BRIEF HISTORY OF DIOCESAN YOUTH FELLOWSHIP.
The Methodist Church Ghana after six decades of gaining roots in the then Gold Coast saw the need to have a special ministry for the young people in the Church. So at the Synod of 1896, a resolution was passed for the formation of the Wesleyan Guild (now Church Guild). By the end of 1940 however, the Wesleyan Guild had virtually become a fellowship of all ages (predominantly adults) and as a result making it quiet difficult for the young people to come to terms with discussion and certain procedures of the organization.
These and many other issues made the educated young ones in the organization thirst for an alternative way through which they can fellowship on their way.
The thirst for this revolution got more intense in Kumasi in particular, so the early years of 1944, a few young people in Kumasi District, Wesley Cathedral to be specific, formed a splinter prayer group independent from the Wesleyan Guild to cater for their spiritual needs. Names like bro. M.T. Agyeman- Anane, Bro. Kofi Adu, Bro.K.A. Boateng, Bro. P.K. Kyei and Bro. J.D.N. Riverson, Sis. Bandoh, Sis. Agnes Barnieh, Sis.Lucy Quagraine and others were among those who initiated this prayer this Prayer/ Evangelism Movement. This new development somehow got to the notice of the Church. In 1944 when Synod was held in the then Gold Coast, a directive was issued for the re- examining of the Church’s youth work. A sub- committee which was appointed to study and come up with recommendations concerning the issue submitted a recommendation in 1944 which subsequently led to the approval for the formation of Methodist Youth Fellowship.
It was also further agreed that this newly formed fellowship should be piloted to know how it will fare.. In 1946, a few educated young men and women were brought together in Cape Coast Wesley Cathedral to form the first Methodist Youth Fellowship with the help of Rev. Gordon Jones, a youth work expert sent from Britain together with Rev. S.Q. Williamson, Rev. Joe Clegg and others.
Meanwhile, the educated young men and women in Kumasi Cathedral whose action to a large extent triggered the formation of the fellowship continued with their meetings, evangelism and prayer programmes. But one familiar thing about the youth meeting in Kumasi Wesley Cathedral (which was the cradle of the fellowship in the then District) was that it was all these while combined with the second ministers Bible Class until in 1975 when the then Chairman and General Superintendent of the then District as well as the resident minister of the Cathedral; Rev. De- Graft Johnson separated the youth meetings from the Bible Class meetings. This was perhaps in line with the recommendations upon which the fellowship was formed of which part stipulate (paraphrased) that “M.Y.F” should cater for the educated youth and it should give opportunities for thorough discussions of meaning of Christian faith and life and of the numerous social, economic and moral challenges that confront the youth. It should further lead to active service in and for the church and above all it must be for young men and women; therefore the church should allow them to work it out for themselves”. Not only did the Minister separate the earlier mentioned groups, he also appointed some key members from the fellowship as leaders and Bible Class Leaders. This sudden reformation somehow disorganized the fellowship in Cathedral and by extension had a rippling effect on other fellowships which were springing up at some areas in the then District, in that, members who understood this move as an agenda to destabilize the fellowship began to express waned interest in the fellowship. But some members like Bro. Isaac Mensah, Bro. S. Poku Mensah, Bro. S. O. Afriyie, and Sis. Dorothy Holdbrook, Sis. Agnes Osei Kofi, Sis. Josephine Quansah and others stood and re-kindled the light of the fellowship and put the fellowship back on track. This reform which was a blessing in disguise enabled the fellowship to meet and plan further innovative programmes and activities such as educative drama, choreographies and the rest which were performed in the Church during special occasions. The young men and women of the fellowship in Kumasi further initiated some other new programmes in the Church such as week-long revivals, of which the maiden one was organized with a white Baptist minister named Rev. S.E Arnold at Wesley Cathedral; this was the first of its kind as far as the Methodist Church in Kumasi is concerned. Also prayer all- nights (which encountered serious objection at the initial stage by some authorities of the Church) was organized at Freeman Chapel- Mbrom in 1973 under the theme “Lord Restore Our Hope” aside the traditional 31st watch-night, and also introduced drumming, which was unheard of at the time but later accepted formally to be part of worship.
