Whitby: The International Students Ministries Canada (ISMC) has appointed Apostle Jacob-Paul Aheto, a Ghanaian missionary and international student ministry leader, as Global Ambassador of the Association of Christians Ministering among Internationals (ACMI). The ACMI serves as the global umbrella body for international student ministry organizations worldwide.
According to Ghana News Agency, Apostle Jacob-Paul's new role will focus on expanding ACMI's visibility among international student ministry (ISM) practitioners globally. His initial efforts will be directed towards building and strengthening ISM networks across Africa. In addition to his global role, Apostle Jacob-Paul has also been named City Director for ISMC, a leading ISM organization in North America.
The statement from ISMC highlighted that these appointments mark a new phase in Apostle Jacob-Paul's ministry career, following his tenure as National Coordinator of Pan African International Students (PAIS). The roles span both global advocacy and localized community-level ministry delivery. He will leverage his experience as the founding National Coordinator of PAIS to coordinate outreach and discipleship efforts among African international students across multiple countries.
The appointments come during a period of significant growth in global student mobility. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics reports that the number of internationally mobile students has surpassed 6.4 million, with Sub-Saharan Africa among the fastest-growing source regions. In Canada, data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) showed that the country hosted over one million study permit holders for the first time in 2023, highlighting the substantial international student population.
The settled international student community across cities in Ontario, including the Durham Region, remains a focus for faith-based organizations providing pastoral and community support. Cam Janzen, President and Chief Executive Officer of ISMC, expressed confidence in Apostle Jacob-Paul's capabilities, citing his background in pan-African student ministry and familiarity with the Canadian ISM landscape as strengths for his new mandate in Whitby.
Reflecting on his ACMI appointment, Apostle Jacob-Paul emphasized the strategic significance of international students and the need for cross-continental collaboration to meet their needs beyond academics or social aspects, but with the gospel. Regarding his role with ISMC in Whitby, he is committed to building a ministry that supports international students through their experiences and guides them towards Christ.
Apostle Jacob-Paul is the Lead-Apostle of Authority Chapel International and Founder of Jacob-Paul Missions in Ghana. He has been mentored by Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, since 2018. He holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Cape Coast and a certificate and diploma in Missions and Disciplemaking from Christlike Disciplemakers Movement (CDM) Bible College. He is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Canada Christian College.