Elder Klebingat Joins Accra Ghana Madina Stake in Launching ‘Gathering Place’

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On 20 April 2024, Elder Jörg Klebingat, a General Authority Seventy and member of the Africa West Area presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, presided over the launch of the Accra Ghana Madina Stake Gathering Place.  Over 300 individuals attended the launch and signed up for technical and vocational training programs.

Joining Elder Klebingat at the launch was the Stake Presidency of the Accra Ghana Madina Stake, President Yaw Adjin Danso, and his counselors Alexander Ansong and Acheampong Ofosu Hene.  Also attending was the Honorable Jalil Madina, the Assemblyman representing the Nkwantanang Madina Municipal District in Greater Accra.

The Gathering Place is a designated church location for Young Single Adults (YSA) and their friends to gather and participate in priesthood directed and YSA led experiences and activities. The focus of program is to strengthen the YSA spiritually, socially, emotionally, educationally, and professionally. There are Gathering Place locations throughout the Africa West Area, generally based in local Stake Centers.

The Gathering Places in West Africa have placed a particular emphasis on developing certificated vocational training programs to help YSA in their communities prepare themselves for improved employment opportunities.  Although focusing on YSA and their friends, the training programs are made available to everyone in the community.

The instructors are volunteers and some are certified by the National Vocational Training Institute of Ghana.  There are assessments by the curriculum directors of the Training Institute, which allows the Gathering Place program to provide vocational certification to its participants.

“The Gathering Place program was approved by Prophets and Apostles to provide you with the opportunity to improve your employment opportunities and create better lives for yourselves,” said Elder Klebingat in his remarks.  “Good things will happen to the Young Single Adults of the Church when they pray hard and work hard.  All the resources will be made available to you here.  Your responsibility will be to work hard and become committed to improving your employment situation.”

During the launch the participants heard from the instructors about some of the vocational training opportunities that would be available to them.  They heard presentations on obtaining a nursing associate certification, beadmaking, and office computer skills. They also heard about some of the options available to them through the BYU Pathways program.

At the conclusion of the program, the participants were given the opportunity to register for the various vocational programs.  The training programs come at no cost to the participant. President Danso noted that, “There is no cost, but we do require something from each of you, and that is that you come with a strong desire to participate and to learn.  We want you to take this seriously so that you can better take care of yourselves and your families.”

“The reason why we are here is because the Lord wants us to be self reliant, and to be a blessed and happy people.  When opportunities come to you, you will be ready to grab that opportunity.  This is something that no one else can do for you, you must do it yourself,” said President Danso.

As part of the learning experience, YSA’s and their friends will be able to attend Institute classes as part of their learning experience and were given the opportunity to register for some of these classes during the launch. “Institute is an important component of the Gathering Place.  It teaches the principles that will help you qualify for God’s blessings and to access God’s blessings.  You will require that knowledge as you move forward on your career path,” said President Danso.