Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Kumbungu Campus was officially opened in January 1950, under the name Northern Territories Bible School in the then Gold Coast. This location was first a mission station opened in 1938 by Madam Beulah Buchwalter and Madam Florence Blossom who later got married to Rev. Beck. Eighteen years of labor brought in a harvest of souls and the churches outnumbered the missionaries, hence the need to train the nationals became eminent.
This urgent training and crucial need resulted in a Missions conference on 27th October 1949. Present were the McCorkle’s, Shirers, Westons and the Thomas’ to plan the commencement of a Bible school. This training school was the first Pentecostal Bible school in the Gold Coast. While the orthodox churches were training their ministers in the United Kingdom and Germany, the Assemblies of God brought their training to the doorstep of the people. In the last quarter of 1949 buildings were put up to house students and their wives and some classrooms for study. The school started with a two-year program; hence the first graduation was held in December 1951.
The graduands bore the name of their tribes as their surnames as it was in colonial time. The graduands were as follows; Agbongo Kusasi, Akurugu Kasina, Allassan Kasina, Kaba Kasina, Kumoba Kasina, Abewin Kusasi, Moli Busanga, Gariba Ba-sare. Courses were taught in vernacular but with time the curriculum was reviewed and teaching and learning were done entirely in English. Writing about the importance of Bible school training, the late Rev. Morris Williams, Field Director for Africa had this to say, “today’s great advances in academics, accreditation, and accelerated learning owe their beginnings to our first lowly efforts”. Thank God for the mud-walled classrooms, the “one book” libraries, the oral examination for those who couldn’t write and patient and persistent teachers who passed what they had received in our also humble Bible schools back home. Certainly, one of the strengths of the Assemblies of God is our backbone of Bible training (Williams Morris: Pentecostal Evangel, September 1985).
Indeed, Bible school training is the survival of the preaching of the gospel in every nation. If our Bible school collapses then the church will soon be obliterated into thin air, that is why we keep the fire burning here in our classrooms, library and chapel services. AGTS, Kumbungu, has produced humble leaders for the national church notable among them is the late Rev. Namyela Panka, the first indigenous General Superintendent. He graduated in 1954, served as a district superintendent, and later the head of the organization from 1970-1986. Rev. Simon Asore was also elected General Superintendent and served from 1986-2002. Rev. Moses Sumaila was elected Assistant Superintendent in 2002 but rose to General Superintendent to complete the unexpired term of the late Rev. W. W. Dontoh. Rev. Dr. Florence Adri served as the national Women Ministry Director and the outgoing Vice President, an alumnus of AGTS, North Campus.
AGTS north campus has produced translators of the Bible into some of the languages in the north:
• Kasem: Jonah Kwotua and Abraham Ayianko
• Anufo: James Azumah
• Dagbani: Daniel Wumbee and Issifu Dokurugu
• Kusaal: James Anafo
• Bimoba: James Lanbong
• Safalba: Stanley Forgo
• Frafra: Peter Yinimi
• Buli: Albert Adelkado
• Brifo: Samson Sansah
These men have collaborated with Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation to put the word of God in the mother tongue. This makes sermons prepared easier in the mother tongue. There are many more of our alumni who are impacting the ministry at home and abroad. Some are serving the church in different capacities such as Regional Executives and District Executives. Many have become powerful men and women of God with a proven track record of honesty, humility and integrity.
What more can I say about the living legends of our alumni like Rev. Dr. Stephen Wengam, Rev. Rtd. Solomon King, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Natog-mah, Rev. Dr. Samuel Tigah, and Rev. Dr. Gabriel Yidana, Rev. Nelson Awuntia, Rev. Stephen Sakyi, Rev. Dr. Godson Bodjah, Rev. Dominic Ziba, Rev. Dr. Akonsi, Rev. Dr. Simon Abu Baba, Rev. Dr. Paul Nasimong, Rev. Dr. Patrick Yankyera and Rev. Aaron Fant Lanbon, Rev. Rtd. Thompson Tonlaar, Rev. Issahaku Wumbei, Rev. Joseph Kalari, Rev. Silas Sulemana, Rev Isaac Lankoriba and many others. Space will not allow us to mention all. But they are also very important to us and the many stars shining the gospel wherever they are. Our foreign students from Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Liberia and Togo are acknowledged. We are grateful to you for upholding AGTS.
Credit: Rev. Dr. James Abdulai (Former Vice President of AGTS, North campus).
