About the Glory of God prayer group

A brief history of Glory of God prayer group, St. Cecelia’s parish, Wa diocese

How the Glory of God prayer group started

The Glory of God prayer group was formed in 1990. Until 1989, there was only one parish in Wa town. As such there was one Catholic Charismatic Renewal prayer group at St. Andrew’s Cathedral parish. St. Cecilia’s parish was carved out of the Cathedral parish in 1989. For some time all members of the Renewal in Wa continued to have activities and programmes together at the Cathedral. By the beginning of 1990, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal members from St. Cecelia’s parish had thought it was time to stand on their own as a parish. A new prayer group was formed at St. Cecilia, even though members of this new group were members that came from the Cathedral group. This was done to enable the group reach out to the new parish for members.

Challenges at the beginning of the Glory of God prayer group

The membership of the group was small and seemed not to have impact on parishioners and the parish as a whole. Even derogatory names were given to the group and its activities e.g. “frustrated people group’’ “puori hahaa” (uncoordinated prayer), and others. This attitude of people towards the group never discouraged the members, who remained faithful to their meetings for prayers, sharing of scriptures and intercession for the way forward.

Improvement in the music

A time came when the Glory of God prayer group saw the need to improve upon their music since that could attract the youth to the meetings. The group started acquiring musical instruments: drums, organ, guitars and other equipment, to improve their music during prayer meetings. This enhanced the performance of the music ministry. Wherever the ministry performed it drew the attention of both the youth and the elderly alike. Some decided to join the group and the group began to grow in numbers. Prayer meetings became livelier.

Ministries in the Glory of God prayer group

A number of ministries were instituted to minister to the group.

Music ministry

The music ministry takes care of singing during prayer meetings, celebration of mass, weddings to which they are invited, and any other gatherings where the group is invited to or needs to sing.

Teaching ministry

The teaching ministry takes care of preparing a programme of teachings that are given in prayer meetings. Its members give the teachings at the prayer meetings.

Service ministry

The service ministry takes care of preparing meeting venue and other services required by the group.

Healing and deliverance ministry

The healing and deliverance ministry ministers to people with both physical and spiritual problems by counselling and praying with them for God's intervention.

Outreach ministry

The outreach ministry came about when one of the group members felt the call for the group to go out to other parishes in the Diocese of Wa to witness to fellow Catholics. This was the time many young Catholics were leaving the Catholic Church for newly established charismatic and Pentecostal churches. The ministry had challenges at the beginning with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal leaders and the Church hierarchy. However, the ministry continued to seek the face of God in prayer and was given the go-ahead in 1992 to stand as a recognised ministry of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. To depict the objective of the ministry, it was named “Faith Outreach ministry”. Objectives include:

1. To share their faith with fellow Catholics by sharing life testimonies
2. To educate and challenge Catholic youth to take interest in understanding their faith and the power available therein.

Intercessory ministry

The intercessory ministry is dedicated to interceding for the group, group members, the Church, the Nation, the sick, the persecuted, and many other issues.

Youth ministry

The youth of the Glory of God prayer group make up the youth ministry. They meet to discuss issues concerning the life of the youth and how to live faithful christian lives.

Women ministry

The women ministry trains women in areas that will make them successful in their homes, businesses and in the Church.

Programmes of the Glory of God prayer group (weekly)

The Glory of God prayer group has weekly programmes that all or specific ministry members are expected to participate in. The group currently has the following programme line-up:

Other meetings include:

Children ministry meets on the Sunday during the teaching session of the prayer meeting
Women ministry meets on Saturdays/Sundays
Teaching ministry meets on the second to last Monday of every quarter
Three days of fasting and prayers are held during the last week-end of every month (Wednesday to Friday)

Achievements of Glory of God prayer group

1. Life in the Spirit Seminars are organised every year (including for other groups in the chirch).
2. Members are encouraged to be assertive and to play leadership roles in the group and in the parish.
3. The group has a number of elderly members taking active roles and playing the role of mentors
4. Members have cultivated the spirit of sacrifice of their time and resources for the good of  the group and the parish

Challenges of the Glory of God prayer group

1. The Glory of God prayer group has an unstable membership base due to transfer of workers and schooling of the younger members.
2. Increasing cost of outreach and other group programmes.

In spite of the challenges, membership of the group is resolved not to be discouraged. Instead, they are willing to sacrifice to resource the group financially to be able to carry out its programmes. The Glory of God prayer group is also committed to mentoring younger members to take up leadership of the group as older members retire to the background.

How do you join the Glory of God prayer group?

You do not need to do anything special to join the Glory of God prayer group. Just pop in at any of our programmes, especially the Sunday prayer meeting, and you are a member. The group welcomes people from all walks of life (see the Profile of the Glory of God prayer group), as long as they are willing to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. In short, the group accepts everybody, just as our Lord Jesus Christ did. Contact us for more information.

Where can you find the Glory of God prayer group?

The Glory of God prayer group is Located in Wa town in the St. Cecelia’s parish, Wa Diocese, Ghana. We hold our prayer meetings at the main parish, behind residency, Mangu. For more information, contact us.

Contact persons

Mathias Badu Dery

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mobile: +233205363549

Address: HNo KW/34,

                 Kambali,

                 Wa, Upper West Region,

                 Ghana.

Felix Dordaa Mahama

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mobile: +233201135125

Address: HNo 196 BLK C,

                 Napogbakole,

                 Wa, Upper West Region,

                 Ghana.