What We Believe
We believe in the healing power of the Holy Spirit, the saving grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the amazing love God offers for the transformation of the world. In obedience to the greatest commandment, we love God, our neighbor, and ourselves just as Jesus said:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” ~Matthew 22:37
We believe that the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice.
We believe that God, who is one, is revealed in three distinct persons.
We believe in the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ. God became human in Jesus of Nazareth; and his life, death and resurrection demonstrate God’s redeeming love.
We believe the Holy Spirit is God’s present activity in our midst. When we sense God’s leading, God’s challenge, or God’s support or comfort, it is the Holy Spirit at work.
To learn more about the beliefs of United Methodist Church you can visit the website at: https://www.umc.org/
About the Pastor
Rev. Joseph Ewoodzie is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Susquehanna Conference. He is currently pastor of both Central and Firwood United Methodist Churches both located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
He is an inspirational speaker, a biblical teacher, an interculturalist, and a missionary at heart. He served the New York Conference as the Director of Missions and Outreach Ministries for 15 years. He was previously assigned as pastor at the Farmingdale United Methodist Church in New York.
Born and nurtured in Ghana, West Africa, he then migrated to the U.S. to earn master’s degrees in Divinity, Theology, and Philosophy at the Interdenominational Theological Center, Emory University, and Drew University respectively and later completed a Doctorate in Ministry degree at the Hartford International University. However, the formation of his fundamental spiritual life began with the rich British Methodist tradition of Ghana Methodism where his late father Rev. Isaac Ewoodzie ministered.
Included in his portfolio as the Director of Outreach Ministries was the role as the Conference Disaster Response Coordinator. Under his leadership, his mission groups were able to significantly contribute to community development, leadership empowerment, and global health improvements in diverse locales.
Rev. Ewoodzie was the Conference Secretary of Global Ministries (CSGM) and promoted the Advance, and missionary itineration in the New York Conference
He served on the following boards:
- Conference Council on Religion and Race (CCORR), New York Conference
- The Advance Board of Directors, Global Ministries, UMC
- UMVIM Board of Directors, Northeastern Jurisdiction, UMC
- Conference Secretaries of Global Ministries, (CSGM), Northeastern Jurisdiction, UMC
- New York Interfaith Disaster Services (NYDIS) Board of Directors, New York
Rev. Ewoodzie is married to Benedicta. They are parents of four adult children:
- Maame Nyaneba, Fashion Designer; Director of Savvy Looks Sewing School, Winneba.
- Dr. Victoria Adom, a family medical practitioner, UK
- Dr. Joseph Ewoodzie Jr., Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology at Davidson College, North Carolina, USA
- Kewsi Ewoodzie, PhD CBB Founder & Director | Researcher and Presenter, Intercultural Travel Facilitator | Org Culture Consultant, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
During his leisure time, Rev. Ewoodzie will be at the gym, or hiking, or playing tennis. (Avoid challenging him to play table tennis because he will not show you any mercy.)