In the United Church of God, areas outside the United States are served in various ways.
Africa is an intriguing place to visit, but it can be a difficult place for one to live. Unstable governments, religious strife, rampant disease, and high unemployment make daily life a struggle for many Africans, especially in equatorial Africa. Yet God is calling people into His Church from this part of the world.
In the United Church of God we have many members and prospective members in this region scattered from Ghana eastward to Kenya. This portion of Africa is served by three U.S. pastors who have been assigned as senior pastors and two who serve as associate senior pastors.
Melvin Rhodes serves as the senior pastor for Ghana in addition to his U.S. responsibilities—pastor of Lansing, Michigan; managing editor for Anchor magazine; and senior writer for The Good News and World News and Prophecy. Mr. Rhodes is assisted in Ghana by Tom Clark (pastor of Wichita, Liberal and Salina, Kansas).
Fred Kellers serves as the senior pastor for Nigeria in addition to his U.S. responsibilities—pastor of Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Bowling Green, Kentucky. Mr. Kellers is assisted by Mark Mickelson (pastor of Spokane, Washington, and Coeur d'Alene and Lewiston, Idaho).
John Elliott serves as our senior pastor for East Africa in addition to his U.S. responsibilities—pastor of Phoenix and Yuma, Arizona.
In the United Church of God, areas outside the United States are served in various ways. Some areas have their own national councils to tend to their organizational needs but other areas are administered from the home office. Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda fall into this latter category. Messrs. Rhodes, Kellers and Elliott work with Ministerial Services in taking care of the needs of the members in these countries.
