MONROVIA — The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Central Church on Camp Johnson Road came alive with gratitude and celebration as members held a special Pastor Appreciation Day to honor their Senior Pastor, Gemane G. Getteh, and mark the near completion of the church’s newly expanded and renovated sanctuary.
For years, the congregation worshiped in a nearby school building while construction on their main church continued. Now, members have returned to a spacious, modern worship center — a transformation driven by faith, generosity, and community spirit.
Pastor Getteh recounted that the renovation began after an appeal for support on a US$62,000 expansion. “I made a personal contribution of $2,000 to start the process,” he recalled. But soon after, Elder Simeon Freeman, a businessman and devoted member, offered to finance the entire perimeter fencing.
Weeks later, while traveling, Pastor Getteh received a surprise email — Freeman and his family had decided to fund the entire renovation project.
Though touched by the gesture, the pastor followed church procedure: the proposal went before the church board and later to a full business meeting, where members voted to proceed. “Many members said, ‘We also want to be part of this blessing,’” he said.
Ultimately, the congregation agreed that the Freeman family would fund 90 percent of the project, with the remaining 10 percent covered by members.
Groundbreaking took place on March 3, 2019, and since then, the Freeman family has financed major works — from the structure and windows to PA systems and furnishings. The final stages, including painting, door installation, and pew completion, are now underway.
During the appreciation service, Pastor Getteh expressed deep gratitude. “We’ve come this far because we stood together, prayed together, and worked together,” he said. The church is expected to hold a formal dedication ceremony in the coming months — a symbol of faith, resilience, and shared purpose among its members.
