On 2nd July, 2017, the WAD Business Professionals Convention started in Grand-Bassam, a seaside city about 17 km from Abidjan, the Capital city of Côte d’Ivoire.
This convention gathered about 205 participants from the Division territory and the GC person nel at AfrikLand Hotel, Room Obasanjo. The opening meditation was presented by Pastor Juvenal Bali sasa, WAD Education Depart ment Director. In the welcome address, the president, Ps. Elie Weick who was represented by Ps. Bindas Stephen Haruna vice president in charge of Special Needs and Family Ministries enjoined the participants to take the training seriously to justiy the huge amount spent on the organization of the convention. According to him, the President warned that “there is no place for babysitting treasurers”. He extolled the courage of the Division Treasurer for the successful planning of the convention and wished the participants a pleasant experience in Grand-Bassam.
The main theme of this meeting: WAD Business Professionals Convention, was subject to several presentations and debates. During five days, the treasurers of our Unions, Conferences and Institution not only debated on issues related to the main theme, but also were instructed on subthemes such as: Time Management, by Ann Gibson (Andrews Uni versity); Conflict Resolution, by Juan Prestol, General Treasurer (GC); Managing Risk, by Giles Barham ARM, (UK); Financial Policies, by Paul Douglas, GCAS Director (GC); and many more. All these presentations were followed by group discussions by all the participants.
On the closing day of the convention, the treasurer of the Division, Elder Emmanuel Manu did not hide his satisfaction. He praised the humble and courteous behavior of all participants and appreciated the good quality of the presentations. Elder Manu also encouraged his colleagues to serve with passion despite the difficulties they encountered. “We all must serve with passion, we have many challenges because we serve the Lord and must make sure that finances are available. We also want to make sure that we have liquidity to support the work. This is one of the greatest chal lenges of the Division”, he said.
In his closing meditation, Pastor David Syme, the West Africa ADRA Program Director and Chief of Mission, admonished the participants, from a text selected in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, to live a life worthy of a true Christian Leadership by practicing the following essential five ingredients: i) Be watchful, ii) Be firm for the truth, iii) Be courageous in the face of discouragement, danger and difficulty, iv) Be strengthened every moment by Jesus and, v) Do everything by love. Participated in this meeting, Elder Frederic Bogui and Brother Daniel Djizoe from Bethel Church, Abidjan-Cocody.
Other participants were Ann Gibson, Juan Prestol, Tom Evans, Paul Douglas, Giles Barham, Mack Tennyson, and Mabio Coelho, all from the GC.
Editors