LIFE, CHANGE And ETERNITY

Pastor Oswald Ofori, a pastor of the Spirit of Life and Light Church, a Pentecostal church with over 400 branches across the country and beyond, had been transferred from his former post, Offinso to Anyimaye. Three boys and a girl were his “spermdyworks”. Their first son, Joe was a first year engineering student at the Sarbah Coastal University. Obeng, their third son and child was a second year high school student at Asuogyaman Senior High School, one of the few top class government schools in Kumasi. Maame Esi Duruwaa Ofori was their last born. She was in class three and Mama Catherine Duruwaa Ofori was his delectable and ever supportive wife. They had been in ministry for almost 17 years now. In fact, October that year will be exactly their 17th year in ministry - barely 3 months shy of the date. "Ah, time must have wings to have passed this quick!"As Pastor Ofori pondered over these past 17 years, he could only be grateful to his Maker for seeing him through; the spiritual warfare, the numerous church projects, the attacks, the setbacks...yeah! Even among some of his very colleague pastors - backbiting. Eh, how some pastors can go thus far and bite the back of their own colleagues has never ceased to amaze me. Why, don't they chew meat at home? Oh, or they are cannibals? One of the deaconesses on the bus raised another song which brought his attention back to the road. He started humming along..."doing the work of the Lord; into the world we go...sowing the precious seeds". Oh great! He sighed and started tapping his feet. The atmosphere on the bus was one of a revival. I am certain beyond any doubts that even the driver who didn't know Christ would've given his life to Christ by the time they reached Anyimaye. Another song was raised in between the pastor's thoughts and they sang with passion, through to another song, and another and yet another. If the car had a stereo system, it was never used during the journey. Live stereo meeehn!! Pastor Ofori's thoughts went back to his first station - Jaway Wharf. He had to leave his two sons with a pastor friend who was then stationed in Kumasi. Joe was then in Primary four and Mark, their second born in primary three. Mama Catherine never liked the idea of leaving behind her two boys, especially with unfamiliar people. Do you know? It was not until recently that it got me thinking, how a colleague minister could be thought of as unfamiliar by Mama Catherine Ofori? Come on; were they not all working in the same vineyard? As a matter of fact, she eventually persuaded her husband to send the kids to their grandparents at least. Mama Cathy's parents were retired ministers of the same church. They had served the Lord well and were now on retirement in their village, Obo-Kwahu. Pastor Ofori debated that, he didn't want to distort the children's education and continuous relocation can actually be a factor but mama saw no reason. So, after a year and half in Kumasi with their "unfamiliar" pastor friend, Joe and his brother were sent all the way to their grandparents in Obo, much to their own displeasure; much to their mother's satisfaction, much to their father's uncertainty and very much to the joy of the retired couple. As the tapes of memories kept playing back in his mind, Pastor Ofori could only smile and shake his head. It seemed to him as if it was just last week Sunday they had gathered at their church auditorium in Kwadaso to bid him farewell to his first station, Jaway Wharf. Prior to his calling, he worked as an accounts manager with the United Bank of America, all the way in Monrovia, Liberia. His wife was then a school teacher at the Paynesville State Junior High School. When the calling came, both banker and teacher had to lay down pen and chalk and say "Here I am, wholly available" and they've never looked back. Through the storms, the attacks...in fact, it will require of me another book same to recount the testimonies of Pastor Ofori and wife's warfare in the Lord's vineyard to you – Another time. Then, they had only Joe and Mark. The rest of the kids, Obeng and Esi were what we will call "ministry kids". They were given birth to whilst in ministry; Obeng in Jaway Wharf and Esi in Offinso. Pastor Ofori sat quietly beside the driver, enjoying the songs being raised as they drove on. "Hmmm!" the man sighed again. Now, they were on their way to their fourth station. Has Yahweh not been faithful? Hallelujah! The journey from Tepa seemed quite long which made Pastor Ofori wonder how come Auntie Beatrice almost made him believe that it was the next town ahead? They drove through almost 26 towns before getting to Anyimaye. “So this is it huh?” they all seemed to have been saying upon seeing a large signpost standing on the left side of the road welcoming them to Anyimaye. It read: YOU ARE ENTERING ANYIMAYE, THE PRIDE OF THE WEST; WELCOME, AKWAABA!