Also another significant group which was emanated from the youth fellowship in Kumasi Cathedral to be precise, and was later accepted by the then National Church body was the Junior Choir which was formed in 1966.
THE SPREAD OF THE FELLOWSHIP
Getting to the close of 1980, the fellowship had by the grace of God spread to several ciruits across the then Kumasi District and had also sprouted in most of its societies. In the outskirts of the District for instance circuits like Mampong, Obuasi, Konongo, Effiduase, Jamasi, Bekwai and Akrofrom were all having vibrant Youth Fellowship. And within the Metro, there were Fellowships in Kumasi, Amakom, Asawsi, Bantama, New Tafo, Old Tafo and Kwadaso circuits. All these circuits composed the impregnable Kumasi District M.Y.F.
Later, following the Church’s move to create another District from Kumasi in 1997, a demarcation took place which led to the creation of Obuasi and Effiduase District (now Diocese): which eventually took Jamasi, Bekwai, Akrofrom , Mampong and Konongo Circuits from the then Kumasi District (now Diocese).
The tentacles of the Fellowship was further spread to cover more areas within and outside the Metro and Circuits like Ayigya, Suame, Santasi, Ahinsan, Offinso, Asuoyeboa, Yeji and the others were brought into the fold of the fellowship by dint of hard work on the part of officers and individual memebers. Currently, the fellowship is spread in all the twenty-eight (28) circuits in the Diocese with about 131 branches and a membership of about 6,500.
CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE LEADERSHIP OF NATIONAL/CONNEXIONAL M.Y.F
Kumasi Methodist Youth Fellowship has immensely contribute and still contributing towards the development of the then National and present Connexional MYF in diverse ways. One of such contributions has to do with leadership.
Individual officers from Kumasi have served and still serving in respective positions in the National and present Connexional Offices. Also one other area of contribution that is worth mentioning is the MYF uniforms, thus uniform A’ and C’. In the early ages of the fellowship, the formal uniform for the fellowship was traditional kente cloth worn over the white jumper with traditional pair of slippers to match with; that was for the brothers. And for sisters, a white lace kaba and kente slit with a pair of slippers to match with. This official uniform as colorful as it looked was without “issues”. Members especially the new ones who could not, afford to buy their own had borrow from elsewhere to put on during first Sundays and other occasions. A sister from Kumasi Wesley Cathedral (the late Sis. Agnes Osei Mensah) therefore came up with a design for both males and females. She brought up this design purposely for Kumasi Wesley Cathedral. However the then District Officers saw this innovative idea very laudable and forwarded it to the then National Conference. So after some few alterations here and there, the designs were accepted to be used as a formal uniform for the fellowship now referred to as uniform A’ and C’. About uniform C’ a member from Amakom Circuit by name, Carl Egman submitted a design which was submitted by the Diocese following an appeal made by the Connecxion calling for a new design to be used for a new uniform for the fellowship. Kumasi’s design was unanimously accepted by the then officers.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE CHURCH
Just as section (4) of the aims and objectives of the fellowship stipulates, thus, thus, “To encourage members to render practical services for and on behalf of the Methodist Church Ghana, “several members of the fellowship in Kumasi have worked tirelessly to propel the fellowship which has won very notable personalities to respond to the call of service to the church in diverse offices as ministers which includes; ministers, lay preachers and church workers. And it is with much pride to salute our won Senior- most brother as well as the Past Presiding Bishop , Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Kwaku Asante, who has not only serve in the highest position of the church but have also served the country as the Chairman of the National Peace Council. We commend him for making M.Y.F- Kumasi proud. There are also other Ministers who have contributed their quota to the furtherance enhancement of the fellowship as members as well as officers. Some of these notable people include: Very Rev. Dr. JHK Bonful, Bishop PK Kyei, Very Rev. Kwaku Kwarteng, Very Rev. Kofi Amoateng, Rev. Addai Baah, Rev. Solomon Acquah, Rev. Abu- Gyansah, Rev. Isaac Osei Karikari are all names that can easily come to mind.
The current Chaiman of the Diocesan Youth Fellowship is Bro. George Ohene Agyapong.
