Beloved, of late I have been wondering about the impact of the church of Jesus Christ in our society since the first missionary set foot on our soil 200 years ago. Most often we are quick to point to the churches' contribution to education, health and agriculture as our success stories. The number of educational institutions we have collectively established have contributed to an extension of educational services to areas that would have been left unattended if it had been left to the government alone. We have established agricultural stations, not to mention the contribution of individual Christians. They are laudable and must be commended.

However, I've asked myself, what values and ethics we uphold as a nation that may be attributed to Christian influence on our society. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth but if salt loses its flavour how shall it be seasoned? You are the light of the world; a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden”. Salt seasons, preserves and ameliorates decay. Light dispels darkness and makes everything visible.

Jesus expects his people to permeate the world with the values that can preserve it or at least retard the process of decay. He expects us to engage the darkness by shinning into it so that our good works may be visible to all; we are meant to be the conscience of society by our action and lifestyle.

My question is, if Ghana is about 66% Christian and a sizeable number of Christians go to church Sunday after Sunday, why have we not found answers to the corruption and other ills that bedevils our society. What is the role of the church in dealing with this issue where politicians fail?

What is our biblical perception on money, solitude, work ethics, property, integrity, the human person, the family, the disadvantaged, and the poor and even governance? How do these biblical values affect the average Christian? How different is the average Christian's understanding on this issue from that of non-Christians? If there is not much difference them, then where are we getting our values from? I believe a sound national development will definitely need a solid value system and this I believe the church must address prayerfully.

One of GHAFES' emphases as a ministry is active involvement in society and church. So how can we influence our society wherever we are, with the value systems that we've gained through our walk with the Lord.

How do we engage society in the pursuit of biblical values? What role can associates play through the associate fellowships and through their relationship with the church? We will have to think through this for an answer, we need to bring the values of the Kingdom of God to bear on our society.

We are finally on the Internet! At the click of a button www.ghafes.com, all the information you need on who we are, what we are doing, why we are doing it, how we are doing it, etc. will be there for your viewing.

We intend to update you regularly on activities and how you can partner with us effectively in impacting students for Christ and for our country. Visit our web site regularly and log your visit. We will welcome suggestions that will improve our communication and make us more effective. Remember our website is www.ghafes.com.

Our e-mail address has changed to the following:

• info@ghafes.com , for general correspondence,
• support@ghafes.com, related to donation and support issues,
• emmanuel@ghafes.com for issues that may be personal or for the General Secretary specifically.

ghafes@ighmail will no longer be in use after mid September 2005.

A new Student National Executive Committee (SNEC) Chairman in the person, of Mr. Samuel Sarkodie Addo, was elected at the SNEC congress which was held at the University of Education Winneba , North Campus from 3 rd to 6 th March 2005 . He is a second year undergraduate student of Laboratory Technology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He took over from Mr. Michael Osei, who happens to be the past president of Ghafes UCC.

The congress brings together presidents and secretaries of the 26 member fellowships of Ghafes. It offers the students an opportunity to listen to biblical exposition, sharpen their leadership skills, discuss campus trends, shares success stories from campuses and of course share fellowship. The theme was “Watch your life and doctrine closely”. The congress finally came out with a paper to guide the selection of leaders for campus fellowships. They also fine-tuned the vision and the mission statements of the ministry.

Issacharism Conference 2005 is now history but it made great impact!

You may be wondering what the term Issacharism means. The term was coined from 1 Chronicles 12:32a where the “men of Issachar, (who) understood the times and knew what Israel should do.”

This is related to the need for the Christian students to understand issues at stake socially, economically, politically, environmentally and be ready to biblically engage it. We have a firm belief that the Bible has answers to contemporary issues like good governance, corruption, wealth creation, poverty alleviation, globalization and economic order, sanitation and pollution of the environment.

The conference came on from 9th –13 th June 2005 and was held in the spacious sanctuary of the Legon Interdenominational church, whilst participants resided at the Volta Hall. The focus of this year was, “The Christian involvement in social transformation” under the theme, “Salt and Light for our Generation”. Speakers included Prof. Steve Addae, Prof. Kofi Sefa Dede, and Rev. Dr. Samwini of the Christian Council of Ghana and Mr. Baba Mahama, CEO of Vanguard Assurance. In all, there were 9 plenary sessions and 10 seminar topics were discussed.

About 400 students participated and were challenged to accept the Lordship of Christ upon their lives, be abreast with current issues, pursue excellence and be motivated by the love of Christ to make a difference in our world.

