Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1958, Page 83

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Lutheran Synodical Conference, 1958 83

N.C., U.S.A., for the period of 1952 to 1955. After my graduation
in June 1955, I sailed back to Ghana, West Africa, to do mission-
ary work.

It will interest you to know that, by the grace of God, I have
succeeded in establishing a Lutheran church in Accra, capital
of Ghana, West Africa. During my student days in America,
I had the privilege of seeing the film entitled: “Here I Stand,”
a life history of Martin Luther. I was so much thrilled with the
nature of the film on that particular day that I firmly resolved
to have a Lutheran church established on my safe arrival back
home in Africa.

I sincerely thank God that my dreams have been fulfilled;
and that today, a branch of Lutheran movement has also been
planted on the soil of Ghana. The new church, which was started
out of nothing but prayer and supplication, has, within such
a short time, embraced quite a good number of enthusiastic
indigenous men, women, and children.

I trust your church, upon your official recommendation, will
favorably and sympathetically accept the great challenge I have
presented before them without failure or disappointment what-
soever, so that my stupendous labor in Africa might not be in
vain. “Come over to Macedonia (Ghana), and help us,” is my
final petition to you and your church.

When this letter was turned over to the Missionary Board for
consideration, the Board instructed its executive secretary to cable
Dr. E. Bertermann, who happened to be in Ghana in the interest
of the Lutheran Hour, and to urge him to investigate this matter
by forming a contact with Rev. Asante in order to ascertain facts
essential and necessary for the establishment of a Lutheran church
in this part of West Africa. In his report to his Board, Dr. Berter-
mann recorded his findings as follows:

While in Ghana I received a cablegram from Dr. Karl Kurth,
executive secretary of our church’s Board for African Missions,
asking me to look up the Rev. Samuel K. Asante, P.O. Box 3020,
in Accra. He is very interested in the possibility of having the
Lutheran Church enter upon missionary work in Ghana and
feels there is a magnificent opportunity. The government, he
stated, is favorable and friendly. I have recommended to the
Missionary Board (1) that Dr. Kurth visit Ghana and lay further
plans; (2) that one of the men of the Nigerian mission visit
Ghana; (3) that the Board send appropriate theological books
to Pastor Asante to acquaint him with our theological position.

The Missionary Board deemed it necessary to send the super-
intendent of our Nigerian Church, Rev. William Schweppe, to
Ghana. He gave the following report (condensed) on his second
visitation to Ghana:

While I do not have anything very spectacular to report
regarding my visit, I can say that this visit confirmed for me
the conviction I had gained on my first visit to Accra, namely,
that we have a fine opening into Ghana with a good nucleus in

cera.

I naturally spent much of my time with Pastor Asante. We
were together about three hours every day going through
Koehler’s A Summary of Christian Doctrine. He assured me that
he (Asante) is in full agreement with all the doctrines we cov-
ered. His attitude and spirit were very good all along.

Naturally, I met as frequently as possible with the people
for services and instruction. During the course of our meetings,
forty adults gave me their names and stated that they desire to