About Us
Meaningful Life International is a non-denominational Christian Non Governmental Organization and a non-profit Missionary Agency registered under the Ghana code 3177 with the Registrars General Department and based in Tema in the Greater Accra Region. MLI is registered with the Department of Social Welfare and a Member of the Ghana Evangelical Missions Association.
Ghana
Development of most African countries is concentrated only in the urban areas whilst the rural areas are abandoned. According to statistics, over 70% of rural areas in Ghana lack social amenities. Residents in these areas therefore depend on stagnant pools of water for their daily use which is also a breeding ground for malaria –carrying mosquitoes.
During rainy seasons, the ground is pounded with tiny potholes of water which both adult and children have to wade in without flip-flops resulting in the infection of parasitic-worms.
Fishing and farming is the primary occupation of the inhabitants, and the doctor- patient ratio in Ghana is 1: 17,000 patients.” Meaning many will never have an opportunity to visit the doctor when they are sick.” These conditions are very similar in most African countries (e.g. Togo, Benin and Ethiopia) with our head quarters in Ghana; Meaningful Life International would seek to grow to every country on the African continent and beyond to eradicate these existing problems facing the children of God.
Children of Africa are looking into the future with hope and anticipation.
Their future achievements will depend on how quickly we can reach them with the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet their physical needs. It is surprising some of the people in these rural communities tell us they have never heard the word of God till our visit, meanwhile these are our next generation of Governmental and Spiritual Leaders. Their lives can be as bright as their eyes if you and I join hand -in- hand to save these precious lives. Meaningful Life International aspires to make a positive impact by helping others see their God given worth and help them reach their full potential for the development of our countries.
Founders, Board Members and Team
REV. DR. KOFI AHLIJAH (Ph.D.) – FOUNDER & TEAM LEADER
Rev. Dr. Kofi Ahlijah (Ph.D.) is an ordained minister with Assemblies of God Church, Ghana. He is the Lead Pastor of the Harvest Missions Chapel in Tema.
He graduated from the University Of Cape Coast and received his first Master’s Degree in Theology (Th.M.) from the International Theological seminary, Florida in 2003 and his second Master’s Degree in Governance and Leadership (MGL), from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in 2007. He obtained his PhD in Organization Leadership from the School of Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship at Regent University in Virginia Beach, USA.
Godwin’s service to the Kingdom is extensive. During his undergraduate studies, he was the President of the Assemblies of God campus ministries, Youth President of his church and the Youth President for the Assemblies of God district, Tema.
After graduating from college, Rev. Kofi Ahlijah served for seven years as the Director of Field and Member Care for Pioneers Africa. Pioneers-Africa is a Missions Agency that recruits, trains and deploys missionaries throughout the continent of Africa. Offices have been established in Ghana, Benin, Cote D’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Mali and Togo. Rev. Kofi Ahlijah also served as Coordinator for the Desert Stream Initiative. This work was geared towards recruiting, training and deploying indigenous missionaries to Arab North Africa.
Godwin is happily married to Dr. Lenusia Afua Ahlijah (a medical doctor at the Tema Polyclinic) and they are blessed with an amazing daughter – Dorinda Enam Adjo Ahlijah
DR. LENUSIA AHLIJAH (CO-FOUNDER & MEDICAL DIRECTOR)
Dr. Lenusia graduated from the University Of Ghana Medical School. During her medical schooling, she was never idle. She was an active member of the Ghana Medical Students Association and undertook various mission trips with Ghana Fellowship of Evangelical students Associates and served as a leader in the Christian Medical Fellowship.
After graduation, Dr. Lenusia Ahlijah worked at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra and later moved to the Tema General Hospital. She is currently the Medical Director of the Tema Polyclinic and specialist Family Physician. As God gives purpose to every man, he has given a vision to the Ahlijah’s. Rev. & Dr. (Mrs.) Ahlijah have since left Pioneers Africa to devote their full attention to the dream God has given them.
Their vision is still to see the gospel of Jesus Christ taken to the doorsteps of every living soul in the deprived communities in Ghana, especially the youth.
Being particularly concerned about the growing statistics of wayward youth in Africa, it has become their passion to help individuals develop a personal vision for life.
DR. JACOB B. SMITH (BOARD CHAIRMAN, MLI-GHANA)
He is a Research Scientist with the Forest Products Research Institute (FORIG) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). He was one of the first academicians to establish the MSc (Wood Technology) programme at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He has nearly ten (10) Scientific/ Technical publications to his credit.
He has over 24 years working experience with Supper Paper Products Company (SPPC) as Mill Manager with responsibility for Production, Environment Management and General Administration. His activities have helped him develop an in-depth understanding of local Industrial Environment Management practices and associated problems particularly with the Pulp and Paper Industries. His focus has always been on the application of appropriate Technology wherever possible.
