ELDER SAMUEL AMO TOBBIN---CONFLUENCE OF SPIRITUALITY AND ROYALTY---- VISITS

This week has been another refreshing one to our family in Hamburg. One of our leading church officers who is also a personal friend, ELDER SAMUEL AMO TOBBIN, paid us a visit from Tuesday 24th, to Friday 27th, January 2012.

Elder Samuel Amo Tobbin and I

Elder Tobbin is the Presiding Elder of Dr Thomas Wyatt Assembly of The Church of Pentecost in Accra, Ghana. He is also the award-winning CEO of TOBBINCO PHARMACEUTICAL GROUP OF COMPANIES.

A very successful businessman, Elder Tobbin won the "Marketing Man of the Year (2010)" award from the prestigious Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana.

The favor of God was further manifested to this humble and soft-spoken man of God when the Paramount Chief of his home Wassa Fiase Traditional Area in the Western Region of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwamina Ennimil conferred on, and crowned, him Nkosuohene under the royal name Nana Kwaku Gyebi.

Nana Kwaku Gyebi, (known in public life as Elder Samuel Amo Tobbin) newly crowned Nkosuohene, seated majestically with his wife, Mercy

Elder Nana Kwaku Gyebi has demonstrated that at the confluence of spirituality and royalty, the waters can still be clear. Does Bible history not teach that the best kings were also those who feared God the most? Why should those who fear God, and feel called, in our generation shy away from politics or rulership even when they qualify for such positions?

Nana Kwaku Gyebi a.k.a Elder Tobbin receiving a citation in his honor prior to his coronation from Osagyefo Dr. Kwamina Ennimil, Paramount Chief of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area

This being Elder Tobbin's third time of visiting me in this present condition, he was full of praise to God, seeing the massive improvements that have taken place. He exploded in spontaneous prayer of thanksgiving and also supplicated our Heavenly Father for my speedy recovery.
 

Elder Nana Kwaku Gyebi burst forth in spontaneous prayer of praise to God for the progress I have made. Joined by my wife Martha, they also supplicated the Throne of Grace on my behalf

Elder Nana Kwaku Gyebi helping me to do "Johnny Walking" on my standing machine

Like many of our visitors, Nana Kwaku Gyebi was delighted to lend a hand in my home therapies.

We are ever grateful to God for the favor He continues to show us. We are equally thankful to the leaders and members of The Church of Pentecost as well as those of other churches for their continuous prayer and other dimensions of support to us.

ELDER DR. KWASI OPPONG RAISES THE CURTAIN

  "When Job's three friends...heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him". (Job 2:11 NIV)

My wife Martha leaning confidently behind me. Her love and support continue to amaze even me. Surely, with Jesus in our "boat" we can laugh at any storm.

Words cannot express the depth of our gratitude to God for the love our colleagues and friends continue to demonstrate to us as we travel through this difficult phase of our life. Besides bearing us up in passionate intercessory prayer, many of them have defied all constraints and visited us. They prayed with us. They comforted us. They encouraged us. They lifted our spirits.

The Ntumy Family. We are ever thankful for all the love and support you continue to show us.

 Time and space will not permit us to mention their names over here. Permit me to say one thing: The Ntumy family is very grateful to you all.

The LORD has ushered us into another year. Already, many have called or written to indicate their intentions of visiting us. We are looking forward with excitement to welcoming everyone as God's special messenger to us.

Standing with Elder Dr Kwasi Oppong

   But someone has already raised the visitors' curtain for the year. He is Elder Dr Kwasi Oppong, CEO of Kwasi Oppong Company Ltd. Dr Oppong is one of Ghana's most successful business men. He also doubles as Presiding Elder of Kwadaso Central Assembly in Kumasi, Ghana. He visited us from 3rd to 6th January.

Elder Dr Kwasi Oppong, beaming with smiles, gives me a helping hand on my standing machine.

Like other visitors we spent time to pray and encourage ourselves in the LORD. Gladly Dr Oppong tried his hands on giving me help on my standing machine during my home therapy sessions. We are most grateful to him.

The love and support of family in such times cannot be over-emphasized. In this photo, some of our children standing solidly behind my wife and I.

FIRST CHRISTMAS TOGETHER IN NINE YEARS

The first Christmas occurred at a time of "home-going". Emperor Augustus Caesar had ordered a general census to be taken in the vast Roman Empire. Joseph and Mary went to their hometown Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Since then, and also partly due to the lengthy holiday season, Christmas-time has become a time of "Home-Coming" in many cultures.Our young family had maintained this tradition since we were separated by reason of our missionary assignment and the children's schooling. Every year we brought them from wherever they were for this family time. After Christmas 2002 however, it became hard for everyone of them to come.

L-R: Ebenezer, Samuel, Mike, Joanna, Joseph and Emmanuel with Martha and I seated.

Last Christmas however, after nine years, the LORD opened the way for all of them to come over. It was added pleasure to have with us Grace Demitia, a niece of mine from Harstad University in Norway. 

