Mission 5th  - 19th March 2007

In April 2003 Rev. Davis Kwasi Konadu Apostolic Revival Church and Rev. Emmanuel Kwasi Mensah Greater Life Evangelistic Temple got in touch with us after visiting our website. Explaining that after reading about us the Holy Spirit touched them and told them to get in touch with us. Over the next few months of sharing they asked if they could join us so in June 2004 became Associated Member of Unity.

In September the same year they invited us to come to Ghana to start a Unity Group.

We shared this invite as well has invites to Kenya and other places with our Bishop, The Rt. Revd. Dr. John Sentamu ‘Church of England’ Bishop for Birmingham , now Archbishop of York who gave us his blessings and authority to look at starting Unity groups, we also had the blessing and support of The Most Revd. Vincent Nichols the Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham .

After praying for many months we decided that it was the Lord calling us to go to Ghana , so we wrote to Rev. Davis accepting their invitation.

We then contacted the Anglican and Catholic Bishops in Kumasi to inform them of our visit, giving them details of who we were why we were coming to Ghana and requesting an audience with them when we arrived.

We booked the flights for 5^th November 2006, unfortunately two days before we were due to leave Dianne’s brother Chris died, so we cancelled.

We eventually arranged to go on the 5^th March 2007.

We left for Ghana on the 5^th March at 5-10pm and arrived at Accra airport at 5-30am Tuesday morning.  
We arrived to Ghana ’s celebration of years of independence from British rule.

We were met by Rev. Davis and his wife Charity and taken to the bus station to start our journey to Kumasi , a journey of around 4 to 5 hours depending on the roads.

We arrived in Kumasi early evening and then took a taxi to were we where staying, which was about half an hours journey from the bus station in the city.  

On arrival at the house we were to be staying at during our visit, we were met by the owner’s son who is known as Chief his wife and two young men who we would be sharing the house with.

Wednesday 7^th

We met Boateng Jude a Catholic and Director of Jerk Educational Complex and Pastor Frank Sarpong and his wife of Divine Power Gospel Ministry.

Later on in the afternoon we went to Pastor Frank Sarpong Church the Divine Power Gospel Ministries.

were we shared the word of God and ministered to 

the people.  

Thursday 8^th

On the evening we went to The Blood of Jesus Reformed Church in the city. The Church was down a back street which was very dark because of no lighting and the roads very uneven.

When we arrived the people were praising God and you felt the power of the Lord in that place.

After the praise and worship Ray preached on 

Ephesians 4: 1-16 ‘Unity in the Body of Christ’,

Friday 9^th

We went to the Fire Chapel to share to the word of God about Unity ‘Ephesians 4: 1-16’

On arrival the Church was in full swing around 300 people.

During the this time Prophet Abraham Cudjoe started to pray with a man who had been cursed and told that he would be dead in three days.

Praying over the man to release him from the cures put on him are, Prophet Abraham Cudjoe and his assistant ministries.

Prophet Abraham Cudjoe afterwards continued to pray with other by the time he had finished it was to late for us preach.

We went on from there to meet the Anglican Bishop

The Rt. Revd. Daniel Yinkah Sarfo at his office. We shared with him about Unity and our purpose in coming to Ghana .

We also informed him that we came with the support and blessings of both the Anglican Bishop Rt. Rev’d David Urguart and the Catholic Archbishop The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols of the Diocese of Birmingham and also the support and blessings of The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr John Sentamu Archbishop of York .

Rt. Revd. Daniel Yinkah Sarfo said that he would try and be with us at our Unity meeting’s, unfortunately he was unable to make it.

Saturday 10^th

Day off, so went into the city to look around and do some shopping.

Here Dianne and Charity looking at the different stores. Rev Davis and myself following behind.

Sunday 11^th

Today we went to Rev. Davis Church the Apostolic Revival Church .

We arrived around 1pm to a Church already buzzing with praise and worship; they had been there since around 9am and had been praising God in temperatures of about 90 degrees. 

Their love for God is expressed in their singing and dancing and praise. For them spending the best part of the day in the presence of the Lord praising Him is a joy and pleasure.  

At around 1pm Apostle James A.A. Afrifah invited Ray to come and preach.

Ray was welcomed with shouts of joy and applause from the people.

His message of unity from a Ephesians 4: 1-16 had a profound impact. 

It was attended by Ministers and lay people from the Roman Catholic, Methodist and Pentecostal Churches .

This laid the foundations for the three day’s Unity Meeting to be held later that week. The talk on Ephesians 4: 1-16 

“Unity in the Body of Christ” is available on CD/DVD.

Monday 12^th 

We had a trip to Cape Coast to visit the Poor Clares to deliver a letter from Mother Bernadette of the Poor Clares in Elesmere Shropshire UK .

The journey took about 4^1/2 hours, on the way we had a one man talking about herbal medicine for around an hour then when he got off another man stood up and started to preach, this went on for over two hours.

We took a taxi to the convent which was about 20 minutes. On arrival we were greeted by Mother Antonia 

and the other sisters.

It was very hot in the convent as the air conditioning is only a fan in the ceiling. 

