The 37-year ministerial journey of the Sunyani Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Mark Obeng Andoh, was brought to a glorious end on Sunday, August 15, 2021, at the F. D. Walker Auditorium, Sunyani.
The event, which was officiated by the General Secretary of the church, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, was assisted by Apostle Isaac Nii Kortei Djani (Executive Council Member, RCC Coordinator for Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions and Techiman Area Head). Also present to grace the occasion were ministers of the church, DSP Francis Nimado (Sunyani District Police Commander), Nana Kwaku Saben (Akwamuhene of Sunyani Traditional Council who represented the Omanhene of Sunyani), Nana Afia Ampem Kunadu Yiadom (Bannue Nkwantahema), and other traditional leaders from the Sunyani Traditional Area.
The various stations that Apostle Andoh served were equally represented in their numbers.
Apostle Mark Obeng Andoh was called into the full-time ministry of the church in 1984. He was later called to the office of an Apostle in 2008 and sent out as a missionary in the same year to Zimbabwe with oversight responsibility for the Republic of Mozambique. Other stations he served are Nkawie Toase (1984 – 1985), Nyinahini (1985 – 1991), Kwesimintsim (1991 – 1997), Bidieso (1997 – 2001), Kaneshie (2001 – 2008), The Republic of Zimbabwe as National Head (2008 – 2012), Mankessim as Area Head (2012 – 2015) and Sunyani as Area Head (2015 – 2021).
Notable among the offices he held in his active years of ministry include Area Evangelism Leader, Area Secretary, Area Children Ministry Leader and Area Executive Member, Zonal and Regional GPCC Chairman, Bonnke Crusade Committee Chairman, RCC Co-ordinator, and an Executive Council Member of the Church.
Preaching the sermon at the service on the topic, “To End Well, Add Virtue To Your Faith,” the General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, took his key references from 2 Peter 1:5-11, Titus 2:11-12 and 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
He exhorted Christians to live exemplary life such that their lifestyle could serve as a standard worthy of emulation and to attest to their testimony that God indeed has saved and transformed their lives.
The General Secretary described Apostle Andoh as a man who has added virtue to his faith. According to him, all that have been said about Apostle Andoh in the citations presented to him are a true reflection of his life.
Apostle Kumi-Larbi defined virtue as the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. He further noted that virtuous people do the right thing at all times even as determined by law.
“Virtuous people are kind-hearted, obedient, diligent, not men-pleasers and have a high principle of conduct, live lives of moral excellence and chastity,” he pointed out.
Concluding his sermon, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi advised all and sundry to respect one another, treat one another with kindness and compassion, eschew acts of corruption and malicious actions.
In their farewell speech, the leadership of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) in the three Bono Regions highly commended Apostle Obeng Andoh, who was the Regional Chairman of the body for his sterling leadership.
“He is a hardworking person. From the height of his simplicity and the weight of his spirituality and the depth of his humility, you can just see and know the man carries God within him. He has set a high standard for all of us. He is a man who fears and loves God,’’ they said.
The General Council of The Church of Pentecost equally described him as a man of the Word who rightly divides the word of God with precision and illustrations for the understating of his audience.
“He is a man who strongly believes in the limitless power of fervent prayer and one of the averred defenders of the Pentecostal heritage and the Christian faith,” it said.
The General Council also described his wife, Juliet as a strong pillar behind his ministry, saying, “Her love and support have contributed greatly to their successful ministry.’’
Report by Pastor Joseph Awotwe, Sunyani.
