December 27, this year will be exactly 150 years when the Basel (Presbyterian) missionaries established a church (Trinity Congregation) at Akuapem Mampong.
In preparation for that historic occasion, a large number of the church members in the various communities in the area such as Abotakyi converged on the Trinity Presbyterian Congregation at Mampong to launch the event.
The event was on the theme: “Put on the whole armour of God: Behold the works of the Lord”.
Among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony were the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr William O. Boafo and the Chairman of the Akuapem Presbytery of the church, Rev (Dr) J.O.Y. Mante.
Although no specific programme has been released for the occasion, the church has decided to put up a modern residential accommodation (Manse) for the resident reverend minister at Mampong before December 27, this year.
According to the Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, Mr Michael Anguah, facilities that would boost the morale of the resident reverend minister and others that would cater for the vocational training of the youth would be put up.
Mr Anguah stated that although the church had over the past 150 years helped mould the character of the people in the area, its membership had not witnessed any significant increase.
He, therefore, called on each member of the congregation to at least draw three persons a year to the church.
Speaking at the function, Rev (Dr) Mantey gave a vivid historical account of the establishment of the church in the area, adding that initially the inhabitants refused to become Christians with the explanation that Christianity was a religion for the White people (Europeans) but not Blacks (Africans).
According to him, such a situation compelled the early missionaries to bring in their colleague Blacks from the West Indies to help propagate the gospel, which won the hearts of the indigenous people some of who were put to death for their belief.
“It was not easy at all for the early missionaries and the converts because some of them had their houses burnt while others paid dearly with their life,” Rev (Dr) Mantey told the congregation.
Later in a sermon based on Hebrew Chapter 12 verse one, Rev (Dr) Mantey said in life one had to go through difficulties, at times at one’s peril and that was exactly what the early missionaries and converts went through.
He said as true Christians, they never lost hope and finally succeeded not only in establishing the church on the Akuapem Scarps, but also built schools, adding that Christianity and education had helped improve society.
Rev (Dr) Mantey urged members of the congregation to strictly follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ and continue from where the early missionaries and converts left off.
He added that it was only in such a direction that the Presbyterian Church would continue to gain grounds in Akuapem.
In his address, Mr Boafo enjoined Christians to always speak the truth and not allow others to mislead them.
He also advised the youth not to rush to become rich overnight but rather work hard for a better future.
More than GH¢9,000 was realised during an appeal for funds out of which Mr Boafo donated GH¢1,000.
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