Credit: Bro. Kwabena Peprah (Wesley Mmabunu, Oct. 2014)
The Methodist Church Ghana after six decades of gaining roots in the then Gold Coast saw the need to have a special ministry for the young people in the Church. So at the Synod of 1896, a resolution was passed for the formation of the Wesleyan Guild (now Church Guild). By the end of 1940 however, the Wesleyan Guild had virtually become a fellowship of all ages (predominantly adults) and as a result making it quiet difficult for the young people to come to terms with discussion and certain procedures of the organization. These and many other issues made the educated young ones in the organization thirst for an alternative way through which they can fellowship on their way.
The thirst for this revolution got more intense in Kumasi in particular, so the early years of 1944, a few young people in Kumasi District, Wesley Cathedral to be specific, formed a splinter prayer group independent from the Wesleyan Guild to cater for their spiritual needs. Names like bro. M.T. Agyeman- Anane, Bro. Kofi Adu, Bro.K.A. Boateng, Bro. P.K. Kyei and Bro. J.D.N. Riverson, Sis. Bandoh, Sis. Agnes Barnieh, Sis.Lucy Quagraine and others were among those who initiated this prayer this Prayer/ Evangelism Movement. This new development somehow got to the notice of the Church. In 1944 when Synod was held in the then Gold Coast, a directive was issued for the re- examining of the Church’s youth work. A sub- committee which was appointed to study and come up with recommendations concerning the issue submitted a recommendation in 1944 which subsequently led to the approval for the formation of Methodist Youth Fellowship.
It was also further agreed that this newly formed fellowship should be piloted to know how it will fare.. In 1946, a few educated young men and women were brought together in Cape Coast Wesley Cathedral to form the first Methodist Youth Fellowship with the help of Rev. Gordon Jones, a youth work expert sent from Britain together with Rev. S.Q. Williamson, Rev. Joe Clegg and others.
Meanwhile, the educated young men and women in Kumasi Cathedral whose action to a large extent triggered the formation of the fellowship continued with their meetings, evangelism and prayer programmes. But one familiar thing about the youth meeting in Kumasi Wesley Cathedral (which was the cradle of the fellowship in the then District) was that it was all these while combined with the second ministers Bible Class until in 1975 when the then Chairman and General Superintendent of the then District as well as the resident minister of the Cathedral; Rev. De- Graft Johnson separated the youth meetings from the Bible Class meetings. This was perhaps in line with the recommendations upon which the fellowship was formed of which part stipulate (paraphrased) that “M.Y.F” should cater for the educated youth and it should give opportunities for thorough discussions of meaning of Christian faith and life and of the numerous social, economic and moral challenges that confront the youth. It should further lead to active service in and for the church and above all it must be for young men and women; therefore the church should allow them to work it out for themselves”. Not only did the Minister separate the earlier mentioned groups, he also appointed some key members from the fellowship as leaders and Bible Class Leaders. This sudden reformation somehow disorganized the fellowship in Cathedral and by extension had a rippling effect on other fellowships which were springing up at some areas in the then District, in that, members who understood this move as an agenda to destabilize the fellowship began to express waned interest in the fellowship. But some members like Bro. Isaac Mensah, Bro. S. Poku Mensah, Bro. S. O. Afriyie, and Sis. Dorothy Holdbrook, Sis. Agnes Osei Kofi, Sis. Josephine Quansah and others stood and re-kindled the light of the fellowship and put the fellowship back on track. This reform which was a blessing in disguise enabled the fellowship to meet and plan further innovative programmes and activities such as educative drama, choreographies and the rest which were performed in the Church during special occasions. The young men and women of the fellowship in Kumasi further initiated some other new programmes in the Church such as week-long revivals, of which the maiden one was organized with a white Baptist minister named Rev. S.E Arnold at Wesley Cathedral; this was the first of its kind as far as the Methodist Church in Kumasi is concerned. Also prayer all- nights (which encountered serious objection at the initial stage by some authorities of the Church) was organized at Freeman Chapel- Mbrom in 1973 under the theme “Lord Restore Our Hope” aside the traditional 31st watch-night, and also introduced drumming, which was unheard of at the time but later accepted formally to be part of worship.
