PCG Grace Congregation Riverside

I. PREAMBLE

To God be the glory and honour for the great things He has done and is doing in and with His Church.

A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH

II. FROM A HUMBLE BEGINNING IN 2013

Almost every great thing God does have humble beginnings. Jesus started His ministry by choosing only twelve Apostles who grew to 120 in the Upper Room and more than 3000 on the day of Pentecost. Today there are over two billion Christians around the World.
Before the P.C.G. Grace Congregation in Riverside was started, discussions had taken place among Dr Samuel Sasu, Mrs Angela Hanson, Dr Mark Opoku-Adusei and Mrs. Elisabeth Opoku-Adusei at the residence of the Opoku-Adusei family in the months prior. However, we cannot talk about the establishment of the church and forget the immense contribution of Rev. Dr Peter Kofi Nyarkoh, former Chairperson of Europe Presbytery and a former District Minister of Presbyterian Church of Ghana, New Jersey District, whom God used divinely to connect both families to begin the Church here in Riverside, California. There were other Ministers like Rev. Michael Chertock Otu, former District Minister of Presbyterian Church of Ghana, German District and Rev. Barima Appiah-Dankwa, former District Minister of Presbyterian Church of Ghana, New York District. They also played important roles behind the scene such as, prayer support and encouragements in the establishment of the Church. The final meeting to start took place at the residence of the Opoku-Adusei family, on May 03, 2013. Those present were Dr Mark Opoku-Adusei, Mrs. Elisabeth Opoku-Adusei and Dr Samuel Sasu. It was at this meeting that a decision was made to start the Church immediately, with a periodic meeting every Sunday, from 9.00-10:30am. The first worship service started on May 05, 2013 at the Eastvale residence of the Opoku-Adusei Family, by the two main families namely, the Sasu Family and the Opoku-Adusei Family who were the host. On that day, service was started at 9:00am prompt and took the Presbyterian Church of Ghana Oder of Service format. The opening word was given by Dr Mark Opoku Adusei and Dr Samuel Sasu preached the sermon based on the theme of the almanac: “Prepare for the Heavenly City”. In attendance for the maiden service were Dr Samuel Sasu, Mr. Edmund Sasu, Mrs. Beatrice Sasu, Dr Mark Opoku-Adusei and Mrs. Elisabeth Opoku-Adusei and their children (Barima Adusei-Poku, Baffour Adusei-Poku and Benjamin Adusei-Poku). Mrs. Angela Hanson who was part of the initial discussions joined the church on the second day of meeting. Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Grace Congregation of Riverside Southern California was founded in 2008, by few family members with the desire to spread the word of God with others.
Since then, the church has immensely grown spiritually and geographically with one ultimate goal in mind, which is to win souls for the glory of God.

III. THE JOURNEY OF THE LORD CONTINUES

From that day onwards, the Church continued to move on gradually with worship services on every Sunday from 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Some families visited and worshipped with us during our meetings in the home of the Opoku-Aduseis. Some of the notable visitors at the time who are still members of the Church are: Mr. George Hammond and his family and Ms. Dora Osei. The two families continued to meet and worship together every Sunday, trusting God for growth in terms of membership. In September 2013, Mrs. Wendy Yeboa-Dankwa visited and was the first person amongst the numerous visitors who formally decided to be part of the ministry. The Church membership grew from 10 to 12 when Dr Samuel Sasu’s wife Mrs. Doris Sasu and daughter Nana Afia Kumiwaah Sasu joined the family in the USA from Germany and became members of the Church. In March 2014 the Church (with 12 members) decided to move from the residence of the Opoku-Adusei family in Eastvale to its current place of worship in Riverside.
In June 29th, 2014, the Church organized its First Anniversary Celebration and the program was attended by over 70 invited guests who came from different parts of Southern California. The program was officiated by Rev. Barima Appiah-Dankwa the then District Minister of PCG New York who also represented the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, North America & Australia Presbytery. He was accompanied by Mr. Eric Sarpong who represented PCG Manhattan Men’s Fellowship. During this service, three members of the Church, Dr Samuel Sasu, Dr Mark Opoku Adusei and Mrs. Beatrice Sasu, were inducted and introduced as the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Church.
The Church’s membership by the end of the first year had increased from 12 to 18 with the addition of the Hammond family, Ms. Dora Osei and Mr. Lawrence Hanson.
By the end of 2014 the Church membership had increased to 35. Some of the notable families who became members include Mr. and Mrs. Danquah and children, Mr. and Mrs. Lowor and son, Mr. and Mrs. Aryee, Mrs. Chinyere Ogugu and daughters, Mr Samuel Amissah, etc.
In the first three years the Church was partly supported by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, New York District. Rev. Frank Addo of Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Houston, Texas was assigned to oversee the Congregation. Local administration of the Church was carried out by the IMC. Later in the year, Mr. Seth Afikorah Danquah, and Mr. Yaw Yeboa-Dankwa were selected to join the IMC. At this time the offices of the IMC were defined in which Dr Opoku-Adusei became the Chairperson, Dr Samuel Sasu the Clerk and Mrs. Beatrice Sasu, the Treasurer.
After Mrs. Sasu relocated to Ghana, Mrs. Rhoda Mondeh-Lowor was selected to join the IMC and Mr. Seth A. Danquah became the Treasurer. The Church continued to experience growth and by the end of 2015 the membership had increased to over 60. This growth continued to 70 in 2016 and by the end of 2017 the membership count was approximately 90.

