Author Archives: GMF UK
Momentous Inauguration of Ebenezer Methodist Church in Glasgow
Sunday, July 2, 2023, marked the dawn of yet another remarkable landmark for Methodists in the City of Glasgow, UK. The third Methodist Church Ghana congregation inaugurated in the UK to provide a worship space and serve the needs of Ghanaian Methodists and others in the Strathclyde Circuit of the Methodist Church, UK, was born.
Cross section of members and delegates
The inaugural ceremony was at the Woodlands Methodist Chapel. The officiating team included the Reverend Mark Slaney, the Chair of the Scotland District of the Methodist Church; Reverend Andrew Baker, the Superintendent minister of the Strathclyde Circuit; Reverend Derek Bibb, a superannuated minister; Very Reverend Quophie Anochie-Ababio, the Chaplain of the Ghanaian Methodist Fellowship UK Chaplaincy.
Also present were Deacon Anita Shaw- Circuit minister of the Strathclyde Circuit, and Mrs Jill Baker, wife of Rev Andrew Baker and former Vice President of the Methodist Church Britain.
(L) Rev Mark Slaney, (M) Most Rev Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, (R) Mrs Jill Baker
Special guest of honour was the Most Reverend Dr Paul Boafo, the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana. He, together with his wife Mrs. Helena Boafo graced the occasion. There were delegates from Dunwell Ghanaian Methodist Church, Telford, Church of Pentecost, and the Great Commission Church.
Delivering the sermon for the day, Rev Andrew Baker noted that it was a moment of joy. Recounting the story of Abraham in Genesis 12 and 22, Andrew cautioned that it is time for sacrifice and carrying of the cross. However, crowning it all, he encouraged that in low and difficult moments we need to “hold on to the promise” of God because His grace is sufficient and always available.
The message of joy was shared by others, including Rev Mark Slaney. To him, the inauguration of the Ebenezer Methodist Church was a delight because it revealed the growth of cultural diversity in the Methodist Church Britain.
From left District Chair, Scotland-Rev Mark Slaney and Superintendent Minister Strathclyde Circuit-Rev Andrew Baker
Likewise, other speakers, the Presiding Bishop, Most Rev Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, shared in the moment of celebration by expressing his happiness with the new wave in the Methodist church. Basing his speech on Acts 2:40, Bishop encouraged the newly inaugurated Ebenezer Methodist Church members to emulate the works of the early church who devoted themselves to teaching the word of God, breaking bread and prayer. He further admonished the church to remain united and steadfast in our service and worship of the Lord.
Rev Mark Slaney receiving a gift from the Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church Ghana
The praise team treated the entire church to danceable Ghanaian highlife gospel music. The children’s ministry got almost everyone excited and dancing with their ‘Asem Papa’ highlife song.
Total attendance at the service was over 215. This included 186 adults and 29 children. 73 online viewers were recorded. The congregants enjoyed Ghanaian delicacies at the end of the service.
Story by Nicholas Novignon
Freeman Ghanaian Methodist Church, Beckenham Inaugurated
Just over a year after the inauguration of Dunwell Ghanaian Methodist Church at Ketley in the Telford circuit, Freeman Ghanaian Methodist Church at Beckenham in the Bromley circuit has followed suit. The inaugural service of Freeman Ghanaian Methodist Church was held on Sunday, 18 June 2023, with the Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo as the officiating minister.
Amongst the clergies in attendance include Very Rev Quophie Anochie Ababio, Rev William Davis, Rev Stephen Poxon, Rev Dr Casely Essamuah, Rev Papa Bona Owusu and Rev George Quarm. Also, present at the service was the Asafo Maame Helena Abena Boafo, wife of the presiding Bishop of Methodist Church Ghana.
Preaching under the theme “Reward for being Hospitable”, Rev Dr Leão Neto recounted how Abraham and Sarah were blessed for welcoming strangers. He told the congregants to create spaces for everyone at home or church whatever their circumstances. He told the congregants to embrace difference.
The Ghana High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Papa Owusu-Ankomah, also a Methodist, thanked the Methodist Church in Britain for the initiative to allow culture and language-specific congregations. He urged the congregants not to be exclusive and try their best possible to strengthen and enrich Methodism in the UK.
Deacon Laura MacBean who represented the Bromley circuit was grateful for the revival of the church and prayed for the spirit of wisdom, knowledge and discernment.
Past president of the Methodist Church Britain Conference and current minister at St Mark’s Methodist church, Tottenham, Rev. Stephen Poxon, reflected on Genesis 22:17a “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.” He listed many culture and language-specific congregations that have been formed and more yet to come and said this is a clear sign of revival and renewal of the Methodist church in Britain.
Newly constituted church council were inducted into office by the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo. Mrs Nana Ama Brehene-Ankah and Mrs Justina Bilson were appointed senior church steward and church council secretary respectively.
Freeman Ghanaian Methodist Church meets from 3.00 pm-6.00 pm every Sunday at Clock House Road, Beckenham, BR3 4JP.
Story by Felix Adoko Otabil- GMF-UK Media
The Dunwell seed is still bearing fruit
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, The Most Rev Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo has paid tribute to the early missionaries from Britain who travelled to modern-day Ghana to share the gospel.
The Presiding Bishop was speaking at the first-anniversary celebration service of the Dunwell Ghanaian Methodist Church in Telford, UK. He said, “The fruit you see today is the mustard seed planted by the Rev Joseph Dunwell in Cape Coast in 1835.” He expressed the joy and pride of the Methodist Church Ghana for the first-year anniversary of the Dunwell Ghanaian Methodist Church as the first fully Ghanaian congregation in Britain.
