Columbia Union Leaders and Members Take Mission Trip to Ghana

Story by Nii Ayite Hammond, Hope Channel Ghana, with additional reporting by Michele Joseph for the Columbia Union Conference / Photos by Joseph Quarshie, Hope Channel Ghana and Columbia Union Mission Team

This fall, the North and South Ghana Union Women Ministries, Personal Ministries and Evangelism directors, in partnership with Hope Channel Ghana, hosted “Our Future Foretold,” a nationwide evangelism and mission initiative in Cape Coast.

In a historic move, they invited Celeste Ryan Blyden, Columbia Union Conference executive secretary, to be the main speaker for this 11-day series. With support from union treasurer Emmanuel Asiedu and Ohio Conference pastor Sampson Twumasi—both of whom helped to organize the overseas mission experience -- Blyden assembled a team of volunteers. These individuals are members, employees and leaders of Allegheny East, Allegheny West, Ohio, New Jersey, and Potomac conferences, Kettering Health, and the Columbia Union Executive Committee, who contributed from their expertise in a variety of fields. This included: 

• Pastor Michael Adomako
• Annette Asiedu
• Cecile Calliste Jr.
• Tara Harrison Calliste
• Cheryl Chavers
• Micah Chavers
• Dione Finney
• Andre Hewitt
• LaTasha Hewitt
• Renee Humphreys
• Michele Joseph
• Pastor Juliana Marson
• Ben Nkrumah
• Amanda Smith
• Bryant Smith
• Evangelist Gerald Thorpe
• Marilyn Thorpe
• Felicia Twumasi

Many groups and organizations visit Ghana, but none go to the coast, said Twumasi, who shepherds the Ohio Conference Columbus Ghanaian church. He says the region encompassing Cape Coast and Elmina had exposure to the Sabbath truth for more than a century. Literature about the Adventist message and then missionaries arrived in 1888. The people, many of them fisherman, were not receptive because their own belief system incorporated Tuesday as the day of rest, which is still true today. The Elmina coastline, usually dotted with boats and men on the shore pulling nets, was still and quiet on Tuesdays. 

However, this area was chosen because of Blyden’s possible ancestral roots. Her grandfather, whose name was Kwamina, is believed to have family ties in Elmina. This connection meant something to the people.

“It impacted the whole Ghana because they look at Celeste and she looks like a Ghanaian,” Twumasi said.

Across Ghana and neighboring countries, the people enjoyed the preaching and seminars on mental health, leadership, evangelism, marriage and family life and communication, he said.

The programs reached people off all walks of life, especially professionals. 

“Cape Coast is where good schools in Ghana started,” Twumasi says. “University students were watching the program. University professors were following our meetings. When we do evangelistic series, it is not easy to reach these busy people.”

To create a professional and enriching experience, Hope Channel Ghana deployed its full arsenal—stage setup and broadcast production equipment—transforming the venue into a hub of spiritual engagement. As the sun set each evening, the church filled with members and guests eager to hear profound biblical teachings from Blyden, who sprinkled her sermons with Akan proverbs, stories, skits and songs--creating moments of reflection and joy. The soothing voices of the Columbia Union Praise Team prepared the hearts of all present to receive the message.

In addition to the nightly spiritual feast of sharing the Word of God, the Columbia Union team highlighted the benefits of holistic health and well-being. Members of the team addressed topics such as marriage, parenting, communication, self-care, men’s health, women’s health, chronic disease, and offered practical guidance for living healthier, happier lives in today’s perilous times. Medical personnel were on-site and swiftly attended to physical and mental health issues--ensuring attendees remained in top form to enjoy the entire program.

“There were those who were very receptive,” says Dione Finney, a licensed clinical professional counselor, who met with many of the women. “Others were hesitant, but they became receptive once they saw or heard about the counseling sessions.

The issues dealt with mirrored those in the U.S. from self-esteem, anxiety grief, abuse and more.

