Word from the Vice President, West—Stephen Scott

What Happens When Six Canadians Meet a German, Korean, Brit, and a Nigerian in Ghana? 
The answer: you get an insight into today’s reality of global mission and a strategic God who moves people for His purposes.

While space does not allow me to tell all the stories of our international encounters in Ghana, I can say this mission trip with five other ISMC national team members significantly impacted me and shifted the realities of my missionary thinking. Many of those who I spoke with about this trip were surprised that one of the top supporting churches for ISMC’s ministry is in Ghana.

Six hours after arriving in Accra, I found myself in a room where strategic Ghanaian leaders were being trained to empower ISM in their churches and campuses. Ghana has over 15,000 international students—including Canadians! The University of Ghana has students from the same Japanese university (Soka) that we minister to in Vancouver!

We were surprised to meet Hannah in our training sessions. A seminary student from Germany doing her practicum in Ghana, she said she came to faith as an international student in the States and was willing to welcome returnee students in Germany. Hannah is a living example of how missions is from everywhere and to everywhere.

Another significant moment was visiting the first Methodist Church in West Africa in Cape Coast, Ghana. As a team, we went there to pray for Ghana to be a missionary sending force. Our first encouragement: seeing the church packed for a regular prayer meeting. This church was not just a historic site, but a vibrant local church.

While there, I was impressed to hear that Rev. Thomas Birch Freeman is widely considered as the father of the Methodist churches in Ghana. He also established them in Nigeria. What makes his story so compelling to me is that he was a returnee—his ancestry is from Ghana and it was due to this that he survived in his missionary work; remarkable, because the first missionaries died within six months. I took it as an affirmation to continue reaching internationals and sending them back to their home countries so they too will survive and thrive in ways no foreigner can.

A personal milestone
I have now worshipped in churches on six continents. Little by little I get to taste, see, and experience what Revelation 7 shows us about every people group gathering around God’s throne in worship. Throughout my Ghana experience, a thought regularly occurred to me: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same here, there, and everywhere!

Stephen Scott
Vice President, West
ISMC National

As my first mission trip and first trip to Africa, it has been an eye-opening experience (culturally and spiritually! During the 10 days in Accra, Ghana, we:

  • visited several support partners (many faithful brothers and sisters in Ghana are supporting our ministry in Canada! Amazing, isn’it?);
  • shared our experience with the ISM leaders at the Legon Interdenominational Church, a church based on the University of Ghana, and equipped them in building an international students ministry locally (I had the opportunity to present the friendship and hospitality program Friends for Dinner);
  • attended a service at the Legon Interdenominational Church (Ghanaian style worship was powerful!);
  • met many international students and had a gathering with returnees who studied in Canada in the 70’s, 80’s & 90’s (and they are now impacting the world for Jesus Christ!);
  • watched the rehearsal of a play directed by a brother who used performance arts to address social issues with a Christ-centered message (I learned a lot about the culture in Ghana, and am specially impressed by their creativity in mission works);
  • visited the Wesley Methodist Church and learned about the inspiring life journey of the missionaries who sacrifice their own lives in order to sow the seed of the Gospel in West Africa. Today, the church becomes a vibrant local church (praying that the seeds they sacrificially sowed will continue to multiply and bear fruits).
  • had several powerful prayer times;
  • studied the book Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership (as part of the quarterly National team retreat);
  • visited the University of Ghana and met with the Dean to discuss opportunities to work together to connect international students to Christian communities.
  • gave a presentation about ISMC at ITCONSORTIUM, a Christian IT company who is supporting our mission (very encouraging to see Kingdom-minded business people);
  • and finally, we celebrated the 40th birthday of our dear President Yaw (a mentor and brother who greatly impacted me)!

I am very thankful to be part of this fruitful and insightful trip. Please join me to pray for God’s continuous guidance and open doors for ISM in Ghana and in Canada!