert Nyarko – Director, Youth, Heath and Chaplaincy Ministries

Pastor Stephen Kwadwo Adusei – Director, Communication, Publishing, Public Relation Affairs and Religious Liberty and Global Missions

Eder Charles Ankra – Director Education

Elder Osei Boaten – Associate Treasurer

Mrs Veronica Sarpong – Director, Women and Children Ministries

Additional Executive Members

All the earlier stated appointments form part of the executive Committee.

Mrs. Martha Owusua Antwi – Head of Institution

Elder Raphael Ziga – Akomadan/ Nkenkasu Rep

Elder Fredrick Forkuo – Bohyen Rep

Elder Kofi Brenya – Bantama Rep

Elder Osei Bempa – Member

Elder Martin Kyeremateng – member

Pastor Thompson Okofo Takyi – Rep for ordained ministers

Elder Maxwell Asamoah – member

Miss Adom Fremah – Lawyer

Prof EB Amponsah – Finance Comm. Chair

Elder Gabriel Amoako – Finance Comm. Vice-Chair

Elder Francis Acheampong – Lawyer

Elder Evans Oteng – Member

Trustees

Pastor Osei Kofi

Pastor Samuel Essien

Elder Samuel Kutten

MICG ADMINISTRATION MEETS WITH ELDERS ON TEN PERCENT MONTHLY OFFERING

On Sunday 17th March 2019 the Mid-Central Ghana Conference new Administration met in the Church of Bantama to decide on whether to continue or discontinue districts’ ten percent monthly offering proceed to the Conference with the elders.

In a devotion which Pastor Alexander Marfo, the executive secretary of the new administration led in his sermon captioned, “follow me with all your heart”, he threw light on how true discipleship is attained from the foundations of commitment. Thus as leaders and elders of God’s Church the Master urges them to follow Him with all their hearts and souls, in other words carry out the biddings of the Lord without any reservation, since the only property Christ has on earth is His Church.

In bringing the devotion to a close, a minister and two elders or lay persons were invited to pray to invoke the Holy Spirit unction upon our elders and leaders as they embarked on the work of God.

Meeting Proceedings for the Day

After a short prayer of commencement, a vote was taken to begin the day’s business. After a short statement of welcome and commendation from Pastor Osei Kofi, the President of the new administration to the elders, he outlined the items of the meeting.

Evangelism Goal for the quinquennium

On this item, the President made the house to understand that the administration had schemed to increase the membership of the Conference by planting thirty-five (35) new Churches, and to achieve that goal, the idea of one district, one church per year was submitted for discussion and adoption. The vote was carried for accepting that idea.

Building Of Parsonages

This was the second item proposed by the new administration through the President. Since this proposal was part of the previous administration’s plan, and was underway, time was not wasted for its acceptance and adoption.

Continuation of the Ten Percent Offering Towards Conference Office Complex

Finally, this proposal was also presented to be adopted since it had been part of the plans of the previous administration and is also ongoing. This proposal was confronted with a lot of misgivings among participants since elders felt local Churches  had been financially overburdened for long and it was about time they were left to rest. After a lengthy deliberation on this issue, it was voted to continue since the office complex had not received its complete glamor yet however, it was on condition that a time span of two years be set for that exercise, hoping that the office complex would have been completed, and the local Churches to discontinue paying any more ten percent. In sum the meeting ended with all the proposals presented by the Conference administration voted on and accepted for adoption.

Evangelistic Activities on Media Stations and Information Centers

The Communication Ministry in the Conference as a bridge builder as far as church activity is concerned took on evangelism through the Radio, Television and Information Centers. Currently, Bantama district has a regular airtime morning devotion on Royal TV and sporadic schedules of radio evangelism on the Garden City Station.

The following Churches and Districts have same programs in the various Information Centers around their communities.

Old Tafo Mile 3

Pankrono Estate

Abofuor

NOGH YOUTH LEADERS CONGRESS

About six hundred and twenty-two young adults drawn from the fields within the length and breadth of the Northern Ghana Union Mission assembled at the Barekese SDA Nurses and Midwifery Training College campus for leadership training and service program. This program was scheduled to start from Wednesday 12th to Sunday 16th June 2019.

