Gottfried Osei-Mensah Preacher, Teacher, Organizer, Leader

Gottfried Osei-Mensah, was born in Berekum, Ghana and is known throughout the world as a preacher, teacher and organizer. He is one of Africa's most respected and sought after Christian leaders. Gottfried's father, a local chief, was one of the first converts in the Berekum, Ashanti District of the Presbyterian Basel Mission in Ghana. Gottfried was therefore brought up in a Christian atmosphere, where the religious and educational activities of the church and mission school were integrated into the cultural activities of a Chief's household. He was then educated at the Prempeh College, Kumasi, Ghana and received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering at the University of Birmingham, England. It was here that he met Audrey, the English girl who was to become his wife. They have two adult married children, are grandparents and make their home in Reading, United Kingdom.

Gottfried worked for Mobil Oil, Ghana for five years before being called into full-time Christian service. He served as Traveling Secretary for the Pan African Fellowship of Evangelical Students in West Africa 1966-71; Pastor of Nairobi Baptist Church, Kenya, 1971-75.

Gottfried has taken a leading role in many of the significant planning events in world evangelism, including the historic Pan African Christian Leadership Assembly (PACLA) in Nairobi in 1976, and the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation. These helped give world evangelism a common perspective, setting the pace and path for the future. He also served as the Executive Secretary of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization for nine years, from 1975 to 1984, and was a Special Representative on the staff of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association between 1986 and 1993.

Since joining African Enterprise in May 1993, as an evangelist/teacher and now as Chairman of AE's International Partnership Board, Gottfried has led and participated in several missions. In 1994 he helped African Enterprise co-host PACLA II. Gottfried and his wife Audrey provide energetic leadership and pastoral encouragement to the AE teams and their spouses. He has a total commitment to Kingdom values and the Great Commission, and has been an integral part of the leadership that has guided the Church in Africa.