THE HISTORY OF EBENEZER SOCIETY
Early Years (1996)
Ebenezer Society, Community 20 started as a three-fold history; two Societies, Ebenezer and Maranatha in the then Tema West Circuit, with their unique beginnings in 1996 and 2001 respectively. The two Societies were merged in 2004. The church has grown by the Grace of God to become one of the most dynamic Societies in the Methodist Church Ghana.
The idea to plant a Church in the Lashibi enclave was initiated on 3rd March 1996 by Sis. Felicia Adjaye, Bro. Godfred Bannerman and Asafoatse Siaw Mrosah who discussed the matter with Rev. Joe Arthur, the then Minister in charge of Mt. Zion Society.
Lashibi Bible Class
On 6th March, 1996 the first Bible Class was held at the residence of Sis. Felicia Adjaye. The Bible Class, which was led by Rev. Joe Arthur, was attended by the following who became founding members: Bros. Godfred Bannerman, Asafoatse Siaw Mrosah, Edward Laryea, Edward Odum, Patrick Danso, Sisters Felicia Adjaye, Margaret Bannerman, Emelia Bannerman and Matilda Larkai.
Church Planting
A crusade jointly planned by Mt. Zion Society and Calvary Society, Community 3 to win more souls for Christ, was held from 9th to 12th April 1997 at Lashibi, the current location of Bro. King George Duah’s residence. The crusade was led by the Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel K. Asante, Presiding Bishop then the Principal of Trinity Theological Seminary. Following the crusade, Ebenezer Nursery Society was thus planted.
Pastoral Care
Very Rev. Solomon Ekwam-Mensah (then an Evangelist) was appointed Caretaker of the Nursery Society in February 1998, assisted by the late Bro. Justice Eyiah and Bro. Daniel Amoako as Caretaker stewards. Through the medium of revivals and visitation to members of the community by Rev. Joe Arthur and Evangelist Ekwam-Mensah more souls were won for the Nursery Society. In October 2001 late Rev. Prof. Joseph Kwasi Akyine Ampiaw was assigned pastoral responsibility of the Society, later assisted by Rev. Kwesi A. Sekyi-Appiah prior to his ordination.
Inauguration
On 1st April 2001 the Nursery Society was inaugurated as a full Society by Rt. Rev. Seth A. Aryee, Bishop of Tema Diocese and Very Rev. Samuel O. Achamfuo-Yeboah, Superintendent Minister of Tema Circuit at the time. The theme for the inauguration was “Building the strong foundation”. The new Society was christened “Ebenezer Society” with the salutation “Thus far the Lord has brought us”. The name was in fulfillment of a promise made to the Nursery Society that was formed at Sakumono village, which later became Mt. Zion Society.
After several failed attempts and disappointments since 1997, a plot was finally located at Community 20 for a permanent church building site. On 23rd December 2001, Ebenezer Society moved to the permanent site at Community 20, where services were initially held under canopies. A generator, which was presented by Dr. George Okanta Adade and his family, was the source of electricity. Prayers, perseverance and the will to succeed, motivated the members to brave all the odds associated with the new location. Within four months a four hundred plus capacity temporary structure had been erected to house the congregation. Water and electricity were later connected to the site.
Maranatha Society (2001)
A series of events led to the birth of Maranatha Society in Community 20. In 2000, Bro. Joe Lamptey’s Sunday morning Bible Class at Mt. Zion Society at Sakumono had a membership that included residents of Communities 18, 19 and 20 at Lashibi. Towards the end of that year Rev. Joseph Arthur, the then minister in charge of Mt. Zion Society saw the need for a church that would cater for residents of Communities 18 – 20. He expressed this vision to members of this Bible Class, and at some Leaders Meetings. He is remembered to remark “We will start a Bible Class for you at Community 20 which will be the foundation of a church there”. At the Men’s Fellowship (MF) Christmas party that year at the residence of Bro. Julius Botchway (No. 46 Damascus Close, popularly called ‘The Roof Top’) Rev. Joe Arthur’s vision probably became clearer to him when he suggested to the President of the MF that the Roof Top was an ideal place to start a church in community 20. He jokingly said that the ‘Upper Room Society Church’ could be the name of the Society.