He has participated in programmes to prepare Environment Management Plans and advised on their implementation and monitoring. He has interacted extensively with the EPA since 1990 in the preparation of the Environment Management Plans (EMPs). He single-handedly prepared the master EMP for SPPC and made over GH¢5,000.00 (Five Thousand Ghana Cedis) for SPPC in 1990.
He is the Ex – President of the Industrial Chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship Int. (FGBMFI), Tema. He has other interests like community development activities (local Preacher).
Currently the Chairman of MLI-Ghana Board of Directors, Dr. Bishop Belba Smith is married with four children.
REV. PROF. IVY DRAFOR AMENYAH (MLI-GHANA BOARD MEMBER)
Rev. Prof. Ivy Drafor Amenyah is an ordained minister and a lecturer at the Ghana Methodist University. She holds a BSc. And MSc. from the University of Guelph, and has a Ph.D. from the University of Ghana (in collaboration with Cornell University). She also has other qualifications in Leadership Training from ‘Training Resources Group’ and Certification in Mentoring Orientation. She has training in teaching Sunday school, training in Proposal and Scientific Writing from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and International Foundation for Science (IFS)
Rev. Prof Ivy Drafor Amenyah is also endowed with skills in Community Development and she is a fellow on CGIAR’s Gender and Diversity Award Program.
She has a passion for teaching and inspiring young people and working with rural communities. She has worked with the University Faculty for about 18 years, teaching courses such as Economics for development, Micro and Macro-Economics, Project Management and Research Methods.
Her research has focused on concepts and initiatives to improve farm and household management within a community development framework. She recently worked on a project which looked at access to water and sanitation for persons with disabilities and developing a program to carry out a value chain analysis for maize and rice with their implications for food security in Ghana.
She serves on the advisory board of Meaningful Life International.
MRS. REJOICE ANANE
Mrs. Rejoice Anane serves on the advisory board of Meaningful Life International. She has worked in various capacities at the Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority for the past 31 years. She has transitioned from the position of Training manager to serve as the organization’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in charge of their transit trade.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management, a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Development and a second Master’s Degree in Organizational Development, all from the University Of Cape Coast. She has travelled widely and coordinates several training programs including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
AMOS AMANKWA (GHANA BOARD MEMBER)
Mr. Amos Amankwah is a Mechanical Engineer by profession. He was the National Sales Director for Tractor and Equipment Ghana Limited for 18 years. He is currently the Commercial Director of Servicing, Mining, Industrial and Construction Equipment (SMICE International).
He is the current President of the Rotary Club of Accra West and a Deacon of the Central Assemblies of God, Tema.
VICTOR BREW (GHANA BOARD MEMBER)
Rev. Victor Brew is a Barrister at law and solicitor of the supreme court of Ghana. He holds a bachelor of art degree in English and law from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Rev Victor Brew is a practicing lawyer with over 10 years work experience. He has a master’s degree in Port and Shipping Administration at Regional Maritime University.
DR. KEN LENZ (U.S. BOARD CHAIRMAN)
Kenneth Lenz is the Founder and Chairman of the Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute. Ken has earned a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurial Leadership plus over 30 years of experience starting 10 companies, 7 nonprofits and 1 municipal government.
He has also advised over 3,000 small to midsized fellow entrepreneurs in a wide variety of industries and on all six inhabited continents, as a former ‘’Big 4’’ CPA firm consultant and in his own CPA firms.
GRANT PERRYMAN (U.S. BOARD MEMBER)
Executive Director of Meaningful Life USA in Vallejo, California. He graduated from Howard University where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree. He received his Masters degree in Social Work from San Francisco State University.
He has served two (2) consecutive terms as a Board Member of the Benicia Chamber of Commerce and has also served as the Executive Director of “Griot Onyame Descendants”, an educational drama group that performs for elementary school audiences with historical characters from the past.
Over the last twelve (12) years, Grant Perryman has been coordinating efforts with team members in Ghana to raise money for fresh water wells, medical outreaches and children’s programs to uplift and bring hope to the rural poor, destitute and the orphans.
He is currently a co-publisher and contributing writer to “5 Years to Life” Ministries, a quarterly newsletter that strives to bring spiritual encouragement to the incarcerated.
He is happily married and is the father of two boys and one girl.
