The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has panegyrized the outgoing Finance and Administration Director (FAD) of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Dr Nicholas Darko, describing him as an institutional memory of the Church.
“When you come to the Head Office, FAD [Pastor Dr Nicholas Darko] is institutional memory. Having served as a Deputy Accounts Manager for the Pentecost Press Limited for seven years, an Internal Auditor at the Headquarters for one year, and Finance and Administration Director (FAD) for 19 years, he knows everything about the church, especially the finance and administrative policies. To work at one place for 27 years and rise through the ranks to the top is no mean achievement,” the General Secretary said this in a sermon he delivered at the farewell service held on Sunday, November 8, 2020, in honour of Pastor Dr Darko and his family at the D. K. Arnan Worship Centre in Teshie.
Pastor Dr Nicholas Darko has been transferred from the Headquarters to the Twereboa District in the Dansoman Area after serving as the financial controller of the Church for 19 good years, serving under three Chairmen of the Church, namely Apostles Dr Michael Ntumy, Prof. Opoku Onyinah, and currently Eric Nyamekye. He also worked with three General Secretaries – Apostles Albert Amoah, Dr Alfred Koduah and Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, while working with four International Missions Directors, namely Apostles Prof. Opoku Onyinah, B. K. Arthur (of blessed memory), Dr S. K. Baidoo (of blessed memory), and Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo.
The send-off service which was officiated by the General Secretary, assisted by the International Missions Director (IMD), Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, and the Teshie-Nungua Area Head, Apostle Dr Alfred Koduah, was graced by Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah (former Chairman), Apostle Ridgwell Ato Addison (former General Secretary), Elder Prof. Stephen Owusu Kwankye (Finance Board Chairman), Mrs. Mary Nyamekye (wife of the Chairman), and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lodzokuku and Deputy Minister of Health, Hon. Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, among others.
Speaking at the service on the topic, “What Do You Want To Be Remembered For” taken from Proverbs 22: 1, 1 Samuel 16:7c, Apostle Alexander Nana Kumi-Larbi noted that anyone who occupies a position and leaves the scene will be remembered by the impact they make in the lives of the people.
“When you leave a community or die, some people will remember you by the imprint you have left in their lives, hearts, and minds. People shape their perceptions of you through your interactions with them. Sometimes, the way you affect others is based on things that you may never be aware of,” he said.
According to him, how one’s legacy or life’s story is remembered can be up to them, saying, “It’s made up of a combination of your successes, failures, contributions, words, actions, or inactions, and other ways you have made a lasting impression on others.
“Your successes are measured by others based on the external things they place the greatest value on. Sometimes it has nothing to do with what you consider a success or failure in life.
“For example, the simplest act of kindness on your part might have changed someone’s life for the better without you ever knowing.”
Quoting from Romans 16:1-16, he said that Apostle Paul remembered and eulogized some 29 persons who played vital roles in his ministry.
The General Secretary further read from Luke 7:1-5 stated that sharing one’s time, talent, and treasure, are some of the ways to live a life of significance and make an impact on others.
The former Chairman, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, touted the indispensable roles that Pastor Dr Darko played at the Headquarters which consolidated the financial gains of the church. He noted that Pastor Dr Darko did not use his privileged position to manipulate the finances of the church for his personal gains, but rather managed it with all faithfulness and diligence.
The MP for Lodzokuku who also doubles as the Deputy Minister of Health, Hon, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, who described himself as an associate member of The Church of Pentecost due to the unique relationship he has developed with the church over the years, extolled the personality of Pastor Dr. Darko, describing him as a knowledgeable man of God with impeccable integrity.
The MP, who presented some PPEs to the church, commended The Church of Pentecost for being one of the most COVID-19 compliant churches in the country. He advised the members to continue to observe the safety protocols since the disease is still around.
Various testimonies were read to acknowledge the impact Pastor Dr Darko and his wife Mabel have made in the district, Teshie-Nungua, and The Church of Pentecost as a whole.
PENTECOST NEWS.