Within this period of training, participants were purposed to go through physical training, leadership lectures, drill and marching exercises for physical and spiritual growth as well as intellectual leadership skills. This leadership training was a very interesting one for not only did it call for the young adult leaders, all district pastors and directors got involved.

At the day of closure, the West Central African Division youth Ministry director called on this program to crown it all to a successful end after he had been welcome with a smart and delightful quarter guard at the portal of the Campus where the program was organized. Shortly after the quarter guard inspection, he was flanked  by the Northern Ghana Union Mission youth director, Pastor Dan Kwaku Owusu Ansah and the other field directors to review the guard of honor parade that marked the closure of the leadership congress. After his short address, commending participants for having comporting themselves throughout the span of the training program, he admonished them to keep the faith after the button had been passed on to them.

Additionally, he urged them to take on the world with the skills so acquired in order that the light of Calvary’s story will be illuminated in all corners of the universe as the second coming of the our Lord and King Jesus Christ is here.

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS

Mid – Central Ghana Conference moved into its new permanent office complex headquarters that situates at Atafoa during the early part of the first month, Sunday 13th January, 2019 to be precise. Since communication forms a very vital ingredient in all facets of human existence, the department started to connect the Conference to the global link.

Currently, the Conference has established a modern technological communication systems raging from website, postal address and telephone linkages through the communication department within and external offices outside its domain.

Website Address: www.micg.adventist.org

Postal Address: P. O. Box 9742. Kumasi. Ashanti. Ghana – West Africa

Main Telephone line: 020-026-8343.

NOGH COMMUNICATION WORKSHOP

This was a long awaited workshop which was initially scheduled for the month of May, 2019 but due some hitches that confronted the communication director from the General Conference who was the main facilitator, coupled with other constraints, it finally came on from Monday 11th – Wednesday 13th November, 2019 at the Christian village.

This workshop was meant to elapse for a week but for the already stated reasons it was abridged for that three day’s period but the content remained unchanged; it was a very busy program. Notwithstanding the uneasiness that participants went through, it was a very interesting and rewarding workshop.

Unfortunately, due to the new date scheduled for the program which some complained about not favorable enough, participants had little or no time for adequate arrangements and preparation towards the program; response was strained and finally failed to meet the most optimal participation.

CAMP MEETING -2019

The month of August was the Camp meeting season. All eighteen districts had their turn in a weeklong camp activities ranging from devotions, departmental activities, testimony segments, lectures on social subjects and economic activities as well as worship.

The Sabbath of all eighteen districts witnessed festival of baptisms which the outcome were later submitted to the personal ministry departmental director and the Conference Administration Secretary for generation of statistical reports.

YOUTH CAMP -2019

This yearly spiritual convocation circle of the Adventist youth was observed this year too, from Sunday 22nd – Tuesday 31st December, 2019. All the youth department in the various districts took part in this program. Youth Camp – 2019 was directed to be observed in districts lot. However, at other places within the Conference, some districts merged up with others. For instance, Barekese, Ohwim and Suame districts camped at Osei Tutu II College campus in Tetrem within Boamang district. Old Tafo Mile3 district held theirs at the Ghana Christian International high school at Hweremoase in the Ashanti South Ghana Conference territory, among others.

The ten days Youth camp activity programs covered physical training or exercises, devotions, worship services, lectures on leadership training, hiking, drill appraisal  and entrepreneurship. Most sites commented that they had very blissful and spiritual experience.

Challenges

1. Lack of necessary materials to undertake or carry out the work.

2. Lack of coordination between Local Churches, Districts and the Conference director with regards to the necessary information of events that are carried out within Churches and districts.

Gratitude

We really appreciate how far the Lord has led us. It is our prayer that as we have set pace in the new year, may He guide us through His will in order to accomplish our set goals.

