Ghanaian Fellowship Easter Convention Held in Springfield, Missouri

On Easter weekend, Evangel University hosted the National Easter Convention for the Ghanaian AG Fellowship, USA, over the course of four days.

Although the Ghanaian Fellowship, which has grown to 79 churches since being officially recognized as an ethnic fellowship of the AG in June of 2011, hosts Easter conventions in each of its four regional areas annually, every fourth year, the fellowship hosts a national event to bring its members together.

Andrew Anane-Asane, president and general presbyter of the Ghanaian Fellowship since 2013, states that they face many unique challenges, but coming together for a national event allows their people to express themselves in an authentic, national way.

As attendees filled the aisles and the altar with passionate praise, the Ghanaian culture was beautifully expressed. From infants to seniors, all age groups were represented at the convention and the intergenerational worship, along with the intentionality of passing down traditions to the next generation through inclusion in the service was inspiring.

“When we gather together, we don’t feel like strangers or outsiders,” he states.

Another reason for bringing the fellowship together is to enforce unity, Anane-Asane shares. “We hope to share ideas with one another, encourage passion in ministry, and encourage a passion for missions that reaches our own and other Africans here in the U.S.” He goes on to say that being united is his first and foremost vision for the fellowship.

“When we are united, we grow together,” he says.

Leaders prayed and believed for attendees to experience a period of awakening revival and refreshment so they would be sent back to their home communities with a renewed dedication to serving the Lord. The 2024 chosen theme echoed this mission: The Reason Why We Preach Christ.

This year, the Springfield, Missouri, location was chosen because fellowship leaders felt that their people needed to experience and understand the Assemblies of God’s history and legacy.

During the Good Friday service, pastors and their wives were brought forward to honor their spiritual leadership and to highlight the dozens of churches that were represented at the convention. As each pastor introduced himself or herself, congregants from the pastor’s home church stood and cheered, signaling their gratitude to the pastor for leading them to Springfield, a place many have desired to visit for years.

“Many traveled 18 hours or more by bus. But the motivation to come to Springfield comes from it feeling like our home. It’s a pilgrimage in a way, and that’s the atmosphere we wanted to create,” Anane-Asane says.

Over the event’s four-day schedule, the Assemblies of God National Office hosted tours of the building, allowing convention registrants to see things such as the missions department, the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center, and the World Prayer Center.

While the intention was to host services inside the national office building, high registration numbers necessitated the event to be moved from the AG National Office to Spence Chapel on Evangel’s campus.

General Superintendent Doug Clay says, “It was an honor to host the Ghanaian Easter Convention here in Springfield. The Ghanaian Fellowship is a vital part of our church family. Their audacious faith and vision to plant churches here in America is inspiring.”

“The Assemblies of God USA is a stronger Fellowship because of our Ghanaian sisters and brothers,” he continues.

Anane-Asane was the event host and Walter Harvey, president of the National Black Fellowship of the Assemblies of God, was the guest speaker.