The remains of the late Pastor Robert Odame (retired) were on Saturday, June 15, 2024, laid to rest after a memorial and burial service was held in his honour at the forecourt of Ejurahene’s Palace in Ejura, Ashanti Region.
The service which was officiated by Apostle Sylvester Arhin (Takoradi Area Head and Executive Council Member), assisted by Apostle Samuel Kwabena Asare (Mampong Area Head), was well attended by ministers and their wives within Ashanti Region, officers of the church, family members, friends and well-wishers.
Delivering a short exhortation, Pastor Emmanuel Tete Asare of Jamasi District stressed that it is better to die as a righteous person.
Referencing from Revelation 14:13, Ezekiel 33:11 and Numbers 23:10, he said that though death is inevitable and non-negotiable, the type of death can be decided or chosen.
He disclosed that there are three types of death: the physical death, spiritual death and eternal death.
“Unlike the sinner who experiences all three types of death, the righteous only experience the physical death by losing the physical body and yet receives a glorified body (1 Corinthians 5:1-3),” he said.
He added: “Since nobody arrives at a destination by chance and the greater bulk of our lives will be spent in eternity, wisdom demands that we pay attention to our eternal destination by preparing to die.”
He noted that for one to die the death of a righteous, “the person must live the life of the righteous and not just desire it like Balaam only desired it” (Numbers 23:10). He espoused the blessedness of the righteous person’s death to include rest from their labour, no more hunger or thirst, tears being wiped away and eternal reign with Christ.
He urged believers to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ (their visa to a glorious death and eternal life in heaven) even in the event of the death of a righteous man in the person of Pastor Odame just as Isaiah did (Isaiah 6:1).
“If so, you will die, then die as righteous person,” Pastor Yeboah Asare concluded.
Commiserating with the bereaved family, Apostle Sylvester Arhin said: “Teacher Osofo, as I affectionately called Pastor Robert Kofi Odame, was the one who ushered me into leadership roles during my Sunday School days. He was a good man and a disciplined gallant soldier of the cross whose life and ministry is worthy of emulation by all.”
Ejura Hene, Elder Nana Barima Osei Hwedie II, also paid a sorrowful and heartfelt tribute to his late brother by requesting a special song be sung in his honour.
Biography of Pastor Robert Odame
The late Pastor Robert Odame (retired) was born on August 8, 1954, at Mampong in the Ashanti Region to the late Robert Dwomoh Anto from Asaam-Ashanti and Margaret Akosua Addai of Mampong Mprafie. He was the second born of his parents.
Robert Odame had his early education at Mampong Ashanti Methodist from Primary one to six between 1961 and 1968. He continued at New Yakasi, near Enchi, from Middle School Form One to Four and completed in 1973 with the Middle School Leaving Certificate (MSLC).
After his MSLC, he attended Philips Commercial College at Kumasi-Bantama in 1974 and came out with the General Certificate of Education – Ordinary Level (GCE ‘O’ Level) in 1977.
He was invited to attend a military interview at Apremdo Military Barracks, but his father who was a military officer, did not allow him to accept the invitation.
He was later employed at the Department of Game and Wildlife at Ejura Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve as an Accounts Clerk in 1978.
Robert Odame accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour in 1972 during a convention that took place at New Yakasi, near Enchi in the Western Region and was baptised by Pastor Gyekye Ampem of blessed memory in 1972.
In 1984, Robert got married to Miss Helena Gyamfuah Ntim (now Mrs Helena Odame). The Lord blessed the marriage with three children, two females and a male.
In 1986, Robert answered the call into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost at Asante Mampong during the tenure of Pastor F. T. Obuobi, whilst the late Apostle A. T. Nartey was the Ashanti Regional Head. Having served in various stations, including Sankore, Effiakuma, Bohyen, Begoro, Adenta and New Dormaa as District Pastor, and retired from active service in 2019, he settled at Atwima Maakro.
On April 7, 2024, Pastor Odame, untimely responded to the inevitable call to the shock of family, friends and colleagues in ministry.
Tributes
His wife, Helena, described him as a God-fearing person who loved everyone irrespective of their age.
His children described him as “a man of the word and prayer who helped us build our spiritual lives.”
The General Council of the Church stated: “Pastor Robert Odame was a fine minister who loved doing his Master’s bidding. He was very zealous for the Lord and ever ready to defend his faith at all costs.”
Report By Mampong Area Media Ministry