God has never ceased to amaze students each year as they get involved in holistic, short term missions dubbed SICE. The focus for this year's SICE is ` Community transformation through holistic missions'

This year, 80 students and staff and 20 participants from the USA team joined forces to work in 18 communities in the Twifo Praso district to preach and demonstrate the love of Christ. Proclamation and the presence of the kingdom of God were made alive in these communities. Our team identified with them by living and eating with them. Apart from preaching the gospel, they educated them on social, health, marriage and other issues. They also organized programmes to meet the needs of target groups like women, children, youth and opinion leaders. Some taught in local schools for the duration

Our team of medical students joined the rest for the last weekend to undertake medical outreach and provided free medical care. In all, 859 patients with various complaints were seen. Free essential drugs

were provided for sickness that could be handled and referrals were made for diagnoses like haemorrhoids, cataract and sickle cell diseases.

About 1,675 souls were won including 8 Moslems and 661 others re-dedicated their lives to Christ.

Students came back with exciting stories of God's healing and delivering power, reclamation of drunkards and conflicts resolved. Both communities and team members were awed.

All the 100 participants were treated to a walk on the walkway at Kakum Park . That was very uplifting and refreshing after leaving one's comfort zone for 3 weeks.

With facilitation from Dr. Cherub Antwi Nsiah of SNV, a Netherlands development organization, delegates at our National Leadership Training Seminar in December 2004, drafted a mission and vision statements out of our distinctive, practices and ethos. It was finally fine-tuned at the SNEC congress. This was done with the intention that students would own the ministry and not see it as an imposition.

Below is what students came up with:

VISION STATEMENT

Committed and dynamic inter/non denominational evangelical movement in all OUR Ghanaian tertiary institutions with students becoming Christ-like; making disciples, becoming responsible people and making positive impact in society.

MISSION STATEMENT

Equipping and empowering tertiary Christian students to be effective witnesses for Jesus Christ and be agents of change on their campuses, churches, communities, the Nation and beyond.

NATIONAL EXPOSITORY PREACHING SEMINAR

Ghafes in collaboration with Johns Stott's Langham Preaching, a ministry within Langham Partnership International, brought together ministers from 19 different denominations. The purpose of the gathering was to hold a 3 day residential Expository Preaching Seminar at the Presbyterian Women Centre, Abokobi from 14 th – 18 th March 2005.

In all, 70 ministers representing The Christian Council of Ghana , Ghana Pentecostal Council, Charismatic churches and Para- church organizations attended the seminar. Heads of churches present were His Grace, the Most Rev. Dr. Justice Akrofi, Archbishop of the church of the Province of West Africa , the Most Rev. Dr. Aboagye Mensa, Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church, Ghana, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Frimpong Manso, Moderator of Presbyterian Church of Ghana and Rev. Tseh, President of the ministerial conference of the Ghana Baptist Convention. Also in attendance was the General Secretary of the Ghana Pentecostal Council, Rev. Ekow Wood.

The seminar was born out of the strong conviction that God wants His church to grow to maturity. We also know that the church grows to maturity through the word of God. The word of God comes to the Church primarily through preaching. Therefore the growth of the church depends on the quality of preaching which comes from the pulpit.

It is our vision to see a movement of Bible expositors across the country and across denominations, preaching and training other preachers to do so. So that the saying that, the church is 1000km long and 1mm deep will be a bygone word.

We intend to run this programme in Accra for 3 years, and finally decentralize to other regions.

INAUGURATION OF NORTHERN ZONAL ADVISORY SUPPORT COMMITTEE

The ministry review proposed Zonal Advisory Support Committee ZASC as a move towards providing ministerial support for our Training Secretaries.

Happily on Saturday 29 th July 2005 General Secretary inaugurated the Northern Zone Advisory Support tee in Tamale at the GILLBT Conference Room. This is the third one to be inaugurated after those of Accra and Kumasi .

The five- member committee is made up of:

• Mr. Justin Frempong, General Director – GILLBT, an associate from UCF Legon.
• Ms. Christine Amerchey, Programme Officer- Action Aid Ghana , an associate of IHCF KNUST, Kumasi
• Mrs. Francisca Adarkwa Ahwireng, Manager GILLBT Press, an associate of IHCF KNUST, Kumasi
• Mr. John Abu Mahama – Programme Director Tumakavi Development Association, an associate from UEW South Campus Ghafes- Winneba.
• Mr. Alidu Dason, Director WVI Northern Sector an associate of UCC.

They are to meet regularly with the Zonal Training Secretary to provide personal care, resource persons, prayer support, advice and counseling and to help oversee the work in the zone.

Samuel Victor MPEREH (JNR) OUR MISSIONARY FOR 2005 – 2006.

