FIRST GHANA SDA CHURCH ORGANIZED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH NEW OFFICERS

Ghanaian Seventh-day Adventist church members who live in southern California have come together to organize themselves into a church. Charter members come from Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Moreno Valley and Loma Linda areas. This is the first Ghanaian SDA Church in the west coast of United States. It is anticipated that this will help fill the spiritual needs of Ghanaian Adventists and non-Adventists who live in this area and its vicinity.

Founding leaders and members have chosen to call themselves Southern California Ghanaian SDA Church. This is an all-embracing and all-encompassing name since members come from different areas in and around Los Angeles and Riverside counties.

Southern California has always had a large Ghanaian population. Either these Ghanaians came to the areas as students and have upon completion of school made it their home or some are in the area because of their profession. Whatever dream that brought them to Southern California has now given birth to a new one: the dream to plant a new Ghanaian Adventist church to fill the needs of all Ghanaians in this part of the world.

As Adventist in the Diaspora, they have always wanted to share their faith with other Ghanaians in Southern California. The reason for this church planting initiative, in the view of Pastor Seth Kwarteng-Preko (951-334-0865; 909-799-6469), “is that it will help us worship the Lord in our own cultural context and also serve as a vehicle to look for other nominal Ghanaian Adventists who have lost their spiritual Adventist heritage since coming to overseas.” This therefore becomes their mission field and it is even reflected in their mission statement, “To preach the Adventist message and witness to all Ghanaians in California”.

According to church elder Dan Amoako (614-638-0643) who is a resident of Los Angeles and one of the newly elected church elders, “This influx of Ghanaian Adventists in southern California necessitated the need for organizing a Ghanaian church. We are fulfilling the gospel commission Christ gave to us” Kofi Antobam (951-333-7226) and Pastor Kwarteng-Preko are the other two who have just been nominated to lead out the new establishment. They remain optimistic and hopeful that God will bless this church planting establishment.

In a conversation with Pastor Dan Smith whose is the La Sierra University SDA Church Pastor and whose LSUSDA Church is playing the role of mother/daughter church to the Ghanaian group, he also stated that no one should despise the day of small beginnings. To better establish a good working knowledge with the Ghanaian church which he is committed to help it grow, Pastor Smith has accepted an invitation to conduct a week of prayer at Valley View University in Accra, Ghana next year 2008. “May be this will help me to understand and appreciate the culture of the people I will be providing spiritual guidance here in United States” he said smiling.

Sabbath November 10, 2007 was an important day for the close to 50 members who made up this new fellowship. Preaching during the main worship hour, Pastor and Mrs. S.K. Twumasi who were in the area on different assignment admonished the church members to remain faithful and work diligently. Further, they charged them to bring the Adventist message to the many Ghanaians domiciled in Southern California who probably are not aware of the unique SDA messages.

After an afternoon Sabbath potluck lunch, both Pastors Twumasi and Smith laid their hands on the newly appointed church elders and deacons. After strengthening and charging them, they told the leaders and the entire fellowship to be a beacon of light to other Ghanaians who may not be aware of Christ’s soon coming to this world. Thereafter, the following were ordained as new deacons: Samuel Owusu Gyamfi and Kwame Agyemang. Kofi Antobam was also ordained as a new church elder.

For anyone wanting to find more about this new Southern California Ghanaian SDA Church kindly contact the following church members: Kwame Appiah Boateng (951-689-6856), Elder Daniel Amoako (614-638-0643), Elder David Arkoh Mensah arkomens@aol.com, Elder Asiamah Amponsah (kojoa@tarbell.com ) and Abraham Boateng (951-662-7969). gha_as@yahoo.com, kwapre@yahoo.com, koaaf@yahoo.com

Do remain faithful