Confirmation Camp in Ghana Celebrated the Gift of Faith

Pekka Kainua | The Voice of Zion October 2025 - Mission Work Field Notes Article --

A confirmation camp was held in Accra, Ghana, August 3–10, 2025. The camp took place at the Greater Hope Royal Foundation International School. A total of 47 confirmation students attended from various parts of Ghana, with the largest group coming from the congregation in Hatsukope. Most of the students were between 13 and 15 years old, though ages ranged from 12 to 37. 

Joseph Kuse was the director, and George Dozidenou was the assistant director; both are speakers in Ghana. Carey Simonson from Canada and Pekka Kainua from Finland served as teachers. There were eight counselors, all from Ghana. Lessons and devotions were conducted in English, with much of the content also translated into Ewe. The students slept in classrooms on mattresses. They woke up every day at 5 a.m. to wash and prepare before breakfast. The camp program was largely similar to that in Finland and North America. Topics included God’s plan of salvation, the sacraments, the Bible, the Triune God, prayer, the gospel, and the Kingdom of God. 

Sometimes lessons ran longer than planned, but the students were eager to learn more. They took notes diligently and enthusiastically learned new songs. Each day began and ended with a devotion based on God’s Word. “Knowing our Savior Jesus Christ and becoming a child of God is the most precious matter in life,” was a sentiment repeated many times during the camp. The gospel of forgiveness was preached both in devotions and lessons. 

There was also free time, during which students played soccer and volleyball, skipped rope and played darts. On the second-to-last evening, we had a campfire in the school yard, where we ate and sang together. 

The program had allocated time for three question box discussions. So many questions were received that a fourth discussion session was added. Many of the questions were doctrinal, and many concerned courtship and marriage. 

On Tuesday, the third day of camp, 28 confirmation students and 3 small children were baptized. Some parents and local believers also attended the baptism ceremony, which was held in the school yard. Most who were baptized wore traditional festive clothing. 

On Saturday, the last full day of the camp, a “class trip” was made to the memorial park and museum of Ghana’s first president. For most of the youth, it was their first visit. Ghanaian flags were at half-mast due to a helicopter accident that took place during the confirmation week in which two government ministers died. 

On Sunday, August 10, a confirmation service was held in the Accra church. Two school buses transported the students to the church. Joseph, the director, asked the confirmation students questions about key matters of faith, and the youth responded well. George led a prayer and gave words of encouragement to the parents. Pekka administered communion, and Carey preached about the prophet Elijah on Mount Horeb. God did not reveal Himself to Elijah in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper. 

At the end, the song “God be with you till we meet again” was sung. The youth wish to remain in faith, and they asked to be remembered in prayer as they returned to their home villages.  

A Big Sister at Ghana’s Confirmation School Shares Her Thoughts 

Pekka Kainua interviewed Joyce Nana Kuse 

I am Joyce Nana Kuse, a 25-year-old IT student at Bluecrest College. I am Ghanaian and live in Accra. My family consists of my parents, one sister and two brothers. 

The activities of the believers in Accra started in 2007. I was 7 years old at the time. At first, the services were held in our home. Later, we rented a classroom from the school as a place of worship. After that, we rented land from the school. The believers built our own church on rented land. That church building was completed in 2009. Last year, the current new church was completed on our own land that we bought. 

Our home Zion currently holds services every Sunday morning. We have two ministers in Ghana, my father Joseph Kuse and George Dodzidenu. If both ministers are speaking in other villages, we listen to the WhatsApp services in the church. 

I work as a Sunday school teacher in Accra. There is also another Sunday school teacher in the home Zion, Eugenia. Usually, we hold Sunday school every Sunday. I started teaching Sunday school last year. It’s nice to be a teacher because I also learn. I prepare for Sunday school by always making short notes beforehand. I also prepare questions. Being a teacher also teaches me patience. I get to know each child. I like children. 

