ADAMS TWP — In his role as a Presbyterian pastor, Peter deVries sometimes travels to Ghana to aid with Christian leadership development.

During the occasional Sunday service, deVries also shares a glimpse of Ghana with members of his church back home.

Several times a year, the service at Old Union Presbyterian Church features an African style offering, something that distinguishes the worship style in the African country.

As part of the offering in Ghana, music becomes louder and more lively, and churchgoers often dance and celebrate as they approach the altar in competitive groups.

Groups are divided according to the day of week the parishioners were born.

“They actually have one of their names based on that,” deVries explained. “For example, I was born on Tuesday, so my birthday name in Ghana would be Komla.”

In Ghana, deVries said the offering sometimes lasts longer than the sermon. Parishioners might arrive with fresh produce or handmade wares to be auctioned on site, with proceeds put in the collection basket.

Although Old Union’s African service takes on a lively tone, deVries said he does not encourage competitive giving at their modified service and has never calculated whether the African offerings exceed those from other times.

“It’s a chance for us a few times a year to think of our offering to be an expression of gratitude,” he said. “That’s one of the insights that I’ve gained during my time in Ghana.

“Here in the United States we focus our lives on our prosperity. We look toward our money and material possessions to satisfy and solve our problems. In Ghana, a lot of people don’t have those material possessions, so they turn to God first.”

deVries began visiting Ghana in 1997 while serving at another church, which participated in a twinning program through the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

Christianity was on the rise in Ghana, creating a need for religious leaders, so deVries continued putting his Ph.D. to good use by teaching and speaking there.

He has been hosting the African offerings at Old Union Presbyterian for more than 10 years.

While the services add variety to the worship seasons, they also allow parishioners to feel a connection to faraway places.

“It’s very enlightening for the whole church,” said Betty Rudolph, 85. “Because what other connections would we have to other places?

“It’s something we’ve all adopted — every person that ever comes,” Rudolph added.

“They play the music and you dance down to the basket like they do in Ghana. It’s a wonderful thing — and you know where Ghana is and you know some of their culture.”

Although Old Union Church members have not taken mission trips to Ghana, the church supports mission work there, and in 2007 deVries helped facilitate a six-month pastor exchange in which the Rev. John Porter of Hill United Presbyterian in Butler switched places with the Rev. McWilson Atakro of Accra Ghana.

deVries says despite his ongoing service, he gains at least as much as he gives.

“It has made me the pastor that I am,” he said.

“It it has given me insight into my ministry and into preaching and into the church,” he added.

“It helps us understand the joy of giving to God.”

The next African offerings service is set for 11 a.m. Sunday at the church on Union Church Road

.