Commentary
Sunday, February 28, 2010 was Youth’s Day at Grace Christian Fellowship Ministries, located at 40 Madison Avenue, Old Bridge, New Jersey. It was a special day for the young men and women of the church who worked hard to put together an elaborate program to celebrate Black History Month. While the adult members of the church became passive observers on that momentous day, the young men and women took center stage, dominating the program from the beginning to the end. Aside from the spiritual uplifting, it was a moment punctuated by the recitation of poems. Sister Womi Goli, a student at Middlesex County College, Edison, New Jersey, was the MC during the two and half hour celebration that was characterized by a crescendo of excitement.
The day started at Grace Christian Fellowship Ministries with a Bible class at 9:30 am. At exactly 10:30 am, the usual Sunday service commenced with praise and worship; joyous singing and dancing that reverberated in the entire building. The church choir, comprising mainly young boys and girls still attending school, sang with so much passion and energy. On keyboard was Emmanuel Kuyateh Jr., 13, who was just too amazing! A student at South River Middle School, New Jersey, who also plays drums, Emmanuel plays the piano at both the Middle School and High School in South River. A precocious boy, he started playing the piano at the age of four.
As the music and spiritual euphoria died out, the MC gracefully grabbed the mike, alerting everyone that the program proper is about to start. After a brief welcoming, she went on to introduce Sister Hilda Brown for the opening prayer. This was immediately followed by a riveting solo rendition by Sister Anasa P. Wheagar.
In celebration of Black History Month, Sister Christie Murana recited a poem dedicated to parents. In the poem she urged parents to be mentors and positive role models to their children; to always show love, warmth and affection. “If children live with tolerance, they learn patience; if they live with sharing, they learn generosity; if they live with praise; they learn to appreciate; and if they live with love, the world will be a better place.”
A second poem titled “Democracy” by Langston Hughes was recited by Bro. Prince Mends. In the poem Hughes started by saying: “Democracy will not come today, this year, nor ever through compromise and fear.” And he ended by saying, “I live here too; I want freedom just as you.” The poem is a sobering reminder of the struggles of Black People for freedom, justice and equality in the United States of America. It is also a poem that inspires the youth to continue to build on those gains and achievements of great Black leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Park, Malcom X, and President Barak Obama, the first African-American to be elected president of the United States of America – a man that is also viewed as an international icon.
The high point of the program was the homily delivered by Bro. James Molly White, youth coordinator, Grace Christian Fellowship Ministries. A student at Middlesex County College, the youth leader started by expressing his profound thanks and deep appreciation to the senior pastor and elders of the church for the confidence reposed in the youth. He also so thanked all the youth for the tremendous effort in putting together the program to celebrate Black History Month. He went on to remind the youth about the important role they play in the church, describing them as “vision leaders.” He made reference to the biblical saying: Lack of vision, my people Perish! “If the church is to expand,” he exhorted,” the youth have to look ahead; articulate the vision.”
Prophetess Anita Kuyateh (foreground) and Pastor Emmanuel Kuyateh (top).
In lamenting over the fact that more time is spent by today’s youth surfing the net instead of reading the Bible, the youth leader threw a challenge to anyone among the youth who can recite ten Bible verses. Patience Brooks, a seventeen year old girl who recently arrived from Liberia, came forward and confidently recited Psalm 91 from start to finish without an omission. She was given a thunderous round of applause for proving that today’s youth, despite the many distractions, do have time to read the Holy Book.
In what looked like a swipe at some of today’s preachers (TV-evangelists) who are more concerned about themselves instead of the teachings of God, Brother James Molly White said: “We go for talented preachers and not those with the anointing of God.” The bold and vibrant young preacher asserted: “We don’t need charismatic preachers; we should not be concerned about the messenger; our concern should be the message.” He urged all the youth to follow the good example of Christ at the age of twelve. “If we’re to be the leaders of tomorrow, then we have to behave responsibly.” Brother Enoch Bayogar, in his closing prayer, asked that the youth be directed to the right path. He asked God to take care and control of all the unfortunate things that are happening in the world today.
Pastor Emmanuel B. Kuyateh, in delivering the vote of thanks, highlighted the talents and great potential of the youth, and he urged the older folks to encourage the young ones to make full use of their potential. He even encouraged the youth to go on Twitter and Facebook, fully aware that this is the Google Age; the age of the Internet; the computer age. The service ended with a closing song “I’m a child of God” by the praise team led by the assistant pastor, Prophetess Anita B. Kouyate.
