Global Ministries partnered with Lexington Theological Seminary for a Pilgrimage to Ghana Travel Seminar from Sept. 27-Oct. 5. This pilgrimage served as an expression of LTS’s commitment to the formation of students, clergy, and lay leaders who embody a deep understanding of our global realities, the interconnections of our lives, and the mission of the global church. The pilgrimage provided an opportunity to study the exponential growth of Christianity in sub-Saharan Africa, the efforts and challenges of contextualizing the gospel as an authentic expression of African faith and spirituality, and the opportunities and challenges currently facing theological education in the Ghanian context. There was also an opportunity to visit community-based projects of the Christian Council of Ghana related to interfaith dialogue, human trafficking, and economic justice.
Several of the travelers contributed blog posts that we are sharing here.
DAY ONE
“Jesus said, ‘I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one – as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. … May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.’” – John 17:20-21 (NRSV)
The delegation from Lexington Theological Seminary arrived in Ghana after more than 24 hours of traveling. They were met with wonderful hospitality by Dr. Joyce Steiner and Ms. Salome Kadi from the Christian Council of Ghana. The Council is a partner organization of Global Ministries, which is a common witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ that relates to over 250 partners in over 90 countries.
On their first full day in Accra, Ghana, the LTS group had the privilege of worshipping with the Bethesda Parish of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, a partner church of Global Ministries. For almost three hours, they worshipped in song, dance, and word together. Multiple choirs adorned in their various uniforms sang songs of praise. One of the pastors, Rev. Ken Djotepe, delivered a sermon that focused on caring for our neighbors. “We are called to love and be thoughtful towards others,” he said. “Being thoughtful means that we live in care for others, because in God’s eyes we are all one.” As in the United States, elections are coming up soon (in Ghana on Dec. 7), and Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Amey spoke about the need for political parties to care for all citizens and to unite the country instead of focusing on divisive rhetoric. Over the course of the service, at least three different offerings were collected. Members danced up the aisles with joy to give. Dr. Kahala Cannon brought greetings from Global Ministries. President Charisse Gillett brought greetings from LTS, and Rev. Dr. Don Gillett II brought greetings on behalf of the Christian Church in Kentucky.
All during the service, Jesus’ words to his disciples as recorded in John kept coming to mind. Despite speaking different languages, coming from different places and cultures, and all that could divide us, the delegation from LTS worshipped. They sang. They heard God’s word proclaimed. They gave offerings of thanksgiving. They felt God’s presence.
“We worship a God of all peoples, cultures, and languages, but we rarely get to experience that fact for ourselves,” said Rev. Dr. Jon Barnes, who served for over a decade in sub-Saharan Africa along with his wife. “As our time in Ghana began, we gave God thanks for the opportunity to worship, to learn, to grow, and to be present and see God’s spirit move. We can’t wait for what tomorrow will bring.”