PEOPLE: MY FAITH PEOPLE: MY FAITH

The African music brings a joyful vibrancy to the service.” ‘I learnt to trust God She joined Fr Dickson on some pastoral visits, praying for individuals in simple homes. He had also organised a week of prayer, which included a three-hour healing and more in Africa trip’ deliverance service, with plenty of singing and chanted prayers. She also took part in funeral and baptism services, which Liz Quinn went to Ghana for her placement incorporated local customs, such as as part of her training to become a Reader - gathering at the deceased person’s house the day before a funeral. and it was a life-changing experience Liz also experienced some of the outreach groups based in the , such as the Mothers’ Union, IT was a chance for Liz Quinn to Dickson Denteh, and his family, who Women’s and Men’s Fellowship step out of her comfort zone – and provided all my meals, gave me a Groups. And she saw the Anglican to place herself entirely in God’s comfortable room and organised school next to the which hands. for my washing to be done. He teaches children from two to 14 went out of his way to give me a years old. Every Wednesday, the She spent a month working in a rich experience in the church and pupils came to church for morning small parish in a remote region of wider community. His family shared prayer. Ghana as part of her training to their home with me, and the church become a Reader in the Church of community welcomed me wherever And, because Fr Dickson leads the England. It was a world away from I went. ministry for young people in his the leafy village of Hambledon, and diocese, Liz was also welcomed to a the traditional worship of St Peter “There is something about always local revival service and met some and St Paul’s Church, where she receiving rather than giving that of the young people who carry out normally attends. made me feel vulnerable. That mission in the remoter parts of the vulnerability broke down barriers. diocese. It also meant she experienced It opened us up to friendship, and being hosted entirely by Ghanaian “I am overwhelmed by the Christ’s presence between us. Love Left: Liz Quinn with parishioners at St Matthew’s, Awaso; top: at St churchgoers. Worshippers from incredibly rich experience that I was in that vulnerability.” Luke’s Church, an outstation of St Matthew’s; below: Fr Dickson Denteh, St Matthew’s Anglican Church his wife Mercy and their two youngest children have had,” she said. “It has been, in Awaso provided for her every and I’m sure will continue to be, a Hambledon is part of Bishop’s growing crops such as cocoa, maize need, despite not having much ‘I’m overwhelmed life-changing experience, not least Waltham , which is and plantain. Others are employed themselves. families to prepare for baptism and in my future ministry. by the incredibly running specific programmes. Liz linked with the Ghanaian Diocese at the bauxite mine in the forested of Wiawso. So her placement hills above the town. People are “I was aware right from the start was accepted onto the Portsmouth “I hope to be licensed this summer, rich experience I very poor.” that this was about placing myself Pathway, our local course to train was organised with St Matthew’s and will serve in the benefice in God’s hands, trusting in God,” have had.’ clergy and Readers side-by-side. Church, Awaso, within that diocese. of Hambledon, Newtown and she said. “That’s one of the big She was met and hosted by Fr Soberton. What I’ll take from this messages I came away with after Towards the end of the three-year She flew to Accra in mid- Dickson Denteh, the recently- experience into that role will be Mum-of-two Liz had worked as a my time in Ghana. course, trainee Readers have a September, travelling with the Rev appointed priest of St Matthew’s, an understanding that the core of secondary school teacher, teaching month-long placement, usually Susan Allman – now IDWAL link which also has six outstation mission is about relationships and “I also experienced my own RE to students at Oaklands in a parish within our diocese. Liz person for Fareham deanery – to churches across the locality, being vulnerable with each other; vulnerability as a guest. I journeyed RC School in Waterlooville. She felt God calling her abroad after Sekondi. After a few days there as including one that meets in a and also an understanding that simply, in the spirit of Mark 6, where had joined the congregation at hearing a talk from the director a guest of Bishop Alex Asmah, Liz classroom. On her first Sunday, she the whole of the Body of Christ is a Jesus sends his disciples out with Hambledon church nine years ago, of mission working for mission was met by the priest-warden from travelled to St Luke’s, Kojina, for the global network of people. I hope I nothing for the journey. Ghanaian choosing to say Morning Prayer agency USPG. She realised that our St Matthew’s. They caught an early Communion service. can expand the horizons of other hospitality is very generous. The there daily. diocese’s links with Ghana could morning bus together north to the people to understand that our guest is the most important person make it possible for her to visit a small rural town of Awaso. “The tradition is Anglo-Catholic, but neighbours really are global.” in the home. Nothing is too much She felt a calling to formal ministry church there, and USPG and our in an African context,” she said. ”The trouble. within the after own Inter-Diocesan West Africa “It’s a very remote area, seldom music is a mix of Church of England Liz is available to talk to many years involved with pastoral Link (IDWAL) provided funding and visited by foreigners,” said Liz. “Many hymns sung slowly in English, about her trip. Contact her on “I lived with the parish priest, Fr work in the community, helping advice. people are subsistence farmers, with African songs and dancing. [email protected]

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