The Atlanta Ghanaian SDA church of the Georgia Cumberland Conference (GCC), under the pastoral leadership of Pastor Gabriel Boakye Dankwa, held a re-union service in Atlanta on Sabbath July 5, 2008. The theme of the service was ‘United in Christ’. The service was attended by over 200 church members and invited guests from all over the United States. Our leaders from the Georgia Cumberland Conference in the persons of Pastors Steve Haley, Stan Patterson, and Bill Levin were present. The President of the Coordinating Committee (Corcom) of the North America Ghanaian Seventh - Day Adventist churches, Pastor Enoch Affum, and the Executive Secretary of the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Pastor M.A. Bediako, were also present.
On December 30th 2006, the church suffered a major crisis and did split into two as a result of a serious disagreement over a decision by the GCC to appoint a new overseer for the church. Both groups held church services at two different locations for well over a year and half. This eventful day became a reality through the prayers and reconciliatory efforts by Pastor Gabriel Boakye Dankwa and the leaders of the two groups, Pastors of the North America Ghanaian SDA Churches, Pastor M.A. Bediako, and other concerned members.
In a short speech before offering the Pastoral prayer, Pastor Bill Levin, former Pastor of the Atlanta Ghanaian SDA church, congratulated members for the unity and understanding that have brought them together. Delivering a sermon entitled “A sure foundation”, Pastor Steve Haley, the Executive Secretary of the GCC, indicated that the church can stand the storms of this world only when “its foundation is built on Jesus Christ”. He charged members to make Christ the centerpiece of their lives and of the church. His message was centered on the parable of Jesus in Mathew 7:24-27. Pastor Enoch Affum congratulated the church on behalf of the other Ghanaian SDA churches in North America and charged members of the united group to stand together. In his concluding goodwill message, he echoed the popular slogan “united we stand, divided we fall” as the congregation repeated it after him.
Pastor Stan Patterson, Vice President for Pastoral Ministries and Evangelism of GCC in his goodwill message, said he cherished the good news of the re-union better than the gift he will receive from the conference as he is about to take a new appointment at Andrews University. His encouraging words to the united group were from Psalm 133:1-3. In his goodwill message, Pastor Stephen Antwi Boasiako, the first overseer of the Atlanta Ghanaian SDA Church, charged the new group to try as much as possible to assist in moving the gospel work forward. He indicated his willingness to assist the united church to advance the gospel work in Atlanta.
Pastor M.A. Bediako, during the consecration and dedication part of the service, commended the Atlanta Ghanaian SDA Church for uniting. He acknowledged that the unity had occurred quicker than he anticipated, and for that he said he was grateful to the Lord. He charged the new group to work together in unity and love to evangelize Atlanta.
The congregation, led by Pastor Boakye Dankwa, sang many songs of praise to the glory of God. It was a wonderful and spirit-filled service. We give thanks and praise to the Lord for uniting the Atlanta Ghanaian SDA Church.
The Atlanta Ghanaian SDA church of the Georgia Cumberland Conference (GCC), under the pastoral leadership of Pastor Gabriel Boakye Dankwa, held a re-union service in Atlanta on Sabbath July 5, 2008. The theme of the service was ‘United in Christ’. The service was attended by over 200 church members and invited guests from all over the United States. Our leaders from the Georgia Cumberland Conference in the persons of Pastors Steve Haley, Stan Patterson, and Bill Levin were present. The President of the Coordinating Committee (Corcom) of the North America Ghanaian Seventh - Day Adventist churches, Pastor Enoch Affum, and the Executive Secretary of the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Pastor M.A. Bediako, were also present.
On December 30th 2006, the church suffered a major crisis and did split into two as a result of a serious disagreement over a decision by the GCC to appoint a new overseer for the church. Both groups held church services at two different locations for well over a year and half. This eventful day became a reality through the prayers and reconciliatory efforts by Pastor Gabriel Boakye Dankwa and the leaders of the two groups, Pastors of the North America Ghanaian SDA Churches, Pastor M.A. Bediako, and other concerned members.
In a short speech before offering the Pastoral prayer, Pastor Bill Levin, former Pastor of the Atlanta Ghanaian SDA church, congratulated members for the unity and understanding that have brought them together. Delivering a sermon entitled “A sure foundation”, Pastor Steve Haley, the Executive Secretary of the GCC, indicated that the church can stand the storms of this world only when “its foundation is built on Jesus Christ”. He charged members to make Christ the centerpiece of their lives and of the church. His message was centered on the parable of Jesus in Mathew 7:24-27. Pastor Enoch Affum congratulated the church on behalf of the other Ghanaian SDA churches in North America and charged members of the united group to stand together. In his concluding goodwill message, he echoed the popular slogan “united we stand, divided we fall” as the congregation repeated it after him.
Pastor Stan Patterson, Vice President for Pastoral Ministries and Evangelism of GCC in his goodwill message, said he cherished the good news of the re-union better than the gift he will receive from the conference as he is about to take a new appointment at Andrews University. His encouraging words to the united group were from Psalm 133:1-3. In his goodwill message, Pastor Stephen Antwi Boasiako, the first overseer of the Atlanta Ghanaian SDA Church, charged the new group to try as much as possible to assist in moving the gospel work forward. He indicated his willingness to assist the united church to advance the gospel work in Atlanta.
Pastor M.A. Bediako, during the consecration and dedication part of the service, commended the Atlanta Ghanaian SDA Church for uniting. He acknowledged that the unity had occurred quicker than he anticipated, and for that he said he was grateful to the Lord. He charged the new group to work together in unity and love to evangelize Atlanta.
The congregation, led by Pastor Boakye Dankwa, sang many songs of praise to the glory of God. It was a wonderful and spirit-filled service. We give thanks and praise to the Lord for uniting the Atlanta Ghanaian SDA Church.
