It is no news when you see a tortoise crawling closely to the ground, but seeing a giant of an animal like an elephant going down to earth may make an international news headline. Many have risen through the ranks of leadership, but few can be ascribed with the axiom that the higher you go, the lower you must see yourself. The story of Pastor Professor William Otoo Ellis is of a different breed. Take this write-up as an honest view of a silent admirer and a mentee of this illustrious son of our land.
HIS APPOINTMENT
I first came across Prof. Otoo Ellis in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which wreaked havoc on our world, bringing its economies to their knees. I had just been appointed as the new Area Leader of the Children’s Ministry for Assin Foso Area of the Church of Pentecost and was attending my first national end-of-year meeting. This meeting also happened to be his (Prof. Ellis’s) maiden national meeting as a Director after the easing of the COVID restrictions in Ghana, having been appointed as Director of the Children’s Ministry in June 2020, after serving as a Deputy Director of the Ministry in 2019. I believe many who heard about his appointment may have marveled, nursing thoughts of their own as to what a person who has risen so high on the academic ladder, to the extent of serving as Vice-Chancellor of no mean a university than the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, was going to do in this religious space. An internationally acclaimed professor of Food Science? What did he know about children’s work? Was this academic so ‘spiritual’ to fit into The Church of Pentecost’s mold of spirituality?
Few may have believed in his abilities, but the Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, had no doubt in his abilities and what God could do with him. Prof. Ellis often says that “it is a huge risk that Chairman Nyamekye took with my appointment. For what could convince a leader to appoint a 60-year-old retiree to head a crucial ministry like the Children’s Ministry of one of the fastest-growing global Pentecostal churches like The Church of Pentecost? I believe this risk has made me realize the gem of a leader Apostle Nyamekye is, who could make bold decisions when the need be.”
But just like David, who had ‘secretly’ undergone training in the wilderness as he tended his father’s flock, unbeknown to many who may have had some reservations, Prof. Otoo Ellis had acquired several life experiences backed by the grace of God to accomplish great feats in the Kingdom of God in the area of Children’s Ministry. Many may not be aware of his many years as a Children’s Worker at PIWC Asokwa even when he was Vice-Chancellor for KNUST. He had also served as a Children’s Worker in Canada while studying there. I believe these and many more experiences as an educator, backed by the grace of God, had prepared him enough for this new assignment (1 Samuel 17:32-37).
A SERVANT LEADER
It is a fact, if not a misconception, that many who come close to high achievers in life feel some sense of inadequacy, and sometimes inferiority complex takes a better part of them. Many leaders may take advantage of such inadequacies in their subordinates, lording over them and making them feel more useless in their presence. It takes only servant leaders to change that narrative by stooping so low into the ‘gutters’ of their followers, rolling up their sleeves, assuring them of his being there for them, and helping them grow together with him.
Such leaders create an atmosphere that makes their followers lose sight of their inadequacies and rather focus on their strengths, no matter how small they may be, and grow to their optimum best. That’s the kind of leader Pastor Prof. William Otoo Ellis is. He is learned but ever learning. He knew it all, but among his team, he made himself lowly to learn from others no matter what they brought on board. A professor who will submit his scripts to first-degree holders to read through and correct mistakes and even critique his work if need be. That is the man, Prof. Ellis.
His invitation to a selected few in 2023 to a mid-term review meeting at Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, where he submitted his four-year vision on the chopping board for his subordinates to dissect and rearrange it after two years of its implementation attests to his humility and his willingness to learn from a broad spectrum and strata of society.
I remember after the maiden Foundation Builders’ Conference (his brainchild) in 2022, he stood with me for almost an hour speaking to me concerning the reason behind his appointment by the Chairman and Executive Committee of the Church, what the Lord has dropped in his heart to do with the ministry, among other things. I was like, how does all this he was talking about concern me? But one thing he said that broke me was, “Sammy, I need your help!” If I were a Nigerian, I would have surprisingly shouted, ‘chaiii!!!’ A professor needing help to accomplish his purpose from an undergrad. This is a question for the gods. But I would later appreciate that as a mark of humility, which I have coveted in my short but nurturing walk with him.
A VISIONARY
Just like Nehemiah, he came, saw, surveyed the ruins in the ministry, relied on the Lord in the face of various challenges, envisioned, and started building a custom-made ministry for The Church of Pentecost. A building-up process that will give an identity to the ministry. In my private interaction with him, he came across as a man carrying a huge burden in his spirit and yet was willing to bear the full load, whether with or without the help of others. A man willing to stand by his convictions while having patience for everybody to buy into his ideas.
You will often see him in his private times with a jotter or diary and a pen, scribbling down ideas and thoughts the Lord drops in his heart concerning the ministry. Ideas he will prayerfully incubate in his spiritual womb while courting the support of leadership to deliver them. I wish to get hold of one of such memoirs.
