THE FOUNDATION OF OLIVET VOICES
In 1983 a group of young Christians in the Mt. Olivet Methodist Youth Fellowship came together to form a singing group as a tool for evangelism in the Fellowship and in the church. This move was initiated by Brother Ben Essien, who became the 1st President of the Group. He mobilized some brethren to meet in his house to learn songs and pray together. The group which was named Victory Voices, began with a membership of (12)-seven brothers and five sisters. The Pioneers included Brothers Ben Essien, Eric Clarke and Sisters Jacqueline Ennin (nee Clarke), Ama Sagoe-Nkansah, Regina Essien (nee Wilson), Pearl Tetteh, Paintsil and Grace Boahene (nee Otoo).
The objectives of the group were:
- To support the Youth Fellowship and the church through its evangelism activities.
- To reach out to non-Christians through song ministration.
By God’s grace, through the assistance of some individuals, both in and outside the Society who shared the vision, Victory Voices grew rapidly. The group’s first performance outside the Society was in 1985 upon recommendation by Bro. Sarpong-Dam, then a leader of the Mt. Olivet Society. This was at no mean an occasion than the 150th anniversary celebration of the Methodist Church Ghana.
It was after this performance that the Society showed increased interest in the group, adopted it and changed its name to OLIVET VOICES. Later on Bro. Dan Seedah together with some other patrons of the group suggested that membership be open to all in the congregation who saw their gift in line with the singing ministry. Membership of the group thus increased. With the assistance of some individuals such as Bro. Dan Seedah, the late Bro. Quarm, Bro. J. R. Quansah, Olivet Voices obtained basic musical instruments, which further enhanced its ministration at different fora.
The group was officially inaugurated as Olivet Voices on Sunday September 24, 1989 by the late Very Rev’d Isaac Bonful under the leadership of Brother Eric Clarke.
At the time, it was rare to see such groups in the Methodist church and it is worth noting that Olivet Voices is among the first if not the first, of such groups to be formed in the Methodist Church Ghana. The
exploits of Olivet Voices spread fast through a number of churches both Methodist and Non-Methodists and this encouraged other churches to also form similar singing groups.
In 1991, Olivet Voices launched its first album “Osabarima”. The Society leadership subsequently set up a Management Committee to have oversight responsibility of the group’s activities led by the Late Bro. Kweku Budu-Manuel in 1993. Bro. Joseph Aryitey was tasked to develop operating guidelines for the group. After thorough review and inputs, the guidelines were adopted by the management committee and the executive members of the Olivet Voices as the constitution of the group.
Outreach Programmes
Besides ministering at divine Services, the group was involved in Crusades, Revival meetings, Breakfast meetings and Gospel Music shows, among others. After starting with its “Jerusalem” (Dansoman and its environs) Olivet Voices travelled to villages to hold crusades and other outreach programmes. This endeavour took the group to Awutu Breku, Ajumako, Anto-abesa & Assin Fosu (Central Region), Tutu & Adukrom (Akwapim, Eastern Region), Akosombo & Koforidua (Eastern Region), Sekondi (Western Region) and many others.
School Evangelism programme was also a very important aspect of the group’s outreach programmes. The group has visited a good number of second cycle and tertiary institutions to share the Word of God including Wesley Grammar School, Accra Academy School, Aburi Girls Senior High School, Accra Girls’ High School, Nifa Senior High School, Assin Fosu Training College, Accra Teachers Training College (ATTRACO), Accra Polytechnic and University of Ghana.
International Ministration
In 2002, Olivet Voices was invited to the U.S. by the Global Evangelism Task Force, to minister in a series of revival programmes dubbed “Prayer for the Nation”. Olivet Voices was invited to represent the Republic of Ghana, Sub-Saharan Africa at this all-important programme. Though the group missed the main programme due to some major challenges, the group participated in other revival programmes with other churches including:
- Christ Pentecostal international Church (A Church that can best be described as the Macedonian Church, which Paul wrote about in (2 Corinthians 8).
- Faith Family Ministries International Church (where our first president Pastor Clarke heads) also in Virginia(USA) Olivet Voices has and is still very much involved in both Diocesan and Connexional crusades and other programmes of the Methodist church Ghana such as the Accra Diocesan crusade with Dr. Lawrence Tetteh.
Affiliations and Support to other Societies
The group has given support to other Societies within and outside the Methodist Church to encourage the formation of singing ministries. Among these were Emmanuel Presbyterian Church and Asem Fellowship in Dansoman, Calvary Methodist Society – Tutu, Messiah Baptist Church, Kanda, Holy Family Catholic Church, Mataheko, Accra, Victory Singers – Gethsemane Methodist Society, Mamprobi, St. Peter’s Methodist Society, Ashaiman and Calvary Jewels – Calvary Methodist Church- Accra.
It is important to note that other members who relocated from Dansoman supported their new Societies by starting singing ministries there.
Olivet Voices can boast of members who have been ordained as Ministers of the Gospel: The Rev’d Isaac Hammond, The Rev’d David Quayson, The Rev. Bismark Anderson, Pastor Eric Clarke (USA), Pastor Rita Tandoh (UK) and Rev’d Bernard Blessing (USA).
In 2009, Olivet Voices launched its second gospel music album “Adom Na Nyhira” to mark its 20th
Anniversary celebrations. Between 2009 and 2014 the group has been engaged in a number of activities including, Crusades; MTN Easter Festivals and other outreach programmes. In addition to these, the group organizes its flagship musical programme dubbed “LIFT HIM HIGH”. Lift Him High is an evangelistic focused musical programme which is purposed to win souls and also thank God for a successful new year.