“Death makes nonsense of everything, but there is hope after death in Christ.”
These were the words of the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye when speaking at the funeral service of the late Pastor James Andoh Kwaw (Rtd) at the Manso Amenfi Methodist School Park, on Saturday, November 19, 2022.
According to Chairman Nyamekye, death does not do any good to a household but rather devastates families.
Apostle Nyamekye who based his sermon on 1 Corinthians 15:58, called on Christians to be steadfast and immovable with the hope that when they die they will appear before the throne of God.
He, however, examined that Apostle Paul did not talk about the outcome of death because death is unexplainable, but he rather talked about the resurrection.
“God uses death to work out things on earth,” he said, adding, “Hold onto the Word so that you don’t lose your faith when death comes to your household. Death is one of the things that can challenge our faith.”
The Chairman observed that there are certain common issues humans know about death. The first is that death is objective and subjective and that the only thing humans know about it is ‘everyone will die.’
The second, he noted, is that death stings and is painful. “The pains cannot be healed by doctors, but it is in the soul. Only God can console the family,” he said.
Apostle Nyamekye also noted that death brings out fear in humans, stressing that, death is a serious matter and an enemy.
The service was officiated by the Asankragwa Area Head, Apostle Daniel Kweku Dekpor, with support from ministers of the Church, including Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh (Director, PEMEM); Apostle Samuel Osei Asante (Kaneshie Area), the Asankragwa Area pastorates and some retired ministers.
Tributes
A tribute read on behalf of the General Council by Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh (PEMEM Director and Executive Council Member) described the late minister as a great man of God and a man with an unalloyed passion for the things of God.
“Pastor Andoh Kwaw was an easy-going type and a collaborator who could work with everyone regardless of one’s status. His affable demeanour endeared him to many people – no wonder he gained many accolades, such as ‘Man-Finish-Man.”
The children, in their tribute, recounted the loving memories they had with their father.
“We recall how he gave us ‘hot lashes’ one Sunday morning, just because we were running late for Sunday School. He was strict about who we had as friends. He did not hesitate to chase the wrong company away from us,” they said.
Profile of Pastor James Andoh Kwaw (Rtd)
Born on March 27, 1950 to Opanin Kojo Andoh Kwaw and Maame Akua Bayo, both of blessed memory, James Andoh Kwaw was a native of Manso Amenfi, near Asankrangwa in the Western Region.
He attended Manso Amenfi Roman Catholic Primary and Middle Schools from 1956-1965. He gained admission into Tarkwa Secondary School and Bimbila Training College simultaneously. However, his late sister, Elizabeth Andoh Kwaw, who was to sponsor his education, was taken sorely ill so he could not further his studies at the time. He joined Kumasi Brewery Limited as a messenger from 1967 to 1970 and rose to the position of Time Clerk.
To enable him further his education, he enrolled as a private student at the Kumasi Worker’s College. After two years, he joined the Crop Production Division of the Ministry of Agriculture. He was among the pioneers who were trained in pineapple production at Kuntunse in the Greater-Accra Region and was posted to Brekuso as the acting Headman till a substantive Foreman took over in 1972.
After a seemingly disappointing life, James planned to take his own life but in 1980, in a midday dream, he saw Jesus Christ. This encounter with the Lord led him to join The Church of Pentecost. He was baptized by the late Pastor A. K. Miah (now a retired Apostle) in 1981 at Asuofua.
He was called into full-time ministry in The Church of Pentecost in 1991. He served in four stations, namely Yeji (1991-1996), Agona Swedru (1996-2003), La (2003-2010), and Old Tafo (2010-2015).
After retirement, Pastor Kwaw was actively involved in the running of the church in Manso Amenfi where he settled. He heeded to a prophecy he received on the day of his retirement, that although he was bringing his active ministry years to an end, he still had a lot of work to do.
Pastor James Andoh Kwaw is survived by five children.
PENTECOST NEWS