Sabbath, 8 October 2022, marked a special day in the history of Prince Emmanuel (PE) Seventh-day Adventist group as they were organised into a church to join the sisterhood of churches within the South England Conference (SEC).
A dream that started in 2017 saw its fulfilment on this special day. Three leading members of this church who had the challenge of travelling almost an hour to their local churches, sensed the need to start a branch Sabbath School to serve as an avenue for church planting within the Edgware, Hemel Hempstead and St Albans catchment area.
Their resolve was further strengthened when they realised that there were other Adventists (mostly Ghanaians) who had stopped attending church, whilst others had opted to join Sunday worshipping churches because they could not find a church nearer to where they lived.
Their efforts intensified in early 2019 and sought the help of the London Ghana (LG) Adventist church to help actualise this dream which the church gladly obliged.
The group held its formal meeting in June 2019 with about 35 members (including children) present and within three years has grown to over 80 members, doubling its membership, driven mostly through Bible study and encouraging former Adventists to return 'home'.
Performing the church organisation service, Dr Hezron Adingo (SEC Ministerial Secretary) charged members of the new church to uphold the doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church at all times.
Pastor Ebenezer Jones-Lartey (senior pastor of LG and PE churches) who preached the sermon, reminded everyone that the church must always be founded on Christ. He further cautioned the church to always follow the biblical principles of truth and members must be instructed in doing what is right.
He finally advised PE church to remember it is part of the SEC and therefore should participate in activities organised by the Conference.
During the service, Prince Emmanuel's Pathfinders, displayed a procession with the UK and Ghana flags. The London Ghana Adventist church (the mother church of Prince Emmanuel) came in their numbers to support the occasion, inclusive of some of their elders and members. The London Ghana Choir and groups such as Golden Gates and Harmonies alongside Prince Emmanuel's very own Singing Band, graced the ceremony with songs of celebration that uplifted the worship experience.
Members of other Ghanaian churches, such as Lea Valley, Southend-on-Sea, and Swindon also came to support through their attendance and financial donations.
As a mother sends off their child on an important errand with gifts, so did London Ghana Adventist church do for PE church. As a parting gift, PE were presented with a communion set and a reasonable financial package.
The hard work and dedication of the planning committee, which was made up of members of both London Ghana Adventist church and Prince Emmanuel, were evident throughout the day as it was remarkably organised and made to be a historic day, particularly for the members of Prince Emmanuel.
Special appreciation goes to Pastors George Boakye-Asiamah, Sampson Osei-Aboagye, Ebenezer Jones-Lartey and Kwame Mensah-Sarpong for their pastoral leadership.
Also elders Isaac Osei-Afriyie, K T Abbequaye, Daniel Obeng, Yaw Kumiachiew and Daniel Ohene-Yeboah for sowing this seed that has grown to bear fruits of honour.
PE becomes the fifth church that LG Adventist church has helped to organise within the British Union.
We give praise to God and pray that through this new church the standard of Prince Emmanuel will be held high in the Edgware/Hertfordshire area.
