The Anglican Church, the first Christian mission to be planted in Ghana, has embarked on a rebranding exercise to save it from losing its face in the country.
The Right Reverend Dr. Daniel Sylvanus Mensah Torto, Bishop of the Accra Anglican Diocese, who made this known in an interview with Ghana News Agency in Accra, on Thursday, said the rebranding efforts are meant to revive the mission to be alive to the commission that Christ gave the church.
He said it was in this light that the church was organising a three-day crusade in Accra with Dr. Lawrence Tetteh, President and Founder of UK-based World Miracle Outreach at the Black Star Square in Accra on the theme: “Only Jesus Can Save.” The event spans May 15-May 17, and will be crowned with a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, May 19.
Bishop Torto said the church had five solid pillars that would underpin “our vision to build the Anglican Diocese of Accra”.
These are: “Equipping and empowering church agents, clergy, to deliver excellence; deepening spirituality; growth based on integrity and discipline; financial sustainability, and social impact.”
The church engages in television and radio broadcasts, and actively involves members on the internet and other social media, and equips them to live and express their faith within their communities.
The vision seeks to strengthen the existing churches, 86 of them in Accra, and plant new ones in the Dangbe East and Dangbe West districts, Ga North District, and especially, in the new developing communities like Tse-Ado.
The church extends chaplaincy services to the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, and educational institutions.
“Our vision requires growing inter-dependent relationships with other denominations in Ghana and other dioceses within the Anglican Communion,” Bishop Torto said.
The crusade would serve as a platform for Christians to offer prayers for the nation to help avert any political upheavals, following the ongoing petition at the Supreme Court.
The opening ceremony is expected to be graced by Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood, the Chief Justice.
President John Dramani Mahama and his wife, Lordina, will be the Special Guest of Honour at the crusade. Other invited guests are Dr. Richard Roberts, President of the Oral Roberts Ministries at Oklahoma, USA, Dr. Stephen Mwiluki, a UK-based Kenya Pastor, Mr. Richard Shakarian, International Head of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship, and Reverend Paul Naughton, Chairman of Benny Hinn Ministries in the UK.
Bishop Torto was born on November 9, 1958, and had his basic education at the Ghana National School Accra, now Richard Akwei Memorial School. He had his secondary education at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, from 1972-1978.
In 1981, he was admitted to the Trinity College, now Trinity Theological Seminary, and completed his basic theological training in June 1984.
Bishop Torto was ordained Deacon on Sunday, July 24, 1983 at the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity, and ordained Priest on August 12, 1984 at the St Andrew Anglican Church, Abossey-Okai, Accra.
In September 1986, he gained admission to the University of Ghana to pursue an undergraduate programme. He completed the programme in July 1989, and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and Religion.
In 1992, Bishop Torto gained a full scholarship to the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge Massachusetts, to undertake a Master’s Programme in Pastoral Theology with General Competence in Medical Ethics.
He gained admission to the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration in May 2004 to pursue a course in Certificate in Business Administration.
THE CHRONICLE