Sr. Antonia

Sr. Barbara

Sr. Healing

Sr. Mary

Sr. Augustina

After we left the sisters we went down to the coast, Rev. Davis and Charity had never seen the sea at all in they lives, so it was a great experience for them.

Taking a photo on their mobile 

to show their son Martin the sea.

Charity is holding a bottle of sea water to take back to show Martin.

Cape Coast Castle , was used by the British and doubled up as a prison.

The journey back to Kumasi was a lot quieter and tiring.

Sculptures on the walls 

Tuesday 13^th

Was day visiting the schools.

Angel Educational Complex

The first school we visited was  the school that Rev. Davis and Charity son Martin attends.

We received a very warm welcome from all the children and staff.

We brought with us from England pencils, rubbers and pencil sharpeners and some sweets for the Children.

Above the teacher is giving out the sweets.

She told us that she will give them all a pencil and rubber each but would hang on to the sharpeners

as the children would sharpen the pencils until there was nothing left.

The second school

Jerk Educational Complex.

This school is run by Mr. Boateng Jude a Catholic who had a call from GOD to look after children more especially the very vulnerable in his locality. 

He came across some orphans in his community who were crying for assistance he was touched and decided to do something to bring hope back into their lives so Jerk Educational Complex was established on August 24^th 2006.

The children listening to Mr. Boateng telling them about who we are, we where receive with love and excitement by the children.

From left to right

Mother: Mad.Agnes Mensah, Mr. Boateng Jude,

Younger Sister: Leticia  Afriyie, Wife: Grace  Boateng, Nephew: Kwaku  Konadu, Ama  Achiaa,

In Front of the mother is Doris , and in front of

Mrs. Boateng is Mary Duah and there little daughter Marcelling Serwah Boateng.

Mr. Boateng and his mother invited Ray and Dianne to be Patrons of the school which they accepted.

The third school we went to was a Methodist school.

We were taken around school by Emmanuel Osei who became one of the Regional Coordinators for Unity in Ghana. He took us to the different classes to meet the children; again we were welcome with love and joy from all the children.

King Solomon International School

Was the Finally we went to, which was founded by Apostle James A. A. Afrifah.

(unfortunately the photo’s we took did not come out so are unable to show you the excitement, joy on their faces as we went around the classes.)

This school like Jerk International School is a very poor school and relies entirely on donations.

Going around the schools meeting the children was one of the most moving moments of the trip for the love we received from them is something that will remain with us for ever.

Apostle

James A.A. Afrifah

Wednesday 14^th

Today was to be a very busy day, with a meeting at Grace Chapel at 10am then on to see the Methodist Bishop The Rt. Rev. Nuh Ben Abubekr at 1pm then back to the house to get ready for the first of three Unity meetings.

When we arrived there were around 15 people, we found out afterwards that we should have been there at 7am when the Church would have been packed with people before they went off to work.

Ray preaching on Unity from

Ephesians 4: 1-16 'Unity in the Body of Christ’

Rev. Davis interpreting what he was saying.

Grace Gate Chapel.

UNITY MEETINGS

The meetings were held at the Apostolic Revival Church over the three evenings, different denominations in Kumasi where invited to attend.

Rev. Davis, opening the last night 

of the Unity meetings.

 in all around 70 attended.

                                                                                  The second night Ray’s talk about unity based on John 17: 20-23 ‘that they may be one as we are one’.

His message had a profound impact on the Church leaders and the lay people.  

On the last night Ray talked about unity in Ghana and encouraging them to keep meeting on a regular bases, once a month.

At the end of his talk he asked them if they wanted to fulfil John 17: 20-23 and bring unity to Ghana .

He told them at the end of the talk he was going to ask three questions and if they agreed with them to stand up and make a commitment together.

The three question were:

1. Do you want Unity in Kumsai – Ghana ?

2. Do you desire to fulfill the prayer of Jesus in John 17: 20-23?

3. Are you ready to make a commitment to achieve this?

After he had finished asking the questions everybody stood up.                                                                              The commitment that he used was the one The Rt. Revd. Dr. John Sentamu former Bishop for Birmingham, now Archbishop of York used on 9th June 2005 at the end of the J. John programme when he invited all the Church leaders, priest, minister's and pastor's of every denomination that were there to join him on the stage to make a commitment to work together in the one body of Christ as a witness to God's presence in Birmingham.

The Commitment.

We commit together, above all,

To seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness in Kumsai , and it’s

surrounding areas. Our mission is for the renewal of the Church’s life and ministry,

lay and ordained so that together we may:

Ø     Pray for Renewal

Ø     Seek the Kingdom

Ø     Share the Good News

Ø     Search for the Truth

         Serve our Neighbour

And follow Jesus Christ in his suffering love for the salvation of all people.

These are some of the Ordained and lay that made the commitment and signed with Unity.

The denominations that where represented were

The Pentecostal Churches, the Methodist Church, Roman Catholic Church.

From this meeting we appointed three people as Unity Regional Coordinators for Ghana with the possibility

of a fourth.

