The Trade Fair District of La Area of The Church of Pentecost has successfully organised a retirement service for Pastor Benjamin & Mrs Patience Wettey Quaye after serving the church in various capacities in six districts, including Kwapong, Saltpond, Tema North, Agogo, Fiapre and Trade Fair.
A glorious service held in his honour at the Trade Fair Central Auditorium on Sunday, July 30, 2023, was attended by people from all walks of life. Among them was the former General Secretary of the church, Apostle Dr Alfred Kodua (Rtd.). With him were Prophet J. E. Ameyaw (Rtd.) and Apostle Matthew Larbi Wettey (Rtd), among other ministers of the church.
Also in attendance were the Member of Parliament for La Dade-Kotopon, Honourable Rita Naa Adoley Sowah and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Rev. Hon. Solomon Kotey Nikoi, as well as some Assembly Members in the La Dade-Kotopon Municipality.
Pastor Benjamin Wettey Quaye was born on November 22, 1958, at Awutu Breku, to Opanyin Isaac Kwame Gyan and Maame Mary Ama Owude, of blessed memory.
He began his basic education in 1964 at Awutu Offadaa Methodist Primary School and completed it in 1974. He enrolled at the Ho School of Hygiene and completed in 1982 as Rural Health Inspector. He wrote the General Certificate Ordinary Level in 1988. While pursuing the Advance Level in the first year at Ashanti Bekwai Workers College, he was called into the full-time ministry.
He worked at the Ministry of Agriculture Crops Division at Somanya in a Mango Nursery and later at Senchi Ferry Agric Demonstration Farm in 1975. He was later employed at Juapong Textiles Limited as a machine operator in 1977. After completing the School of Hygiene in Ho, he was posted to Ashanti Bekwai Government Hospital in 1982, where he worked until his call to full-time ministry.
In a sermon with scripture reference to Joshua 4:6-7, the La Area Head and Executive Council Member-Elect, Apostle Dr Dieudonne Komla Nuekpe, spoke on the topic: “What does this stone mean to you?”
He said after Joshua took over from Moses, he had to cross the river Jordan with the Israelites, and after they had successfully crossed to the other side, Joshua, by the instruction of God, ordered a member of each tribe to pick a stone as a memorial for the next generation.
“It is not easy going through the process of life and ministry until retirement, and not everyone can cross Jordan to the end without casualties,” he said, adding, “In the case of Pastor Benjamin Wettey Quaye and his family, God has kept faith with them and will continue to remain faithful even in retirement.”
Apostle Dr Dieudonne Komla Nuekpe stated that raising a memorial stone enables individuals to reposition themselves for victory now and in the future. Also, memorials are reminders and reassurance of God’s presence in an individual’s life. He stressed that it is the assurance of God’s continuous provision for one’s life.
He referenced Joshua 4: 9, Numbers 8:24-25 and urged them to keep their faith in God, bear testimony about the Lord and become guardians and mentors to young ministers and the youth.
Apostle Dieudonne Komla Nuekpe concluded by referring to Psalm 71:17-18 and admonished them to continue to proclaim God’s goodness even in old age, and as they do that, God will continue to lead them.
Report by Gina Akua Padi.