Mission Trip to Ghana

MISSION TRIP TO GHANA

Experience a growing Church, rooted in Methodism, in a global context.

SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2027 TO THURSDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2027

Background:

This Mission trip will provide an opportunity to learn from and engage with one of our most dynamic and growing Methodist partners in Africa. The ‘Gold Coast’ (Ghana) was the ‘launch pad’ for Methodism across West Africa. Here, the first Methodist African Missionaries were nurtured. The Gold Coast was also the centre of the British Slave Trade and the slave forts – including the one at Cape Coast where the first Methodist Cathedral is situated - are a poignant reminder of that history. The Methodist Church in Ghana offers a deep insight into a living, vibrant and dynamic Methodist engagement with contemporary issues of justice, environment, evangelism, interreligious dynamics and ministry, and grassroots theological encounter in both urban and rural African contexts.

Who?

Open to all members both Presbyters and the Lay from the Methodist Church Britain to enable in-depth dialogue and exchange.

Purpose of visit:

• To learn about the life and ministry about the Methodist Church in Ghana.

• Focus on Evangelism and Social Justice, the visit will explore how the Church in Ghana is addressing these common issues.

• To learn from the dynamic growth of the Methodist Church in Ghana and how this has been achieved.

• To engage with the history of Methodism and the history of the slave trade.

• To gain new perspectives on climate change, migration and interreligious dynamics.

The Visit will include:

• Visits to urban and rural ministries across the country.

• Meeting with Connexional Staff and learn about the Church’s strategies on evangelism, growth and justice issues.

• Engagement with young people, women’s and men’s fellowships.

• Visits to Educational Institutions and Health clinics.

• Visits to the Slave Forts at Cape Coast and Elmina.

• Encounter with environmental and interreligious issues in northern Ghana.

Cost:

Total cost per person is £2,400 and this is for the flight, accommodation/meals, hiring of airconditioned coach and other expenses. The payment schedule will be paying £1,200 by Monday 12 October 2026 and the remaining amount (£1,200) to be paid by Friday 15 January 2027.

Why?

With the many challenges facing the Methodist Church in Britain, the Methodist Church in Ghana represents a partner that is facing similar challenges, albeit in a different context, and yet is achieving huge success and growth due to impressive implementation of strategic plans and initiatives and making maximum use of resources. Similar challenges include:

•            Finding funds for ministry and church maintenance.

•            Pressures of daily life on congregations/church attendance.

•            Young people being drawn away by more ‘exciting’ churches or by other enticements.

•            Challenges faced by climate change.

•            Impact of globalisation on attitudes/life.

•            Cost of living.

This is an opportunity for the Methodist Church in Britain to have a meaningful and effective engagement with a partner Church.

Methodist Church Ghana - Context.

The Methodist Church Ghana was inaugurated by the efforts of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (WMMS) with the arrival of Joseph Rhodes Dunwell in January 1835 at Cape Coast on the Gold Coast (now Ghana). By 1854, the Church had been organized into Circuits, constituting a District under the Chairmanship of Thomas B Freeman. When the Methodist Mission in the Gold Coast celebrated its’ centenary in 1934, it had 125,225 members, worshipping in 767 Societies. The Methodist Church Ghana became autonomous in 1961 and in 1999 became episcopal, headed by a Presiding Bishop, Lay President and Bishops.

The Methodist Church Ghana is the fastest growing and most ‘prosperous’ Methodist Church in Africa. There are currently 909,425 members, worshipping in 4968 Societies grouped into 358 Circuits and 21 Dioceses with two more Dioceses to be inaugurated in 2024.  The Methodist Church Ghana also has members in Europe and North America, including 3000 members in the United Kingdom.

The Church currently has 1273 Ministers, 23,396 Lay Preachers and 359 trained Evangelists. Dozens are being ordained and commissioned each year.

The primary strategic objective of the Methodist Church Ghana is “to stir up the Wesleyan zeal of evangelism, discipleship and holiness, towards accelerated church growth.” At almost every level, the Church is succeeding at an impressive rate.

The Church is also home to the Methodist University in Accra, one of the most respected Christian Higher Education Institutions in the country, and manages 2700 schools, including some of the most highly regarded Secondary Schools.

We are humbly inviting you to be part of this exciting trip to Ghana. Thanks so much and have a blessed day and week in Christ.

Revd William Davis

Blackheath/Crystal Palace Circuit

Tel(mobile): 07930843207

Email: william14da@yahoo.com