A farewell service has been held in honour of Rev. Samuel Kudjo Oyete Attu, who served the Tema Presbytery of the Global Evangelical Church as its Chairman for the past eight years.
The service held at the Global Evangelical Church, Victory Chapel, Community Four, Tema, was presided by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Setorwu Kwadzo Ofori, the Moderator of the Global Evangelical Church. Also gracing the occasion was Rev. Raphael Mac Kwasi Attih, the Synod Clerk of the Global Evangelical Church.
Other dignitaries and well-wishers present included Prof. Reimmel Adosraku and Mrs. Christie Bobobee, both Male and Female Presbyters on the Synod Committee Executive, Very Rev. Cdr. Ferdinand Hope Gbewonyo, former Moderator and Rev. Mawuli Dzidula Agudogo, the Accra Presbytery Chairman.
Preaching the sermon on the topic, “Be a Committed Christian in Giving,” Rt. Rev. Dr. Ofori said there must always be giving in the Church because giving has been part of Christian commitment.
He said Jesus gave his life for humankind adding that, “a church that will not give, is a church that will not grow. The day that church stops talking about giving, that church will die.”
“Giving is built on capacity, according to your ability; you are to give based on the amount of resources you have, not what someone else is giving, because, we have different abilities,” he said.
He said giving should not be limited to money but be seen in the light of talents, ideas, resources, time and energy.
“Give to the Church, the Head Office, the presbytery and congregations. Identify needs, look for the person who doesn’t have and support the needy,” the Moderator said.
He asked Christians to give to boost the work of God and for the development of the Church and urged that leaders should not to condemn any gift brought to the Church.
The service was also used to send-off Catechist Michael Deyegbe of the Global Evangelical Church, Teshie, who also served as a Tema Presbytery Executive, for five years.
During Rev. S. K. O. Attu’s tenure, a land was acquired to construct presbytery office, a vehicle was also acquired for the presbytery and a five-year strategic plan developed for the presbytery.
Citations presented to Rev. Attu and Catechist Deyegbe, praised them for their immense role in the growth of the presbytery, especially in laying a solid foundation for efficient administration of the presbytery.
Rev. Attu expressed gratitude to God who has kept him and his family all these years of service in the Lord’s vineyard. He also thanked the leadership of the Church, pastors, and everyone who supported him and his family.
He said though he was retiring from active service, he was still energetic by the grace, and would continue with ministry work as the Lord wills.
The Moderator on behalf of the Head Office presented an undisclosed amount of money to Rev. Attu as his end of service benefit and in appreciation of his role as presbytery chairman. The Tema and Accra Presbyteries, Tema Presbytery Church Choirs Union, COGSU, Global Evangelical Church, Afienya District and Rhema Chapel, Afienya, also expressed their love through gifts.
In a related development, similar services were held in honour of three other Presbytery Chairmen who have successfully completed their tenure. They include Rev. D. K. Klu, immediate past Kpando Presbytery Chairman who served from 2015 to 2020 and Rev. M. E. K. Buamah, immediate past Tamale Presbytery Chairman who served from 2013 to 2020. The last but not least is Rev. M.M.K. Avemegah of the Akatsi Presbytery who served from ….