Grace Christian Fellowship Ministries is the brainchild of Pastor B. Kuyateh and his wife, Prophetess Anita B. Kuyateh. The church, which started in 1997 in East Orange as a Bible Study Group, rapidly developed, necessitating a move to Old Bridge in 2007. The focus from the outset was to plant ministries, prepare men and women for the gospel, according to Pastor Kouyate. “Though we started from house to house, we have succeeded in building a church in Ghana. We have been sponsoring refugees in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia Guinea and other war- ravaged countries. We provide immigration services and offer marriage counseling. With the blessing of God, we have been able to buy this building which we use as a Bible School and a Church,” the modest and unassuming pastor disclosed during a spirited discussion.
Reverend Francis Taylor, associate pastor at Grace Christian Fellowship Ministries, is one of the instructors at the Bible School. During a discussion on the importance of the Bible School, he indicated that two things are very important: First, knowing God, and second, worshipping God. Here, he noted, we get people to feel, see and taste God. The Bible School is geared toward imparting knowledge about the word of God. And Education plays a vital role in everything we do. It provides guidance, and show the love of God. We not only teach but we apply and follow good examples. If the word of God is not saturated in our hearts, Satan will come and snatch the individual. In a very demurely tone, he asserted: “If you are strong, strengthen your brother; Learn to be firm in the face of God.”
Grace Christian Fellowship Ministries has a global outlook, embracing people from different cultures and background, according to a senior member of the church. The church attracts people from different nationalities: Jamaicans, Guyanese, Italians, Americans, Spanish, Gambians, Kenyans, Ghanaians and many more. Johnny Bullard, the Audio Visual Technician at Grace Christian Fellowship Ministries is from the Bahamas. Pastor B. Kuyateh is a Sierra Leonean, and his wife, Prophetess Anita Kuyateh, is from Liberia. “Ours is a diversified ministry geared toward training men and women as leaders of the church,” Pastor Kuyateh pointed out. Grace Christian Fellowship Ministries (unlike other churches that emphasize prosperity - money), lays emphasis on salvation. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be added onto it.”
At Grace Christian Fellowship Ministries, women are encouraged to play a more active role. Sister Phoebe Brooks is leader of the Music Ministry while the Women’s Ministry is headed by Sister Rosemond Von Herbert. There is even a Children’s Ministry headed by Sister Inez Konjoh. When asked why Women are placed in leading roles in the church, Pastor Kouyate answered by quoting one philosopher who opined that “Men are ninety percent temper, and ten percent mental.” He said the church comes in as a kind of therapy to the many problems women face. Aside from working, they also take care of the home.
Women are very powerful, the pastor reiterated. Going back to the Bible, he made reference to the fact that during the resurrection of Jesus Christ, women were the first to be there; during the crucifixion, women were also present. All this is an indication of the strength and unwavering character of women when it involves something that is very dear to them.” He thus affirmed that women can be very effective and successful in building today’s church.
Prophetess Anita Kuyateh, assistant pastor of Grace Christian Fellowship Ministries, epitomizes the important role of women in today’s church. Not only was she instrumental in the founding of Grace Christian Fellowship Ministries, she continues to play a very pivotal role in winning more hearts and souls for Christ. “My job is to win more souls for the kingdom of God,” she said.
A woman who takes pride in serving the community in which she lives, she believes “with God all things are possible.” Endowed with prophetic powers, she says: “It is a gift, not for money, but to glorify God.” She encourages people to “believe in God, and then God’s miracle will be upon us.” God’s miracle is manifested in Sister Juliet Paris, a Somerset resident. “I was referred to the church by a friend when I became seriously ill. With the prayers offered for me by the church, my condition improved significantly.” Stories like that of Sister Juliet Paries abound; a clear testimony to the prophetic gift of the assistant pastor. “I had a vision about the Haiti disaster,” the co-pastor disclosed.
Among other things, Prophetess Anita Kuyateh stated: “Our ministry is about healing, counseling and teaching. If you need a true Bible-believing church then come to Grace Christian Fellowship Ministries at 40 Madison Avenue, Old Bridge, New Jersey. We have a prayer line. There is a Friday Night Service that teaches people how to get closer to God. As a matter of fact, the Sunday service benefits tremendously from the Friday service. To accommodate more people, we have an afternoon Sunday service that commences at 3:30 pm. And we even have a Women’s Ministry whose focus is to get more women into the ministry.” The goal, she pointed out, is to empower women to work in the ministry; make them better for tomorrow, the community, and the nation.
An eloquent, fascinating, and compelling speaker, the assistant pastor ended on this powerful note: “Come to the water and drink from it and you will not thirst again.” That in a nutshell is what Grace Christian Fellowship Ministries is all about – providing spiritual nourishment, spreading the Gospel, strengthening and solidifying the Kingdom of God!
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