The Ghana School of Biblical Studies is located in Aboaso, Ghana which is
just outside the city of Kumasi. Kumasi is the second largest city in the country of Ghana with
over 2 million people. There are over 25 million people in a country of 92,098 square miles. By
comparison, the state of Missouri has a population of over 6 million while being 69,706 square
miles.
The campus has three buildings on it. The main building holds the
classroom, dorms, kitchen, dining hall, and restrooms. Another building has a guest quarters for
visitors to stay in. The third building is a staff room for staff members to live in during
school. As seen to the right the campus is completely walled for security.
The classroom is equipped with nice desks and chairs. Chapel is also held
in the classroom in the mornings. There are two main classes each week-day.
The school has a growing library with about 400 books in it. There are
commentaries, dictionaries, and study books for many topics. Students are able to use these
books to help them in their studies outside the classroom.
There are five dorm rooms which can house eighteen students. The dorms have
beds mosquito nets and dressers for storage.
The dining hall where all meals are eaten. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are
all served everyday at the appropriate times.
There is a lounge room for breaks and relaxing in between studying. There
are couches and a TV in this room.
Williams Benjamin Anarfi saw an advertisement for the Memphis School of Preaching in the United
States. He contacted Curtis Cates, the director of the school at the time, about coming to train in
America. Brother Cates gave Williams’ name to Jerry Sullins who was the director of the Botswana
School of Biblical studies (now the Zambia School of Biblical Studies) in Africa. Williams was flown
from Ghana to Botswana where he successfully completed the two-year preacher training program there.
During his training in Botswana, Ray Sullins was one of Williams’ instructors.
Upon his graduation in 1994, he returned to continue the work he had already started in Ghana. He
has been working very diligently to evangelize and plant churches for over 20 years in Offinso and
Kumasi. Two other men from Ghana, James Acheampong and Samuel Amponsah, trained at the Zambia School
of Biblical Studies and graduated in 2003. Upon their graduation, they returned to Ghana to begin
helping in the efforts already started by Williams Anarfi.
These men had a great zeal for God and for spreading the gospel. Seeing the need to have trained
preachers in area congregations that had been planted, these men started a Saturday school called
the Ghana Institute of Christian Studies in 2004. Since its beginning, over 75 men have graduated
from this training program to work as gospel preachers. The main work in Ghana is being done on a
daily basis by these men who are preaching throughout Ghana.
Ray Sullins and Brent Green (along with others) began making trips to Ghana in 2000 to help out
Williams and the brethren in Ghana in their efforts to spread the gospel, strengthen the church, and
train faithful men to preach the gospel.
The Ghana Institute of Christian Studies has continued its classes on Saturdays since 2004. Their
motto has been “Convert, Train, and Convert Together,” taken from the sentiments of Paul when he
said, “Commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). Without
trained, faithful men, the welfare of the church would soon begin to wane.
Since the school began in 2004, there have been over 75 men who have graduated from this Saturday
school. Williams Anarfi, James Acheampong, and Samuel Amponsah taught these students every Saturday
through 2016. This training gave these men enough biblical knowledge to do the work of evangelists
(2 Tim. 4:5). Because of this school, trained preachers have been placed in planted churches
throughout Ghana.
The desire for many years was for the Ghana Institute of Christian Studies to become a full-time
(Monday-Friday) school for training preachers. It was realized that having a full-time school (like
the Zambia School of Biblical Studies) would only better and more fully equip these men before they
went out to preach and teach. Furthermore, the churches would be greatly strengthened by having men
who better understood the Scriptures because full-time operation would increase the instructional
hours five-fold. In turn, this would produce stronger graduates who would be better equipped to deal
with the issues that the church in Ghana is facing. The future strength of the church in Ghana
depends upon the strength of its preachers. The more training a man has, the better equipped he will
be in the truth.
For this reason, in January 2017 a full-time school of preaching was started in Aboaso, Ghana (just
outside of Kumasi). The name of this school is the Missouri Institute of Biblical Studies Ghana. God
has blessed us to be a part of such a great work in His kingdom. Our goal is to train men to preach
the gospel throughout Africa so that the boarders of His kingdom might be increased. Thanks be to
God for blessing this work!
Williams Anarfi, director and
instructor, is married to Josephine and are blessed with six children, three sons, and three
daughters. He was born at Ejura in the Ashanti region of Ghana, May 25, 1951. He graduated from
the Botswana School of Biblical Studies in Botswana and received an Associates Degree in
Biblical Studies in 1994. He preached for the New Offinso church of Christ in New Offinso,
Ghana. He later preached for the Old Tafo church of Christ in Kumasi, Ghana. He now works full
time with the school as the director and an instructor.
James Acheampong, instructor, was born at Offinso in
1972. He is married with two chidren. He was a graduate of the Zambia school of Biblical Studies
in 2003 and received an Associates Degree in Biblical Studies. He returned to Ghana in November
of 2003 and began working with the Afrancho church of Christ and began working with Williams
Anarfi at the Ghana Institute of Christian Studies. He now works with the Missouri Institute of
Biblical Studies Ghana as a full time instructor, but still preaches for the Afrancho
congregation.
Henry Owusu, instructor, born in 1981 in the
Ashanti Region, Ghana, is a devoted family man, and preacher. Graduating
from the part-time preaching school in 2005 and the full-time school in 2017, Henry's journey
has been one of commitment and faith. Married with four children, he spent 15 years preaching
for the Abofour church of Christ from 2007 to 2022 and now leads the Old Tafo congregation from
2022 onward. His life is a testament that He is a godly man and spiritually dedicated to the
service of others and the word of God.
Festus Krumah, instructor, born in 1989 in the Ashanti Region, Ghana, embraces his role with passion and
purpose. Married and currently savoring the joys of family life, Festus, while yet to welcome
children, finds fulfillment in his work as a preacher and instructor. He holds a High National Diploma and proudly
graduated from the Missouri Institute of Biblical Studies Ghana in 2020. Festus encapsulates his
commitment to his work with a powerful declaration: "We will never quit preaching." He has been
preaching for the Aboaso 2 church of Christ since 2019. His life reflects not only a commitment to
service but also a positive outlook on the work for the kingdom of God.
