Stephen Kwabena Asante: A Life Dedicated to the Gospel.
Stephen Kwabena Asante was a Ghanaian preacher, evangelist, and church planter who devoted his life to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was born on 27th August 1949 in Nchiraa, a town in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. His parents were John Atta Kwabena, a roof carpenter, and Mary Yaa Anane, a caterer and shopkeeper. He was the firstborn of seven children and grew up in a musical family. His father played the tuba in a traditional band and his mother loved to sing.
Stephen developed a passion for music, news, sports, and documentaries from an early age. He also enjoyed going to the farm and church with his father, who was not a born-again Christian at the time. His grandmother, Ama Tabua, whom he called Eno, was very caring and influential in his life. She guided him and protected him from bad influences.
Stephen attended the Methodist Senior High School in Wenchi, where he had a life-changing encounter with God. At the age of 17, he gave his life to Jesus Christ at a Scripture Union meeting and experienced healing from diseases that had afflicted him for a year. He was filled with joy and peace and decided to break up with his girlfriend in a letter, telling her that he had a new life in Christ. This became an essential part of his testimony that he always shared with others.
After his conversion, Stephen felt a strong urge to share his faith with others. He started preaching the gospel to the people of his hometown during school holidays. He met people one-on-one and shared the gospel with them. He also woke people up from their sleep with his dawn preaching. He led many people, including his own father, to Christ through his evangelism.
Rev. Asante attended the Presbyterian Training College from 1971 to 1973. He graduated as a trained teacher, but felt called to serve God in a different way. In September 1975, Stephen resigned from his teaching job and took up full-time ministry as the Regional Director of the Ghana Evangelism Committee in charge of the Brong Ahafo Region and the northern regions. He was recommended for this position by Bishop Kwame Omane Achamfuor, whom he was very grateful to.
Later in November 1975, Stephen married his beloved wife and friend, Evelyn at the Grace Baptist Church in Amakom, Kumasi. She was also a trained teacher and an athlete, who shared his faith and devotion. They got married after Rev. Asante proposed to her through a letter.
They moved to Techiman, where he became the senior pastor of the Adom Baptist Church and started raising their family.
While serving as a pastor in Techiman, Stephen also led the Scripture Union town fellowship, where many people were converted and revived. He also became a frequent speaker at many Scripture Union rallies and camps for high school students throughout the region. He ministered to thousands of students and helped them grow in their faith.
Stephen also led church planting efforts which led to the establishment of 14 Baptist churches in Techiman and its surrounding areas. He recalled how God used him to perform miracles of healing and deliverance among the people. He said, "The Lord did great things through us."
Rev. Asante pursued further studies in evangelism and theology in various countries. In 1976, he travelled to Nairobi, Kenya, to study under the Ministry of Campus Crusade. In the early 1980s, he obtained a degree in Theology from the British Theological Seminary. He also earned a post graduate diploma in Mission Studies from the World Evangelisation for Christ Mission Orientation Centre in the United Kingdom, which was sponsored by the World Mission. He held a Master’s degree in Applied Theology from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom.
Rev. Asante was a sought-after gospel minister. He was a regular feature among the speakers at various Challenge Pastors and Church leaders Conferences. He was a prominent guest speaker at various Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship Meetings in Kumasi, Accra, Takoradi, Agona Swedru, and Sunyani. He also led GHAFES outreach efforts at KNUST, University of Cape Coast, University of Ghana, and University of Education, Winneba. Thousands of university students got born again through these outreach activities.
All of these happened while he was still pastoring the Asokwa Baptist Church.
As he ministered in Kumasi, he raised many sons and daughters who are now leading cutting edge gospel ministries throughout the world — Bishop Francis Sarpong, Rev Kwaku Adu Wusu, Rev Dr. Charles Asare, Rev Nana Akwasi Amoakohene, Rev Tony & Rev Mrs Dora Acheampong, Rev. Thomas Donkor, Rev Steve Pentsil, Rev Kofi Agyenim Boateng, Rev. Francis Kofi Gyan Preko, Rev. Nana Amma Nyantakyiwa Osei-Du, Rev. Kwame Bonsu, Rev. Prof. Boapeah, and Rev. Paul Amoah-Akyeremade.
In 1996, Rev. Asante took over as the first Ghanaian National Director of the Ghana Evangelism Commitee (GEC) and served for nine years. This appointment gave him the platform to serve many churches. Through the GEC, Rev. Asante helped to train many pastors and lay ministers in evangelism and discipleship. He also got to minister in several countries outside Ghana during his tenure.
While serving at the GEC, Rev. Steve Asante also took up the position of senior pastor at the First Baptist Church, Tema. At First Baptist Church, Rev. Asante led the church to build its building and planted many churches in the villages of the Dangme area.
In 2005, Rev. Asante returned to Kumasi to take up the senior pastoral leadership of Asokwa Baptist Church until he retired from full time ministry in 2019. During his second stint with the Asokwa Baptist Church, the marvelous grace of God was manifest. The church grew in number and the infrastructure was also expanded. Five other churches were planted in the Kokofu and Bekwai areas during this period with the help of the Great Commission Movement of Ghana.
In 2006, Rev. Steve Asante was elected as the President of the Ghana Baptist Convention (GBC), the highest spiritual position in the denomination. He served as the President for two terms until 2013. During this period, he led the GBC in celebrating its golden jubilee anniversary in 2007 and initiated various projects and programs such as the Vision 2020, the Baptist Village, the Baptist Women's Retreat Center, and the Baptist World Alliance Congress in Accra in 2007.
Rev. Asante also traveled extensively to various countries on all five inhabited continents to preach the gospel and strengthen the fellowship of Baptists. He also attended and spoke at various Baptist World Alliance (BWA) meetings and events such as the General Councils and the Congresses. He served as a member of the BWA Executive Committee and the Human Rights Commission. He was also a member of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (LCWE) and participated in the Lausanne Congresses.
During Rev. Asante’s 44 years in full time ministry with the Ghana Baptist Convention, he served in many positions:
Association Chairman of Adom Baptist Association for several years.
Evangelism and Missions Board Chairman
General Secretary Council Member
Executive Committee Member
Vice President —1998-2006
President —2006-2013
He also served on several committees at the Baptist World Alliance. For many years, he was the Chairman of the Missions and Evangelism Committee. This gave him the opportunity to travel to several countries for ministry and meetings. Rev. Asante also served as Advisory Board member of World Vision International, Ghana for several years. He served as the Vice Chairman at the Christian Council, Ghana; The First Vice President of The Bible Society of Ghana; member of the Advisory Council of Compassion International, Ghana, and GILBT-Ghana.
Rev. Asante was not only a gifted preacher and but a writer too. He authored five books, including Equip to Evangelise and No Bible No Breakfast. He loved to worship, and has composed five songs, such as ‘Aseda Ne Ayeyi Ne Ntrotrom’ and ‘Mo Ntrotrom No’.
Stephen Kwabena Asante was a living testimony of God's grace and power. He was a man who dedicated his life to the gospel and impacted many lives for eternity. He was a man who can truly say with Paul: "I have finished my course, I have kept the faith…” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Rev. Stephen Kwabena Asante served God faithfully for over five decades, spreading the gospel and impacting lives. He was a humble and joyful servant of God, who loved his wife and family dearly. He was extravagantly generous and helped hundreds of people from his personal resources. He was genuine and loved people.
Rev. Asante is survived by his wife, Evelyn and their four daughters - Judith, Joana, Maxine, and Evelyn. He was also the grandfather of nine.
We will miss him!