MATT PERREAULT (U.S. BOARD MEMBER)
Matt and his wife Amanda Perreault live in Livermore in northern California. Together they have 4 children; Kelly 22, Avery 19, Keith 16 and Blake 8. He is a credentialed minister and licensed CPA, serving as the partner-in-charge of the SEC & Technology audit practice at the accounting firm Armanino LLP. Matt & Amanda are actively involved in their local church (https://www.sunsetcc.org/), where Matt serves as director of international missions and he and Amanda participate in youth & marriage ministries and a variety of community outreach programs for underprivileged youth and families. Matt serves as a local leader for project shoebox (https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/), and he and Amanda are active supporters of SF City Impact (https://www.sfcityimpact.com/), providing schooling & Mentorship for inner city youth. Matt also serves as treasurer for Mercy and Grace prison ministries (https://mercyandgrace.org/).
In December 2018, Matt & Amanda prayed for family unity, centered on a 5 year plan to raise funds and travel to Africa to install a water well. God dramatically accelerated the plan; 2 months later, Matt & Amanda met Godwin, and within 5 months a new well had been bored, giving living water to villagers in a remote region of Ghana.
TIM OCHS (U.S. BOARD MEMBER)
Tim Ochs graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham school of Anesthesia in 1985. He has been a practicing Nurse Anesthetist for 35 years. Tim and his family lived in Ghana and served alongside MLI for a year in 2013. In addition to working with MLI, Tim is a co-founder of Black Oak Ministries in Tennessee; their mission is Christ-centered development, and to encourage deeper relationships through their facilities, fellowship, and retreats.
Tim is married with four daughters.
ADVISORY BOARD
Dr. Samuel Huddleston
Dr. Samuel Huddleston is the Assistant Superintendent of the Northern California and Nevada District Assemblies of God. Dr. Huddleston graduated from Bethany College in Santa Cruz in 1980, CA, and later attended Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in San Rafael, CA. From 1981 to 1988, he accepted a position at Church on the Hill in Vallejo, California, where served under Pastor Terry Inman. While there, he enrolled at Azusa Pacific University, where he earned a Masters Degree in Marriage Family and Child Counseling.
He served as the founding pastor of Lighthouse Covenant Fellowship in Benicia, California from 1993 to 2004 a church that began in he and his wife’s living room. He served as the lead Pastor for 11 ½ years until he was elected to his present position.
Dr. Huddleston has also served as Dean of Students at Bethany University under Dr. Everett Wilson. While serving under Dr. Wilson, he decided to continue his education at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In May 2006, he graduated with a Doctorate of Ministry degree.
He has published an autobiography, “Five Years to Life“, which has inspired many people across America and throughout the world, giving them hope for a new beginning. He has also shared his testimony with thousands – including, government officials, businessmen, colleges, high schools, and prison inmates – reminding them not only with words but also with his very presence, that God has the power to put broken lives and broken relationships back together again.
Currently, Dr. Huddleston assists in giving oversight to the over 430 plus churches in his district.
Dr. Huddleston reside in Rancho Cordova, CA with his wife of 30 years, Linda near their three married children: Royce, Andre, and Ericka. They have nine grandchildren.
Pastor Steve Madson
Pastor Steve Dean Madsen is the Lead Pastor of the Executive Team of Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, California – USA.
Cornerstone, led by Pastor Steve, began in 1992 as a home Bible Study with a handful of people meeting in a living room to study the Bible and live life together. Over the past 20 years, Cornerstone through the leadership of Pastor Steve Madsen has grown into a church with multiple campuses and ministries. From the humble beginnings, Cornerstone Fellowship now sits about 8,000 to 10,000 members every weekend.
Pastor Steve has always been best known for his strong passion for helping humanity. This passion led him to set up various ministries like Serve the City,The Red Window Project, The Adoption/Foster Ministry, The Rohi Children’s home and school Ministry where over 325 students; orphaned, abandoned and destitute children are housed and educated in Nakuru, Kenya. He has also initiated Vision Trips (short-term missions) to countries like Haiti and Ghana.
In 2007, Pastor Steve Madsen entered into a partnership with Meaningful Life International in Ghana to begin a water well drilling program that provided clean water for deprived rural communities. In addition to digging wells, he also helps to plant churches in rural Ghanaian communities and is currently helping MLI to raise funds to build a Medical Center that will provide free medical care for deprived rural communities.
Pastor Steve Madsen now lives in Livermore with his beautiful wife Brenda and they have three sons Andy, Kevin and Tyler who are all married. Pastor Steve Madsen has two grandsons.
MLI Team
Bartholomew Agbanyo (Administrator / Office Manager)
Pastor Bartholomew is in charge of Administration, HR and Accounts in Meaningful Life International. He is a graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Financial Mathematics and has great experience in Financial Accounting and Financial Management.
Bartholomew’s specialization is mainly in Financial Information for Management, Mathematical Corporate Finance, Fundamentals of Database Management, Economics, Investment Analysis and Portfolio, Statistical Estimation, Real Analysis, Operation Research, Organizational Behavior, etc.
