Historical Information
In obedience to the Lord, Reverend Titian opened the mission’s doors to the orphaned and abused children in the Volta Region. Many children were victims of HIV/AIDS as well as child labor and trafficking. By God’s grace she began providing a home for them where she could nurture them and share the love of Jesus with them. Rev. Sharon believed that the Lord had a purpose for each of these children; and especially those who have no relatives.
Children of Zion first began in the Adidome facility which is located on the Volta River. Rev Sharon received the first needy children in 2003. In 2004, she decided to apply to be a Children’s Home and received more children into the facility. In January 2005 Rev. Sharon registered the ministry as a separate NGO.
Rev. Sharon felt that the Lord instructed her to move the children to the Anloga where the spiritual atmosphere is much more peaceful. One of the Ghana Board members approached the District Assembly to release a barracks building to the ministry and they agreed. The building was renovated and cleaned so that Rev Sharon could move the children in before the school year began. They were moved into their new facility on September 17th, 2009 and were registered in their new school. She then found land on the ocean, purchased about 4 acres for a good price, and began to build a house for the children.
Today
Today the house on the ocean that was left unfinished when Rev. Sharon died in July of 2011 is being finished off. The apartment upstairs is fully completed, with cupboards, kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and dining/living area that houses the young ladies, younger boys, Xorve and William the foster parents and their 4 children. Downstairs a bedroom/bathroom has been built for the older boys. There is also a study hall, community room and storage room. We have surrounded this property with a 9 foot high wall to protect the children.
At present we have 24 children in our two homes. The younger children are located at the Barracks facility that was donated to Rev. Sharon by the District Assembly. That facility has been upgraded with a fresh paint job, new mosquito netting on the windows, new bathroom, septic tank and eating area. We have fenced in the play area and have provided playground equipment for the children.
The Director of the Children of Zion home is Pastor Paul Akotey, Mount Sinai Church, Anloga. He along with three other staff and Xorve & William are doing an amazing job of overseeing the day to day operations of the homes. Our foster mother Xorve was rescued as a young girl from a shrine and grew up at the mission. Eventually she met her husband, William, when he came to work with us and they were married. We give thanks that the love of God has come full circle as they reach out together as foster parents to care for the next generation of their countrymen.
Our children are doing well. Rita is serving as an apprentice for a seamstress. She will soon enter her third and final year. She loves what she is doing and is flourishing. Our older twins, Joshua and Joseph have written their national exams and have returned home to extended family awaiting the results. Joshua wants to be a nurse and Joseph wants to go into journalism. All of the children are doing well in school and we are hearing good reports from the teachers. They are involved in the church and some of them serve as part of the worship team.
The Department of Social Welfare has requested that as many of the children as possible be reunited with families or go to family members for school breaks. Seven of our children have been restored to relatives who love them and are now raising them. Many have someone they can spend time with on breaks, but who is not able to raise them full-time. Some of our children have no one and we are the only family they have known since they were tiny. It is our desire to raise them up to love the Lord, and be strong men and women of God who will be able to have a great impact on their nation Ghana. They are not orphaned in God’s eyes. He knows who they are and who He has called them to be. What a privilege it is to participate in the Lord’s vision for them!
Xhove & William Our Foster Parents
Our foster mother Xhove was rescued as a young girl from a shrine and grew up at the mission. Eventually she met her husband when he came to work with us and they were married. We give thanks that the love of God has come full circle as they reach out together as foster parents to care for the next generation of their countrymen.
The director of the Children of Zion home is Pastor Paul Akotey, Mount Sinai Church, Anloga. He along with three other staff and Xhove & William are doing an amazing job of overseeing the day to day operations of the homes.