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Divine Wine & Dine / C2
Sunday, February 7, 2016

Press Photos by Linda Sailer

The Grace Action Chapel International praise and worship team leads the congregation in music during services on Sunday, Jan. 31. Jennifer Afoakwa, center, dances
with a young member. The services were held in the sanctuary of Peace Lutheran Church in Dickinson.

Church reaches out

to African community
Grace Action Chapel International looking for land to build a church
By Linda Sailer
lsailer@thedickinsonpress.com

embers of the Grace Action

Chapel International praise the
Lord with singing and dancing,
with drums, keyboard, guitar and tambourine during their worship services on
Sundays in Dickinson.
Yes, we dance, we express how we
feel, Rev. Isaac Afoakwa said
The traditions of the African Christian
community were brought to Dickinson
two years ago by Afoakwa and his wife,
Jennifer.
God sent me here to start a church,
said Afoakwa, who is general overseer of
the church. Id say it was very amazing
how God prepared the ground for me.
A lot of Africans were moving this way
because of the oil boom. There were
churches in town, but not really like our
churches (back home.) Africans worship
a different way than Americans.
Isaac and Jennifer moved here from

Columbus, Ohio, where he started a

pentecostal church in 2005. They also
opened a new business, Jocute Boutique,
an African braiding salon in Dickinson.
Afoakwa is a native of Ghana, one of
approximately 15 African countries that
are represented in Dickinson. Francis
Martin, who works for Baker Hughes,
is also from Ghana. Both were born into
Christian homes in Africa.
Martin learned about the Dickinson
church through word of mouth and now
is a church leader. He speaks several
languages, including English, French and
Swahili.
Because there is such a diversity of
African people represented here, we
dont feel we speak only in English,
Martin said. People speak and pray in
other languages too.
And while the songs may have a different tempo and harmony, the message is
universally the same.
We come to praise and preach about
Jesus Christ, Martin said.

The services normally start at 12:30

p.m. with half-hour of Bible study. The
time may fluctuate, depending on Peace
Lutherans activities.
We come together to to share ideas,
Martin said. If people have questions
about something in the Bible, we explain
things, and then after 30 minutes we
begin praise and worship.
The worship includes times for personal testimony, sermons and songs,
perhaps a healing service or maybe a
celebration of birthdays. The services
conclude at 3 p.m.

Groundwork for a church

The congregation of 40 members is in
the process of looking for property on
which to build their own church likely
on the west side of Dickinson, Martin
said.
The size of the building would approximate that of Peace Lutheran Church in
anticipation of future growth, Afoakwa
said.
We are trying to reach out to people,
Martin added.
White families come all time, Afoakwa said. Its not just for the African
community, but for whoever wants to
come and receive the Lord.
Healing services are an important part
of the ministry. Services may be held
during Sunday services and Monday
evenings.
We intercede for them in prayer, we
lay hands on them and pray for them
we believe God is the healer, Afoakwa
said.

Francis Martin plays the drum set during praise and worship by the Grace Action Chapel International on Sunday,
Jan. 31.

Appreciation

Joyce Asirifi worships with song and tambourine during praise and worship
services at the Grace Action Chapel International.

Afoakwa expressed his appreciation to

the Peace Lutheran Church for opening
their doors.
It was such a blessing for them to
give us the sanctuary, he said.
But now its time to move forward.
Ideally, we would move a year from
now, Afoakwa said. We also are trusting
in God a good Samaritan may make a
donation of land, you never know.
For more information call Afoakwa at
701-300-0718.

Rev. Isaac Afoakwa is shown with his daughter, Jackie,

after services on Sunday, Jan. 31, of the Grace Action
Chapel International.