Submitted by,
Pastor Stephen Kwadwo Adusei
Director, Communication Ministry

Personal Ministries Report

PERSONAL MINISTRIES REPORT
INTRODUCTION

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.”—Mathew 28:18-20

The Book Evangelism by Ellen G. White is prefaced by these words: “Evangelism, the very heart of Christianity, is the theme of primary importance to those called to herald God’s last warning to a doomed world. We are in time’s closing hours, and the advent message, proclaimed to make ready a people prepared for our lord’s return, must swell to a loud cry reaching the uttermost parts of the earth.

Since the early days of the work of Seventh-day Adventists, the Spirit of Prophecy instruction placing special emphasis upon the principles and practice of soul winning has been given to guide in an expanding work.”—Evangelism p. 6

To us also the commission is given. We are bidden to go forth as Christ’s messengers, to teach, instruct, and persuade men and women, to urge upon their attention the word of life. And to us also the assurance of Christ’s abiding presence is given. Whatever the difficulties with which we may have to contend, whatever the trials we may have to endure, the gracious promise is always ours, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”—Manuscript 24, 1903.

As matter of fact, “We are now living in the closing scenes of this world’s history. Let men tremble with the sense of the responsibility of knowing the truth. The ends of the world are come. Proper consideration of these things will lead all to make an entire consecration of all that they have and are to their God.”—Evangelism p. 16.

PLANS FOR THE QUINQUENNIUM (2019-2024)

Within the next 5 years, the Personal Ministries Department plans to do the following:  

  1. Formation of Conference Advisory Council.
  2. Division of the Conference into Zones.
  3. Mapping of all Virgin Areas Within the Conference.
  4. Zoning of the Conference into Six Zones with Councils for Effectiveness.
  5. Formation of Conference and Lay Teams.
  6. Inventory of all Information Centers within our territory.
  7. Licensing of Lay Preachers Members with Identity Cards.
  8. Catalogue of all Baptismal Candidates within the Conference.
  9. Establishment of Conference and Zonal Evangelism Funds.
  10. Collation of all Intended Public and Temple Campaign Schedules.
  11. Formation of Spirit of Prophecy Clubs in the Churches.
  12. Creation of Social Media Platform for the Promotion of Evangelistic Activities.

OBJECTIVES

  1. To organize Training workshops and Seminars for Lay Leaders.
  2. To Intensify Visitation to Reclaim Backsliding and Lost Members.
  3. To Embark on Lay Retreats for Spiritual Renewal.
  4. To Do Regular Temple and Public Campaigns.
  5. To at Least Increase Our Membership by 30%   in the Next Five Years.
  6. To Plant at least 25 New Openings with Lamp Shelters.
  7. To Conduct Regular Revivals to Boost Spirituality in the Local Churches.
  8. To Revive and Increase Small Group Ministries in the Churches.
  9. To Rekindle Interest in Sundown, Vesper and Sabbath Afternoon Bible Studies Programmes within the Churches.
  10. To Bring Back Dawn Broadcast with the Use of Information Centers within our Conference Jurisdiction.
  11. To Evangelize Our Moslem Friends Through Relationship Evangelism.
  12.  To Increase Evangelistic Effort through Various Media Portals like Facebook, WhatsApp, Radio, Television, Internet etc.
  13. To Create an Overwhelming Interest in the Reading of the Spirit of Prophecy Especially Among the Elite and Students.
  14. To Prepare Members Ultimately for the Soon Coming of Our Lord and Savior—Jesus Christ.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES IN THE CONFERENCE

  • February 2nd -16th  was designated for outreach 
  • April 1st -30th was declared as a Month of Revival throughout the conference
  • April 20th saw the collaboration between the Personal Ministries Department and the Publishing Department in outreach and distribution of Year Book
  • May 11th- 25th  was Integrated Evangelism Part 2 
  • 13th -28th July was designated as Integrated Evangelism Part 3. This saw the collaboration between the Personal Ministries department and the Women’s Ministries department in successful organization of what was termed “WAD Women’s Ministries Evangelism’.
  • 3rd August was Global Mission Evangelism Day which frankly speaking was given a little attention
  • 24th August which was supposed to be Lay Evangelism Day was not observed as such due to Camp Meetings.
  • 17th -30th saw the final part of Integrated Evangelism Initiative.

