A REVEREND’S JOURNEY
Story and pictures by Kobina Annan, Jr.

On this windy Sunday afternoon in Harlem, New York, churchgoers gather in the church hallway of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. The choir is rehearsing for today’s service and the music sounds spiritually therapeutic. There are over 200 members who attend the congregation, and although mostly Ghanaians attend there are also African Americans and Caucasians who show up for service.

Reverend Yaw Asiedu is the pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Harlem, New York. He was born and raised at Akropong- Akuapem by  Presbyterian parents. As a child he attended Presbyterian schools and was instilled with a strong appreciation for scripture and religion both at home and in school.

The Reverend has been in the ministries for a little over 4 years. He was commissioned as Probationary Minister on December 8, 2002 at Nsawam in Ghana, and inducted into office as a first-time minister on July 15, 2003. On October 24, 2004 Revered Asiedu was officially ordained in New York City.

Reverend Asiedu says about his experience before becoming a pastor, “I served faithfully in many leadership positions. I had the call to do God’s work 47 years ago when I was the leader of the Bible Study and Prayer Group at Sekondi College in Ghana. I attended the Union and Hugee Theological Seminaries in the USA and Trinity Theological Seminary at Legon, Accra and trained as a Presbyterian minister.”

In 1985, a group of Ghanaian Presbyterians residing in the Tri-State, including Reverend Asiedu while attending the Union and Hugee Seminary, decided to start a branch and a congregation where the local languages ( Twi, Ga & Eve) would be used for hymns and sermons.

The minister’s aim to spread the Presbyterian faith has led him to establish a cordial relationship with other Ghanaian congregations and churches within the Presbyterian ministry in the USA such as the congregations in Brooklyn and the one at Irvington New Jersey.

These are relationships that never existed before. Now they help to bring many Ghanaians from different parts of the US to worship and form friendships and networks that last for ever.

Mrs. Angelina Akiwumi one of the elders at the church at Harlem says, “Minister Asiedu is one of those people who is quick to listen and slow to answer. He makes himself available 24/7.”

Reverend Yaw Asiedu says when he is asked for advice by church members to help cope with life and its complexities he quotes and explains, “Joshua 1: 6-9 to them.

He says to them “I would like all believers to meditate daily on this passage for God’s wisdom, direction and encouragement in all things.”

According to Reverend Asiedu, the passage from Joshua "strengthens and makes all believers certain as to what God has promised to do for all those who rely on him."

"This is the very encouraging word of assurance which God gave Joshua that He would always be with him no matter what would happen in his leadership ministry.”  He adds.

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana is located at 122nd Street between 6th and 7th avenue New York. Services are held on Sundays at 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm and open to all people.

Kobina Annan, JR.  New York City, December 7, 2007

The Presbyterian Crest

Reverend Yaw Asiedu

The church choir (background)

Good fellowship in church

In praise of the Lord