Our History

A Journey of Faith, Service, and Transformation

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Zarephath Widows Association (ZaWA)

Officially registered to serve widows and empower communities in Builsa North District

Contact

0245120823

Registration No.

CG064820924

TIN

C0064555720

Established

December 5, 2024

2004

The Genesis of Service

The vision for reaching out to needy widows was birthed when Rev. Lincoln K. Akpaliok completed bible college and was posted to pastor the Wiaga Assembly of God Church. He embraced ministry as social service to the communities, making visitation an integral part of his calling.

Scriptural Foundation
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
James 1:27
2005

Holistic Ministry Begins

Rev. Lincoln launched the 'Holistic Ministry' - a comprehensive approach to ministry that seeks to impact people beyond pulpit preaching, addressing both spiritual and physical needs of the community.

Key Activities
  • Regular community visitations
  • Counseling and spiritual support
  • Financial assistance for urgent needs
  • Material support distribution
2007

Community Expansion & Education Focus

A church was planted in Wiaga-Mutiensa, where Rev. Lincoln challenged youth to take education seriously. During this period, he solicited funds from fellow pastors to pay school fees for needy students.

Education Initiatives
  • School fee support for disadvantaged students
  • Ayeyefest uniform distribution program
  • Used clothing mobilization for the poor
  • Youth education advocacy
2007

Life-Saving Medical Intervention

A remarkable testimony of faith and action: Rev. Lincoln saved the life of a 15-year-old boy at Wiaga-Mutiensa by covering hospital costs when the family couldn't afford treatment due to expired NHIS cards.

Medical Testimony
"If this child had stayed for one day, his intestines would have perforated."
Hospital Physician Assistant
2008-2015

Campus Ministry & Expanded Outreach

Rev. Lincoln became campus pastor of Assemblies of God campus ministry at UDS Navrongo, expanding the reach of holistic ministry beyond rural communities to academic institutions.

Campus Impact
  • Student spiritual mentorship
  • Academic community outreach
  • Continued rural community support
  • Partnership building with educational institutions
2016-2020

Focused Widow Ministry Development

The ministry intensified its focus on widows, providing frequent visits, counseling, financial support, and material assistance. This period saw the development of systematic approaches to widow care.

Global Context
"There are more than 258 million widows globally, yet they have historically been left unseen, unsupported, and unmeasured in our societies."
UN Report, 2021
2021-2023

Seed Support & Agricultural Empowerment

Leveraging local agricultural knowledge, Rev. Lincoln developed a seed support program for widows, focusing on groundnut cultivation as an accessible and profitable crop during farming seasons.

Agricultural Partnership
  • Quality seed provision for widows
  • Professional agricultural extension services (Moses Akaribo - 05535999718)
  • Farm monitoring and guidance
  • Post-harvest support and market linkage
  • Housing reconstruction for flood victims
  • NHIS card renewal support (with Rev. Jonas Tetteh)
2024

Formalization as NGO

Rev. Maxwell Kwasi Incoom, Assemblies of God Mission Director, recognized the impact of Rev. Lincoln's work and initiated the process to register the ministry as a structured NGO, enabling greater resource mobilization and wider outreach.

Official Registration
  • Legal registration completed in Tamale
  • Structured governance established
  • Enhanced resource mobilization capacity
  • Expanded community reach potential

Our Vision for the Future

Building on two decades of grassroots service, ZaWA is committed to expanding and deepening our impact in widow empowerment and community development.

Holistic Widow Support
  • Comprehensive counseling services
  • Economic independence programs
  • Rights advocacy and legal support
  • Spiritual guidance and community fellowship
  • Peer support group facilitation
Agricultural Expansion
  • Advanced agribusiness skills training
  • Extended agricultural extension services
  • Premium seed varieties provision
  • Mechanized farming support
  • Market linkage and value chain development
Training & Education
  • Vocational skills training (soap making, etc.)
  • Health education and preventive care
  • Rights awareness and cultural transformation
  • Financial literacy and entrepreneurship
  • Digital literacy programs
Strategic Projections
  • Regular support for elderly widows without family
  • Educational scholarships for widows' children
  • Geographic expansion to reach more communities
  • Enhanced donor and partner network
  • Sustainable program model development