Dear Friends,
This week, please join us in prayer for Edmond Vanderpuye in Ghana.
Located in West Africa, Ghana was among the first African countries to throw off the yoke of European colonialism, gaining independence in 1957. Approximately 71% of Ghana’s 31 million people identify as Christians and 18% as Muslims, while 5% exclusively practice traditional religions. Religious tolerance is high in Ghana, where no significant link exists between ethnic identity and faith. Amid rising COVID-19 cases since January, the Ghanaian government has recommended working from home or in shifts, and limiting large gatherings in churches and mosques.
Edmond is pursuing a PhD in Theology and Development at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies in the UK. As Executive Director of International Needs Ghana, a holistic development ministry, Edmond is researching sustainable models for Christian social enterprise. Edmond and his wife Nana have four children.
Edmond shares the following message:
Dear ScholarLeaders Community,
What a great opportunity it is to be a part of this faith community. Thank you for your fervent prayers every week for scholars researching and publishing all over the world. I am blessed every week as I join this faithful community in prayer. I am privileged to be part of this caring community.
Ghana has enjoyed relative peace since the return to constitutional rule in 1992. International and local observers have described the recently held presidential and parliamentary elections in December 2020 as free and fair. We are grateful to God for His mercies thus far.
The Church has been growing steadily with more opportunities to deepen discipleship and Christian witness in the marketplace. However, the global COVID-19 pandemic has had serious consequences on our socioeconomic life. We are seeing a surge in the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases associated with increased hospitalizations. The government has introduced mitigation measures against the pandemic’s devastating effects, but it may take a few years for conditions to normalize.
Prayer Requests
1. Pray for the leaders of the country as they plan mitigation measures and manage COVID-19’s impact on all aspects of national life.
2. Pray for the Church at all levels to provide Christ-centered leadership and greater commitment to demonstrating Christian values in the workplace.
3. Pray for missionaries and preachers in communities under the powers of darkness to shine the glorious light of Jesus for those in the unreached places.
4. Pray for good health and strength as I continue writing chapters of my thesis. My research inquires into how Faith-Based Social Enterprises (FBSE) in Ghana address tensions among their multiple objectives through organizational spirituality, in order to promote holistic sustainable outcomes.
5. Pray for International Needs and our ministry in over 30 countries worldwide. Pray for greater impact and efficient execution of priorities.
Edmond Vanderpuye