May 10, 2009

On Sabbath, May 9, the Shekinah Haitian Seventh-day Adventist Church in Manheim, PA, celebrated the beginning of its ministry in its new location. This church was recently voted by the PA Conference Executive Committee to be recognized as an official, organized SDA Church in the PA Conference. For a number of years, this church group had met in the Lancaster SDA Church, first as a Sabbath School class, then as a mission group, then a Company, and finally a few weeks ago being voted as a church.

Pastor Jody Swart was a huge support to this group as they formed and worked through many issues to get to church status. Bill Peterson, the Assistant to the President for Mission worked closely with this group and coached them on a number of items. Floyd Dare spent many, many hours working with them on possible building opportunities and especially guiding them through the process of purchasing this building after they located it and decided they would like to make this their church home.

At the Sabbath Celebration, I specifically affirmed the valuable ministry these men had provided to Shekinah Haitian to assist them in becoming a church.

The Church family gave a token of appreciation for all the support the Conference had given to enable them to become a church and to get into this building that they have recently purchased.

At the Sabbath Celebration, I specifically affirmed the valuable ministry these men had provided to Shekinah Haitian to assist them in becoming a church.

The Church family gave a token of appreciation for all the support the Conference had given to enable them to become a church and to get into this building that they have recently purchased.

During the service, the youth choir sang.

During the service, the youth choir sang.

The Church expressed it’s appreciation to Brian Yingst and the Lancaster SDA Church for all their support. Brian and his wife attended the whole service and stayed as guests of honor at the fellowship meal.

Pastor Darnel Marius is giving leadership under a unique stipend program Bill Peterson designed here in the PA Conference for Church Plants that are a unique ethnic work.

The church was full for the occasion, and except for a few visitors, most of those in attendance were either members or regular attendees.