He has a very strong Economic background which has helped MLI in the area of keeping our financial records in order.
He is a very responsible, lovely and motivated person and currently the associate Pastor at Harvest Mission Chapel Int.
Wahab Tahiru Adams (Projects Director in Charge of Operations)
Wahab graduated from Konongo Odumase Senior High School in 2004 where he studied General Arts. Here, he served as the Campus Ministry president for Assemblies of God, a Deputy House prefect and the financial secretary of a News Agency. He later obtained a Diploma in General Computing at the Ejura Computer Training Center. Wahab is currently the deputy director of Missions in his local Church.
In 2010, Wahab graduated from the University for Development Studies with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrated Development Studies (majoring in Development Planning). In 2011, he was elected Vice President of the National Service Personnel Association in the Ejura Sekyedumase District and was also awarded the best national service personnel in Ejura Model Junior High where he did his national service.
He worked briefly as Programs Assistant with world vision Ghana in 2009 before joining the MLI family in November 2011.
Wahab is a very down to earth and lovely person. He loves socializing with people of varied backgrounds especially the less privileged in society, which is what inspired him to join Meaningful Life International.
Esther Amoah (Marketing/Fundraising Executive)
Esther, who is the Fundraising Executive for Meaningful Life International and Marketing Executive for Doron Medical Center has a Higher National Diploma in Business and Management studies from the Cape Coast Technical University. She is currently attaining her degree, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Accra Institute of Technology.
She worked at Lagoon Clinic Limited as a Customer Care Executive and also at Hotel Marjorie “Y” as a Front desk and Event Manageress before joining MLI.
Esther served as the Secretary for the Cape Coast Technical University Mass Choir for 2 years and was appointed as an Organizer for the National Service Personnel Association for the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District.
Apeawini Mathias Wintuma (Project Officer)
Mathias is the project officer in-charge of rural missions and Jesus film shows at MLI and the Prayer and mission director at Harvest Missions Chapel, Assemblies of God International. He holds a Bsc. Agriculture Biotechnology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He has competencies in cultivation of crops and vegetables. He is also very knowledgeable in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint presentations and the ability to operate sound systems.
Before joining MLI, Mathias worked as the assistant coordinator at Adonai Investment Consult and also worked with the Ministry of food and Agriculture for his national service
During his school days, Mathias served in various capacities; AGCM Unity Hall President, AGCM Prayer Secretary
He comes on board as a team player and has strong human relations.
Samuel Mawueto Kuma-Bansa (Media Relations Officer and Graphic Designer)
Mawueto is the Media Relations Officer and Graphic Designer in Meaningful Life International. He is a graduate with B.A Communication Design with specification in visual communication (graphic design)
Mawueto worked with the Sixtus printing house as a graphics designer, Digi books Ghana, also as a graphics designer and worked with Meaningful life International as a service personnel before becoming a permanent staff Of Meaningful Life International.
He is an energetic young devoted gentleman whose ultimate desire is giving to support God’s Kingdom and reaching out to the less privileged.
What fuels his everyday activity is the meaning behind the Greek word ATHEOS, which means NOTHING WITHOUT GOD!
Theophilus Opare Asare (Liason Officer In Charge Of Missions And Evangelism)
Theophilus is the Liason Officer In Charge Of Missions And Evangelism. He graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political science. Before joining MLI, Theophilus Taught as a teacher in various schools including Datus Educational Complex and Feemep Savior Int. School. He also served as the Administrator for Asbeak Educational Complex and a bursar at Divine Faith Academy
Whiles in Senior High School, Theophilus held various positions. He was the President of the Catholic Students Association, an active Member of the Debaters Club, a Member of the Chaplaincy Council and a Non- Residential President of the Assemblies of God Campus Ministry (AGCM-KNUST)
Theophilus loves Reading, Research, Evangelism/missions and Singing.
He comes on board as an active team player, Goal oriented and Purpose Driven individual.
Emmanuella Arthur (Administrative Assistant / Personal Assistant to the Executive Director)
Emmanuella, who is currently the administrative assistant and also the personal assistant to the executive director has a Higher National Diploma in Secretaryship and Management studies from the Accra Technical University and currently undertaking her degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Cape Coast.
Before joining Meaningful Life International, Emmanuella worked with GHACEM, a leading cement manufacturing company in Ghana as an administrative assistant, Alpha Capital bank as a client service executive and also worked with Forkfreight Llc, New York, as a sales and customer service specialist.
Apart from what she does here in Meaningful Life International, she is also actively involved with her Church’s Youth Ministry as the youth president.
Emmauella is a sweet, easy going and a self-motivated lady.