27/03/2016
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RESCUE GHANA MISSION.
Rescue Ghana Mission is a Benevolent Ministry witnhin the Church of Christ in Ghana with the sole aim of supporting needy rural preachers.
OUR OBJECTIVES
Our immediate focus is to;
1. Provide monthly top-up allowance for preachers whose monthly support fall be low the national minimum wage. That is to raise their support to about ¢300 for a start.
2. Provide them with material Support ( learning materials and clothing).
Our medium term focus are:
3. Established a provident fund for beneficiary preachers for their retirement.
4. To register all such preachers on NHIS and provide emergency healthcare support for sicknesses which are not covered by NHIS.
Our long term focus are:
5. Provide periodic capacity training/ refresher causes to upgrade their knowledge.
6. Scholarship for their children from Senior High School to Tertiary levels.
7. Support evangelism outreach programs to strengthen weaker congregations.
ADMINISTRATION
Rescue Ghana Mission is under the supervision of Osu Church of Christ Elders in Accra acting as the Oversight Church overseeing the activities of RGM to ensure it does not deviate from the doctrines of the Church.
There is a ten member national executives representing each region of the 10 regions. They are the decision making body on matters of RGM and nothing else. They are to ensure accountability and transparency and equitable disbursement of funds( regional balance)
There is a five member Evaluation and Assessment Committee who are to investigate and approve all applications for support from the fund.
There is a Functional Administrative Executives (6 members) in charge of day to day affairs of the ministry.
There are Regional Ambassadors (foot soldiers) who move from Church to Church to raise funds.
ARE MEMBERS OF RGM PAID?
NO! We all offer a voluntary service to support our preachers and to advance rural evangelism.
THE PROBLEM
Most preachers of the church of Christ in Ghana working the rural areas are in great distress. The cannot even afford basic necessities of life and can hardly fend for their families.
There are preachers who are surviving on ¢10 ($3.0) as monthly support from their local congregation.
The fact, considering the number and economic strength of members of the local church , there is no way they can adequately support the preacher even if they should give all the monthly giving to the preacher. There are rural congregations whose weekly giving is below ¢10.
How can the preacher survive this harsh economic condition if there is no other support? Hence the need for us to come together to support such preachers to motivate them to stay with the church for the sake of the souls there.
If a preacher must work hard to feed the flock spiritually for their salvation then his basic needs must be catered for otherwise he may not be able to dedicate his full time to work effectively.
Some preachers have abandoned their congregations leading to their collapse in some parts of northern as a result of no support.
It is against this background that some inspired brethren from various congregations across the country thought it wise (common sense) to come together as a group to contribute money on monthly basis to support needy preachers.
They name the initiative Rescue Ghana Mission( meaning rescuing preachers from abject poverty to empower them to preach the gospel to rescue lost souls in Ghana; and that is our mission.)
Won't it be fair and godly to support preachers who have dedicated themselves to work in deprived areas where you and I may not go for obvious reasons?
THE CONSEQUENCES OF NO SUPPORT
If we don't put in place a sustainable support for rural preachers the affect will be :
1. The Church won't grow, especially in rural areas. Some of the rural churches have collapsed and more will cease to exist due to lack of support for the preacher.
2. If nothing is done about it, it's feared that in the next 20yrs if the current rural preachers pass on there nobody will be willing to work as a preacher. It will lead to having only city churches where the congregations can support the preachers.
3. As a result of poor remuneration for preachers, the youth today having seen the hardship their preachers are going through do not desire to become preachers.
4. Asa result no support, the highly educated are not attracted to the preaching field. The educated ones ( degree and masters holders) would want to be preachers on part-time and will prefer working in the city for obvious reasons.
IS RGM UNBIBLICAL?
It's sad to note that some brethren have questioned this good initiative and kicked against it arguing it is not biblical, and that the bible does not instruct any group within or outside the church to raise funds support a preacher, maintaining that it is the duty of the local church to support their preacher, citing the almighty "autonomy" clause.
Ironically, the same people see nothing wrong with receiving "foreign support " which are funds from individual(s) or contributions from sister churches abroad to support local preachers.
QUESTIONS FOR CRITICS OF RGM
If "foreign support" from brethren abroad is biblical how come "local support" from brethren in Ghana is unbiblical?
Is it because of the dollar-Cedi difference or which makes unbiblical?
Will it still be unbiblical if members of Rescue Ghana Mission had come together without giving themselves a name or identity?
Assuming they are anonymously contributing money to support needy preachers.
RGM IS BIBLICAL MOTIVATED BY COMMON SENSE
The bible instructs us to do good to all persons particularly those in the family of faith. As to HOW, the bible didn't describe, it's just a matter of common sense. We can choose to do good individually or collectively( group) either it is pleasing to good to support the needy.
There are several things we do today as a church which has no biblical basis however it is not sinful so long it does not undermine the doctrines of the Church.
