Elim Evangelical Church was established initially as a prayer fellowship at Osenase in the year 1986.
On the 31st December 1986, at a watch night service at Accra, Rev. Dr. J.R.K. Mensah based on the recommendation of concerned friends decided to relocate him from Osenase to Accra where the prayer fellowship was also moved to Accra.
It all started at the where Rev. Dr. J.R.K. Mensah, the founder of the church had been posted to Osenase.
The lord through him brought a great revival and awakening to the town through prayers, healing and revivals. Cripples, deaf, mad men and healings from various diseases were very common at this prayer fellowship. It dawn on him to resign from the Church of Pentecost and respond to the God’s-given burden to establish a church.
Immediately this letter was delivered, the battle started. He was ejected from the house he was renting and his belongings thrown out. It was out of these unforeseen circumstances that the Presbyterian Pastor in the town by then accommodated him and his family in Presby Mission House.
Rev. Mensah experienced ejection upon ejection even when he came down to Accra to re-settle and establish the church. But he stood his ground regardless of the circumstances and persuasions from the quarters of the Church of Pentecost.
The church was then founded on the doctrines of Christ. “On Christ the solid rock, I stand all other ground is sinking sand” has been a very powerful quotation that has helped the founder to stay focused.
Many have had their miracles including child birth with cripples walking to the Glory of God. The church was born out of prayers, healings and miracles. Soonest, the flames caught across regionally.
The name of the church Elim Pentecostal was changed to Elim Evangelical and has remained as such till today.
The power of God manifest in all conventions as recorded in the history of the church. The power to heal is a normal manifestation at church services.
The church has encountered many challenges. It is very normal for people to throng into any church that is flourishing especially, with many who believe in signs and wonders. This eventually brought into the church even pastors who joined the church without a specific call. The caliber of Ministers taken at that time did harm than good, with many contributions negligible. This caused many of our branches to shrink and collapse.
Some pastors even took over some of the branches and changed the name. Churches that joined ours with their members remained inconsistent. Many joined with debts to be paid by Elim after which they left. Churches in Togo, Ivory Coast, England and Holland were taken over from the church, resulting in scattering flock. The most painful split that nearly jeopardized the headquarters at North Kaneshie was in 1996. This was at the time when the founder, had been hospitalized due to a fatal motor accident. All the time, many were pleading to God through fasting and prayers for the man of God to be healed, some pastors were more concerned about taking over the church, who teamed up and broadcasted discouragement and hopeless state of the founder in the hospital. Accusations and allegations coupled with the “hopeless” conditions of the founder in the hospital convinced about 90% of the entire congregation to leave and form another church. Miraculously, the man of God was raised from his sick bed. The mode of his healing is a great testimony in the history of the church.
In all things the Bible says “give thanks” therefore the vision was not relented by the founder but continued and sustained.
Elim Evangelical church as the name implies in the scriptures is a place of rest.
The church currently has 32 main branches with nursing branches in the Ashanti, Greater Accra, Eastern and Western Regions, with the highest population in the Western Region.
The church believes in scholarship schemes. It has two orphanages in partnership with Seeway Trust U.K. at Nsuaem and Osenase in the Western and Eastern Regions respectively. A Junior High School block is also located at Osenase whiles a Secondary Technical Institute, an Agric Science Centre and a Vocational Institute are being built at Nsuaem. The church can also boast of a Bible College where ministers from all denominations are trained and prepared for ministry.
The church executives comprise of Rev. Dr. J.R.K. Mensah, founder and chairman, Apostle James F.A. Kodiah, Acting General Secretary, Rev. Freeman Yeboah Manu and Rev. Moses Obeng as executive members. The current administrator is Pastor Samuel Afodoanyi.
