Last Sunday (July 24th) during church service at the Good Shepherd Congregation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG) at Lashibi, I received a letter that put a smile on my face, and brought many memories after the service. The letter, signed by the District Pastor, Rev. Dr. Daniel Sakitey, was an invitation to join other representatives to attend the EPCG 175th Anniversary Launch at the Accra International Conference Center, on behalf of the Lashibi District. I immediately recalled that my father had attended the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the EPCG with me, 25 years ago.
I called the Cathecist, Mr. Gershon Breni, the Monday after receiving the letter, to ask for further details, including the 'dress code' for the service. He mentioned that any EPCG cloth would do, and I said I didn't have any as of the time we spoke but would work something out. I mentioned the said invitation letter to my mother, who said that my Papa (now with the Lord) had bought a lot of the cloth for the 150th Anniversary Celebration & that there could still be some. She checked, confirmed there was still some in good shape (after 25 years!). I passed through her home to look at it and decided that I was going to have it sewn during the week, to be worn for today. :)
God made a way for all planned to go well and I was very privileged to join in today's launch, clad in an old cloth that held many memories. I remember sitting by my father during the 150th Anniversary Celebration...I was 11 years old at the time...and all the memories I have of that celebration, including the opening hymn which was sung on that day (ie. currently Hymn 227..part of which I have sung in one of the videos attached to this post)...and I shudder just a teeny weeny bit about what our children would remember about us in the next few years, God willing. Through God's Grace and the help of the Holy Spirit, I pray that everyone reading this post would leave a legacy worthy of the Lord. May all who come behind us find us faithful. Amen.
The service was 'deep' for me today - my highlight being the message delivered by the Main Speaker, Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi (video shared below). I learnt so much from participating in today's service and I hope to share some soon. I am very thankful to God that my perspective on Church goes beyond denominational, tribal and national boundaries. I believe in the Unity of the Body of Christ. I also believe that those who have paid a price for the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are worth mentioning and remembering. It was an exposition on the works of the first missionaries who landed on the shores of the Gold Coast, done by Bernard Avle during the Youth Month 2021 celebration at the EPCG Good Shepherd Congregation, that made me pause to reflect a bit. Mr. Avle mentioned that some of the missionaries were young men with a bright future ahead of them (as we would say in our day now) - but who risked their very lives for the sake of spreading the Good News.
Lorenz Wolf. Salutes! Reading about him again today was humbling. The Ewes of Ghana who are Christians today should all say 'thank you to the Lord' for the life of Lorenz Wolf. Through his missionary efforts and God's Grace which has given an overwhelming increase of souls and progress over the years, many Ewes have come to the saving knowledge of our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ. Plus, we should never go past the role of our traditional leaders, for God uses them to work out His purposes. In Isaiah 45, God says about King Cyrus, a 'heathen' king -
"Cyrus is my anointed king. I take hold of his right hand. I give him the power to bring nations under his control. You (Cyrus) do not know anything about me. But I am giving you a title of honor. I am the Lord. There is no other Lord. I am the one and only God. You (Cyrus) do not know anything about me. But I will make you strong. Then people will know there is no God but me." (New International Reader's Version, selected verses, Isaiah 45)
Salutes to Togbe Kwadzo Dei Tutu Yao II, King of the Krepis (in current day Peki area) and his son Prince Nyangamangu. What would have happened if they hadn't invited Lorenz Wolf to Peki where his first sermon was preached? Indeed, Togbe risked his life and kingship by allowing a 'foreign man' to come and preach 'a strange message' to the people of Peki. We thank God for courage, bravery, and the faith of our 'fathers'. Lorenz Wolf preached his first sermon from Psalm 22:22 at Peki on 14th November, 1847, and died in April 1851, on his way back home to Germany. It looked like only 4 years of missionary work for him, but see what the Lord has done through the seeming 'short' ministry of a young man.
I am thankful for the EP schools established in the Volta Region of Ghana, through the works of the Bremen missionaries. My father and many other family members benefitted greatly from the seeds sown. We should not forget. I am thankful that the Bible has been translated into many of our local dialects. I am thankful for the contributions the Church has made to healthcare and agriculture. I am thankful that God is still working. :) As we celebrate 175 years, I pray that the Church of Jesus Christ would keep increasing, not only in number of years of existence but also in 'bringing light where there is darkness'. May we shine our lights to a watching world and break down the barriers that bring division. One person can make a difference. One person preached one sermon from one Bible verse many years ago. May the Lord use you and me mightily for His glory. Amen. "Azaa loo! Azaa seee!"
Selah.
Mawunyo.
