History and Timeline
The head of the Adom Partnership is the Ghanaian Rev. Joseph Mante. He and his wife Florence had a vision to provide a holistic ministry to the poor to whom they ministered. Education, food, and medicine administered in a Christian environment would be a witness of the love of Jesus for these people. The Adom Partnership was created when Rev. Mante came to the United States for his doctoral studies and met several Christians in Los Angeles who shared his vision. A simple partnership was formed with the name Adom which means “grace” in the Akan language of Ghana.
- 1981-85: Presbyterian pastor Joseph Mante and his wife Florence minister in and around Ghana. As they minister, their hearts are broken by the poverty in the rural villages. They resolve “to preach to our people within the context of a properly thought-out economic development program.”
- 1985-92: The Mantes spread vision for “Adom” while Joseph pursues doctoral studies in the United States.
- 1993: Rev. Dr. Joseph and Florence Mante return to Ghana and found The Adom Project
- 1994: 10 preschool and kindergarten students form the first class of the Amazing Grace School. The school intends to add a new class each year.
- 1995: InterVarsity college students help construct a wall around the first building and property of The Amazing Grace School. They bring financial resources and leave deeply enriched spiritually.
- 1996: InterVarsity's second student team starts construction of the main elementary school building and receives spiritual teaching from the Mantes and others.
- 1997: Third student team continues the partnership as they observe the school, help continue its development, and learn from the Ghanaians.
- 1999: InterVarsity students help lay the foundation of the 2-story junior high building and continue the partnership.
- 2000: A fifth team of students continues helping with construction work and observes the educational process.
- 2002: U.S. supporters form a nonprofit organization, Adom Partnership International, to promote spiritual, financial, and relational partnership between the U.S. and Africa
- 2004: Sixth InterVarsity summer team visits to deepen the partnership.
- 2005: The Amazing Grace School graduates its first 9th grade class. 100% of the graduates pass the national high-school entrance exams guaranteeing admission to secondary school--a success rate very few schools around Western Africa can match. Several students score highly enough to be placed in the most elite secondary schools.
- 2006: Two summer teams--one from a California church, and an InterVarsity team--plan to go visit to continue the mutual partnership.