GHAFES National Leadership Training Seminars offer excellent opportunities for training tomorrow’s leaders today.
The Lord has been pleased to use these and other programmes of GHAFES over the years to raise an army of workers of integrity and competence for His vineyard and the market place.
The National Leadership Training Seminar is a major annual programme to offer excellent
opportunity for equipping and empowering our student leaders to guide their colleagues to be change agents on their campuses, and later in their communities, nation and beyond.
Main Bible Exposition on the Theme: Jesus: Our Model of Leadership
Rev. Emmanuel M. Ahlijah-the former General Secretary of GHAFES was the main Bible expositor at the NLTS. He spoke
on the theme for three (3) days starting December 20 to 22, 2009 for a period
of an hour each day. Rev. Ahlijah’s presentation touched on what makes Jesus’ life
fascinating that He attracted and impacted so many. These were some of the few
words of Rev. Ahlijah: ‘we are often astonished by people who have unsung
backgrounds and yet by sheer strength of personality, purpose, perseverance and
practice influence their context for good. I believe of all such persons, none
outshines our Lord Jesus Christ. Although he is God, he is also human to the
core.
At thirty, he launched his mission to bring Man back into a relationship with God. It was a revolution of love that was meant to engulf the whole world. Wherever he went crowd followed him.
Within three years he had accomplished his mission.
What made Jesus’ life so fascinating that He attracted and impacted so many?
· Firstly, He was God conscious.
· Secondly, He was conscientious.
· Thirdly, He had an upright Character
· Fourthly, He was people-centred.
· Fifthly, He was counter-culture.
· Sixthly, He was a Strategic Coach.’
Later in the day, Rev. Ahlijah gave a discourse on the seminar topic: ‘Identifying false prophets’.
Mentoring Group Discussions
Time of reflection and journaling was followed with discussions in mentoring groups. As part of
the NLTS, we organized small mentoring group discussions with at most 15 students per group. Associates were
specially invited as resource persons to share experience in the market place and answer questions students may raise. We hope some ended up
as long term relationship of mentoring. This was a means of impacting the next
generation of Christian professionals. We had sixteen (16) Associates who came
each day for the mentoring group discussions.
Plenary Session on Core Issues Relating to the Theme
There were seven (7) plenary sessions which cut across Campus Evangelism Strategy, GHAFES Strategic Planning-(3 sessions), Balanced Programme Planning, Balanced Christian Living and Pursuing
Academic Excellence, Contemporary trends on Campus.
The delegates also had the opportunity to watch a movie titled: Facing the
Giants. Facing the Giants is a movie that makes the word of God so alive in the life of a Christian. The movie
focuses on the complete dependence on God. Testimonies some of the delegates
gave were thrilling. ‘I saw the man as a baby in the hands of God. It actually thought me how to totally depend on God
for everything’, was the testimony of Mr. Ernest Buayah-Mensah,
President-GHAFES University of Cape Coast. God used each one of plenaries to
challenge participants’ understanding on Jesus’ model of leadership.
THE IMPACT AND PERSONAL TESTIMONIES
“ …. God has always used college students to revolutionize the face of the world missions,
and He continues to do so through this amazing ministry.” – (Steve Hack, Hope
College). I believe National Leadership Training Seminar-NLTS 2009 is one
catalyst that the Lord has used to launch students to be leaders of integrity and
competence for the church and the market place.
These were some personal testimonies of the delegates:
‘Every GHAFES NLTS is more than just an annual seminar, if considered critically: it is the opportunity for leaders
to sharpen one another by keying into the ministry’s national agenda in an
atmosphere of fellowship. The ideal result is for each session to prepare
participants for greater impact in their individual roles within their campus’
fellowship. This year’s theme was ‘Jesus: Our Model of Leadership’, which was
unravelled at each Bible Study and exposition and brought to life in
interacting with our beloved associates as well. The core elements of Jesus’
earthly ministry – purposeful leadership, self-sacrifice, humility, excellence
and compassion for all – were thoroughly taught and discussed so as to take
them out of the ethereal and into the everyday lives of each participant’. - Eno Abena Effah (SNEC Secretary),
KNUST-Kumasi
‘Indeed GHAFES is training men and women of God in our nation. The NLTS has groomed and
shaped us for the better. I bless God that I’m part of GHAFES!’ Mr. Terry Kwesi Ahordzie-UCF, Legon
‘The joy that is flowing in my soul I just can’t explain. It has been such a wonderful time
being in the presence of the lamb that was slain. He has taught me how to
uphold my integrity and exercise self restrain. In leadership, Jesus is now my
model! He took a towel and washed His disciples’ feet. This gives me an example
to follow: no matter my position I need to be humble. It will only be an
understatement to say that the NLTS was nice’. Mr. Nyarko Samuel Junior-GHAFES, Christian Service University College.
‘I was becoming dormant in my personal prayers. But I thank God for attending the
seminar: Dynamics of prayer. This has encouraged me to pray more.’ Delegate – UCF, Valley View University
‘I have been blessed with this year’s NLTS, although being my first time. I was highly
motivated with the presence of the Associates from far and near sharing their
experiences with us and how to go on in life.’ William S. K. Klebeti
‘An innovation in this year’s seminar was the strategic planning exercise for the
ministry; it was a strong signal that GHAFES is willing to adapt to current
trends to make increased impact with its God-given mandate. It also drove home
the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that student input is not left out in
taking vital decisions that will reflect in each of its fellowships. The
exercise gave leaders the exposure to the process of strategic planning, which
should undoubtedly reflect in the decisions and approaches they take in
achieving goals in their individual fellowships. The AGM also gave a
much-appreciated overview of the ministry’s current state. Most of all, it
communicated the need for student leaders to the proactive in their support of
GHAFES on the national front to better achieve our goals and consolidate our
impact’.- Eno Abena Effah (SNEC Secretary), KNUST Kumasi
-GHAFES News room
