Rev Acquaah-Harrison's Official Welcome Remarks

Rev. Dr. E. Victor Acquaah-Harrison was appointed recently by the Bishop of New York Annual conference to be the new Pastor of the Ghana United Methodist Church, Bronx, NY. The following is a welcome remarks

by Mr. James Kusi, Chairperson, PPR Our new Pastor appointed by the Bishop of New York Annual Conference was born in Kumasi and attended Methodist Primary, Elementary and Middle Schools in Kumasi. At age 14 years he joined the 1st Kumasi Company of The Boys' Brigade (Methodist Church).At age 17 years he attended a Scripture Union Boys' camp at Ashanti Mampong where he accepted Jesus Christ as His personal savior. He became active in the Methodist Youth Fellowship and sung in the Kumasi Methodist Church Choir. He attended T.I. Ahmadiya Secondary School in Kumasi and later on completed Certificate "A" education at Wesley Teacher Training College from 1963 to 1965. After graduation he taught at Wenchi Methodist Secondary School from 1965 to 1969 where he became a candidate for the ministry.

He was accepted into the Methodist ministry and gained admission to Trinity Theological Seminary at Legon, Accra in 1969. From December 1970, he volunteered as the National Training and Organizing Secretary for the Boys' Brigade (Methodist Church) in Ghana.

In May 1973 he graduated from Trinity, Legon and became a probationer in August 1973 at Kumasi Conference of the Methodist Church. He was posted to Sekondi where in April, 1974 he married then Miss Cecilia J. Bansah, a registered nurse – midwife and together they have three children (Richard, Georgina and Victor).

Rev. Acquaah-Harrison was ordained an Elder in August 1975 at the Winneba Conference of the Methodist Church. 1n 1977 he was sent as Chaplain to Half Assini Secondary School with an added responsibility of being a pastor of three local Methodist churches in the area. In 1978 he was appointed the Connexional Youth Secretary for the Ghana Methodist Conference with its Headquarters then in Kumasi.

Rev. Acquaah-Harrison gained admission and attended Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. in January 1981. Whilst at Seminary, he was made a student Pastor for Millsboro, Maryland from 1981 to 1983 and then Seaford from 1983 to 1988. He graduated in May 1985 after receiving Masters of Divinity ( M.Div) and was sent to pastor James United Methodist Church at Chestertown, Maryland in 1988 where he received a National Historic Preservation award in 1992/93 for renovation of the church. He subsequently served as a pastor at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Berlin where he revitalized a dying church from 35 membership to a vibrant 320 membership in 2004 before leaving the church.

In 1996 Rev. Acquaah-Harrison enrolled for his doctorate degree and wrote for his final doctoral theses, culture and theology. He graduated in May 2000

Rev. Acquaah-Harrison has received several awards. He is a trained marriage counselor, hospital chaplain with CPE, and has received extensive leadership and stewardship development training. He served as a Conference Trustee from 1988 to 2004 and Board of Ordained Ministry from 1994 to 2004.

In June 1990 he was accepted as a full member from Ghana Methodist Church to Peninsula-Delaware Conference.

It is our joy that Bishop M. Matthews of Peninsula-Delaware Conference could loan him to New York Annual Conference to serve Ghana United Methodist Church, Bronx, New York.