The Children’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost can today be seen as having a unique identity of its own after over 50 years of its existence. All thanks to a visionary leader who decided to break away from the status quo and dare to be different. The result is the great visibility the ministry has gained today.
A TRANSGENERATIONAL LEADER
When you interact with him, you can only appreciate how concerned he is about the next phase of the Ministry going into the future.
A few days ago, having been appointed to take over from him, he expressed his hope for my success as I take over from him. He assured me of his total support and stated, “I know with God, you will succeed. Know that every leader hands over to himself because his success in leadership depends on the success of his successor.” I thought that statement was really profound. And I believe that should be the mindset of all those whose works must outlive them. In our political space today, many will wish for the failure of their successors so that their own work will continue to stand out. Prof. Ellis is an exception. He celebrates the success of his predecessors, works his way into ministry, builds his own, and works his way out of ministry, paving the way for the next generation of leaders.
A SELFLESS LEADER
A scripture in 1 Samuel highlights the dividing line between people who are in ministry to serve God’s purpose and those around to serve their own interests. God, through the boy Samuel, spoke to the house of Eli these words: “³⁵And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed forever. ³⁶And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a piece of bread” (1 Samuel 2:35-36, KJV).
Pastor Prof. William Otoo Ellis was cast in the mold of a faithful priest who did not accept coming into full-time ministry to accumulate wealth for himself and his family but as a person who was willing to let go of all fringe benefits just to serve the purpose of his master.
It may be a surprise to many that he gave pro bono service to the church for the past four years. Even the few allowances he received were ploughed back into the work. The imposing edifice, the Children’s Auditorium at Pentecost Convention Centre, built from scratch from his and his nuclear family’s resources, attests to this trait. He saw money and the church as belonging to the Lord and so needed to be managed with integrity. His leadership has saved the ministry many thousands of Ghana Cedis, making strategic investments for the ministry going into the future, like David did for his son Solomon in 1 Chronicles 22:5. The commendation by the Chairman of the Church in 2022 during the General Council Meeting, referring to the Children’s Ministry as one of the ministries that have ensured prudent financial management, is a feather in his cap.
Oh, that all ministers of the gospel will learn from this attitude of selflessness.
HIS SENSE OF APPRECIATION
I have come close to many leaders, but few could come out of their way to recognize and appreciate the efforts of their subordinates in achieving organizational goals. Prof. Ellis’s sense of appreciation, both to God and humanity, is out of this world. His messages were full of gratitude to God for His grace and for counting him worthy to serve Him and His people in times like this. Sometimes, I felt his ‘thank you’ for every little thing one does was becoming one too many. But that was the man, Pastor Prof. William Otoo Ellis.
THE UNCONVENTIONAL PREACHER
Many preachers often pick out biblical characters who have portrayed positive traits in their preaching. Hardly will you hear preachers glean positive lessons from characters such as Delilah, Judas Iscariot, and so on, who are perceived as negative. I remember one of his messages entitled ‘Delilah, a Symbol of Persistence,’ where he brought out priceless lessons from the life of this so-called evil woman. This is out of this world. This attests to his level-headedness and willingness to give everybody a chance to prove themselves without any prejudice. It also speaks volumes about how he could unravel gems out of a shell of dirt.
Anyway, someone should tell him that he still owes some of us a message on Judas Iscariot.
HIDDEN FROM THE CAMERAS BUT HIS WORKS WERE IN THE PUBLIC SPACE
Out of experience, he finds it very difficult standing before the cameras. He will often say, “You know I am not a media person,” in instances when you really need an interview from him. He has no social media handles and pages, but his fruitfulness and work are public knowledge.
He will not arrogate to himself praise for the things he has done, neither will he usurp the successes of his team members and his subordinates. He believed in the principle of letting his works speak for him rather than pulling up stunts on the media space.
Sometimes, finding pictures of him for various purposes becomes an uphill task. But his work cannot be hidden because the beneficiaries will continue to trumpet the impacts he has made and continues to make on humanity.
HIS SENSE OF HUMOUR
It is unthinkable that a man of his stature will spare some time to share in light moments with his subordinates. He makes the work environment relaxing enough for all. You can’t believe it if one describes him as a ‘tease’ sometimes. But he is a cocktail of all.
He kept his focus on his task but gave people the impression that he was human after all.
CONCLUSION
When you see people shedding tears upon the announcement that their leader is retiring, then you can appreciate the kind of person such a leader was.
As you retire from active ministry on Sunday, July 28, 2024, always know that you came, you saw, and you conquered. You have proven to the world that it is not the number of years one spends in leadership that matters but the impact one makes.
You have paid your dues in this short space of time, and your legacies will forever live on. May posterity look on you with gratitude.
I know you are retired but not tired, and for some of us, we will continue to drink from your deep brook of experience.
Have a restful retirement, sir.
Written by Pastor Samuel Avornyo (Assin Bereku District)
