Mephibosheth Ministries

The goal of Mephibosheth Ministry is to help bring people with disabilities, their families, and the body of Christ into personal relationship. Just as David accepted Mephibosheth into the royal family of ancient Israel, even though he was disabled, we want to see this often forgotten part of society fully accepted into the Church.

Mephibosheth Ministry offers help and encouragement to people affected by disabilities, their family and friends, as well as churches and other believers who choose to reach out and share His divine love and prayers for their lives.

Mephibosheth Ministry strives to bring you the best quality special needs curriculum at the lowest price possible. After evaluating our prices, we have decided to charge below value for our curriculum. In other words, Mephibosheth Ministry will cover part ofthe costs of printing and mailing in order to provide these inspired books to as many special needs folks as we can. From now on costs will be set as a "suggested donation." This is a huge leap of faith for Mephibosheth Ministry, but God is able to provide for us and we believe this decision will bring this curriculum to as many more churches who want to have a special needs ministry. We are here to help you grow your special needs ministries, call or write us for further information.

In 1999, Mary Jane Ponten and Andrea Linder Jehu-Appiah went to Ghana for the first time together.  Needs were assessed and Andrea began planning for another trip to Ghana under Mephibosheth Ministry.  With Mary-Jane's blessing in 2005-- Mephibosheth in Ghana, a New Jersey-based Non-Profit was incorporated.   

Mephibosheth in Ghana

Rev. Joseph Jehu-Appiah was born and raised in Ghana.  He obtained a teacher training certificate in 1991 from Komenda Training College. In the year 2001, he graduated from the Victory Bible Training Institute with a Diploma in Pastoral Ministries. Rev. Joseph Jehu-Appiah is currently the resident Pastor of Victory Bible Church International, Abba Adonai Sanctuary in Apam, Ghana, West Africa and the director of the Mephibosheth Ministry in Ghana. He is happily married to Andrea Jehu Appiah with two children, Hannah and Joshua.

Andrea Linder Jehu-Appiah was born and raised in New Jersey.   She obtained a bachelors degree in physical therapy from Temple University.   In 1995, she started doing short-term missions.  In 1999, she went to Ghana and fell in love with the people.  At the time, she saw that many people with disabilities had nothing—no wheelchair to get around and no means of education.  In 2001, she returned went to Ghana with the intent to stay for one year.  She learned not to put time perimeters on God, because God will have the final say.  During that year, she met Joseph Jehu-Appiah and volunteered at the local hospital where she met many children.  Most of the children were of school age, but could not attend a government school because of their disabilities.  

Andrea’s Legacy

Andrea C. Linder Jehu-Appiah passed away suddenly on Sunday morning, March 20, 2022. She is survived by her husband Pastor Kojo JehuAppiah (of almost 19 years), son Joshua (16 years), and daughter Hannah (30 years). Andrea and “Joe” (as he is affectionately called) were the co-headmasters of Mephibosheth Training Center, a boarding school for children with disabilities, which opened in March 2005. You are invited to click here to learn more.

Mephibosheth Training Centre

Mephibosheth Training Centre opened its doors in March 2005 with a program of 8 children.  At that time, the majority of children were not toilet-trained.  Over the years, MTC’s program grew with the help of God, the children’s families, supportive community members, and volunteers from near and far.  Now we have 70 children with various diagnoses.  The first group of children have finished their junior high and are awaiting results to continue with their journey of life. 

Our Name

Mephibosheth means “dispeller of shame” in Hebrew. In the Bible, Mephibosheth is the son of Jonathan, who was the son of Saul and best friend to King David. Mephibosheth has a disability, described as being “lame in both feet” due to a fall.

2 Samuel 9  (NKJV) - David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
1 Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him [a]kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!”
3 Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.”
4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6 Now when Mephibosheth[b] the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!”
7 So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
8 Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”
9 And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 
10 You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.”
“As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.” 
12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. 
13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.