Missionary comes from Ghana

The Presbyterian minister emphasized being a part of Christ’s global family.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR

YOUNGSTOWN — The Rev. Nii Teiko Dagadu of Ghana is a man on a mission.

He’s one of 10 mission partners, all from African countries, who are participating in a Presbyterian program sponsored by the Synod of the Covenant in Maumee, Ohio.

Missionaries coming to preach and teach in America may strike some people as odd.

“It’s the idea of the global community,” said the Rev. Nick Mager, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, 201 Wick Ave., whose church is hosting the Rev. Mr. Dagadu. First Presbyterian is in Eastminster Presbytery, which belongs to Synod of the Covenant.

Mr. Dagadu likened the missionary work to “people in the same ship and these people are all paddling” toward a common goal.

“These are my brothers and sisters,” Mr. Dagadu said of his fellow Christians, “and I’ve come home. We are all members of Christ’s global family.”

First Presbyterian held a reception Thursday morning for area clergy to meet the Presbyterian minister from across the globe. That event was an example of the many activities in which Mr. Dagadu will be involved during his six-week stay.

Today, he’s speaking to Youngstown Kiwanis Club and he’s also scheduled to address Boardman Rotary Club. Last weekend, Mr. Dagadu participated in the service for World Community Sunday at First Presbyterian, spoke to the church’s adult forum, and accompanied the Rev. Mr. Mager on a visit to Park Vista, where a Bible study took place, and on a hospital visit.

Mr. Dagadu also will be visiting some Youngstown State University classes and meeting students from Ghana who attend the university. His schedule also includes preaching at other churches, and addressing community groups. But it’s flexible enough for other activities to be added.

Sharing in the life and ministry of the host church is one aspect of the synod program, said Mr. Mager.

Mr. Dagadu said the interaction between the cultures, which share a faith, is important. “I bring something here and will take something back,” he said. These activities, he said, emphasize what people have in common: a faith in God. In fact, a motto of the church in Ghana is “That All May Be One,” emphasizing that idea of bonding in service to Christ.

Mr. Dagadu, who has been a Presbyterian minister for 25 years, serves as chairman of the Presbytery in the Greater Accra Region and oversees some 200 congregations with a membership of 500,000 people. And though this is Mr. Nagadu’s first trip to the United States, he has international church experience, having served the Presbyterian church in The Netherlands for almost five years.

“He’s not a tourist, though, he’s here on a mission,” Mr. Mager said, and noted Mr. Dagadu will be hosted by four families from First Presbyterian.

Visits to area highlights such as the Butler Institute of American Art will be included in his stay. The synod has two other visitors participating as mission partners at First Presbyterian Church in Niles and First Presbyterian Church of Mineral Ridge.

Mr. Dagadu brought gifts to his host church including a wooden symbol of the phrase “except God” (gye-nyame in Ghana), a plaque with that symbol and the Ghana flag and a piece of traditional cloth called kente. The “gye-nyame” symbol focuses on the idea that “Without God, we can do nothing,” Mr. Dagadu said. “All things are possible with God.”