Centennial Christian Church Celebrates Its Global Mission Sunday on June 23, 2024
“Planting Seeds of Hope from Centennial to Ghana”
From A Pen Pal Relationship to God’s Divine Purpose Presented by Rev. Derrick L. Perkins, Sr.
Derrick Perkins, II & Andrew Perkins
Centennial members arrived at church on Sunday, June 23, 2024 to a congregation and building adorned with beautiful African fabric and vestments, a room of children and youth leaders leading worship, the sounds of African drums and spirituals rooted in the African & African American lived experience. Dressed in African attire, the members arrived excited to thank God for the congregation’s global mission interest and efforts over the years. While reflecting on the work that the congregation has done over the past thirty plus years, the Global Mission Sunday’s emphasis acknowledged the servant and transformative leadership of Patricia Clark, and the opening of the Patricia Clark Specialist Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, which was named in her honor. It was a wonderful Sunday for Centennial to worship and reflect on how simple acts of compassion and generosity from their congregation continue to save, enrich, and positively impact lives, even across continents and thousands of miles away.
Danny Thomas, Xavier Stepney, Michael Barsh, Karsyn Montgomery, Marli Phillips, & Erynn Thomas (From left to Right)
During the celebration, there were special presentations of new African vestments for the sanctuary and litany of hope to remind the congregation of its calling and mission. The crescendos of praise ringing out from those gathered, filled the sanctuary. In addition, Centennial was blessed to have The Reverend. Dr. LaMarco Cable, President of Division of Overseas Ministries and Co-Executive of Global Ministries in worship for the celebration. Dr. Cable preached the sermon for the morning, titled “God of the Disregarded.” Dr. Cable used the Prophet Samuel, and the selection of David as King of Israel as the foundation for his words to the congregation. He offered a timely witness of how God selects and blesses the unlikely or often disregarded of our world and uses them to do unimaginable things. It was a great message for a great event.
The Rev. Dr. LaMarco Cable, President of Division Overseas Ministries & Co Executive of Global Ministries
Following worship, there was a Global Mission activity organized to allow congregants to hear about the relationship and history between Centennial and Dr. Stephen Clark Attah Bandoh. Patricia Clark, Eddie & Zelois Powell and Brenda Mikota (Pat’s sister) shared their experience attending the grand opening of the Patricia Clark Specialist Hospital on April 7, 2024. The team presented pictures, artifacts, and learnings from the Ghanaian culture. We learned about Dr. Stephen’s recent accomplishments and growth as a pharmacist/health professional and more. The members learned about Global Ministries, their programs and serving and missionary opportunities in our Church. It was an opportunity for Centennial to establish, recruit a new global ministry team, and begin the process of creating new efforts. The leadership delegation presented a proposed project to send health and hygiene items along with shoes, socks and more to persons being treated at the hospital in Ghana. Members also had the chance to view and receive authentic African gifts from Ghana that were purchased and sent by Dr. Stephen Clark Attah Bandoh and members of the team that recently visited Ghana. It was a day full of fun, celebration, and service.
(From Left to Right) Pastor Derrick & First Lady Bridget Perkins, Rev. Dr. LaMarco Cable, Patricia Clark, Brenda Mikota, Zelois & Eddie Powell All Photos: Courtesy of Victoria Gillespie & Communications & Technology Ministry
So, why did Centennial create a day of emphasis around Global mission? This celebration was rooted in God’s purpose! Dr. Stephen Clark Attah Bandoh was a Ghanaian child introduced to Centennial through a pen pal relationship between him and Patricia Clark in the early 90’s. While Pat was visiting Ghana in 1993, she met this 12-year-old intelligent young man. After losing his father at an early age, and looking to go on with life, Stephen’s relationship with Pat deepened tremendously. As God would have it, Patricia, a servant with a heart of gold turned out to be just what he needed in his life to support him through it all.
Being guided by her faith and heart, Pat later introduced Stephen to the leadership and members of Centennial Christian Church. Pat became aware that in Ghana, public education wasn’t free for its citizens, which meant the chances of little Stephen thriving in his community without financial support and assistance would be slim. Therefore, Pat invited Centennial to adopt him by assisting her in paying for his tuition, books and more through primary school, high school, and college. For many years, Pat would stand at the back door of the sanctuary collecting donations for Stephen’s tuition. When I arrived at Centennial in October 2007, she continued to rally our congregation in supporting Stephen. She would share updates often about his growth and success. In my early beginnings with the congregation, I could tell that the relationship between Pat, Stephen and Centennial grew into a web of love and purpose. A global ministry of support and compassion had formed with Stephen in mind. It was a new opportunity for Centennial to share its faith from our doorsteps to other parts of the world.
Picture above was taken during the Grand Opening Celebration. Compliments of Dr. Stephen Clark Attah Bandoh & Patricia Clark
The relationship that exists today between Patricia Clark, Dr. Stephen Clark Attah Bandoh, and Centennial is an example of one of the ways God is at work in the world today. God gives and finds purpose through the most basic things humanity engages in daily. I'm amazed at how basic desires for human interaction and relationships can create wonderful opportunities and possibilities for all involved. Who knew that a pen pal relationship started between Patricia Clark and Dr. Stephen Clark Attah Bandoh during his young formative years would blossom in the ways that it has. Despite being from different continents, cultures, and miles apart, Patricia found a new purpose. She provided love, nurture, support, and motherly guidance for Stephen consistently. He became the child that Pat never birthed in the traditional way. She proved to Centennial and the world that an open heart to God and God's people can surely make a difference. Through Pat's leadership, Centennial Christian Church gained the privilege of modeling compassion and our understanding of the gospel. We simply gained opportunities to minister and support a young man financially in paying for school during his formative years. Pat's big heart helped Centennial to open their hearts and share our resources, support, and efforts globally. This is an example of the body of Christ working well together.
Who knows what would've happened to Stephen if he couldn't afford to pay for his education. Would his dreams have been realized? In Ghana, public education isn't free, which means that some might never achieve their dreams. Without public education in the United States, many would certainly be robbed of their future. However, Centennial simply stepped in to support Stephen’s educational pursuits. Centennial's Global Mission Day represents our excitement in celebrating what God has done through us, Pat, and Stephen’s life and vocation. Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Stephen Clark Attah Bandoh, the opening the Patricia Clark Specialist Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana became possible. He completely self-funded the project. In addition, Dr. Stephen has already opened sixty-six full-service pharmacies in Ghana and employs well over five hundred people.
All that has been done through Patricia Clark, Centennial Christian Church, and Stephen's commitment to improving health throughout Ghana is the result of God's purpose at work. From a pen pal relationship between Pat and Dr. Stephen and the support and openness of Centennial Christian Church, purpose was created, and many lives have been forever changed.
If you are interested in supporting the global mission efforts of Centennial and want to know how you can assist, please don’t hesitate to contact the Administrative Office at 314.367.1818 or email Centennial at cccstl@sbcglobal.net.
Thank you to Rev. Derrick L. Perkins, Sr. for this story and photos.