They are Rev. Davis Pentecostal, Boateng Jude Roman Catholic and Emmanuel Osei Methodist,

the forth Unity Regional Coordinator will be an Anglican.

Our mission to lay the foundations of Unity through the prayer of Jesus 

(John 17: 20-23) was fulfilled.

to the Kings residence, we were shown to the veranda and given some very cold water to drink.

We where there about an hour when Apostle James A.A. Afrifah was taken into the house to return 20 minutes later to say that we will not be able to meet the King as arranged as something had come up that he had to deal with and sent his apologies. The Kings driver took us back home, first dropping Apostle James A.A. Afrifah off first at his home and then us.

Sunday 18^th

This was to be our last meeting Apostolic Revival Church before we left for home the next day.

The turn out was amazing, some of the Church leaders that had made the commitment brought there congregation with them to say farewell.

Ray & Dianne had received a special invitation to Prophet J. K. Amoako & Mrs. Kate Amoako Ordination & Blessing of Marriage Ceromony, but due to the meeting not finishing till 2.30pm with farewells from the people and Church leaders we were unable to attend.

Rev. Davis introducing some of the  Church leaders 

Ray & Dianne had received a special invitation to Prophet J. K. Amoako & Mrs. Kate Amoako Ordination & Blessing of Marriage Ceromony, but due to the meeting not finishing till 2.30pm with farewells from the people and Church leaders we were unable to attend.  

After all the formalities we had a steady walk back to the main road to get a taxi home.  

Monday 19^th Final day

Today was Ray & Dianne’s last day in Kumasi as they where to leave Kumasi for Accra to catch the flight home at 5.30am on the Tuesday morning.

Before they left they had three appointments to fulfill.

At 10 am they met with the Kumasi Ecumenical Group know as the Local Council of Christian Churches, Ashanti that was formed to Celebrate there Golden Jubilee of Independence.

They decided to continue to develop relationship between each other after the celebration where over..

The Rt. Rev. Nuh Ben Abubekr  the Methodist Bishop and The Rt. Revd. Daniel Yinkah Sarfo Anglican Bishop

Samaritan Villa

After the meeting had finished we went on to see the  Most Rev. Peter K. Sarpong, Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi at his invitation for lunch and to share with him about Unity and our mission to Ghana.

Before we went into lunch we were took to a room to speak with the Bishop. After lunch we talked bit more before the Bishop started his seminar with his priests. Before we left he gave us and the newly formed Unity group in Kumasi his full support and backing.

The Grounds of the villa

Most Rev. Peter K. Sarpong,

Waiting for the taxi to return to take us back to the house to get ready for our last engagement at the Family harvest Church that evening before we left for Accra to get our flight home.

Family Harvest Church

Tonight Dianne was to talk and it was here that the people showed their thanks by giving us gifts.

We took a taxi to the Church, the road leading off the main road up to the Church was very dark, narrow and bumpy, at the end there was very high hump at first we thought the driver was going to drive over it, but he did not, we got out and walked to the top.

The Church was situated at the bottom, there was no lighting, so had to tread very carefully as we descended.

The Church was in full swing praising God.

Message from Ray & Dianne

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ Jesus. We are so fired up by the spirit after our trip to Ghana , the one thing that impressed us about the Ghanaian people was their hunger for Jesus and the word, and their desire for Unity.

We were very blessed as the Lord prepared the way for us as with India we had no idea what to expect, but just put our trust in God.

It is a privilege and honour for us to travel and represent Unity wherever we go. We never forget that our mission is to encourage Christ’s Body the Church to be come one, with each honouring and respecting each others traditions and to work together to fulfil the prayer of Jesus in John 17: 20-23.

This is only possible by the support we receive from our family and faithful friends and supporters, they make this possible through their prayers, encouragement and financial support.

We would like to thank:

Rt. Rev’d David Urguart

Bishop of Birmingham .

The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols MA MEd STL
Metropolitan Archbishop of Birmingham .

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr John Sentamu.

Archbishop of York .

Rev. Brian Castle and congregation of St. Peters

Tile Cross, Birmingham .

Churches Together in North Solihull .

Birmingham Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference.

Abbey Prayer Group Erdington Birmingham

Shalom Prayer Group Sally Oak Birmingham .

And the many others that supported us through their prayers and financial support.

A special thanks to Rev. Davis and the other Ministers that responded to Gods call to invite us, with out their faith and trust in God this would not have been possible.

At the beginning the Church through the Apostles where commissioned by Christ Jesus to proclaim the Gospel of Salvation to all nations as One Body with all its diversities.

United together in One Body we can win the BILLONS of SOUL that do not yet know the LOVE of GOD and know that they have SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS.

Please continue to help and support us to fulfill this call for unity in the one Body of Christ.

If you are not already; please consider partnering with us by becoming a Friend in Unity.

Your prayers support and financial giving will help us reach more people with the message of unity and fulfill the invitations that are already extended to us.

To become a Friend in Unity or to financially help or both

and follow the instructions.

We humbly thank you and send you our blessings to you and your families.

Ray & Dianne

A DVD of our trip is now available for £8 (GBP) including post and packaging. Click to order your copy