The history of the Assemblies of God Ministers’ Wives Association in Ghana
The Assemblies of God Minister’s Wives Association is the fellowship of Minister’s wives of the Assemblies of God, Ghana. These women have come together as a constitutionalized integral body of the Assemblies of God, Ghana. Before this group reached this stage, it went through some processes. This history discusses factors that led to its formation, its purposes, the roles that some women played, how it was inaugurated, its constitution, and other things about it.
Factors that called for the formation of the Ministers Wives Association
There are various factors that accounted for the formation of the Assemblies of God Ministers Wives Association.
Firstly, there was the need for mutual cooperation and a common platform to discuss and share issues affecting the wives of the Ministers. At the initial stages of the development of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, there were few churches that were widely scattered in the country. Therefore the Ministers’ Wives needed to come together in order to deal with issues that concerned them.
Secondly, the Ministers’ Wives needed to have a fellowship where they would pray for the infilling of the Holy Spirit and for Spiritual strength to enable them to endure the spiritual attacks some encountered. They also saw the need to pray to support their husbands. What made the prayer a crucial need was the fact that some of the church members tagged the Ministers’ Wives as very weak spiritually. Some would say, “Asafo Maame no ny3 hye”. That literally means the Ministers’ Wives are not hot. In other words, they are spiritually cold. Hence the need to form this fellowship to help them pray together for personal and cooperative revival.
Thirdly, they needed some training that will equip them to serve effectively with their husbands in the church. Some of them, therefore, called for this fellowship where they would be given some training.
Fourthly, the untimely deaths of some Ministers’ Wives caused them to form this Association so that they would be educated on health issues and also pray against such deaths. One of such was the ultimately passing away of Mrs. Juliana Nti. Those Senior Ministers who were at the funeral include Rev. Mrs. Hannah Amponsah, Mrs. Elizabeth Opuni, Mrs. Mary Amoah, Mrs. Christiana Adjei of Blessed Memory, and Mrs. Suzy Insaidoo also of blessed memory. They all thought of forming the Ministers Wives Association for mutual encouragement and strengthening.
Some women who played important roles in the formation of Ministers’ Wives
Certain women who were Ministers’ wives played some prominent roles in the formation of the Ministers’ Wives Association.
Among them was Rev. Mrs. Florence Adri. She was involved in its conception, canvassing, and convincing the leadership, both individually and in Council, Meetings to allow the Official formation of the AGMWA.
Rev. Mrs. Hannah Amponsah attended a conference in Sri Lanka which was dubbed “impetus Conference 1980” When she returned she reported what she experienced about how the Pastor’s Wives were well-organized over there to the then National Executives. These remote and immediate causes prepared a seedbed for the formation of the AGWMA. According to her at the General Council in 1986, Rev. Nicholas Opuni and Rev Isaac Opandoh of blessed memory wrote a resolution for the formation of the Assemblies of God Pastors Wives Association which was carried.
The late Mrs. Christiana Darko, the WM Coordinator of that time played a significant role. Even when the Association had not been officially formed, she organized monthly all-night prayer meetings, retreats, and seminars for the Pastors’ Wives.
Rev. Mrs. Dorcas Dapaah of blessed memory, Rev. Mrs. Gladys Frimpong-Manso, Mrs. Joyce Obeng, Rev. Mrs. Grace Nuako, and other Ministers’ wives also contributed by helping in the organization of the Pastors’ wives in Kumasi
Purposes for the formation of the Ministers Wives Association
These were the objectives for the formation of the AGMWA.
i) To promote Fellowship among Assemblies of God Ministers’ Wives
ii) To get a common platform where issues affecting Minister’s Wives would be addressed,
iii) To offer training to Ministers’ Wives to enable them to work effectively with their husband
iv) To encourage the women to go for Bible School Training
v) To encourage and charge the Ministers’ wives to help the women’s ministry groups in their churches.
Inauguration
On the 13 of March 1988 the Association was officially inaugurated at the Evangel Assemblies of God under the name Pastor’s Wives Association, (PWA) but later was changed to the Ministers’ Wives Association since not all the Ministers were pastors of Churches.
The following people were the first National Leaders and members of the Executives
Mrs. Justine Asore of blessed memory – the National President
Rev. Mrs. Hannah Amponsah –the Vice President
Mrs. Elizabeth Opuni – the National Secretary
Mrs. Mary Osei Amoah – the National Treasurer and
Rev. Mrs. Florence Vida Adri – the National Coordinator.
Through this medium, regular educational programmes were implemented to enhance the effectiveness of the wives of our Ministers and to encourage them.
This association also enriches the fellowship of the Pastors’ wives to give a greater boost to the Assemblies of God, Ghana.
A year later the Greater Accra Regional Association was also inaugurated and followed by all the other Regions.
By His grace, we will serve
NATIONAL EXECUTIVES