IV. MISSION AND EVANGELISM

P.C.G. Grace Congregation is a mission minded ministry! This was asserted from the beginning where it was firmly decided to focus on mission and evangelism. The key assignment of the ministry is how to be obedient to the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ who has sent us to go into the world and preach the Gospel to all nations. The leadership developed a 5-Year Mission Strategic Plan to guide the Church mission projects. By the end of 2016 the Church had planted the Presbyterian International Church (PIC) in Los Angeles after an evangelistic crusade themed “LOS ANGELES FOR CHRIST”. It was led by Rev. Ransford Awuku-Gyampoh, Minister-in-Charge of Royal Presbyterian Church, Sydney, Australia, who was returning to Australia from a revival program in New York.

The mission assignment did not end there. The Rev. Barima Appiah-Dankwa was posted to the Congregation in the last quarter of 2016, with the extra charge to spearhead the Missions agenda in the entire Western Region of the United States of America.

In the beginning of 2018, the Church started two more congregations in the state of California, and these are Presbyterian Worship Centre in San Diego and Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Sacramento. Currently by the grace of God and through the leadership of our Minister-in-Charge, Rev. Barima Appiah Dankwa and together with the outgoing Interim Management Committee (I.M.C.), whose membership comprise Dr Mark Opoku-Adusei, Dr Samuel Sasu, Mr Seth Afikorah-Danquah, Mr Yaw Yeboa-Dankwa and Mrs. Rhoda Mondeh-Lowor, the Church has been able to birth three additional congregations with a current total membership of over 180 in all the four congregations.

V. NOTABLE EVENTS AND VISITATION

  1. In May 8 – 12, 2015, the Church hosted the then Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey and his team who were on official duty tour in the Presbytery. Other members of the team included his wife Nana Ofosua-Martey, Rev. Herbert Anim-Opong, Chairman of the Presbytery, Rev. Barima Appiah-Dankwa, District Minister, New York, and the Moderator’s prayer team members; Rev. Nana Ntim Gyakari, Mr. Edward Okyere and Mr. Theophilus Darkwa Missah.

 

  1. The Church organized the induction service for the Rev. Barima Appiah-Dankwa as the Minister In-Charge, on Sunday, May 21, 2017. The program was officiated by the Chairperson of the Presbytery Rev. Herbert Anim Opong, the Presbytery Clerk Prof. Mrs. Mabel Asante and the Presbytery Lay Rep. Mr. Paul Asiamah. Prior to the induction service, the Rev. Ransford Awuku-Gyampoh (Australia) led a 2-day revival services. He was supported by Rev. Frank Addo from Houston TX. The induction service was well attended by the community and members had the rare opportunity to witness such a great event in the Church’s history.

 

  1. The Church hosted Rev. Dr. William Ofosu-Addo, the Presbytery Chairperson for the Brong Ahafo Presbytery (Ghana), to a 3-Day Revival in the first week of August 2017. The program served as a spiritual empowerment for members.

VI. ERECTION TO A CONGREGATION

  1. The Church was officially elevated from a Preaching Post to a Congregation on May 20, 2018 by the Chairperson of the North American / Australia Presbytery, Rev. Herbert Anim Opong, assisted by Rev. Barima Appiah-Dankwa, then Missionary in Charge of the California Mission Field and first Minister in Charge of Grace congregation.

LEADERSHIP

Rev. Edmund Kwaa Amankonah

Minister In-Charge and California Sub-District Minister

Session

Rev. Edmund Kwaah Amankonah
Dr. Mark Opoku-Adusei
Mrs. Justina Aryee
Mr. Seth Afikorah Danquah
Mr. Yaw Yeboa-Dankwa
Ms. Florence Arthur
Ms. Gloria Addo
Ms. Dora Osei
Mr. Victor Apiagyei-Yeboah

Minister In-Charge and California Sub-District Minister
Senior Presbyter and Sub-District Lay Rep.
Clerk of Session
Treasurer
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member

CHURCH GROUP LEADERS

Women’s Fellowship
Men’s Fellowship
Young Adults Fellowship
Children’s Service
Bible Study & Prayer Group
Church Choir
Singing Band
Junior Youth
Church Organist

Mrs. Elizabeth Opoku-Adusei
Mr. Godfred Aryee
Dr. Frank Andoh
Mrs. Winnie Danquah and Mrs. Eunice Andoh
Mr. Samuel Amissah and Mrs. Justina Aryee
Mr. Yaw Yeboa-Dankwa
Ms. Evelyn Simpson
Mrs. Dillys Owusu
Mr. Baffour Adusei-Poku

CHURCH GROUPS

There are two main groups in the Church for the growth and development of members and the church as a whole.

Generational Groups

Children’s Service
Junior Youth
Young Peoples’ Guild
Young Adult’s Fellowship
Men’s Fellowship
Women’s Fellowship

Service Groups

Anointed Singers
Church Choir
Bible Study and Prayer Group

Events

CHURCH SERVICE | SUNDAYS 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

MIDWEEK BIBLE STUDY / TEACHING | WEDNESDAYS 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Weekly Prayer Meeting: Fridays, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, All Services and Other Events are Online.

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Meeting ID: 862 2551 5538
Password: 791245

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Access code: 518-530-1840
Pin number: 700-885-195#

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Contact Us

Address: 4495 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92501

Minister-in-Charge - (951) 421-3838

Minister@pcgcalifornia.org

Clerk of Session - (619) 850-1316

Clerk.Grace.Riverside@pcgcalifornia.org