The Beginning!

From the time (about 1920-1923) the first overseas missionary set foot on the Eastern Region of Nigeria, Seventh-day Adventists have demonstrated a unique commitment and zeal for the Adventist faith. Wherever they have gone, they have carried Adventism with them and have participated actively in the local congregations or churches to which they belong. However they have maintained regular touch with their homeland, and many have given financial assistance to some aspect of the church program at home, mainly on an individual basis.

How much impact or effect the above efforts had on the Church leadership’s decision for what is now almost a foregone conclusion (the soon to be inaugurated Eastern Nigeria Union Conference) may not be easy to determine. But one irreversible outcome of all of these “movements” is the pulling together of a people long separated by the vastness of the US both physically and psychologically and their determination to see a new Union Conference headquarters and the cause of God in their homeland solidified and strengthened. This is what NACENA is all about. The first major organized effort to assist the church back home in Eastern Nigeria was undertaken in New York under the name ENSDANY (East Nigeria SDA in New York). It was directed specifically to the Adventist Technical Secondary School, Owerrinta in Abia State, Nigeria. A similar effort was launched less than two years later, but with a much wider base (in terms of the Eastern Nigeria fields represented) over in California under the name “Eastern Nigeria Adventists USA”.  In the latter half of the year, 1999 rumors began to circulate about the “reorganization of the work” in Africa and around West Africa, in particular. The news of the creation of a new Union from the former West African Union, a neighboring sister union with a lot in common with the Nigerian Union, fanned the already ignited flames for the creation of an Eastern Nigeria Union to fever heights among the Easterners.

More and more momentum was gathering everywhere for the beginnings of NACENA. On August 6, right after the GC session, an “informal meeting” of ENSDANY (East Nigeria SDA in New York) was convened. Present at the meeting also was a brother from Utah. They discussed the need for holding a “national convention of East Nigerian Adventists in the USA”. Five months later, a Teleconference was held on December 23, 2000, to which many Eastern Nigeria Adventists across the USA were invited. The subject for discussion was captioned “Making a Difference — The Challenge of the 2000s in the Growth of the Church in Eastern Nigeria”. At this conference, the date and location of the first convention were voted. Thus, on April 13- 15, 2001, NACENA was born in Houston, TX on April 14, 2001. At that important meeting, many Eastern Nigeria Adventists living in North America came together to focus on the urgent need of ensuring the sustainability (at least financially) of the then proposed and soon to be realized new Eastern Nigeria Union Conference. Elder Emmanuel N. Egorugwu was elected the first president.

It was not the first of such a move to bring together Africans (Nigerians in particular) and would not be the last in a developing and changing world.  But, in the very supportive words and encouragement of one of our eminent African-born church leaders at the World Headquarters of the SDA Church at that time the move to establish NACENA was “long overdue”, knowing the potential of both the people of Eastern Nigeria and the glaring results of organized fundraising efforts in North America.

The success of that initial endeavor impelled us to another and more formal NACENA convention the following year the weekend of June 7-9, 2002 in New York.  It was one of the impressive and productive responses of our people NACENA has known since its birth.  There was a great commitment and supportive and immediate action further inspired by a targeted appeal by two of our guest speakers at that occasion, Elder Hubbartt from the South Western Union Conference of SDA there at New York and Dr. Samuel DeShay who worked in Nigeria for several years. Everyone present was pledging and giving liberally and that spirit spilled over for months and to those who heard the good news from those who attended.

It was indeed the spirit of that meeting in New York that was the birth of that imposing edifice that stands today as the ENUC Guest House at Osisioma Ngwa, Aba, Abia State. The enthusiastic spirit continued and as rightfully captioned “NACENA MARCHES ON” as more people converged on the beautiful campus of the then Columbia Union College, now Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park Maryland from July 18-20 2003, hosted by the Washington DC/Baltimore Zonal Regions.  Some of the highlights of the weekend were the preacher, Dr. Sherman Nagel, Jr., the old-time missionary doctor in Nigeria who delivered the sermon on Sabbath;  musical presentations were made by a mass choir of about 80 choristers led by Dr. Godswill Uzuegbu, the men’s singing group from Bronx SDA NY, famed soloist Mrs. Edwina Humphrey Flynn and the Takoma Academy Steel band. The General Conference Secretary Pastor Matthew Bediako and wife were among the guests. To make NACENA more visible, the first website was installed pro bono by sister Ugo Wigwe in 2003. 

The fourth annual convention was held at the United African Seventh-day Adventist Church in Houston, TX July 16-18 2004. Pastor Matthew Bediako preached Faith, Heritage, and Vision.  There was another fund-raising effort chaired by Mrs. Evelyn Nwaigwe (CA). The afternoon and evening programs featured NACENA women and youths.

The fifth annual convention was hosted by the Beverly Seventh-day Adventist Church Chicago from July 15-16 2005. 

The sixth annual convention – theme “Moving Forward Together in Unity” took place in San Bernardino, CA in 2006.

The seventh annual convention returned to Houston TX in 2007 after which the momentum seemed to have evaporated and the organization lost its steam.

By the special grace of God, there was a revival in 2011, and in July 2013, there was a mass gathering in members in Atlanta, GA which marked the “new beginning” for NACENA.

We have come a long way from where we used to be in 2001 both time-wise and numerically The rate at which our numbers and financial stature have increased (as professionals and business people) over the past sixteen years simply defies imagination in more than one way.  God has been good to His people (NACENA)!

Shouldn’t that multiplier effect be expressed or seen in terms of our unity, commitment, and moving forward with the goals of NACENA and to be counted corporately and individually to make a difference in the “holistic” restoration and support of our people back home?

YES, we can and should by His grace

Past Presidents: 
Elder Emmanuel N. Egorugwu (deceased) 
Elder Philemon Onwere 
Pastor (Dr.) Rowland Nwosu 
Dr. Emmanuel Ogunji 
Elder Chigozirim Ebere