The Presiding Bishop urged the church leadership not to grow weary but to continue to offer sacrifices just as the early missionaries did. He said you can do this through “love, unity, respect and humility.”
Photo: some members of the congregation with the clergy
Other clergies in attendance were Rev Rachel Parkinson, Chair of the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District, Rev Christopher Parkes, Minister-in-charge of Dunwell Ghanaian Methodist, Rev Leão Neto, Interfaith and diverse languages fellowships officer, Very Rev Quophie Anochie Ababio, Chaplain of Ghanaian Methodist Fellowship-UK, Rev William Davis, Rev Jacob Donkoh and Sis Betty Vaughan from Wolverhampton circuit. Betty lived in Ghana between 1962-1967 and initially worked at the Methodist Women’s Training Institute, Kwadaso, Kumasi and later in Takoradi.
Photo: Rev Rachel Parkinson decorated with Methodist Church Ghana scarf
The Dunwell Ghanaian Methodist Church has thirty-five members and is still growing with some regular visitors.
Story by Felix Adoko Otabil- GMF-UK Media
Presiding Bishop Assures GMF-UK New Chaplain
The Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church Ghana, The Most Reverend Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo has assured the Ghanaian Methodist Fellowship-UK Chaplaincy a new chaplain soon. The Presiding Bishop made the assurance while preaching at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster in London. The Presiding Bishop was in England to attend the British Methodist Conference and took the opportunity to worship with the fellowship on 14 July.
The Presiding Bishop: Most Rev Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo
The Ghanaian Methodist Fellowship hasn’t had a chaplain for closer to a year since the previous chaplain Rev William Davis’s tenure ended in August 2018. This is the first time the fellowship hasn’t had a chaplain since its formal formation in 2002.
The Presiding Bishop thanked the Ghanaian Methodist Ministers in London and the executives of the fellowship for holding the fort for the past ten months.
Some members of the clergy
While in London, the Presiding Bishop also took the opportunity to have interactions with the executives of the various organisations within the fellowship.
This is the first time the Presiding Bishop has visited the fellowship since elected the twelfth Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana in 2018.
A section of Christ Little Band during the service
Delivering the sermon, Most Reverend Paul Boafo told the congregation to make their experience with Jesus effective as no one encounters Jesus and remain the same.
Story by Felix Kobina Adoko Otabil
19th local fellowship inaugurated
The Ghanaian Methodist Fellowship-UK Chaplaincy has inaugurated its 19th local fellowship.
Manor Methodist Ghanaian fellowship in Southwark & Deptford Circuit, London, was inaugurated on 24 March, 2019 under the theme “Many parts, One body”.
Members of Manor GMF
In his sermon, the minister of Manor Methodist Church Rev. Robert Mpanduki said, “Each of us must look at ourselves as different parts of the same body required to complement each other for the smooth running of the fellowship and our churches”.
Rev Mpanduki delivering sermon
Rev Armstrong Fummey who administered the inauguration urged the fellowship to be wise builders and have the foundation of the fellowship firmly on the rock.
Rev Armstrong Fummey inaugurating the group
The secretary of GMF-UK Chaplaincy, Bro. Clement Addai-Bempah in his good will message encouraged the newly inaugurated fellowship to make diversity its priority. He also urged the members to join chaplaincy organisations such as Women’s Fellowship, Susanna Wesley Mission Auxiliary, Men’s Fellowship, Christ Little Band and the Choir.
Local fellowships which attended the ceremony included Bermondsey Central Hall, Walworth Methodist Church as well as some Ghanaians from Peckham and Deptford Methodist churches.
Section of the congregation
Story by Felix Kobina Adoko Otabil
Methodist Church Ghana Heritage Fund Launched in London
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Short documentary of Methodist Church Ghana
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Ghana beyond aid is possible-Papa Owusu- Ankomah
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Ghana High Commissioner Visits Ghanaian Methodist Fellowship
His Excellency the Ghana High Commissioner to the United Kingdom & Ireland Papa Owusu-Ankomah yesterday joined the Ghanaian Methodist Fellowship-UK Chaplaincy at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster. The High Commissioner who only arrived in London about four weeks ago was accompanied by his wife Mrs Augustina Owusu-Ankomah.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah said he has heard a lot about the fellowship and though he had received several invitations in the past to come and visit he couldn’t honour the invitations. He is therefore pleased that he is able to come with his wife to fellowship. He said he shouldn’t be regarded as a guest but rather a member of the fellowship. The High Commissioner recounted his experience with some of the members of the fellowship at Wesley Methodist Church, Sekondi, Ghana.
The High Commissioner said he would seek to deepen the engagement with the Ghanaians in the diaspora and the UK diplomatic mission. He said there are lots of competent Ghanaians in the diasopora and he would be talking to them about investment in Ghana.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah asked the members of the Ghanaian Methodist Fellowship to pray for him and Ghana. The Chaplain of the fellowship Rev William Davis who was a junior of Papa Owusu-Ankomah at Mfantsipim School CapeCoast, Ghana assured the High Commissioner that the fellowship will always pray for him to be successful.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah is a staunch member of the Methodist Church Ghana and has served in many offices.
High Commissioner to UK & Ireland,
Papa Owusu-Ankomah
Rev Tony Miles (Middle) welcoming the High Commissioner and his wife to the Methodist Central Hall
GMF UK News 