Kristo Asafo (Christ Reformed Church) is an African Independent Church (see African Independent Churchs) founded in 1971 in Accra capital of Ghana. The church is a member of the Sabbath Association of Ghana. This is an ecumenical organization that unites churches that identify and recognize Saturday as the Sabbath. The most distinctive features of Kristo Asafo, which sets it apart from other African Initiated Churches in Ghana, are its investment in agriculture, manufacturing and industry and its philanthropy. The founder, Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo has received many honors including a State honor in Ghana.
Kristo Asafo was started as a prayer group in 1969 and was transformed into a Church on 3 February 1971. Currently, the church has 140 branches throughout Ghana with an approximate membership of about 6,000. It also has congregations in Verona and London.
The founder, Apostle Kwadwo Safo was born in 1948 in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. A welding technician by profession, he has received several awards including an honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of Ghana, Legon; and the Grand Medal, Civil Division of the State of Ghana for his exemplary leadership and remarkable philanthropy.
Kristo Asafo church holds worship services at 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The liturgy consists of praises from various choirs, a sermon, followed by prayers and announcements. Participants worship barefooted. Though women participate in Church activities and sit on the National Executive council of the church, they are not allowed to preach. Women wear veils during worship.
Fundamental to Kristo Asafo beliefs are biblical injunctions on Christians to care for the needy. The motto of the Church is ‘Service to mankind is service to God’. The church regularly visits hospitals, prisons, orphanages and educational institutions, etc. and makes substantive donations to them. In 1997, for instance they made a large donation to the University of Ghana, Legon towards the building of a students’ hostel.
Kristo Asafo is also renowned for its agricultural activities. Each congregation has a farm where youth volunteer and go through a regimented period of training and farming.
This creates employment opportunities on farms for members and is seen as stemming the drift from rural farming communities to the urban towns. The Church also trains members and non-members in various kinds of professions and trades such as carpentry, welding, and mechanics. It manufactures and markets electronic, agricultural and other equipment at affordable prices for small-scale businesses.
The major public celebration of the church is an annual food, technology and charity exhibition in support of the needy. It showcases farm produce and other products of the Church during the exhibition. At the end of the fair, farm produce and machinery are distributed to selected needy persons and institutions.
The church and the founder run a group of companies. Kristo Asafo Farms Ltd produces pineapples and papaws for export to Europe. Other businesses distinct from the Church but associated with the founder include the Great Kosa Herbal Clinic (which produces and dispenses herbal medicine), Great Kosa Company Limited (an engineering company) and the Great Imperial Company Limited (runs long distance transport). These businesses also provide training and employment avenues for members of the church and the public.
The church also has an award winning entertainment group, the Kristo Asafo Concert Party group. Concert Party is a popular form of entertainment in Ghana dating back to the 1950s. Drawing on folklorist ideas, the group performs comedy sketches often with moral teaching of Christian revivalist character interspaced with urban popular music. Kristo Asafo is the main Church in Ghana that explores this avenue of popular drama to reach out with the Gospel.
A National Executive Council (NEC) and other subsidiary councils of pastors and elders at the regional, district and branch levels run the church under the overall leadership of Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo.