The Ten Commandments are my favorite lesson. It’s important to know God’s will and His commandments. Sometimes I also do other work in the church. I help with the organization of services, for example by selecting songs. Sometimes I serve by making announcements in the church. Sometimes I help by cleaning the church. 

Now I was a big sister at confirmation camp, for the second time. The previous time was in 2018. My own confirmation was in 2013. It helped build my faith life. There are few believers in Ghana, but it was important to be in confirmation school with other believers. 

As a big sister or counselor, you get to know the students well and have conversations with them. In this role, I can encourage them to believe, read the Bible, and talk about faith. As a counselor, I’ve even learned more from the confirmation lessons than I did as a student.

What comes to mind when you think of the following words? 

Home Zion: Home Zion and family make it easier to remain a believer. 

The Bible: It’s not just a book. Reading it helps and encourages. 

Confirmation school: I was in confirmation school in 2013. It was my first time at camp and away from home. The confirmation school helped me to interact with other people. I also learned a lot about our faith. 

Family: I have a believing family where everyone is a believer. It is a great blessing. We always get to ask for forgiveness and to forgive sins at home. 

Work for the Kingdom of God: It has been nice for me and a blessing in many ways.  

Letters from Ghana’s Confirmation School Students

Dear brothers and sisters in faith,

God’s Peace, how are you doing? We are at confirmation camp in Accra, Ghana, 2025, building our faith and learning more about the gospel. We are remembering you in our prayers.

We hope that God protects and guides you in this narrow journey home. It is a good thing to confess your sins and have them forgiven through the name and precious blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Preach the gospel to your country, people, and we wish you the best of luck. We hope to see you one day in heaven. 

Thank you, God’s Peace, G-Mike, Princess Nayram, Sarah Atigah, Esther Apenya, Gabriel  

God’s Peace, dear brothers and sisters in faith. 

This is David’s group at 2025 confirmation camp, Ghana. We write to extend our warm greetings to you believers around the world. We have faith that God will put everything in control, and forgive our sins so we can go to heaven and sit at Jesus’ feet, and we hope we can meet all of you in heaven. We all know that the most precious matter in our life is to become a believer and to become a believer we need to believe our sins forgiven and we pray your sins will be forgiven in Jesus’ name. We want you to keep faith and good conscience to preach the gospel of the Lord to others.

God bless and protect you. God’s Peace once again, stay blessed. 

Thank you. Mary-Queen, Juliet, Douglas, George  

Dear brothers and sisters in faith, 

God’s Peace! We hope you are fine by the grace of God. It is our prayer that we continue to stay in faith. We hope to meet you someday. It has been such a blessing to be a believer in faith. Make sure you keep faith and have a good conscience. Always keep listening to the gospel and love your neighbors as yourselves. 

Thank you. Erica Adidivi, Desmond Adidivi, Alida Asare, Vincent Logosu  

God’s Peace dear brothers and sisters. 

We are a group of 12-year-old boys and girls at Ghana confirmation camp 2025. We hope you are doing fine by the grace of God. Keep your faith in God and believe the gospel so that it will lead us to heaven. Dear believers, believe all your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name and blood. 

Love and God’s Peace, Catherine Adidivi, Mabel Tameklo, Breight, Hope Collius  

Dear children of God,

God’s Peace. We are sending blessing from Ghana confirmation camp held in Accra. It is good to keep faith and a clean conscience.

We are remembering you and your families with much love and prayer. Confess your sins so that you can believe the gospel message and fight the good fight of faith.

Perfect Adidivi, Vincent Adidivi, Perpetual Logosu, Prosper Tefeali, Ransford Atigouh  

Dear brothers and sisters, God’s Peace.

We are glad to write you this letter. We have heard a lot about you too, we would like to meet you all. And believe in God and never lose faith in Him. All your sins are forgiven and be preaching the Gospel to others that are around you.

Do not lose faith in God and your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name and precious blood. Amen.

God’s Peace from Sarah, Blessing, Rose, Jerry, Samuel