Immanuel Presbyterian Church: A congregation transforming lives through volleyball

In the heart of Madina, Accra, a local church has redefined the notion of community service through an unconventional but highly effective initiative: a volleyball team, called IPC Volleyball Club.

This programme has not only fostered a sense of camaraderie and physical fitness among its members but has also transformed lives by providing jobs, educational scholarships, and even opportunities to play at the national level.

The IPC Volleyball Club also competes in the Greater Accra Volleyball League, sitting 8th on the table with 4 wins and 2 defeats after 4 games.

Headed by Reverend Colonel Adoteye-Asare as the minister in charge, the church’s volleyball initiative operates on four thematic areas (the 4 Es): evangelism, education, empowerment and employment.

“Our primary objective is to evangelize through sports, or using volleyball, as an evangelistic tool, to win souls for Christ, which is the primary aim of the church.- Evans Asante, chairman of the sports management committee of Immanuel Presbyterian Church Volleyball told Asaase Sports.

“Secondly, we want to ensure that the youth in the Madina community are educated on the idea that Christians can also undertake sports.

Then the next element is where we want to empower all the youth especially in the church, and in the Madina community, to be aware, and also create the awareness that yes, sports is one of the areas you can develop your talent.

Then the last one is employment, these are young guys with different levels of education. Most of them, when they finish the JHS or the Senior High Schools are not able to continue and therefore, they are not able to have a gainful employment, but we can nurture them.

Many a time we have scouts coming around, when they identify these players, they are called up to the security services team or some of them play national teams- and some of them have been playing outside of the country, which has helped these guys gain employment and not become a nuisance in the public or in the Madina community.”- said, Evans Asante.

The team has a rented residence that accommodates players from other regions of the country. The Church together with some members fund the team’s feeding, medicals, logistics for training, and transportation on game days among others. “The players’ cooperation has also helped us because it is not the best of conditions we hope for but coming from different backgrounds, they have understood each other and co- habiting nicely.”- Evans Asante added.

The church’s volleyball team began 48 years ago as a modest attempt to engage youth in positive activities, winning souls and sustaining the youth. With growing concerns about negative influences, the church leaders saw sports as a constructive outlet.

They established the volleyball team, focusing on the four elements mentioned above; Evangelism, Education, Empowerment, and Employment.

“We were a group of young people, volleyball enthusiasts in Madina. We had quite several young people who liked to play volleyball but some of them were messing up their lives so we spoke to the church hierarchy and they agreed we could bring the game home others from town also joined.

“So it’s been very productive in winning souls and sustaining young lives”- said Kweku Asare Aye, a founding member of the team.

Quickly, the initiative gained popularity, drawing participants from various religious backgrounds. Some members joined the church through the volleyball team.

“One man from Takoradi saw our team, he got attracted so he started joining our training sessions, and decided to join the church. So we didn’t go and preach to him about Christ but volleyball brought him to us and now he is a member of the Young Adult Fellowship(YAF)”-said George Asare, Chairperson of the Committee on Mission and Evangelism.

One of the most remarkable outcomes of the church’s volleyball club program has been its ability to provide economic opportunities.

Recognising the potential for sports to change lives, the church sought partnerships with local businesses and organizations. These collaborations led to job placements for several team members.

Understanding that education is a crucial pathway to long-term success, the church leveraged its network to secure scholarships for promising players.

By excelling both in their sport and academics, several team members have received scholarships to prestigious schools and universities. These opportunities have allowed them to pursue higher education without the financial burden that often hinders students from low-income families.

Amadou Alhassan, setter of the team is from the Upper West Region, he is now schooling at the West Africa Senior High School on a scholarship.

Alhassan. a Muslim explained that he has improved in the game since he joined the team. “I give thanks to the captain and coaches for giving me the opportunity. Since I joined the team, I’ve improved a lot, I’m schooling and working for the church at the same time so the team has helped me well’

“People ask me why I’m I working in a church but I tell them I’m working for God.” – he said.

Perhaps the most exciting development has been the recognition of the church’s volleyball talent on a national scale. Through rigorous training and participation in regional competitions, some players have caught the eye of national scouts. As a result, four team members were called up to represent Ghana in the 2023 African Games held in Accra.

Even though Eric Nutsugah(libero) and his mates didn’t cut the final squad in the bronze medal-winning team, they acknowledge the valuable experience gained.

“I didn’t expect that call but I believe our performance in the league did the magic. I was ecstatic when my coach informed me of the call-up to the National Team. Though I didn’t make it into the final squad, I am thankful for the experience gained and I am grateful to the church and team which afforded me the opportunity.”- Eric Nutsugah told Asaase Sports.

The team does not have an active female side but it has served as a pipeline for many female professional players.

Several players have been drafted into some security services teams at the national level. Chelsea Achiaa hopes to be one of them. “I want to be one of the best players and inspire other young players. There are a lot of opportunities in playing volleyball.”- she said.

The success of the volleyball team has had a ripple effect throughout the community. It has become a symbol of hope and possibility, proving that sports can be a powerful vehicle for social change. The church plans to expand the program, hoping to include more sports and to reach a larger number of youths through Evangelism, Education, Empowerment, and Employment.

They aim to continue providing scholarships and job opportunities, ensuring that the benefits of the program extend beyond the volleyball court.

IPC’s volleyball club is more than just a sports program; it is a transformative initiative that has significantly impacted the lives of its participants and the community at large.

Through jobs, scholarships, and national recognition, the church has shown that with vision and dedication, sports can be a powerful tool for empowerment and change.

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