Finney said it was a blessing to see people take the counseling sessions to heart and begin life transformations. 

One woman struggling with depression was almost unrecognizable as she arrived at church a few days after her counseling session with a new attitude and wardrobe.

“They are receptive and yes, they are ready to do the work,” Finney said.

The series also included something for children, which organizers say had not been part of previous evangelism efforts. 

“We are told that all over the country people really liked it,” Twumasi says. “They were able to get children to follow the series. It made an impact on parents who brought their children to watch in Cape Coast and around the country.”

“Aunt Renee” Humphreys’ Children’s Story introduced the nightly topic in an age-appropriate manner, ensuring that children were involved and included in the spiritual growth exercise.

“The messages for those little people, asking the Holy Spirit to give me a story that they could relate too, it was a spiritual experience for me,” said Humphreys, associate superintendent of schools for the Allegheny East Conference. “I couldn’t have done it without the Children’s Ministry leaders that were there. They embraced the vision.”

Each night children sought her out, ready to recite poems, sing songs and find out what was in her apron pocket. 

“Some nights we had 50 kids, some nights we had more,” Humphreys say.

The impact of her stories will continue as at least 10 pastors have started incorporating them into their evangelistic efforts, she said.

Meanwhile, in the Northern Ghana Union city of Kumasi, Emmanuel Asiedu, Columbia Union treasurer, and his wife, Annette, a nurse, worked with Dr. Jacob Prabhakar Chiadrupu, an Adventist eye surgeon from India, whose team of eight screened about 10,000 patients who had eye problems. In six days, they were able to perform free eye surgeries for 1,059 patients, including children. “It was an electrifying experience to be there as three children were able to see their parents’ faces for the first time,” Emmanuel says. “This is what it must have been like to witness Jesus healing the blind.”

Like many collaborative initiatives, this national effort engaged many people. From the many lay evangelism teams who blanketed communities inviting people to the meetings, to the dedicated prayer and fasting team, to the registration clerks, deacons and ushers who welcomed and seated attendees, to the medical volunteers who provided free health screenings, to those who provided meals --- many members played a vital role in the success of this mission. 

Thanks to the Hope Channel Ghana team, “Our Future Foretold” reached far beyond Cape Coast. Each program was broadcast live on Hope TV Ghana as well as on Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms, extending the message to thousands of people who gathered at hundreds of churches, schools, and homes across Ghana. Viewers also checked in from Italy, the UK, The Philippines, India, the United States, South Africa and many other countries in Africa. While this program was led by Women’s Ministries, it ignited a spiritual awakening among people of all ages, from all walks of life, drawing massive crowds and rekindling faith. 

In places where they could not view the broadcast, there were many local speakers, both men and women, all united and preaching under the same theme. While final numbers are still being tallied from the registered sites across Ghana, church leaders report 1,163 souls have given their lives to Christ.  

“Not long before we left for Ghana, God gave me a reassuring message through Columbia Union President Marcellus Robinson, as he spoke at our university’s opening convocation,” Blyden recalls. “He quoted from “John 15:16, where Jesus says, ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain: that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.’ As a team, we then fasted and prayed that God would use us to bear fruit that will last, and we were amazed by His many blessings.”

The team witnessed many remarkable stories of God’s moving and working in the lives of those who chose to take their stand for Christ. “I believe God has a purpose for me and that is why your ministry reached out to me,” shared Michael, a newly baptized believer in his twenties. “I believe this program was because of me.” 

There were also many instances of how God used social media to reach people watching the series online. Some posted prayer requests that were prayed over. Others posted questions about the church and its beliefs that were answered on-air during the program. 

One evening, a man considering suicide posted his intentions on Facebook. One of the team’s mental health counselors was able to reach him, and before the program ended, his life had been saved. 

Because of this groundbreaking initiative, “many lives have been touched and many citizens have been added to God’s kingdom,” Blyden says. “As these new members are integrated into local church families across Ghana, we praise God for each one, and we pray that their stories of transformation will continue.”