Birth
GCPA-DC is a Christian organization comprising of Gambians and Americans of Gambian descendants residing in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) of the United States of America. Recently, the demographic of its membership has expanded to include members in New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut and International members in South Africa.
The inception and formation of this charitable organization on April of 2004 was from the wisdom of our beloved former Gambian Bishop Michael Cleary who was in the U.S. to attend a meeting with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore, Maryland. After his meeting, he graciously visited and spent a weekend with the Gambian Christian Community in Maryland and celebrated a Sunday Mass for the community. During this visit, he advised us to form a Christian organization with a focus on education, this he explained was the best way to alleviate poverty and meaningfully contribute to the development in the Gambia.
Thus far, the GCPA-DC Academic Scholarship Program had sponsored over one hundred and eighty children in the University of the Gambia, tertiary institutions and secondary and primary schools through the Archdeacon Mathias George Memorial Charity Trust (AMGMST). We have requirements that qualify and maintain these children in our program, and we require that they remain in The Gambia through college education in the University of The Gambia, and work within the Gambia after the completion of their sponsored education.
Retaining the college educated in the Gambia is a means of building a middle class society which is badly needed worldwide especially developing countries like The Gambia. With a middle class, countries like this stand a chance of enhancing and growing their economies, building sustainable health conditions and foster development within the country, which in turn limits the exodus of its people into Europe and America for continuing education and better living conditions.
GCPA-DC also sponsor infrastructure maintenance and renovation of Churches within the country, lend assistance to the varied Christian programs that provide faith, guidance, value, discipline, strength in character, and structure to emerging young men and women of this society. These are the fundamental elements required to strengthening the core character and cultural values of these societies. Every nation has a character. The value of a nation’s character is in the strength of the individual character of its citizenry. We believe that providing just education is not enough to bring about the understanding of patriotism and sacrifice to better one’s society. We understand that every single being in a society plays a fundamental role in the growth, sustenance, and survival of that society.
Our Annual Fundraiser Gala event is always held on the Memorial Day weekend of May. It is currently the only major vehicle used to fuel the funds used to sustain our vision. GCPA-DC also organizes an annual “Operation Clothe Gambia” (OCG) event every summer by collecting clothes, books and toys in Maryland to ship and distribute to the needy both in the urban and rural areas of the Gambia.The GCPA is a registered 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization. We are honored to accept your tax-deductable donations. Please make these donations through our website at: www.gcpadc.com or mail them to us at: GCPA-DC. P.O. Box 2087, Rockville, MD 20847.
Who We Are
Our Mission
Grace Church takes its inspiration from Ezekiel 34:16 “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed. . ."
Oh how easy it is to get lost! With our cell phones and iPads, our 24-hour news cycles, there’s virtually nowhere to go for a moment of peace and quiet.
That’s where Grace Church comes in. We provide a holy place of respite in the tumult of life. So come, put aside the cares of the week and find yourself in the presence of God.
Make a joyful noise
Perform with our choir the Grace Band.
Be a greeter/usher
This is a great way to get to know members.
Behind the scenes
Join our technical, grounds or kitchen crews.
Many faces, one faith.
We are a diverse group of believers – bankers, musicians, social workers, teachers, public servants, business owners, parents – united by our shared faith in a loving God.
Mission
Our mission is to provide assistance to Christian Institutions in The Gambia by collecting funds, donations and contributions for the support of their religious, health and educational programs. We are Gambian nationals residing in the District of Columbia Metropolitan Area USA. GCPA of Metropolitan DC is our organizational framework and vehicle to meaningfully contribute to poverty alleviation, and development in the Gambia.
Vision
Our vision is to be a catalyst for change by sponsoring and promoting educational excellence through scholarships, literacy programs and skills development. GCPA of metropolitan DC strive to promote a holistic approach to individual and societal success by embracing spirituality as its core virtue, through active participation in church ministries in The United States and through sponsoring church activities in the Gambia. GCPA will promote spiritual fulfillment through personal responsibility and commitment to the socio-economic needs of Gambians within the United States and The Gambia by actively participating in our human needs.
Values
GCPA of DC's values are the following:
Belief in God and Jesus Christ his only Son
Belief in firm Christian principles of faith and cripture, while drawing from tradition, and philosophical reasoning
Excellence in both individual and collective action
Belief in the dignity of every individual - therefore, being respectful, responsive, and sensitive in our treatment of others
Ethical in our conduct worthy of the Christian faith we profess
Cooperation in our planning, management, and working relations
Efficiency and professionalism in our delivery of services