The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has eulogised the outgone La Area Head of the Church, Apostle John Osei Amaniampong, saying that the retired minister has left a legacy of diligence, hard work, and faithfulness in ministry.
“Apostle Amaniampong is very respectful, submissive to authority and one whom you could always trust to uphold the policies of the Church. For some time now, I have found it very difficult to accept the fact that Apostle Amaniampong is retiring from active ministry because he is irreplaceable,” he said.
Apostle Eric Nyamekye gave this glowing eulogy today when he officiated a retirement service held in honour of the retired minister, his wife, Mrs. Mary Amaniampong, and children, at the Dr. Thomas Wyatt Memorial Temple.
The event, which was characterised by great joy and pomp, was a befitting send-off service for the man who had served God and the Church meritoriously for 33 years.
Apostle John Osei Amaniampong was called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 1989 and was first stationed at Aboso District. After five years of fruitful service, he served in Tarkwa District, from 1994 to 2000 and was later transferred to Asokwa District, where he pastored for six years.
Subsequently, he spent two years as District Pastor at Mamprobi District and then La-Nkwantanang District from 2008 to 2014, where he was appointed as an Area Head and assigned to the Dunkwa Area in 2014. In the year 2016, he was called into the office of Apostle in The Church of Pentecost. His final ministerial transfer came in 2018 and has since served as Area Head of the La Area Head until his retirement.
A testimony read on behalf of the General Council of the Church at the event, described him as “an embodiment of hard work and discipline and a project-oriented minister who saw to the infrastructural growth of the church in every station he served.”
Preaching on the topic: “A Worthy Steward” at the event with Luke 7:2-10 as his main scripture reference, Prophet David Kankam Beditor, the Ashaiman Area Head and an Executive Council Member of the Church, said that the Centurion would not have sought Jesus’ intervention for his servant if he did not have much respect for him (servant).
He said that the Centurion went out of his way to help his servant because the latter had some exemplary virtues that made him valuable to his master.
According to him, the servant had a right attitude, was diligent, hardworking, obedient, hardworking, trustworthy, and very serviceable.
He, therefore, urged Christians to demonstrate such commendable traits in their relationship with others, especially at the workplace.
Prophet Kankam Beditor further noted that in addition to the extraordinary faith exhibited by the Centurion, he also possessed some noteworthy traits which Christian leaders must strive to have.
He said that the Centurion was one who loved his nation and contributed towards the Church by singlehandedly constructing a synagogue for the Jews.
The Ashaiman Area Head also said the Centurion was compassionate and sympathetic towards his subordinates, was humble, and gave due respect to those in authority.
“The Centurion related well with the Elders of the Jewish people, this was why he was able to ask the Elders of the Jews to make the request to Jesus on his behalf,” he said.
Prophet Kankam Beditor, therefore, advised Christian leaders not to lord themselves over their subordinates but to treat them with love and respect.
The retirement service for the Amaniampongs drew many dignitaries from far and near, most of whom were active ministers as well as members of the Church. Amongst them were Apostle Emmanuel Ofei Ankra-Badu (Tema Area Head), Apostle Martin Seth Appiah (Madina Area Head), Apostle James Asare (Kasoa Area Head), Apostle ADP James Tetteh, and Apostle Abraham Swanzy (Chairman, Ghana Evangelism Committee)
Some retired ministers of the Church; namely, Apostle Rigwell Ato Addison, Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Anthony Owusu, Apostle Prof. Peter Ohene Kyei, and Apostle Michael Asiedu, also graced the event.
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