The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “Lights the World” in West Africa.

The annual Light the World Christmas program of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was launched in the Africa West Area of the Church on 30^th November, 2020 in James Town, Accra, Ghana. The event which took place at the Mantse Agbonaa (forecourt) of the palace of the Chief of James Town witnessed a large turnout of traditional rulers and members of the community. As early as 6:30 a. m. at the Christiansborg Stake centre of the Church, members of the Church assembled food items for donation to about 350 families during the launch, while the Accra Metropolitan Assembly delivered canopies and chairs to the event venue.

The theme for this year’s programme is: “Light the World One by One”. While introducing the program to the gathering, Elder Larry S Kacher, 1^st Counsellor in the Africa West Area Presidency of the Church, stated: "Each, Christmas, we celebrate the life of Jesus Christ, the light of the world. From December 1, through December 25, we honour Him and share His light through daily acts of service". He invited all to join with the Church this Christmas season and light the world, one person at a time, one by one, just as the Savior did.

Responding on behalf of the James Town community, Nii Ayeaquaye VI, 1^st Adenteta Mantse, expressed his gratitude to the Church and narrated how he nearly became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints in the United Kingdom where he first met the Church. He encouraged his people to join the Church. He also pleaded with the Church to continue its kind services to the people of James Town and declared his readiness to support the Church whenever the need arises.

In Lagos, Nigeria, Onuoha Ukeh, Managing Director, The Sun Publishing Limited, in his keynote address, reminded the gathering of the importance of light. Light according to him connotes holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, grace, hope, and God’s revelation. He enjoined all to follow Jesus Christ - the reason for this season – who in John 8:12, declared, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”.

High Chief Opeifa Olaitan, Baale of Mulero, Agege, a traditional ruler and guest at the event, stated: “I am happy this Church is in my community. As a Moslem and a traditional ruler, I cannot join your Church. However, my extended family members who are Christians who come to spend the weekend with me, I usually ask them to go and worship in your Church”. He promised to get members of his community to participate fully in the 2020 Light the World campaign.

Day 8 of the 2020 Light the World campaign calendar is dedicated to health-care workers. To mark this day, members of the Nigeria Port Harcourt Mission of the Church, visited the Egwi Health Centre, Etche, Port Harcourt to appreciate the health-care workers of the facility. The Church delegation was led by Elder J.K. Chukwuemeka Igwe who explained the Light the World campaign to the health workers. He then invited them to rise for recognition and pronounced blessings upon them.  He thanked them for the sacrifice they make in their line of duty and urged them to continue to do their best. Victor Bassey, President of the Nigeria Port Harcourt Mission, supported by his wife, Uche, then made a donation of a delivery couch and suction equipment to the health centre.

Dr. Emmanuel Pelebo, the Health Medical Officer(HMO) in charge of all health centers in Etche, thanked the Church for the donation. He said: “this donation will greatly enhance medical service delivery in this centre. It will help save the lives of mothers and babies”.

The Light the World campaign starts on December 1^st and runs through to Christmas day, December 25^th providing all participants the opportunity to serve and bless others in 25 ways, in 25 days just as Jesus Christ would do.