Apostle Dr. Kofi Adonteng Boateng: A Diaspora Minister On The Move

Very few African-born, U.S.-based preachers have risen to national and international prominence like Apostle Dr. Kofi Adonteng Boateng, a Virginia-based, Ghanaian-born mega-church pastor and revivalist famed for starting the Divine Prayer Line. What makes Apostle Boateng’s story more intriguing is his humble background both in his native country and here in the United States. He started life in America as a customer service representative in LOWES in Massachusetts before pastoring his first church in Worcester. “It was not an easy road; I didn’t just arrive here overnight. For a whole year I slept in my church hall because I could not afford rent for my apartment.”

Today his story is very different; within just 4 years he has successfully established the largest and most popular free, international phone prayer service – Divine Prayer Line [Access #: 712.432.1615 Passcode: 123 123#], established the Divine Word International Ministry – one of the fastest growing Christian ministries in the United States and organized mammoth evangelistic crusades in multiple cities across the United States. His recent mammoth crusades in New York, Virginia, Connecticut, Ohio and Illinois which gathered a cumulative total of over 30,000 people have left some referring to him as “America’s new Billy Graham.”

Aside his commitment to Christian ministry, Apostle Boateng through his ministry is leading humanitarian and medical missions in Africa and providing free health services to less privileged people in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Asked about the “secrets of his sudden success” he responded “It is by God’s grace that I am where I am today; I recognize that it is the doing of the Lord. I have come a very long way, but not many people realize it. I am also very good with handling people, when you treat people well they stick with you and your ministry grows. Ministry is about serving people, not lording it over them or taking undue advantage, and that is what I strive to do. I also never give up you know…and I never wait for anyone to do my job for me, I work hard” Apostle Boateng’s sudden rise to notoriety has not been without challenges. Last year he endured damaging attacks by critics who took aim at his reputation, legitimacy and ethics, but according to him even that helped him become a better minister and person. “You know what happened last year rather helped me move forward, whenever I make a reference to that crisis those around me advise me never to even mention it since I have moved forward so much…”

In recognition of his ministry to tens of thousands across the nation, Collins University awarded him an honorary doctorate degree in Divinity in August 2011, at a ceremony in Columbus Ohio. Apostle Boateng is the author of a new inspirational Book “Benji Move On: God Got Your Covered” and a movie based on the same book. Typical of his ministry, his end of year convention has been scheduled for December 30 – January 1, 2012 at 3501 University Blvd. East Hyattsville, Maryland – under the theme “Tomorrow by This Time” – Information Line -703 910 6646 / 6678. While 4 years is certainly too short to determine the full life span of any institution, especially a church, what Apostle Boateng has accomplished through his ministry within this short period is commendable.

By Frederick Nnoma-Addison