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"One Great Story" is where you find great ADC Alumni stories of how God has been at work in and through them and the ministries they have been involved in. 

Here's a story from Alumni Rev. Sherrolyn Riley:

From Pastoring in the AUBA to Mainstream Convention
 

From July 5, 2009 – a dull, overcast day, but at least it wasn’t pouring! And by the time 3:00 rolled around the sun had broken through, and cars of smiling people were arriving at the United Baptist Church Mahone Bay to attend my Induction Service and share with me on that special day.
Friends were there from my former pastorate of Victoria Road, Dartmouth; also present were clergy colleagues from the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia, former student friends from Acadia Divinity College, and colleagues from my years as a teacher in Halifax County. I am especially grateful for the strong presence and support of new colleagues from the Lunenburg-Queens Association.
Coming from a church of the African Association to Mahone Bay has been a delight for me, albeit a bit of a culture shock (on both sides). But the opportunity to minister in a different context has been exciting, and the congregation and I are learning and growing together.
On July 5 I had a glimpse of what I believe Jesus intended his church to be. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst was almost palpable. But what happened after the service really drove home to me the meaning of phrases such as the ‘body of Christ’ (1 Cor. 12:27) and ‘that they all may be one’ (John 17: 21)
The congregation at Mahone Bay is comprised largely of seniors, and the women of the Ladies’ Aid, few in number, had a daunting task in preparing for, and feeding, the over 100 people who sat down to dinner. Yet help materialized from every quarter, with friends from Victoria Road, others from the AUBA, my friend from the Valley and her husband, all helping out in the kitchen. The workers were spurred on by another group, serenading us with an impromptu hymn sing. Men and women from diverse backgrounds and different races who had never met before worked together, sang together, and fellowshipped together as one.
. . .
Now, I must tell you that this article was not supposed to be about my Induction. My assigned task was to talk about my experiences in transitioning from being a child of, and pastoring in, the AUBA to pastoring a church in the Convention mainstream; however, the examples I mentioned above of God’s people coming together to ‘be’ Church, have lifted me up and excited me so that I felt compelled to share them with you.
And yes, in coming to Mahone Bay I have noticed some differences, and certainly new challenges. The music and levels of participation make up the biggest differences. On July 5 my people got a taste of the lively music I’m used to from the guest choir of Windsor Plains UBC, and more recently from guest organists we’ve had this summer. I am also working to build confidence for public prayer which most AUBA folk are accustomed to, having learned spontaneous prayer from an early age. In addition, most AUBA midweek prayer meetings are lively and flourishing.
And yet, I wish all the AUBA folk in small churches could see how a small group of dedicated people can keep a big church going.
There are similarities as well. The loyalty of God’s people to their small church is a very striking one. The Christian conviction is the same; the desire to worship God and do His will is the same; the concern for others is the same – all the things that really matter, based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, are the same.
And as I learned on July 5, when God’s children come together under His banner, worshipping, singing His praises, and supporting one another, we can truly be the church He would have us be.
As for my ministry, I carry on with joy and anticipation. The great welcome from both the congregation of the United Baptist Church Mahone Bay, and the Lunenburg-Queens Association has reminded me of God’s Spirit at work in and among His people irrespective of the (what have become superficial) barriers of race or background. I pray that the dual strength of two strong traditions will result in a powerful blend of glory to God and the up-building of the kingdom.

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