Emmaunuel Christian Ministries, UCC
A New Church Start in Tucker, Georgia
Article By Rev. Cameron Trimble
One year ago, Rev. Dr. Lewis Kola came into my office and told me about his dream. This dream – this calling – had been growing in Lewis for over 10 years. Finally, on this day, he felt the time was right to make his dream a reality – God was calling Lewis to birth a church. He said, "Imagine a congregation whose membership comes from diverse racial backgrounds. Imagine a congregation that consists of people from different cultural orientations. Imagine a congregation that seeks authentic relationships based on the love of God. Imagine a congregation where people are nurtured in the Word of God. Imagine a congregation that seeks to be an agent of healing and transformation in individuals, families, and the communities. Imagine a congregation that is welcoming and affirming, open and inclusive. Imagine Emmanuel Christian Ministries." As I listened to Lewis tell me his story, I was struck by his deep sense of faith and his earnest desire to courageously respond to this calling which God had placed upon him. I knew we had a potential church planter in this man.
Lewis is a third generation Christian. He grew up in both Ghana and Nigeria, coming to the United States in 1986. In the US, he received the Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Psychology at American Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee. He completed seminary at Candler School of Theology of Emory University. In 2004, he completed the Doctor of Ministry degree (Pastoral Counseling) at Columbia Theological Seminary. He has experience in pastoring local churches as well as chaplaincy services in Atlanta and Chicago. While Lewis is certainly well accomplished professionally, if you ask Lewis of his greatest support in preparation for this undertaking, he would tell you about his family. Married to a PK (Preacher’s Kid) originally from Germany, Dorothea is a certified CPE supervisor and works at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. Dorothea and Lewis have two beautiful daughters who are the delight of his life and his greatest supporters.
Over this past year, Lewis faithfully completed the Conference assessment process for new church developers. He engaged in discernment both with the New Church Development Advisory Team and with his association Church and Ministry committee. In June of this year, Lewis was unanimously approved by the Southeast Conference Board of Directors to plant Emmanuel Christian Ministries. He is now working to gather his launch team and get to know the community.
If you would like to know more about Emmanuel Christian Ministries, go to their website at http://www.ecmucc.org. We appreciate your prayers, gifts and support of this exciting new church in the Southeast Conference.
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