THE Ven. J. W. Kofi deGraft-Johnson, the general secretary of CAPA, the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa, which is disbursing the money raised in the Church Times Train-A-Priest Fund for Africa, keeps us updated on where your donations —£3959 given so far this year — go.
The human stories of beneficiaries are a real reminder of the difference that TAP makes to the lives of ordinands in Africa.
Anthony Adjei, a third-year student of St Nicholas Seminary on the Cape Coast of Ghana, is someone for whom ordination was a childhood dream. “That was all I wanted to do, and nothing more,” he writes.
Anthony Adjei, from Ghana, a TAP beneficiary
As an adult, his vocation — “a great call” — persisted, and he was delighted to be accepted at the selection process. “However, I was worried about the financial situation of my family and the community where I came from,” he says. The first year in seminary proved taxing, because he was having to juggle several jobs alongside his studies to cover his fees and living costs. The TAP bursary changed everything.
“Having a bursary that pays for your education and living expenses has reduced my risk of dropping out and not getting the degree I aspired towards,” he writes. He has time to study, and is no longer dependent on handouts from his family.
“I give thanks and praise to the Almighty God for the blessing of the TAP bursary. . . It is my prayer that others would benefit from the opportunities offered through this TAP bursary to enable them to achieve their dreams of serving the Lord through the ordained ministry.”
Please give generously to TAP Africa this Lent, in the confidence that every penny that you give goes to candidates for training in Africa who, like Anthony, face financial difficulty in answering their calling. Nothing is retained to cover administrative expenses, here or in Africa.
How to donate to the TAP Fund
Donate online quickly and securely online. This is our preferred method: www.churchtimes.co.uk/train-a-priest-fund.
But you can also give by cheque or charity voucher. Please make cheques payable to: “The TAP Fund” and send to: TAP Fund, Church Times, Hymns Ancient & Modern, 13a Hellesdon Road, Norwich NR6 5DR.
If you are a UK payer of income or capital gains tax, the Church Times, through the Hymns Ancient & Modern charity, can recover 25p for every £1 that you give through Gift Aid. If you are eligible, please indicate this when making an online donation, or complete the form on page 10 of this week’s paper February and send it with your cheque.