In partnership with Carefocre International UK, a Christian charitable organization, SV Mpereh was selected among other applicants to undertake a year's voluntary missionary work in the UK . He will be working with the Trinity at Bowes Methodist Church .

SV is a former Vice President of UCF, who completed Legon in 2003. He has been doing volunteer work with GHAFES.

He will be leaving on 5 th September 2005 . We wish him the best in this adventure for the LORD.

JOY ON THE FACES OF HIMANSO D/C PRIMARY/JSS PUPILS

In our call for students to accept postings to deprived areas, Elvin Larkia of Regional Maritime Academy Christian Fellowship took up the challenge and was posted to Himanso D/C Primary/JSS near the Twifo Praso District. He impacted the community, church and school in such a manner that the village folks were almost in tears when he was leaving. GHAFES sponsored his initiative to send his pupils on an educational visit to Cape Coast .

A wall hanging was presented to us with their comments. Some of the comments read, “I saw the castle. You are kind,” Emelia signed. Jonathan said, “l like the canopy walkway I love you.” Vida; I enjoyed the laboratory at Mfantsipim School .

We were happy we responded to their call.

BEREAVEMENT

The Rt. Rev. C.K. Konadu, the Methodist Bishop of Wenchi Diocese and an associate of UCC-GHAFES lost his Mother Obaapayin Mary Kwaku. She was 102 years.

Burial Service was at Ntonsu Methodist Church and she was laid to rest at the Methodist cemetery, Ntonsu on the 12 th August 2005 .

May she rest in peace.

BIRTHS- BABY GIRLS GALORE

• Henry and Evelyn Baye added a third girl to their family. She is by name, Sonia born on 13 th January 2005 . Henry is the current Senior Treasurer of the fellowship and an associate from UCC GHAFES and UCF Legon.
  
• Magnus and Martha Quarshie also had a baby girl on 2 nd March 2005 , increasing the family size to four. She is by name Karen Magnum. Both Magnus and Martha are associates of IHCF, KNUST. Currently, Magnus is serving on the GHAFES Executive Council.
  
• CC and Veronica Oppon are also parents of twin girls, the first attempt at parenting. They are Claudia Nyamedom and Carol Nyamedor born on 24 th July 2005 . CC is an associate of UCC GHAFES, whilst Veronica is an alumnus of KNUST. Currently CC is the youngest serving member on the GHAFES Executive Council.
  
• Abraham and Linda Taylor have given birth to a baby girl on 17 th July 2005 . She is by name Candice Nana Aba. Linda took a year to work with us as administrative Secretary. She is an associate of UCF, Legon whilst Abraham was an associate of UCC- GHAFES.
  
• Godwin and Lenusia Ahlijah have also had their first girl-child, named Enam Dorinda on 18 th July 2005 . Godwin is an associate of UCC GHAFES whilst Lenusia is an associate of CMF Korle Bu.

PARTNERSHIP WITH INTERVARSITY GLOBAL PROJECT TEAM

A team of 20 staff and students of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, our sister movement in USA , this year joined Ghafes in our vacation programmes. They arrived in the country on the 3 rd of June and departed on the 16 th of July. They participated in the Issacharism Conference from 9 th – 13 th June, and spent 3 weeks working alongside our staff and students in 18 rural communities in the Twifo Praso District. They learnt to enjoy the local food and bed (locally known as sore ko adwuma ), bathed from buckets in open top, makeshift bathrooms. They were also involved in urban mission to Nima, working with Care Association, formerly known as Operation Help Nima, a project initiate by Ghafes in the early 70s. One of them said ‘I cried when I was told I was going to a place without electricity and cried again when I had to come back from the village', can you imagine that? It was an adventure for the Lord. They were stretched and challenged, yet fulfiledl that God could use them. This partnership will continue for a couple of years.

MONEY MATTERS

Whichever way you look at it, money matters. We cannot shy away from money matters when it comes to affecting people's eternal destiny. You cannot do without money matters in ministry. Money matters a great deal in running our programmes and projects.

After a series of successful vacation programmes, we are left with a whopping ¢80m in bills to settle.

THE SURRENDED LIFE

One by one he took them from me,

All the things I valued most,

Until I was empty-handed;

Every glittering toy was lost

And I walked earth's highway grieving

In my rags and poverty.

Till I heard a voice inviting,

“Lift those empty hands to me”

And I held my hands towards heaven

And He filled them with a store of his own abundant riches,

Till they could contain no more.

And at last I contemplated

With my stupid mind and soul

That God could not pour riches into hands already full.

Rod Sargent.