Authors

#02 · Managing Editor

Michael Franco Smit

→

Michael is a South African husband, father, educator, and elder at Evangelical Community Church in Abu Dhabi. He serves as Managing Editor of The Gospel Network, which he joined in January 2023, and as one of the chief editors of DEW Arabia Magazine. Michael came to faith in Christ at the age of twenty-seven after moving to the United Arab Emirates. Conversations about Christianity led him to recognise that he had never truly understood the gospel. He had understood Christianity as a system of personal merit and religious works rather than salvation by grace through faith in Christ. Through Scripture, he was enabled to see Jesus Christ more clearly and to understand that even his religious zeal to earn salvation stood opposed to the finished work of Christ on the cross. From the beginning of his Christian life, Michael desired to share the good news he had received and became actively involved in the life of his local church. The preaching and pastoral ministry of John Folmar, together with years of fellowship and study among faithful men in the church, profoundly shaped his convictions. He completed a ministry internship at Evangelical Community Church of Dubai in 2019–2020 and later served for a season on the staff of Evangelical Community Church in Abu Dhabi. His path to eldership grew through faithful membership, discipleship, teaching, and ordinary service long before he held formal office. Michael's theological convictions are Protestant, Reformed Baptist, and deeply church-centred. His interests include biblical exposition, systematic and biblical theology, soteriology, church history, pastoral ministry, editorial ministry, family discipleship, and the theological needs of the Church. Second Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 1:1–2, and Jude 3 continue to shape his ministry. He is married to Claudia, and they have two children.

28 publications

#03 · Deputy Editor

Ebenezer Foster-Nyarko

→

Ebenezer Foster-Nyarko serves as Deputy Editor at The Gospel Network, where he seeks to contribute gospel-centred, God-glorifying articles rooted in the faithful interpretation of Scripture. He is a co-founding member of TGN. Ebenezer is married to Yaa Adutwumwaa, and they have four children. He and his family worship at CityGates Church in Norwich, UK. Ebenezer was raised on God’s Word from an early age, the son of a preacher, and made a public confession of faith at a ‘Time with the Teens’ programme in 1994. In 2014, through a Bible study on Ephesians, he became convinced of the doctrines of grace and Reformed theology. The Lord used this study group to turn him from the word-of-faith wealth-and-health prosperity gospel to the true message of the gospel. His greatest theological influences have been Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, R. C. Sproul, and Wayne Grudem. His passion is faithful expository preaching, and he holds a conservative view of biblical inerrancy, in agreement with the ‘Chicago Statement’ on Biblical Inerrancy. He is of a continuationist persuasion. Prior to relocating to the UK, Ebenezer founded Peculiar Grace Fellowship, a Reformed Bible study fellowship in The Gambia, and continues to manage its blog at peculiargrace.org. He longs for the day when, by God’s grace, Christians will discuss and live out biblical doctrine with the same ease and enthusiasm they bring to their favourite sport or hobby – and find their deepest joy in the God those doctrines reveal. A Scripture that shapes his ministry is Colossians 1:28-29. When not writing for TGN, Ebenezer works as a research scientist and microbial genomicist. Recommended reading: Everyone’s a Theologian by R. C. Sproul.

75 publications

#04 · Contributor

Enoch Awuku Anti

→

Enoch Awuku Anti serves as the pastor of Sovereign Grace Reformed Church (SGRC) in Accra, Ghana, where he also lives with his wife and their three children. He is bi- vocational working in a financial institution in Ghana. As a bi-vocational minister, he is committed to faithfully serving Christ both in the church and in the marketplace. Prior to planting and pastoring SGRC, Enoch served as a deacon at Truth Missionary Baptist Church. His ministry is characterized by a deep commitment to the faithful interpretation of Scripture, the proclamation of sound doctrine, the cultivation of healthy local churches, and the spiritual growth of believers. Although raised in a Christian home, Enoch came to personal faith in Christ following a personal life crisis leading him to seek the Lord. That experience continues to shape both his ministry and his dependence on God's grace. Enoch holds a Master of Arts in Ministry from Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, Ghana. In addition to writing for The Gospel Network Africa, he maintains a personal blog, Grace and Truth, where he writes reflections on Scripture, theology, and the Christian life. Through both his preaching and writing, his foremost desire is to see sinners reconciled to Christ and believers strengthened to live faithfully for the glory of God.

57 publications

#05 · Contributor

Andrews Ampomah

→

Biography coming soon.

11 publications

#06 · Guest Author

Temi Cotek

→

Biography coming soon.

8 publications

#07 · Guest Author

Edward Agyeman-Gyau

→

Biography coming soon.

4 publications

#08 · Contributor

Francis Sowani

→

Francis is a Tanzanian married to his high-school friend Joyce, and they are blessed with a son and a daughter. He is a member of Evangelical Community Church where he serves as an elder. Vocationally, Francis works as a Cybersecurity Consultant in a local company in Abu Dhabi. Currently, he is pursuing Biblical and Theological studies at the Gulf Theological Seminary. Francis grew up in a Catholic home where he witnessed his mother being passionate about God and church. However, it was in high school years when he faced the reality of battling sin and his helplessness in overcoming it on his own. Amidst his helplessness, he was confronted with the gospel through a high-school Protestant classmate. Graciously, the Lord opened Francis’ eyes to realize that he is a sinner and in need of a savior. He believed in Christ and ever since, the Lord has been growing him especially through (1) being a husband and a father, (2) his membership at the Evangelical Community Church, (3) his ministry as an elder, and (4) his seminary studies. Francis is passionate about teaching and writing about the gospel. He holds Protestant and Reformed Baptist convictions and believes that the gospel is to be lived out primarily in the context of a local church. Increasingly, Francis has been sensitive to the gospel-needs of African church. Particularly, clarity on the true gospel, as “prosperity gospel” and legalism still wreak havoc throughout the continent. Also, the African church needs to be aware of her significant role in the rise of Christianity throughout the church history. Francis desires that (1) more unbelievers will be confronted with the gospel and believe in Christ, and that (2) believers will be challenged and encouraged to grow and live for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 publications

#09 · Guest Author

Theo Aryee

→

Biography coming soon.

1 publications