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I shall not bore you with a detailed History of Challenge Enterprises But will be as brief as possible to give us a good understanding of the background of Challenge Enterprises, which most people know as only Challenge Bookshop.

Challenge Enterprises grew out of the Magazine African. African challen Began by the missionaries of SIM (Sudan Interior Mission )in 1956 in Lagos, Nigeria. The Magazine which was brought from nigeria in 1956, were distributed mostly in the primary and secondary schools and during the years it was distributed, influenced whole genarations of students in christian Teaching and created much goodwill which is felt to this day. Because of the high English Literacy rate the popular Challenge magazine had an immediate and eager market among teachers and Students.

The supply of the Challenge magazines later included inexpensive Bibles and Christian books which were sold by the Ghanians staff in Vans that travelled across the country moving from school to school.

The demand for Christian Literature increased and finally a small bookshop was opened in 1964 at the present location of the Head Office at Kokomlemle, opposite the A.T.T.C. Lots of letters were received from readers of the magazine and books asking for spiritual help; and in response our present Enquiries. Up to this point distinct departments distinct departments had been set, the bookshop and Enquiry Centre and a third being the Cinevans department was just getting established.

Maranathan Bible College

A history of SIM and Challenge cannot be complete if mention is nt made of the fact that in 1972 our sister organisation, the Maranatha Bible College was developed to provide teaching for young people who needed more than just reading on their own. The late Mr. William Ofori Atta alias Paa Willee was the instrument in this.

The Handing Over of SIM to Ghanaian Board of Trustees

On January 25, 1975, in keeping with the changing tme SIM turned the total media ministry over to the new formed board of Challenge Enterprises of Ghana, with Mr. Ofori Atta as the Chairman of the board.

Currentl Challenge Enterprise which is non-dominational is managed solely by Ghanaians under the directorship of Mr.Benjamin Boateng. Presently, there are fourteen (14) bookshops (Nine in Accra - Tema and five in Cape Coast, Kumasi and Sunyani) and a fleet of six cinevans, which apart from showing Christian Films free to the Ghanaian populace also operate as our mobile bookshops to the rural areas and distribute Christian tracts free to them.

As a full service para church organisation, we have other departments and ministriess devoted to taking care of the spiritual needs of our people.

These are as follows:

1. The Challenge Cinema Today

2. Enquiry Centre & Prison Chaplaincy Ministry

3. The Bookshops

4. The Audio Visual Department

5. The Administration - which co-ordinate all activities of the Enterprises.

A brief note on each will be useful as follows:

1. Challenge Cinema Today (CCT)

After the exciting concept of Cinema travelling across the country and showing Christian Films wa researched and planned over the yeats, February 1980, saw Challenge starting the Cinema ministry with one custom built van.

The first van was funded through the donation of Ghanaian, but since then most who see themselves as volunatary partners. All other expenses in maintaining and replacing the vans is borne been solely by Challenge.

These vans follow a predetermined route in different geographical areas showing Christian Films in various towns and villages twenty-six (26) nights a month. Each film presentation there is a two-hour film and before the reel is exhausted, a ten (10) minute message is given by a member of the cinevancrew, followed by an invitation to the audience to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Those who respond to the call to accept Christ are counselled and handed over to any Bible Believing Church in the locality to follow them up, and disciple them.

Later those who can read and write are linked to our Bible Correspondenc Courses in a bid to help them grow into Christian maturity.

2. ENQUIRY CENTRE

This department incorporates the following:

( i ) Prison Ministry

( ii ) Correspondence like the Young Searches Leagues, Mail Box Club, Emmaus Correspondence Courses.

( iii ) Tract Distribution

( iv ) Pastors Books Project ad Prayer Conference

Prison Ministry

Chuck Colson's revelations from his time behind prison bars have made us all much aware of the suffering and indignation that is the lot of those confined to prisons.

In many parts of the world, prisoners are not only those who have committed crimes against society, but also those whose political views are not acceptable to the party in power. In some countries tou can be a leader of the nation one day and the next, if you are fortunate to be alive, find yourself locked up in a damp prison cell.

In 1971, Challenge staff, Rev. Alfred Addison began visiting Ussher Fort and James Fort Prisons, both ancient, and damp structures dating to early colonial days. Their location, overlooking the Atlantic ocean, only adds to the discomforts of the inmates.

From the start, Challenge offered free Bible courses to the prisoners who were able to read and write. Rev. Addison met with those inmates on Thursday afternoons to guide them in their studies.

In 1974, the late Mr. William Ofori-Atta, of blessed memory who had then experienced five confinements in prison because of his political stand; and had then been converted while in prison, encouraged Challenge to extend its outreach to the Nsawam prison.

I am happ to report that because of Uncle Willie's constructive suggestion, Challenge now has two well-trained pastors who visit the following prisons to help meet the spiritual needs of prisoners.

- Nsawam Male Prison

- Nsawam Female Prison

- Borstal Institute

- James Camp Prison

- James Fort Male Prison

- James Fort Female Prison

- Winneba Prison

- Akuse Prison

1999 Figures: At the end of December 1999, 1,600 inmates studied free Bibles courses. The two chaplains led over 750 people to Christ, 595 were in prisons and 155 in other fellowship classes.

Young Searchers League:

This a 500-questions Bible searching course for which the material is supplied to children between the ages of 12 - 18 to answer the question. A certificats, New Testament and a Bible are awarded to those who successfully complete the various stages of the course. Currently there are over 138,202 school children involved in the course.

Mail Box Club

It is a 49 step course. It is used as a follow-up on cinevan converts acroos the country. We also use them in our prison chaplaincy work. Presently, there are over 39,179 active students.

Bible Schools

Challenge sells Emmaus Correspondence Courses to Bible schools and individuals across the nation at subsidized prices. Again, we provide Emmaus Bible Correspondende Courses free of charge to prison inmates who can read and write.

Tract Distribution

The American Tract Society, Revival Movement, Distribution of Christian Literature and World Missionary Press make gospel tracts available to Challenge for distribution through our bookshops cinevans, Churches and individual Christians.

Pastor' Book Project

The lack of study books for pastors and Christian leaders was a serious problem. In 1979, major theological books were too expensive for Challenge to purchase, and even though we managed to so, pastors were also not om a position to buy them. Out of concern for this need, the vidion of a Pastors' Book Project emerged.