A FRIEND, COLLEAGUE AND IN-LAW GOES HOME

Apostle Dr Emmanuel Owusu Bediako

Apostle Dr Emmanuel Owusu Bediako, the COP National Head of Canada went home to be with the LORD late last month in Houston, USA. After a protracted bout with an unidentified illness, he was flown from Canada, his duty station, to Houston where he passed away after a couple of months. He was 59.

My first meeting with him is still fresh in my mind. We had just returned to Ghana in 1991 from Liberia where we had been taken hostage by Charles Taylor's NPFL rebels for nearly six months in Flamingo Camp, dubbed the "Camp of No Return." The Church of Pentecost and others had fervently interceded for us. When my whole family returned unscathed it made national news in Ghana. Our churches, home and abroad wanted to see us; to see the evidence of their prayers. That was how we factored a visit to the US in our plan.

Apostle Bediako and his wife, Faustina

When we arrived in Washington we met the then Pastor Emmanuel Bediako for the first time, a tall, handsomely-built giant of a man. His over-towering and elegant personality notwithstanding, he was very soft-spoken, a calculated man, humble-looking and of a shy-looking disposition. He had given up his lucrative post as Manager in one of the leading banks in the U.S to answer God's call to become a Pastor. Our chemistry clicked and we became instant friends. His wife, Faustina, and I  became "siblings" for which Pastor Bediako and I fondly addressed each other as "Akonta," meaning, "Brother-in-law."

The annual General Council Meetings of the church afforded us the opportunity of meeting periodically until year 2000 when we met in Los Angeles, he as Western Regional Head and I as Chairman. Two years later, he accepted the missionary call, crossed the Atlantic Ocean and was stationed in Germany as National Head of COP. The fruit of his apostolic ministry is still evident for all to see. The church almost tripled in membership and in the number of congregations. All these besides, during his tenure of office, the church bought the magnificent building which houses the COP Germany National office as well as the Hamburg Central Assembly and the residence of the National Head, among others.

The Church of Pentecost National office Building and Hamburg Central Assembly

While in Germany, our gallant colleague was given apostolic oversight over the COP churches in the Far East, a duty which he discharged very well.

In an amazing play-out of the sovereignty of God, the year he was being transferred from Germany was also the year I was ending my second and final term of office as Chairman of COP. In that year, 2008, I was transferred to replace him in Germany he was recalled to the US. As the sovereignty of God would have it, after just one year in the US, he was transferred to head the church in Canada in 2009

The Church of Pentecost National office building in Toronto, Canada

The LORD brought our two families even closer when my son, Dr Emmanuel Ntumy-Mensah wedded their daughter, Dr Christina Bediako in 2010. Our relationship thus progressed from being friends, colleagues in ministry to that of being in-laws!

Perhaps one of the reasons why many regret the death of our beloved apostle is that in May 2013, at the COP General Council Meeting in Ghana, he was elected member of the esteemed nine-member Executive Council of the church. He could not attend their induction into office in August, only to pass away after four months.

The International Executive Council of COP. Apostle Dr Bediako is standing third from left

By his demise, COP has lost a spiritual stalwart; a dynamic apostle with deep prophetic revelation; an insightful teacher; a seasoned missionary; a caring pastor; an accomplished scholar and author.

A book authored by Ap Bediako

On behalf of the NTUMY FAMILY, I extend our deepest condolences to Mrs Faustina Bediako, Dr Christie and her siblings- Esther, Portia and Eunice; to the aged mother of the late apostle, his siblings, as well as the extended family members in Ghana and abroad. Our condolences also go to the churches in Canada and the US. May you all be strengthened in the LORD.

Apostle Dr E Owusu, National Head, USA

We salute the gallantry of Apostle Dr Owusu, National Head of COP, USA and his team for rising up  to the occasion during the hospitalization and funeral of our colleague. To all others, thank you for your prayer and moral support. May God bless you all.