Red dirt roads cut lines through the green fields of western Ghana. Visible from the window during the 40-minute flight from the capital of Accra, small collections of houses dot the countryside. Wheels hit the tarmac; the stairs are lowered. A tiny airport consisting of two rooms sits alone in the beating sun, welcoming visitors to Sunyani, in the Bono region of Ghana.

It’s in this part of Ghana that NG USA partner organization Daniel 1:8 Ministries (D1:8) has been operating since 2017 with the mission “to mentor young people from every background so that they develop into vibrant, capable adults with Godly principles.” D1:8 has a multifaceted approach to accomplishing this mission. Through the hard work of staff and many volunteers, they carry out weekly meetings, consistent discipleship, outreach, vocational trainings, and more.

With more than 200 Ghanian youth involved in the program, gathering all together on a consistent basis can be difficult. Because of this, D1:8 has eight different locations around the Sunyani region in which young people gather for a weekly Chapter Meeting. The primary focus of these weekly meetings is to continue mentorship through Bible studies, life coaching, fellowship, academic support, and anything else that might be needed.

On special occasions, these smaller chapters all come together in one place for summits, workshops, or celebrations. Buses are sent out to the chapters that are further away to give them an opportunity to attend, bringing them back to the main center for D1:8.

In the past year, the D1:8 center has grown with the addition of an Entrepreneurship Training Center. This building provides a comfortable space for some of the young adults at D1:8 to learn valuable vocational skills, like beading or sewing, to give the opportunity of a better future for those that may be disadvantaged.

But D1:8 doesn’t operate solely with those involved in their programs. Another way to help mentor their members, the leadership goes out with them to do outreach in local communities. “An outreach is an activity that takes us out there to be able to reach out to a young person and bring them into our circle. Whether we are sharing a flyer, or we are going out there with a giftbox, or something that will draw them to understand what D1:8 is all about and to join us for our chapter meetings,” explains Doris Donkor, the founder of D1:8.

D1:8 founder, Doris Donkor, prays with some children during an outreach.

Despite only existing for 5 years, the impact of D1:8 is significant. It is often hard to quantify on paper how a ministry like this can affect the life of a child, or a young person, but the influence is undeniable when viewing it firsthand. Teenagers that have been positively impacted by the ministry are now spending their time and energy working with D1:8 and doing the same for their younger peers. The work ethic, attitude, devotion to one another and to the Gospel stands out in each of them. God is changing lives in Sunyani, and he is using Daniel 1:8 Ministries to do so.

(To learn more about Daniel 1:8 Ministries, visit www.d1eight.org.)