THINGS WE DO AS A CHURCH WHICH ARE "UNBIBLICAL" BUT RATHER COMMONSENSICAL
Preaching on tv, radio, social media and the use of gadgets( laptop, microphones, projectors, fan, air condition)in our worship, the architectural design and size of our church buildings, organizing lectureships and camps, establishment of bible institutions for the training of preachers, operating orphanage homes, establishing schools and hospitals( for business interest for the Church) performing wedding and signing marriage certificates, performing burial rites etc. We do these things as a church with no bible quotations backing them or bible examples.
These things are foreign to the 1st century Christianity. Do these things constitute apostasy and a deviation from the faith?
These things are based on common sense and not biblical instructions.
How then can we exercise our common sense and wisdom if EVERY aspect of our lives must be based on direct biblical instruction.
It will be utterly absurd to relive the 1st Century Christianity in today's modernity. The doctrines of the church which are direct instructions from the bible remain nonnegotiable and uncompromising.
We should draw a district line between what is doctrinal and what should be guided by common sense.
SOME WRONG PERCEPTIONS ABOUT RGM
Rescue Ghana Mission is not a pressure group or a group with any foreign doctrine contrary to the true doctrines of Church of Christ, neither does it seek to set up a Secretariat or headquarters as some are speculating. It is a Benevolent Ministry and nothing more.
For those against RGM our answer to you is summed up in Act 5:38-39
"Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let : go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."
WHO CAN SUPPORT RGM?
Any true member of Church of Christ can join to support this course.
Rescue Ghana Mission is a group of cheerful givers touched by the plight of needy rural preachers. We are motivated by the harrowing challenges of our rural preachers.
If you care to know click on the link to watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h0f2Bp7jMs&feature=youtu.be
We the members of Rescue Ghana Mission are determined to contribute our widow's might to support needy rural preachers to advance the gospel.
Matthew 10:42, Luke 6:38
We call on all kindhearted, generous and benevolent spirited members of the Church to join us on this worthy course. It's voluntary, not compulsory.
SO FAR SO GOOD
RGM hit the grounds actively in November 2015 and as of now the good news about RGM has reached almost every part of the country and talk of the town because it is necessary and timely.
It has reached US, UK, Spain and several parts of Europe, spreading like a wild fire. It is gaining acceptance by all except a few who do not understand that this is God's will and purpose to answer the prayers of his ministers who are in great distress.
STAKEHOLDERS FORUM
We have held two successful regional stakeholders forum in Greater Accra and Central region for mainly preachers and church leaders. We had over 600 participants for both events. This open forum will be done in all the regions to create awareness and to seek inputs.
FUNDS RECEIVED
So far we have raised over ¢18,000 this mobilized from about 1,700 members across the country who contributing between ¢1 and ¢100 monthly. We also receive support from a few brethren abroad.
SUPPORT FROM CHURCHES
We also receive monthly contributions from Adumadze Church of Christ( cape coast, central region) Wembley Church of Christ( UK), Amsterdam Church of Christ( Netherlands)
ACCOUNTABILITY
There are effective systems in place for checks and balance to ensure transparency and accountability. There are internal financial control system. As soon as disbursement starts in July 2016 we shall enforce internal and external auditing; and publish our financial reports periodically.
PREACHERS WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR SUPPORT
We have received about 70 applications from various parts of Ghana. We estimate about 600 preachers who need support.
To apply for support click on the link below:
Application Form for Preachers' Support Fund
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZDQWN8fGHJMM5Ix9PA9lZahSGWhNrX0jAoAp_kZABSU/edit?usp=docslist_api&chromeless=1
You can also visit our website www.rescueghana mission.org to fill the application form and submit.
HOW TO DONATE
We are targeting ¢200,000 as SEED FUND.
To be part of our monthly contributors you must fill a form to give us your details. Click on the link below:
Click on this link https://goo.gl/dZHq7x if you want to support.
PAYMENT
You can pay your contribution through our bank account and mobile money numbers.
Tigo 0270094492
MTN 0240129254
Airtel 0560620398
You can make bank deposit or a Standing Order:
Acct Name: Rescue Ghana Mission
Acct. Number. 1133055552801
Bank: National Investment Bank
Branch: Ashaiman
Swift code: NIBGGHAC
(for only transfers outside Ghana)
TEXT DONATION
We entreat all true members of the Church to text our short code on their mobile phones to support. It's only 5 pesewas.
Text COC to 1944 now to see what comes on your phone.
Only MTN, Vodafone and Airtel users can text.
OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF RGM
Rescue Ghana Mission is yet to be launched officially hopefully in May 2016. The event will be streamed live on the internet for brethren both local and abroad to listen into the program and join by Whatsapp and Facebook.
DRAFT POLICY
We have developed a draft policy to guide our operations. A copy of it is on our website www.rescueghanamission.org open for inputs from all Church of Christ members who are interested to know.
CONTACT US
Visit our website for more info. You can also go to our YouTube and Facebook search name for RESCUE GHANA MISSION to read and view more video documentaries on the plight of rural preachers.
For further clarifications call 0206007255, 024488 1330, 0279905363
Send us email via [email protected]
Share this information with members of Church of Christ. God bless you.
By Bro. Lord Asante Fordjour
The conditions of Church of Christ rural preachers in Ghana leave much to be desired. The situation is affecting the growth of the Church in rural communitie...
