Short history of Immanuel Presby Church
GENESIS
The Immanuel Congregation, Madina started in 1962 as a group meeting for prayer and devotion on the veranda of the late Mr. S.M.K. Tettey and his wife Leticia Dakoa Tettey who had moved from Kokomlemle in Accra to settle at Madina.
The Tettey family who had moved to settle at Madina and were already members of the Adabraka Presbyterian Church, started a small group meeting which attracted other persons who had moved away from their mother churches to settle at Madina. These people who heard of the group meetings joined them to worship. The members increased in numbers, and this made them move to a temporary shed near Madina Market on 9thDecember, 1962. This was because the house could no longer accommodate the growing numbers. The new church was officially inaugurated by Rev. A.M.O. Ayettey of Adabraka Presby Church on 17th January 1963.
Catechist E. O. Tettey, (now Reverend) was sent to the young church as the first Catechist. He was also in charge of a Presbyterian Church at Nkwantanang and organized joint communion services for the two churches. During the early stages of the Church’s life, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana Students Union led by Late Rev. A.A. Beeko (later Moderator of the Synod) who was then a student and Chairman of the Union, voluntarily offered help to the Church. They joined as evangelists to help the new church grow. The Union’s musical band was directed by the late Professor Oware Twerefour
Unfortunately, in the year 1965 some of the Ewe congregants of the newly established young church left to form the Evangelical Presbyterian Church at Madina. Due to the break away the church at Nkwantanang merged with the one at Madina Market to have a single Presbyterian Church. The members of the church saw that the temporary shed could not contain them due to its growth. They therefore decided to seek for a new place of worship at the Madina School (No. 1) where Chief Alhaji Seidu willingly granted them the use of one of the classrooms. Evangelist A.A.A. Amoah, replaced Catechist E. O. Tettey in 1965 and he was replaced by Teacher Catechist A.A.A. Adjei in 1966.
ACQUISITION OF LAND
The land on which the church is currently situated was acquired from the La Mantse Nii Anyetei Kwakwranya for free. The church’s team was led by Rev. A. L. Kwansah then Synod Clerk of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. With the growth of the new congregation, the land was handed over to them to permanently have a structure built on it. Due to immense contributions by church members, the construction of the chapel started in earnest. The result was the old chapel building constructed under the able directions of Nana Asante Owusu I (Deceased). The old chapel was dedicated on 12th April 1968. When Mr. A.A. Adjei was being transferred from the Church in 1970, the Church was fully equipped with pews which we are still using.
A classroom block constructed was later converted into a Manse which has been used as such since 8th November 1972. On 1st May 1970 Catechist S. K. SaforoBampoe was transferred to Madina and lived in the manse. This has been the residence of all agents posted to Madina since then.
Groups
The Church’s rapid growth was greatly enhanced by the formation of the various groups within the Church. The Children’s Service was started as early as 1962 with the children of the late Tettey’s and those of the other members of the church.
The Women’s Fellowship, under the leadership of the late MrsDakoaTettey immediately organized themselves to form the Women’s Fellowship in 1963. In 1970, under the leadership of Messrs Leonard Opoku and R.D. Manu, the Singing Band and Church Choir were formed respectively.
The YPG was established by Mr. Tettey Doe of Mamprobi Presbyterian Church who had then joined the Madina Congregation. The burning enthusiasm of the Young People’s Guild gave birth to the Bible Study and Prayer Group, under the leadership of Mr. D.T. Okyere in 1971. Through the initiative of Mr. E. Ahia Boye the Men’s Fellowship was formed in 1979. In 1980, Miss Doriss Asante, now Catechist and Mr. S.N. Debrah started the Boys and Girls Brigade.
Following the new Youth Policy of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Nana Mintah, the then Minister in Charge of the Congregation instructed Mr. Kwaku Asare Ayeh and other members of the YPG to establish the Junior Youth in 1987.
The Young Adults Fellowship was later formed in 2007 due to a General Assembly decision. Members from the Congregation have been pioneers and leaders of most of the District groups.