Also another significant group which was emanated from the youth fellowship in Kumasi Cathedral to be precise, and was later accepted by the then National Church body was the Junior Choir which was formed in 1966.
THE SPREAD OF THE FELLOWSHIP
Getting to the close of 1980, the fellowship had by the grace of God spread to several ciruits across the then Kumasi District and had also sprouted in most of its societies. In the outskirts of the District for instance circuits like Mampong, Obuasi, Konongo, Effiduase, Jamasi, Bekwai and Akrofrom were all having vibrant Youth Fellowship. And within the Metro, there were Fellowships in Kumasi, Amakom, Asawsi, Bantama, New Tafo, Old Tafo and Kwadaso circuits. All these circuits composed the impregnable Kumasi District M.Y.F.
Later, following the Church’s move to create another District from Kumasi in 1997, a demarcation took place which led to the creation of Obuasi and Effiduase District (now Diocese): which eventually took Jamasi, Bekwai, Akrofrom , Mampong and Konongo Circuits from the then Kumasi District (now Diocese).
The tentacles of the Fellowship was further spread to cover more areas within and outside the Metro and Circuits like Ayigya, Suame, Santasi, Ahinsan, Offinso, Asuoyeboa, Yeji and the others were brought into the fold of the fellowship by dint of hard work on the part of officers and individual memebers. Currently, the fellowship is spread in all the twenty-eight (28) circuits in the Diocese with about 131 branches and a membership of about 6,500.
CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE LEADERSHIP OF NATIONAL/CONNEXIONAL M.Y.F
Kumasi Methodist Youth Fellowship has immensely contribute and still contributing towards the development of the then National and present Connexional MYF in diverse ways. One of such contributions has to do with leadership.
Individual officers from Kumasi have served and still serving in respective positions in the National and present Connexional Offices. Also one other area of contribution that is worth mentioning is the MYF uniforms, thus uniform A’ and C’. In the early ages of the fellowship, the formal uniform for the fellowship was traditional kente cloth worn over the white jumper with traditional pair of slippers to match with; that was for the brothers. And for sisters, a white lace kaba and kente slit with a pair of slippers to match with. This official uniform as colorful as it looked was without “issues”. Members especially the new ones who could not, afford to buy their own had borrow from elsewhere to put on during first Sundays and other occasions. A sister from Kumasi Wesley Cathedral (the late Sis. Agnes Osei Mensah) therefore came up with a design for both males and females. She brought up this design purposely for Kumasi Wesley Cathedral. However the then District Officers saw this innovative idea very laudable and forwarded it to the then National Conference. So after some few alterations here and there, the designs were accepted to be used as a formal uniform for the fellowship now referred to as uniform A’ and C’. About uniform C’ a member from Amakom Circuit by name, Carl Egman submitted a design which was submitted by the Diocese following an appeal made by the Connecxion calling for a new design to be used for a new uniform for the fellowship. Kumasi’s design was unanimously accepted by the then officers.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE CHURCH
Just as section (4) of the aims and objectives of the fellowship stipulates, thus, thus, “To encourage members to render practical services for and on behalf of the Methodist Church Ghana, “several members of the fellowship in Kumasi have worked tirelessly to propel the fellowship which has won very notable personalities to respond to the call of service to the church in diverse offices as ministers which includes; ministers, lay preachers and church workers. And it is with much pride to salute our won Senior- most brother as well as the Past Presiding Bishop , Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Kwaku Asante, who has not only serve in the highest position of the church but have also served the country as the Chairman of the National Peace Council. We commend him for making M.Y.F- Kumasi proud. There are also other Ministers who have contributed their quota to the furtherance enhancement of the fellowship as members as well as officers. Some of these notable people include: Very Rev. Dr. JHK Bonful, Bishop PK Kyei, Very Rev. Kwaku Kwarteng, Very Rev. Kofi Amoateng, Rev. Addai Baah, Rev. Solomon Acquah, Rev. Abu- Gyansah, Rev. Isaac Osei Karikari are all names that can easily come to mind.
The current Chaiman of the Diocesan Youth Fellowship is Bro. George Ohene Agyapong.
Credit: Bro. Kwabena Peprah (Wesley Mmabunu, Oct. 2014)
