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Diasporia News of Monday, 18 August 2008

Source: Karen Essiful-Ansah, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Ghana Methodists Hold Camp Meeting In New Jersey

Ten Societies of The Methodist Church Ghana in U.S. and Canada are meeting very soon in Newark, New Jersey, for a Retreat in the form of Methodist Camp Meetings of old as they know it. Camp Meetings have over the years, been for members of The Methodist Church Ghana major means of spiritual revival and evangelism.

This was made know by Opanin Kodwo Fosu, the Chairman of the Lay Movement Council of The Methodist Church Ghana, North America. “Friday August 29th to Sunday 31st August 2008, the Labour Day Weekend, will, by God’s grace, bring us together for a taste of the “Wesleyan Revival”, Opanin Fosu revealed.

The Camp Meeting is being hosted by Ghana Emmanuel Methodist Church, Newark, New Jersey, one of the pillars of the grouping affectionately called “The Ten Commandment Churches”. The Theme of this much anticipated Camp Meeting is: “A charge to keep I have; A God to glorify”. Very Rev. Stephen Kwaku Owusu, the Main Speaker will give the Key note address on the theme. He is the Superintendent Minister of the New Jersey/New York Circuit of The Methodist Church Ghana.

Saturday is set aside as the day of Prayer and Fasting, with the focus on peaceful elections in both the U.S. and Ghana. Evangelist Oppong Boateng, a Ghana Methodist is to lead the Revival Night to be held on Saturday, which will comprise a Healing and Deliverance Session, Teaching and prayer. Rev. Dominic Sylvester Dadzie a Minister of The Methodist Church Ghana studying at the Ohio University will preach the Sermon at the Divine Service or Church Parade as Ghana Methodists put it, which will climax the Camp Meeting. There will be Communion Service and Officers of the Lay Movement Council, North America will be inducted into Office by Rev. Dr. J. A. K. Bonful, Minister-in-charge of Calvary Redeeming Methodist Church, Rockville, Maryland.

Bro. Michael Gyamfi, the Society Steward of Ghana Emmanuel Methodist Church and Co-ordinator of the Camp Meeting emphasized that Ghana Methodist Societies in North America are determined to unite under the Conference of The Methodist Church Ghana, and the obstacles which must be overcome can be overcome only by serious prayer and fasting. “I am excited about meeting with brothers and sisters from all over the U.S and Canada. God is surely on our side in doing His work”, he stressed.

The Camp Meeting under the auspices of the Lay Movement Council, North America will see the over 150 registered Delegates and some Observers in prayer, fasting, Bible Studies, Organizational meetings as well as serious discussions on the way forward for them. Methodism was born in song and many expect that Hymns and Ebibindwom led by the Choirs and Ace Ebibindwom Singer Sister Esther Owusu Adebisi will feature greatly. When the weekend is over Delegates will undoubtedly have course to say with the Hymnist “ …A never dying soul to save and fit it for the skies”.