The general secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist world church was honored May 13 for his contribution to "national and international understanding" and to the mission of the Adventist Church.
The general secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist world church was honored May 13 for his contribution to “national and international understanding” and to the mission of the Adventist Church. Matthew Bediako, the first African national to fill the position of general secretary of the Adventist Church, received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Andrews University, an Adventist institution located in Michigan, United States.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Bediako on receiving the award from Dr. Patricia Mutch, vice president for academic affairs. “Whatever service we are called upon to perform, we do it for the glory of God.”
Born in Ghana, West Africa, Bediako worked for more than 19 years in West Africa as a Bible teacher, youth and health leader, and church administrator. Since 1986, he has served as an administrator at the Adventist Church world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. In July 2000, Bediako was voted as general secretary of the Adventist Church, becoming second ranking officer of the 12 million-member Protestant denomination.