Presenters

• Ahkeem Darden

  As the oldest of seven children, Ahkeem grew up in a family with a strong heritage and history in New Brunswick, New Jersey. His father served as a missionary across Africa, Europe and the Caribbean building churches before he passed away when Ahkeem was eleven. With a mother who served her family as a homemaker Ahkeem and his six siblings had a challenging upbringing. However, the children grew up to be very successful personally, professionally and spiritually.
  
  Transitioning into the workforce after his educational pursuits was the next phase of Ahkeem’s life journey. Ahkeem spent fifteen years working in corporate America as a marketing coordinator and direct mail manager before he transitioned to become a VP of sales and marketing. He is currently a marketing consultant to the some of the world’s largest organizations to validate, automate and optimize marketing efforts.
  
  Ahkeem was the first in his family to get a college education with degrees in International Business and Marketing. After his college career, Ahkeem went on to receive his Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration Marketing.
  
  Ahkeem is actively involved in his church community serving as an elder at Plantation SDA Church and the music ministry leader.
  
  Ahkeem travels locally and internationally ministering and singing for the glory of God, and for the edification of those who need an encouraging message from the Lord.

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• Dane Hurst

  I owe the Father so much! We all do! He wakes me up each morning, faithfully provides for my family and me, has gifted me with the talent for music (singing in particular), and expects me to be responsible with it and use it to glorify Him and lead others. So this is where my story at Plantation comes in. I have been at Plantation since about 2005 and grown spiritually with God. While at Plantation, I have been at some low points in my life that I did not understand at the time were making me “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (see James 1:2-4). Now as I’ve grown more in the wisdom of God, I know my purpose as His instrument, made in His image and an extension of Him telling everyone else as much as I can that He has a meaning for our lives and faithful love for us all (see Jeremiah 29:11-13)!