In August 2016 Tony Spencer taught African Enterprise’s first ever PTC course in Ghana.  In line with recent revisions to AE’s pastor training strategy, the course was planned as preparation for the major mission that was held in the northern town of Kumasi in October 2016. 41 Church leaders and evangelists from churches involved in the mission preparation and delivery were selected to receive training in Biblical Theology 1 and evangelism and follow up using materials from Matthias Media such as 2 Ways to Live and Just for Starters.

Many of the students expressed how much they had appreciated learning to understand the big picture of the bible and its implications for preaching and teaching ministries. They seem to be deeply edified in the gospel through the unit which was a great encouragement.

One older man expressed that he felt a new passion to read and study the bible and that he has wasted many years trying to do so without understanding the big picture and basic interpretive skills.

Another student expressed deep concern at the state of Christianity in Australia.  He had been kept awake praying for Australia and even contemplating if there is anything he could do, perhaps coming and helping reach the lost.

David Owusu Ansah, one of those who attended the course, was so keen to use his training that he started preaching to prostitutes in the evenings!  So far he’s managed to rescue over 20 women from the sex industry who gave their lives to Christ.  They are now being housed in a local church and have entered AE’s Women’s Rehabilitation Program where they are learning vocational skills and learning about God’s word.

African Enterprise is committed to helping train Godly leadership and equipping church ministers to be faithful to the Gospel.

Read more about Pastor Training Course here.

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Project Manager – African Enterprise Ghana

“I actually find fulfilment when I see the needy helped, the weary strengthen and the broken heart healed.”

I was introduced to the Lord through the activities of Scripture Union in October 1983 when I was in the Secondary School at Drobo. I went through the usual new converts classes and also attended several Christian camp meetings, seminars and conferences.

In 1986, I joined a Fellowship known as Jesus to the Rural World. We were involved in rural evangelism and we helped Churches such as Baptist and Assemblies of God to establish Churches in the Jaman South District, Ghana.

In 1992, I felt called by the Lord into the full time Ministry and I gained admission in 1993 to Christian Service University College where I did a three- year Diploma in Theology.

Between 1996 and 2006, I was the Pastor in charge of Grace Community Church – Sunyani, and also the General Secretary for the Church.

I served as the Administrator and Lecturer for Bible Training Centre for Pastors between 1999 and 2006. And I helped in organizing several Pastors’ Conferences in Brong Ahafo including BARCOE which was a follow-up on Billy Graham’s Amsterdam Congress.

I further studied at Maranatha University College between 2006 and 2008 and I was awarded Bachelor of Arts theology.

February 2006, I was appointed as the Project Manager to African Enterprise -Ghana where I currently serve as the Project Manager and double as the finance officer. I also serve as the Secretary for the Mission Africa Planning Committee – Ghana.

My heartbeat is towards the rehabilitation of prostitutes and the destitute in our society. I believe that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ must be presented holistically. That is to say that, we must take into consideration both the real and felt needs of ‘Man’. Even as we are mindful of the spiritual needs of man, we must of necessity be concerned about the physical needs as well.

I actually find fulfilment when I see the needy helped, the weary strengthen and the broken heart healed.

By the grace of God I married to a lovely and prayer wife – Vida and we are blessed with three girls and one boy – Mercy, Victor, Sarah and Josephine.

Before major Islamic festivals each year, Ali was responsible for painting the many mosques in the area. He relied on this work to support his family and he even received gifts of furniture and other household items from the mosque as payment. Then one morning, on his way to a painting assignment, Ali was stopped by some men in the street. “They told me they were preachers and they were sharing the word of God with the residents of Malindi town,” Ali said. “Of course, I knew I would not give them much of my time.” He told them he was a Muslim and had no interest in Christianity, but they gently persisted and he decided to let them speak.

“They talked about eternal life and Jesus Christ. I am not sure how or why, but I did not bring up the usual arguments,” Ali said. “For some reason, that day, I was interested.” For the rest of the day, Ali couldn’t stop thinking about that encounter. “The words of the evangelists were still in my mind,” he admitted. “I had no peace.” When his wife asked what the matter was, he told her what had happened and the more he talked about it the more his heart changed and it lead him to a bold decision. “I called my Christian Uncle who is a pastor in Eldoret and he told me to go speak to his friend who is a pastor in Malindi.”

“The security guard at the church gate had endless questions,” he remembered. “They really interrogated me. I do not blame them; they were taking precautions due to attacks by Islamic extremists against churches in Kenya.” Ali told them he just wanted to speak to the pastor and when the pastor came out to meet him, he explained his story. “I want to know Jesus,” he told him. Ali made a commitment to salvation standing in that church yard for the first time.

“I felt like a load had been lifted from my shoulders,” Ali said. “New joy and peace had entered my heart and I knew I was born again.” He ran straight home and brought his wife, Mariam, back to the church. Unlike her husband, Mariam had been raised as a Christian but converted in order to get married. “I knew down in my heart that I had not done the right thing in running away from God,” she said. “I felt so empty and hopeless as a Muslim.” All those years ago, Mariam remembers praying that her husband would become a Christian.

“I doubted it would happen,” she said. “But when my husband came back that afternoon and informed me he had made commitment for salvation, I was shocked.” She went back to the church with her husband, they met again with the pastor, and she gave her life to Christ as well. The couple faced opposition from their Muslim community when they found out about their conversion. The Mosque repossessed the furniture that had been donated to the family and demanded that they move out of their home, but they were undeterred.

New joy and peace had entered my heart and I knew I was born again.

 “When they took all our household items and we were asked to leave the house that we had been given, I expected that.” Mariam said. “I needed a new beginning. I could feel my husband’s determination to remain in Jesus. It was such a passion.” The couple’s new church community came to their aid – finding them a new home and helping Ali get a new job. “I saw the love of Christ at the very beginning of my walk with Him demonstrated by the brethren from the Church,” Ali said.

This couple’s life and the lives of their children, have been completely changed. All because of a few men who stopped Ali on the road and shared the truth of Jesus. “I found the light,” Ali said, “and I can’t return to the dark. I am so ready to share the light with as many people as possible!” “Surely salvation has brought more things than I had asked,” Marian exclaimed. “I am so happy to have been reunited with my Saviour, Jesus Christ.”

“I know it was God’s doing, because while in prison, I met someone who helped me to think about my life and to make a change in behavior. As soon as I was released, I started attending church.”

Sandrine Umwiza gave her life to Christ after the preaching on Sunday morning. She says, “I have lived a sinful life ever since I became an adult. I have been a drunkard, spending my evenings drinking alcohol and dancing at night clubs, and doing many other evil things. I also had many bad friends, and they were facilitating me to sink deep down into sin. I never attended church at all.”

She adds, “Some time back, while in the night club, someone lost his phone, and I was accused of stealing it. As a result, I was put into prison! This was very terrifying and hurting, since I had been wrongly accused.”

She goes on to say that, “Even though this was the case, I know it was God’s doing, because while in prison, I met someone who helped me to think about my life and to make a change in behavior. As soon as I was released, I started attending church.”

She happily adds that, “Today, I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart. I feel a lot of joy and peace, and I’m so happy to be a Christian. I know that my life will never be the same again.”