Christian Outreach Fellowship

Christian Outreach Fellowship (COF) is one of West Africa’s most respected indigenous mission organisations, sharing the gospel among people groups in Ghana and the nearby countries of Togo, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.

COF recruits, trains and sends Ghanaian Christians who have received the call to live and work as missionaries in their own land. Their primary work is with Muslim and other people groups, including the Sunyani, Yeji, Chakala, Paga, Adiembra and Ligbi. Thirteen priority areas within Ghana have been identified.

Village scene in rural Ghana

COF's ministry focuses on a four-fold strategy:

church planting among unreached peoples
field-based leadership and training of church planters
holistic initiatives
missionary support development in Ghana.

The fruits of the labours of more than 300 ministry workers in the field are evident: in a recent year, COF planted 32 new churches, and over 4,300 people accepted Jesus. Regional and national training seminars are held throughout the year.

Workers travel by motorbike

In northern Ghana, villages are located in isolated areas, without roads or other forms of transport. Workers must travel many miles, usually by foot, bicycle or motorbike to reach these communities.

WorldShare assists COF in the financial support of training and workers, and the provision of practical needs such as transport.

COF Leadership

Emmanuel was born in 1959 in a little village called Kopoase. His father was a fetish priest with two wives and ten children. His parents and the whole community were ardent animists, worshippers of idols and ancestors.

As a teenager, Emmanuel was invited to attend Scripture Union meetings several times. At first he refused, but finally relented at the insistence of his friends.

After a few meetings, Emmanuel put his faith in Jesus. Receiving the call to full-time ministry, Emmanuel received his theology degree and later joined Christian Outreach Fellowship. Overseeing the church-planting work, Emmanuel served as COF’s Field Director for many years. In 2006, he was promoted to National Director.

Emmanuel and his wife Mercy have four children.

'It Is More Honorable to Die a Christian..'

In spite of extreme poverty, when a person dies in COF Missionary Alex Kipo’s area, the family spend lots of money for an elaborate funeral. In their view, this is the best way to honour the dead.

One of the challenges Alex faces is how to transform cultural practices that are tainted with idolatry. Recently some believers died. Unbelievers claimed that because Christians do not perform elaborate funerals, they are “buried like dogs.”

But Alex proved them all wrong. A memorial was held for the deceased, followed by an open air celebration with Christian music, dance, and preaching. Instead of the family spending lots of money on offerings, a love donation was given to the widow. In the end, unbelievers testified that it is more honorable to die a Christian.

PROJECTS (Click on the links to see details of the projects of this ministry partner)

105024 Storying Seminars

105063 Rehabilitation of Alleged Witches

PRAYER LETTERS

(Click on the link to read the most recent prayer letter from this ministry partner)

Ghana - Christian Outreach Fellowship - July 2011 (PDF)

Ghana - Christian Outreach Fellowship - March 2012 (PDF)

OUTCOMES

Bull & plough (Gift of Hope)