After 37 years of service to The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Daniel & Mrs. Emelia Owusu Appiah were, on Sunday, July 31, 2023, retired from full-time pastoral ministry.
The retirement service was aptly described as a “thanksgiving ceremony” by the Madina Area Head, Apostle Martin Seth Appiah, who officiated the service. According to him, Pastor Owusu-Appiah’s “ministerial journey was met with turbulent times with infringing health issues, yet ‘his love, sincerity, and zeal for the work of ministry never grew cold, and today we gather to show appreciation to God for a successful ending.”
Called into the ministry in 1986, Pastor Owusu-Appiah pastored in Seniagya (then Ashanti B- Mampong Area) from 1986 to 1991, Agbozume (then Volta A) from 1991 to 1996, Donkorkrom (then Nkawkaw Area) from 1996 to 2002. He also served in Abelenkpe (then Accra East Area) from 2002 to 2008, Santasi (Kwadaso Area) from 2008 to 2014, La-Nkwantanang (Madina Area) from 2014 to 2019, and finally in Ashalley Botwe from 2019 to date where he draws the curtains down on his service.
Speaking on the theme, “Ministry in the Midst of Suffering,” Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Kwesi Anim, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Pentecost University and Resident Minister for the Oyarifa Worship Centre, encouraged believers to always see their lives as a service and ministry to God and men, notwithstanding the challenges and persecution that may come along with such endeavours.
“Our lives must be seen by all as a service that is prompted by love and also stands in endurance that is inspired by hope because there will always be accountability and reward—it is a natural principle,” he asserted.
Reading from 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7 and Colossians 3:17, Apostle Dr. Anim explained that Apostle Paul suffered greatly in his ministry (strong oppositions and great persecution) after establishing the churches in Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth, yet his love and understanding of his ministry encouraged him to endure greatly with the hope that the people will see Christ and that he (Apostle Paul) will be rewarded by the Lord.
“Our retiring colleague is committed to protecting the kingdom’s principles and values. His teachings on eschatology and the characters of the citizens of heaven depict heaven-mindedness…. We will also remember our colleague and friend for his integrity. He made sure he accounted for every resource that was allocated to him. His prompt filing of returns for grants to his districts testifies to his meticulousness in his duties,” described a testimony by the General Council of Pastor Owusu-Appiah.
Apostles Mike Obeng Andoh (Rtd), a former Executive Council Member, and Apostle A. K. Ahalivor (Rtd.), the immediate past Madina Area Head, some retired ministers, the Madina Area pastorate and their wives, among others, constituted the congregation in the highly-packed auditorium for the service.
PENTECOST NEWS.