North America Ghanaian Adventist Leaders meet in Scranton, Pennsylvania

Leaders of North American Ghanaian Adventist churches have just ended their fall leadership retreat at Scranton, Pennsylvania. The meeting which brought together Ghanaian pastors and church elders of almost all the Ghanaian Adventist churches in United States and Canada was held at Maywood University from October 25-28, 2007. This meeting had a dual purpose: leadership seminars and discussing wide range of issues affecting the growth of Ghanaian Adventist Churches in North America. Part of the time was also devoted to powerful preaching, intercessory prayers, and group discussions and planning.

Opening the meeting, Pastor Enoch Affum, the president of the organization, welcomed all the delegates including Pastor Samuel Larmie, president of Ghana Union of SDA churches who was attending the meeting as a guest of honor. Pastor Affum challenged the assembled delegates to help cast a wider vision for the Ghanaian churches in North America.

The Secretary of the organization, Pastor S.K. Twumasi, gave a comprehensive report that showed accession growth in membership. Elder Edward Addai, the treasurer also presented the financial report of the organization. Thereafter all the 24 Ghanaian Adventist churches in North America gave encouraging reports from their churches about baptisms, new church building acquisitions, evangelistic meetings and week of prayers conducted, and other programs that are beneficial to church members and people in their communities.

The house also approved the application of Charlotte Ghanaian SDA church in North Carolina which had applied for membership status and recognition. The vote of acceptance of Charlotte Ghana SDA church brought the number of Ghanaian SDA churches in North America to 25 and a combined membership of more than 2000 adult baptized members.

The Director of Ghana Projects, Pastor I.B. Boateng gave detailed accounts of the myriad projects which the organization is currently doing in Ghana. Among them are church building constructions, shipment of containers of medical supplies and second hand clothes to Ghana for the needy, sponsoring of theology students at Valley View University and evangelistic meetings, sending some lecturers from North America to teach short term classes at Valley View University in a joint collaborative efforts.

During the caucuses meeting, a laymen?s Advisory Council was formed to offer strong support to the clergy. Elder Kwasi Boamah Gyimah (Bridgeport Ghana SDA Church), was elected Chairperson, Elder Dan Coker (Dallas Forth Worth Ghana SDA Church) as Secretary and Sister Esther Gobah (New England Ghana SDA Church) as the treasurer.

The house also reviewed their funeral constitution and other documents. The North American Ghanaian Adventist campmeeting for next year (2008) was approved to be held at Marywoods University in Scranton, Pennsylvania from July 16-20, 2008. Facilitators at the retreat were Pastor Larmie, Pastor William Boadi-Beckson and Pastor Paul Sampah. Pastors Antwi Adarkwah, Yaw Asumadu Buahin and G. Boakye-Dankwah gave devotional talk. Pastor Larmie preached at the divine service hour and also the consecration service