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Diasporia News of Thursday, 10 April 2014

Source: Elder Kwasi Aye-Addo

Atlanta Ebenezer Ghanaian Presbyterian Church Acquires Building

Ebenezer Ghanaian Presbyterian Church, Atlanta Georgia has acquired a new building in Austell, Georgia. The building is eight thousand square feet facility. It has a sanctuary/worship space that can sit about two hundred people. It also has classrooms, offices, a kitchen, a large fellowship hall, and parking space for about a hundred vehicles. Ebenezer Ghanaian Presbyterian Church paid for this facility in full at closing from its own resources without funding from any bank or entity.

This church started as Presbyterian Church of Ghana Fellowship in February 2006 in partnership with the Woodlawn Presbyterian Church, a member church of the Cherokee Presbytery of PCUSA in Mableton, Georgia with Rev. Elizabeth G. Ansa Acquah as the first minister.

The congregation has been housed at Woodlawn Presbyterian Church in Mableton since its formation. The Woodlawn Church was dissolved in 2013 and its membership transferred to a new church called Light of Hope Presbyterian Church formed from the merger of three churches, including Woodlawn Presbyterian Church. Following the dissolution of Woodlawn Presbyterian Church, ownership of all its properties and liabilities transferred to the new Light of Hope Presbyterian Church.

The Light of Hope congregation immediately listed the Woodlawn building and other facilities for sale. With the impending sale of the Woodlawn building occupied by Ebenezer Ghanaian Presbyterian congregation, the Ebenezer congregation began to search for a new home in the South Cobb area. In September 2013, a facility in Austell was identified. The initial asking price was too high for the congregation to afford. The owners lowered the asking price twice over the fall while in negotiations with the Ebenezer congregation. Ebenezer submitted its final proposal in early December of 2013 on the property and closed on it on January 31, 2014, paying cash and in full at closing.

The facility is a church built in 1960 by Church of Christ with solid concrete blocks faced with burnt bricks. It was sold to Girls, Inc., a social service afterschool program when Church of Christ outgrew the facility. A major renovation was carried out on this facility in 1994 by its owners and the entire roof replaced about six years ago. Ebenezer purchased the facility from Girls, Inc.

At its March sitting, the City of Austell Council members voted all in favor to rezone the property to be used as a church, paving the way for Ebenezer to begin renovation/restoration works including; painting, replacement of stolen outdoor condensers, cleaning, and moving of property from Woodlawn facility to the new facility. Ebenezer plans to hold its first worship service in this new facility on Easter Sunday April 20, 2014. This first worship service will be preceded by a week-long fasting and prayers that will end with two days of soul refreshing revival on Good Friday April 18, and Holy Saturday April 19, 2014, starting at 8:00pm each night. The theme for the revival is: “I am doing a New Thing.” Isaiah 43: 19.

In times of peace great things can be achieved. Rev. Dr. John Wells believes that the building is a gift from God and it amplifies the many blessings that the Lord showers on this congregation. Rev. Acheampong believes that faith is what is at work here. Rev. Osei-Tutu cannot express his joy and happiness in words. Odeneho Aye Yirenkyi I, a member of the church and Georgia Akuapemfohene says that “this is a miracle.” Members of session are so grateful to the entire members of the congregation for their support and prayers.

The session and members of Ebenezer Ghanaian Presbyterian Church takes this opportunity to invite all to visit and worship with us in this new facility at 5171 North Avenue, Austell, GA 30106.

We welcome all to our membership – in Christ, there is no east-west, no black-white, no rich-poor, and all are equal. Ebenezer – 1 Samuel 7: 12 - Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

Source: Elder Kwasi Aye-Addo Clerk of Session, Ebenezer Ghanaian Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA

For any further information, please call: 770-375-8214; 678-641-0767; 404-723-6854 OR email us at atlantaegpc@gmail.com