   STATUS OF PLANS

  • Formation of Conference Advisory Council.—————————————Done
  • Division of the Conference into Zones.———————————————Done
  • Mapping of all Virgin Areas Within the Conference.—————————-Pending
  • Zoning of the Conference into Six Zones with Councils for Effectiveness.—–Done-
  • Formation of Conference and Lay Teams.—————————————–Pending
  • Inventory of all Information Centers within our territory.———————- Pending
  • Licensing of Lay Preachers Members with Identity Cards.———————-Pending
  • Catalogue of all Baptismal Candidates within the Conference.——————Pending
  • Establishment of Conference and Zonal Evangelism Funds.——————–Pending
  • Collation of all Intended Public and Temple Campaign Schedules.————-Done
  • Formation of Spirit of Prophecy Clubs in the Churches————————–Pending
  • Creation of Social Media Platform for the Promotion of Evangelistic Activities.–Done

PERSONAL MINISTRIES AND SABBATH SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS

  1. Pastor Daniel Kyei-Baffour Jnr. (Chairman)
  2. Pastors from Each Zone
  3. Eld. Kwaku Adu Boahen, Nkontwima
  4. Eld. Gyasi Animhene, Maakro
  5. Eld. Dr. Osei Mensah, Adoato
  6. Mrs. Charity Donkor, Bohyen
  7. Mrs. Evelyn Asamoah, Bantama
  8. Eld. Isaac Opoku, Mile 3
  9. Eld. Adomako Mensah, Abrepo
  10. Eld. Kofi Gyapong, Namong
  11. Eld. Oduro Sarpong, Amm Representative

PATRONS:

  1. Eld. George Asumadu
  2. Eld. Stephen Ampadu
  3. Eld. Frank Antwi

CONFERENCE PERSONAL MINISTRIES / SABBATH SCHOOL, ZONES

A. Akomadan, Nkenkaasu, Abofour
Headquarters: Nkenkaasu
Nkenkaasu Pastor as Chairman

B. Boamang, Offinso, Namong
Headquarters: Offinso
Offinso Pastor as Chairman

C. Maakro, Kronum, Kodie
Headquarters: Maakro
Maakro Dist. Pastor as Chairman

D. Bremang, Nkontwima, Old Tafo Mile 3
Headquarters: Bremang
Bremang Dist. Pastor as Chairman

E. Bantama, Bohyen, Suame
Headquarters: Bantama
Bantama Dist. Pastor as Chairman

F. Barekese, Ohwim, Achiase
Headquarters: Achiase
Achiase Dist. Pastor as Chairan

DETAILS OF BAPTISMAL ACTIVITIES

FIVE (5) YEARS EVANGELISM GOAL
(STARTING FROM JANUARY, 2019 TO DECEMBER, 2023)


FIRST QUARTER BAPTISMAL REPORT (JANUARY-MARCH, 2019)

DISTRICT NUMBER OF SOULS WON DISTRICT NUMBER OF SOULS WON
Abofour 0 Suame 3
Achiase 0 Kodie 122
Akomadan 0 Kronum 0
Bantama 110 Maakro 9
Barekese 15 Namong 20
Boamang 30 Nkenkaasu 0
Bohyen 0 Nkontwima 113
Bremang 13 Offinso 12
Mile 3               15 Ohwim 13
       
Total      
Grand total     475

SECOND QUARTER BAPTISMAL REPORT (APRIL-JUNE, 2019)

DISTRICT NUMBER OF SOULS WON DISTRICT NUMBER OF SOULS WON
Abofour 0 Suame 5
Achiase 14 Kodie 0
Akomadan 15 Kronum 5
Bantama 22 Maakro 11
Barekese 0 Namong 11
Boamang 14 Nkenkaasu 23
Bohyen 2 Nkontwima 0
Bremang 6 Offinso 0
Mile 3               0 Ohwim 4
Buoho 2    
Total      
Grand total     134

