Presbyterian Church of Ghana Bronx, New York, Notches Mile 5!!!

By Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr. (Atumpan News Agency)

It began with a group of seven adults and two children in the cubbyhole of the Bronx, New York, residential apartment of the late Mr. Oko Danso (a. k. a. Atta Kakra), but come Friday, May 21, 2010 when it marks the 5th anniversary of its founding, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana’s Ebenezer Congregation will proudly be sporting a membership register of some 250 active congregants and still counting, said Dr. Charles Gyang-Duah, the minister-in-charge. “In the scheme of time, the Ebenezer Congregation of the Bronx PCG is very young,” continues the former chief administrator at the Accra-Ghana headquarters of the Church. “Nonetheless, the Almighty God has brought us very, very far indeed.” For this reason, Rev. Gyang-Duah says the theme chosen for this year’s festivities is the Biblical exhortation of the Prophet Nehemiah, in the traumatic wake of the fire destruction and demolition of the sacred walls of the ancient city of Jerusalem, namely, “Let us rise up and build” (Neh. 2:18). Among the highlights of festivities will be a prayer night of “intercession and supplication for the success of our program lineup,” said Mr. Seth Atakora, a Presbyter of the Ebenezer congregation, on Friday, May 21, 2010, at the Lutheran Church building, located at 302 East 206th Street on Bainbridge Avenue (Last Stop on the Uptown “D”-Train) from 6pm to 9pm. Mr. Atakora also added that “There will be prayers for members with every form of problem, from immigration and citizenship problems to unemployment, marriage, relationships and healing.”

Rev. Gyang-Duah also underscored the fact that the schedule of activities is double-billed as “Thanksgiving and Fundraising,” noting soberly that it was increasingly becoming imperative for the Bronx Ebenezer Presbyterian Church of Ghana to own and operate its own chapel building and other adjunct facilities, in view of the skyrocketing cost of renting worship space, as is currently the practice. “If we owned our church building and manse, for example, we could operate daycare facilities for the children of our members at a low cost and a high quality of service, as we do back home.” He further added, “We could also regularly sponsor instructive entertainment and cultural activities in order to forge and maintain a cohesive sense of community” amidst the protean cosmopolitan maze that is New York City.

In all, four congregations, including the Manhattan and Ogden (Bronx) assemblies of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the First Ghana Seventh-Day Adventist Church, will be participating in the program of activities, with Ebenezer’s Young People’s Guild (YPG) staging a play titled “Nyame Mu Nokware Di(e),” loosely translated as “Keeping Faith With God In Truth.” A group-authored behavioral revue that was originally titled “The Faithful Believer,” this dramatic performance underscores the enduring value of steadfast love and trust in God. The latter performance, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 22 from 6pm to 9pm, will also be held in the Lutheran Church building, located at 302 East 206th Street on Bainbridge Avenue, Bronx, New York.

Then on Sunday, May 23, activities capping the “Wooden” anniversary of PCG Bronx move into the giant amphitheater of the First Ghana Seventh-Day Adventist Church at 45 Goble Place, Bronx-New York, between Jerome and Macombs Avenues, with “Thanksgiving and Fundraising” headlining the program of activities from 10am to 2pm. Here the First Ghana SDA Church Choir, formerly led by famed gospel composer Mr. Osei-Boateng, will showcase such gospel staple perennials as “Yesu Ka Wo Ho” (Jesus Is With You), “Odo Nwanwa” (Wonderful Love of God) and “Hena Ne Me?” (Who Am I?)

For further information, call any of the following numbers: 718-483-9553; 718-295-2859; 347-720-0670; 646-964-8335.