Bronx, NY --The North American Baptist Association of the Ghana Baptist Convention organized its 2nd National Convention which occurred on July 26-27, 2008 at Fordham University, Bronx, NY. The theme for the NABA Convention was "Building Together In Unity".
The main speaker for the three day covention was Rev. Dr. Nii Amoo-Darku, Vice President of Ghana Baptist Convention, Senior Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church Dansoman, Accra-Ghana and also Deputy International Team Leeader & National Team Leader of African Enterprise ( A christian organization unvolved in city evangelism in Africa)
The special Guest of Honor was His Excellency;Obeng Gyan Busia, Consulate General who graced the occasion with his presence. There were many dignatries who attended, including some Ghanaian Baptist Ministers in the United States.
Rev Amoo-Darku led a session on "Biblical Marriage" and it was a blessing.
Representatives of churches which made to the convention were; Abundant Life Baptist Church Bronx New York( Host Church)- Rev. Samuel Nana Opoku, Solid rock Baptist Church Aurora, Denver- Pastor Fred Sai, Word and Spirit Baptist Church, Woodbridge,Virginia- Rev. JW Boakye Donkor, All Nations Baptist Church Columbus, Ohio- Rev. Patrick Amo Amoah, New Creation Batpist Church Worchester, Masachsettes- Deacon John Bio Asante, Amazing Grace Baptist Church Atlanta, Georgia- Rev. Dr. Robert Owusu
Preaching Points - 1. Houston House Fellowship - Rev Vincent Asamoah 2. Arizona House Fellowship - Yaw Bediako-Poku
Message on unity by Rev. Dr. Nii Amoo-Darku at NABA Convention 2008
Rev Dr. Nii Amoo-Darku stressed on unity based on Psalm 133:1-3, " Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity?for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." He stressed the fact that unity ensures the blessing of God and encouraged the participants to be mindful of the fact that they can achieve abiding results when they stand united. He however admonished them that they should be wary of abusing the benefits of unity as enunciated in Genesis 11:6 thus "And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." He drew the attention of participants that the Lord "?confounded their language, that they may not understand one another's speech? " because they used their unity for the wrong purpose of "?making themselves a name."
H. E. Obeng Djan-Busia advised the participants that they should live as worthy ambassadors of God first and then Ghana in the USA by their exemplary life styles as expected of them by the Bible. He cautioned that even as they live outside Ghana, they should not despite their Ghanaian identities and rather that they interest themselves in the affairs of Ghana. He mentioned that politics is all about showing leadership and that Christians should not disengage from it but rather get involved with the mind of affecting it positively to divest it of its so called filthiness. He urged participants to pray for peace for the impending elections in both Ghana and USA.
Rev. Nana Opoku based his advice on unity on Amos 3:3, "Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?" He said we needed a united front both in the Executive committee and in our local churches to fulfil our God-given vision and dream.He pointed out that we live in a time of hopelessness and that everyday comes with it challenges. There are natural disasters happening around us almost every day: Earthquakes, Hurricanes, HIV/ AIDS pandemic, and the threats of war. The wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Darffur and Somalia and other parts of the world continue to bring death to hundreds of people. The political instability and corruption of many goverments bring hopelessness. The recent unrest in Zimbabwe and parts of Ghana is a wake up call for unity. He stressed that in spite of all these situations there is still hope for our future. He quoted Jeremiah 31:17 and Romans 5:5 to underscore that this hope does not disappoint us.
Next years convention will be hosted by Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Atlanta Georgia in July 2009.
Images by Mensah Sowah for 3G Media Inc.