THIRD QUARTER REPORT WOMEN’S MINISTRIES CAMPAIGN CAMP MEETING BAPTISM

DISTRICT NUMBER OF SOULS BAPTIZED DISTRICT NUMBER OF SOULS BAPTIZED
Abofour 22 Suame 28
Achiase 39 Kodie 18
Akomadan 4 Kronum 18
Bantama 33 Maakro 30
Barekese 11 Namong 35
Boamang 17 Nkenkaasu 4
Bohyen 20 Nkontwima 37
Bremang 29 Offinso 11
Mile 3               32 Ohwim 31
Buoho 8    
Total 199                  187
GRAND TOTAL     427

FOURTH QUARTER BAPTISMAL REPORT (OCTOBER-DECEMBER, 2019)

DISTRICT NUMBER OF SOULS WON DISTRICT NUMBER OF SOULS WON
Abofour 0 Suame 1
Achiase 0 Kodie 22
Akomadan 8 Kronum 6
Bantama 53 Maakro 0
Barekese 8 Namong 0
Boamang 0 Nkenkaasu 0
Bohyen 0 Nkontwima 39
Bremang 0 Offinso 10
Mile 3               20 Ohwim 0
Buoho 9    
Total      
GRAND TOTAL     176

FIRST QUARTER’S REPORT (JANUARY-MARCH 2019)

TYPE OF CAMPAIGN CHURCH/DISTRICT DATE SPEAKER/BAPTIZER SOULS WON
Public Akrofrom/Kodie  January, 2019 Pr. Okoffo Tachie Thompson 19
Public Danase/Kodie Jan 20-Feb 2 Evangelist Forkuo 33
Auxiliary Nkontwima/mixed Jan. 19 Pr. Kofi Agyemang Badu 7
Public Nkontwima/Nkontwima Jan 27-Feb. 9 Evangelist De Rockson  106
Temple Campaign ADASS/Bantama Feb. 11-16 Pr. Fred Opoku Agyemang 110
Public Atrama/Kodie March 2-9 Pr. Daniel Kyei-Baffour Jnr./ David Asiedu Sarfo 21
Public Buoho/Kodie March 10-23 Pr. Daniel Kyei-Baffour Jnr. 49
Auxiliary Suame/Suame, Abrepo Jan. 19, Feb. 16 Pr. Oheneba Bobie Israel 3
Revival Barekese 23-30 March Pr. Ebenezer Owusu Banahene 15
Revival Bremang/Bremang 3-9 March Pr. Isaac Afiriyie 13
Auxiliary Old Tafo Mile 3 23/03/19 Pr. Stephen  Kwadwo Adusei 15
Revival Ohwim 23-30 March Pr. Stephenson Yaw Baafi 13
Auxiliary Boamang Jan.19, Feb. 23 & March 3 Pr. Robbert Kwame Nyarko 30
Auxiliary Maakro March 23 Pr. Kofi Opoku Acheampong 9
Auxiliary Ofinso March 30 Pr. Prince Brobbey 12
Public Namong 17-30 March Pr. Frank Amponsah Boateng 20
Total       475  

2ND QUARTER REPORT (APRIL-JUNE, 2019)

DISTRICT PUBLIC/TEMPLE CAMPAIGN DATE DISTRICT PASTOR/SPEAKER SOULS BAPTIZED
Bohyen Auxiliary 6th April, 2019 Pr. Felix Nimako Boansi 02
Boamang Public 13th April, 2019 Pr. Robert  Kwame Nyarko 14
Achiase Revival 13th April, 2019 Pr. Osei Kofi 14
Ohwim Auxiliary 11th May, 2019 Pr. Oheneba Bobie Israel 04
Nkenkaasu Public 18th May, 2019 Pr. Benjamin Okyere Dankwa 23
ADASS Auxiliary 18th May, 2019 Pr. Fred Opoku Agyemang 06
Akomadan Auxiliary 25th May, 2019 Pr. Blessed Annor Otutu 14
Maakro Auxiliary 1st June, 2019 Pr. Thompson Okoffo Takyi 05
Suame Auxiliary 8th June  2019 Pr. Daniel Kyei-Baffour Jnr. 04
Bantama Auxiliary 6th July, 2019 Pastor Kofi Agyemang Badu 16
Namong Revival 6th July, 2019 Pr. Frank Amponsah Boateng 11
Suame Auxiliary 13th July, 2019 Pr. Stephen Kwadwo Adusei 01
Bremang Public 31st  May-1st June Pr. Eric Frimpong 06
Buoho Auxiliary 13th July, 2019 Pr. Okofo Takyi 2
Maakro Auxiliary 15th June, 2019 Pr. Opoku Acheampong 06
Kronum Auxiliary June, 2019 Pr. Osei Kofi 05
TOTAL       134

