The Presbyterian Church of Ghana, North Kaneshie Congregation, has rounded up activities marking its 30th Anniversary celebration with a thanksgiving service in Accra.
In a sermon on the theme “Remembering and Rejoicing for what the Lord has done,” Rev. Dr. Samuel Ayete-Nyampong, Clerk of General Assembly, congratulated the Congregation for attaining 30 years of existence and challenged members to live up to expectation as a District Head Station.
The Clerk asked members of the Congregation to praise God for his favour and protection during the year 2013, which the Church and the nation as a whole cannot underestimate or take for granted.
“As a nation, the year 2013 was so tensed up politically, but the Lord showed his grace and mercy to us, hence the time has come for all and sundry in Ghana to give praise to God for seeing us through,” he noted.
Rev. Dr. Ayete-Nyampong noted that the knowledge of certain unique events in the Bible will increase the faith of Christians to thank and praise God in all situations.
In his address, the District Minister, Rev. Philip Nii Annan-Nai (Esq.), commended members of the Congregation and his predecessors who have worked tirelessly to get the Church this far since 1983.
He said the Lord has been gracious to the Congregation, hence the celebration to thank and adore him.
History
The North Kaneshie Presbyterian Congregation, with an approximate membership of 1,210, can trace its history back to 1983, when members met at the residence of the late Mr. and Mrs. I. B. K. Wiredu, who had just moved into the area.
Present at the first forenoon service on 17th February, 1983 were: Col. (Rtd.) and Mrs. Alex Antwi, Sis. Grace Ohenewa Antwi, Ms Victoria Manko Annobi, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Anum, as well as Bros. Asiama and Alex Ohene. An increase in the membership necessitated the formation of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) in 1987.
Elevation to congregational status
On Sunday, April 8, 1984 the then District Minister, now Very Rev. Dr. Sam Prempeh, performed a ceremony to officially elevate the Preaching Point to full congregational status. The service was led by Rev. Dr. Charles Gyan-Duah, who was then in charge of the Abeka Congregation.
Since the Congregation had then outgrown the nursery classroom it was using as a meeting place, Mr. E. Adjei Mantey was sent to Nana and Mrs. Addo Korie for permission for them to worship in their house.
The search for a permanent site became great challenge until the Congregation acquired a plot of land through the continued instrumentality of the late Mrs. Adelaide Appiah.
Dedication of a new Church Hall
The 30th anniversary celebration also saw the dedication of a new Church Hall by the Clerk of General Assembly, who was assisted by Rev’ds. Yaw Danso, Emmanuel Adjei-Mantey, S. E. Ampiaw, Nii Teiko Dagadu, Philip Nii Annan-Nai and W. Asiama Bekoe (Rtd).
Earlier, some deserving members were presented with meritorious awards for their contributions to the growth of the Congregation.
Rev. Dr. Ayete-Nyampong and his wife, Lillian, assisted some founding members of the Congregation to cut the anniversary cake.
By: Emmanuel Wiafe