The New Face of NAGSDA

It all transpired at the last weekend of October 29-31, 2015. As the long gray evening with its autumn breeze of Thursday October 29, 2015 was fading into twilight, delegates began to file in to Days Inn Hotel, Columbus Ohio, for the premier session of the North America Ghanaian Seventh-Day Adventists. Representatives from across the United States as well as Canada trickled in and by early Friday morning, all delegates were present.

Founded about twenty-seven years ago, this premier session was the threshold leading to the corridors of another face of NAGSDA, structured along three zonal administrative units.

An aura of anticipation was hanging in the atmosphere as delegates awaited the grand opening of the session on Friday morning. The inaugural message by the president, Pastor Appiah Kubi Kwarteng, delivered with gusto and enthusiasm spurred delegates to put their minds and hands on the plow to help chart a new frontier for the burgeoning organization. His message was centered on putting the past, present and future into the right perspective and harnessing them productively for the development of NAGSDA. Thus, informed by the past, propelled by the future and energized by looking upwards, NAGSDA could carve a new path to help the work of preparing a people for the soon coming of Christ.

The president also intimated that collaborative efforts have been ongoing and fruitful between NAGSDA and the Pacific Ghanaian Adventist Fellowship (PaGAF) executives. This has led to a consensus that the work in the entire North America shall be a joint venture, which shall retain the name NAGSDA, that is, North America Ghanaian Seventh-Day Adventists. Delegates received this information with warmhearted excitement.

Sixty-eight delegates and two observers were seated after the inaugural speech to commence the meeting. After a hearty discussion of the Constitution and Bylaws, spearheaded by Dr. Kofi Appiah, 92.9% (52 against 4) voted overwhelmingly to ratify the new Constitution and Bylaws. Subsequently, the new zones were accepted as the new working arms of NAGSDA.

With the ratification of the Constitution, delegates unfurled its pages to pattern the new structure after its blueprint. That change was in the air was not uncertain, but where that would lead was initially not clear. However, consistent with the constitution and after an animated discussions and prayers, a nominating committee was set up to elect the three administrative officers for NAGSDA, which was followed by the election of the zonal executives.

At the end of the meeting, the following had been elected to stand at the helm of affairs, to chart the new course of NAGSDA:

From the zonal caucuses, the following were elected to lead the zones:

3 Members to serve on NAGSDA Executive Committee:

Pastor Owusu Brobbey

Elder Felix Okyere

Elder Boadi Amponing

Trustee: Elder Seth Amponsah

In between the business sessions were timely devotional messages and sermons, from Pastors Kofi Antwi Adarkwah, Michael Adomako, Elder Felix Okyere and Pastor Samson K. Twumasi.

The consecration message delivered by Pastor Emmanuel Kwasi Sarpong was not only opportune; but also, mustered an esprit de corps among delegates who were already standing in solidarity to plough the new path for NAGSDA. As session delegates filed out of Days Inn Hotel and herded out of Columbus Ohio, they left as the new emissaries of NAGSDA to their churches and zones with one clear chorus: A NAGSDA with a different direction has been birthed with three competent arms stretched for collaboration with our brothers and sisters of PaGAF so together we can continue to engage in the mission of the church as dedicated pilgrims in North America, preparing a people for the soon coming of Jesus Christ.