OUR LEGACY
Selwyn E Arnold Sr. and Muriel Joyce were the first Black couple appointed by Church of God (Cleveland, TN) World Missions Board in 1966. On the 13th of October in that year, they landed in Ghana, West Africa. They served there for eight years during which time they organized 31 churches, built 12 church buildings, the Ghana Bible Institute where many students were trained to become pastors and teachers and Church planters. By the direction of the Holy Spirit, they also built a medical Clinic in Essienimpong in 1969, which is still functioning today. They dedicated the first phase of the clinic in 1974 with help from the New Testament Church of God Women's Ministries in the United Kingdom and Wales.
In 1976, the Arnolds were sent by Church of God World Missions to Nigeria. In 1978, they built the Uduak Abasi Clinic in Abak and Muriel Joyce a UK trained Registered Nurse and Certified Midwife administered the clinic, trained her staff and registered the Clinic with Nigeria Ministry of Health, providing medical health services to the community, including maternity care. In addition to healthcare, Dr. SE Arnold served as President of Full Gospel Church of God Bible College and the Principal of the Nigeria Theological Seminary. During his leadership, the Bible College received accreditation and was upgraded.
They both have devoted there lives to education. SE Arnold graduated from Lee College with a Bachelors of Arts Summa Cum Laude and awarded “Who Is Who in American Colleges & Universities”. He was also a graduate of the Church of God Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee completing his Masters in Divinity degree. He later received a Doctor of Ministry from the New York Theological Seminary. Muriel Joyce earned her licensure as a Registered Nurse, graduated with a Bachelors degree in Theology from Lee College and a Doctor of Education degree was conferred by the European Seminary and College of the Bible, 1994.
From 1984-1994, they served as National Overseers of England and Wales. During their tenure they built two Senior Citizens home costing over 3 million dollars. Several Day Cares and Senior activity centers developed as a result of this project. During this time, Overstone College was accredited and SE Arnold served as the President. After leaving the UK, they served as District Pastors in Bridgeport, CT (1994-1998) and the Administrative Bishop of the State of New Jersey (1998-2006).
After 8 1/2 years of service, SE Arnold accepted to serve as Missions Representative which lasted 2 years after which he was retired by Church of God World Missions. Dr. Arnold devoted his time and focus on Missions in his latter years. S.E. Arnold passed away October 31, 2013. Dr. Muriel Arnold, continues to aid the work of ministry in different parts of Africa and continues to raise awareness in the Church of the urgency of building the Kingdom of God in anticipation of Christ’s return.
