Speakers

Pastor Theophilus Osei is a mission-oriented pastor who was born in Ghana and raised in the United States. During his undergraduate years at the University of Rhode Island, he was actively involved in campus ministries, helping to organize the first Adventist student fellowship group on campus and serving as its president from 2008 to 2011. Pastor Osei has served as a youth leader for local congregations and Youth Federation President for the state of Rhode Island in the Southern New England Conference. Most recently, Pastor served as the associate pastor of New Life SDA church and Tabernacle of Joy Seventh-day Adventist church in New York City. He currently serves as pastor of Living Hope SDA church in Somers, New York and Co-op City SDA church in Bronx, New York. He also serves as the Youth Director of the Northeast Zone among the Ghanaian churches in North American (NAGSDA). Pastor Osei has followed God’s call into pastoral ministry. He graduated from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University in 2015, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. He is a board-certifiable hospital chaplain, having ministered to countless patients and families at Bellevue Hospital (NYC) and St. Francis Hospital (Hartford, Connecticut). Pastor Osei also holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Baruch College in New York City. Pastor is happily married to the beautiful Mrs. Abigail Osei. The two are ministry partners, with Abigail serving on Atlantic Union’s Executive Committee while also ministering locally as a Club Ministries Area Coordinator in the Bronx (among other things). In their spare time, the pair enjoys traveling, mentoring youth, spending time with family, and rooting for New England Sports teams.

Pastor Elijah Stanley is the son of Stanley and Ramola and the younger brother of Stanola Stanley. He went to High Point High School and holds a BA in Theology from Washington Adventist University and a Master of Divinity from the Seventh-Day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. Pastor Elijah has served as a local youth ministry leader, praise team leader, and Pathfinder Counselor while attending the Southern Asian Seventh-day Church. While completing his master's he was the Co-Spiritual Coordinator in the Seminary Student Forum. He served as a Pastoral Intern in Life Church in Berkeley, California while ministering to the campus of UC Berkeley. He also served as a Pastoral Intern at the First Church of Seventh-day Adventists in Washington DC under the leadership of Senior Pastor Lisa-Smith Reid. Pastor Elijah’s favorite biblical person is Elijah but also admires the story of Mary Magdalene. He enjoys the NFL, music, food, and fellowship with friends. He believes that for the church to grow, it must empower its members and speak for those with no voice. His favorite bible verse is John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life, and it to the full.”