OTHER ACTIVITIES

The conference embarked on a special revival throughout all churches and companies from 30thJune—6th July, 2019 with the theme ‘LORD REVIVE US AGAIN’.

WAD Women’s Ministries July Campaign and Baptism: The conference administration took key interest in this programme. Therefore, the Personal Ministries and Women’s Ministries department collaborated to organize it in three venues; Bremang East in Nkontwima District, Ntiri Buoho in Achiase District and ADASS in Bantama District. This campaign gave us 95 souls for the Lord.

SUMMARY OF REPORT

                           Item Actual Baptism Per Statistical Report
First Quarter (January-March) 475 66
Second Quarter (April-June) 134 91
Third Quarter (July-September) 427 347
Fourth Quarter ()CT) 176 176
January—December Baptism 1196 680

NOTE: Evangelism goal for the year 2019 was 1261 and what was achieved is 1196

Number of Workshops————————————————30

Number of Revivals————-  ————————————–678

Number of Public Campaigns—————————————20

NEW OPENINGS:

Ntiri Buoho (Achiase District), Abokyire (Namong District) and Agogo (Abofour)         

Expense on Evangelism so far GH₵35, 732.00

BAPTISMAL ACTIVITIES IN PICTURES

CHALLENGES

  1. General apathy in evangelistic activities in the churches at all levels
  2. Churches do not prioritize evangelism
  3. Difficulty in obtaining reports from the various districts on schedule
  4. Inadequate funding for evangelistic activities even though funds are available
  5. Failure of the church to properly nurture new converts as many of them backslide as soon as they join the church.

HUMBLY SUBMITTED BY
PASTOR DANIEL KYEI-BAFFOUR JNR.
DIRECTOR

MICGASBU Fellowship @ Ahinkro

Last Saturday, 19th October 2019, was a fellowship of all Singing Bands within the Mid- Central Ghana Conference (MICG) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kumasi – Atafoa.

The Mid-Central Ghana Adventist Singing Band Union (MICGASBU) in short, chose to organize this fellowship of singers at Ahinkro – Offinso road, in the Boamang district of the Conference to worship and praise the Lord for His loving kindness, goodness and mercies bestowed on them since the beginning of the year till date.
Also, as part of their plans, they purposed to organize such a program to facilitate familiarisation among sister band of singers especially, for the just admitted ones into the sisterhood of the Union.
Moreover, it was meant to raise some funds to complete a Church building project which they started a year ago at Achiase, in collaboration with Achiase district which they had hitherto evangelized and established.
The theme for this sacred convocation was ” PASS IT ON: ENGAGE, EQUIP AND EMPOWER FOR SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP” which Pastor Osei Kofi, the president of the Conference who featured in this program by preaching in the divine service. He started by expressing his profound appreciation to the leadership of the union for organising such a timely program when the Conference is getting ready to unleash Christ’s last message to the world.
In his admonition, he drew the attention of the band of singers on the fact that the theme of their program is timely, for he said, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been evangelism oriented since its inception until now. This has been possible due to the fact that the pioneers of this Church and the leadership to be precise, never relented nor ceased in equipping, empowering and passing it all on for leadership and service to the young adults they were blessed with. Hence, as singers, they were enjoined to take the mantle and do same through their sweet sermon laden music in spreading the gospel and lift up and higher, the story of Calvary as we still await the soon coming of our Master and King, Jesus Christ.
After the program, the president was asked about their mission of the program and his short words admonition to the youth in the Church who were not privileged to attend the fellowship and SDA Church at large.
Report submitted by,
Pr Stephen Kwadwo Adusei
Communication Director
MICG.