Even before I was called to serve Westminster, I was looking forward to traveling to Ghana to meet the congregation’s mission partners. During my interviews with the Pastoral Nominating Committee in early 2020, my excitement grew when I learned that a gathering of the Ghana Mission Network was scheduled for October of that year. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic got in the way of those plans. Finally, four years later, that gathering was held in Tema, Ghana in October 2024.
I was thrilled to be able to attend along with two members of Westminster’s African Mission Committee, Shernette Grant, and Belinda Quaye. Our goal was to connect with our partners, celebrate our shared accomplishments, and witness the incredible impact of community-driven initiatives.
The Ghana Mission Network meeting started with a festive dinner with drumming and dancing on Wednesday, October 9 and ended with worship on Sunday morning, October 13. The meeting was hosted by Greenwich Meridian Presbyterian Church, one of our partner congregations, and their Pastor, Rev. Raphael Kingbi Adjei, served as a master of ceremonies. The event was planned by a bi-continental team chaired by our own Belinda Quaye. The varied and engaging program we enjoyed is a testament to her leadership and commitment.
We were honored to present our partner churches, Greenwich Meridian Church and Redemption Presbyterian Church, with beautiful banners from our congregation back home along with a $500 donation to each church. These churches are vibrant centers of faith and community, and we are proud to support their vital work. I was surprised to discover upon my arrival in Ghana that I had been invited to preach at Greenwich Meridian for their Sunday service but I ended up enjoying the entire service immensely.
Our journey then took us to the Volta region, where we joined our incredible partner, Rev. Barbara Asempa, founder and director of HOCAP (Home of Care and Protection). The resilience of the people in this area, which was devastated by flooding in October 2023, was deeply inspiring. We were thrilled to celebrate the opening of a new computer lab, equipped with refurbished computers donated by Westminster, which will provide vital educational opportunities for local residents.
The highlight of our trip was undoubtedly our visit to Nyitawuta, where we witnessed the official opening of the Mama Alice Health Clinic. This clinic is the culmination of years of tireless work by Barbara Asempa and her team. We met the two resident nurses who run the clinic and celebrated the first baby born at the clinic just two weeks earlier. We were deeply moved to witness the outpouring of gratitude from the village chief and other leaders as they honored Barbara with a citation, a beautiful kente cloth robe, sandals, and jewelry. To be present for this celebration and witness the impact of Barbara’s vision, skill, and integrity was an absolute privilege.
This trip strengthened the bonds of partnership and friendship that lie at the heart of our mission work in Ghana. We returned home with full hearts, inspired by the resilience, generosity, and faith of the people we met. We are already looking forward to the next in-person gathering of the Ghana Mission Network, tentatively planned for May 2026 in Wisconsin!
Want to get involved in supporting our partners in Ghana?
Donate: You can make a financial contribution to support the ongoing work of HOCAP, Greenwich Meridian Church, and Redemption Presbyterian Church. Give Now
Learn more: Visit our website to learn more about our mission partnerships and consider joining our African Mission Team.
Pray: Gabriel Ofori-Okai gathers prayers from each of our partners every month which are then posted on our Prayer Chain email list. To sign up to receive these emails, send a note to [email protected].
Together, we can continue to build bridges of hope and make a difference in the lives of others.
Please stay tuned for our African Mission highlights!
Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post featuring travel team member Shernette Grant’s reflections on her visit to Lahuenya—a village in Ghana’s flood-ravaged region—where residents are working to rebuild their lives.
Please help us keep you up-to-date by making sure we have your most current and preferred email address by notifying the Church Office at [email protected] or calling 518-436-8544.
Join us in our continued work of “Transforming the lives of children in Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.”
~Written by Pastor Heather Kirk-Davidoff