Emmanuel

Samuel

Joseph

Ebenezer

Mike

Joanna Ntumy

Grace Demitia

 We had much to be thankful to the LORD. They were amazed at the progress I had made and praised God for it. They thanked their mother and their other siblings, Mike and Joanna, as well as others who frequently came to the house to help, for taking good care of me. On our part we blessed the LORD for their spiritual momentum and their academic progress.

Our family with Grace Demitia, standing next to Joanna, dressed in a cream top.

We took part in our Christmas Conventions, New Year's Eve Vigil Service and real family time of fellowship. They were delighted in helping with my various therapies at home. What they would not forget, however, was the Family Devotions held almost every night.
Soon however, it was time to return to their various places. It was difficult for them but I reminded them of something my father used to say: "A man who keeps his children around him all the time, does them no good"

Thank you for your prayers which sustain us as a family as we travel through this phase of our life.

NEW YEAR WISHES FROM APOSTLE NTUMY

As we journey through year 2012:
May He who is called the Prince of Peace grant you peace within and without.
May the One whose name is Wonderful surround you with His wonders, miracles and signs.
May the Mighty God show Himself strong on your behalf.
May the Great Counselor counsel you by His still, small voice.
May Immanuel establish His Throne in your heart and that you experience the reality of God's abiding presence every day of the year and beyond.

The secret is that, what is now my WISH for you is already God's WILL for you. Activate it through Jesus Christ and execute it through the help of the Holy Spirit.

Have A JOYFUL, PURPOSEFUL, FRUITFUL, HEALTHFUL, NEW YEAR 2012

C O P SOLIDARITY AND FELLOWSHIP IN ACTION

"When Job's three friends, ... heard of all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him." (Job 2: 11 NIV)






Since my incapacitation, the love demonstrated to me by various church leaders, ministers and brethren from various churches is simply mind-boggling. This love has been variously expressed through unrelenting intercessory prayers on my behalf, telephone calls and visits to us here in Hamburg. These have been used by God to refresh, encourage, sustain, as well as spur me on the road to recovery. This is Christian fellowship, COP solidarity!

From the beginning of this month for example, we have enjoyed the visits of many.
The first to come was a delegation of Youth leaders from some European nations. They met in Hamburg to plan for their 2012 European Youth Conference in Germany and decided to pay a courtesy call on me.

The delegation of Youth National leaders in Europe in a pose with my wife and I. They were led by Pastor Daniel Ato Eduah, National Youth Leader of COP, Germany standing first from your left.

Visiting also in the first week of December was a 10-member high-powered delegation from COP, Holland.It comprised all the ministers, the "National President" of the church, National Deacon, a representative of Pastors' wives and national movements leaders.

They were sent by the National Head, Apostle Lord Agyin on behalf of the church in Holland to come and visit us, share fellowship, and express their best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthful New Year. This is something Apostle Agyin and the church in Holland have done for us every year since we arrived in Germany.

The delegation from COP, Holland. From L-R: Dns Ama Serwah Kyenkyenhene (Women's Movement National Leader), Elder Osei Yaw, (Witness Movement National Leader), Pastor Charles Amoah, Pastor Ben Ouedraogo, Elder P .K. Sasu ("National President"), Mrs Mavis Otchere, Pastor James Otchere, Elder George Asamoah (National Deacon), Pastors Emmanuel Ennin and Ray Ampofo

The Holland delegation in a pose with Martha, I and Apostle Yiadom, seated right

In the same first week of December we were blessed with the visit of Apostle N. A. O. Amegatcher, Director of Pentecost Men's Fellowship and his wife, Dorothy. They came along with their grandson, Daylin Apraku-Djan.

I won little Apraku-Djan's friendship when I offered him a ride in my electric wheelchair.

It was double blessing when in that same week Apostle Godwin Osei-Bonsu, COP Area Head for Ejisu-Konongo in the Ashanti Region of Ghana and Pastor Emmanuel Antwi of Asankare District also visited.
 

From L-R: Apostle Sampson Ofori Yiadom, COP National Head of Germany, Apostle G. Osei-Bonsu, Apostle N. A. O. Amegatcher, Mrs Dorothy Amegatcher, Mrs Martha Ntumy and Pastor Emmanuel Antwi standing behind me with Daylin Apraku-Djan on my laps

Following them in the third week of December was one of my closest colleagues, Apostle Albert Amoah, former General Secretary of COP (1993-2003). Apostle Amoah, now Area Head of Cape Coast Area in Ghana, was General Secretary during my first term in office as Chairman of COP.

Apostle Albert Amoah, Martha and I seated behind my work table

Apostle Albert Amoah with me in my standing machine

As 2011 draws to an end, it is my pleasant duty to express my unqualified gratitude to the millions of beloved brothers and sisters in Christ for your fervent prayer and moral support to both Martha and I. To the many who were able to visit us in Hamburg in 2011 and the years before, we are equally grateful.

We are still confident that our expectation for my recovery will not tarry. As you continue to bear me up in your prayers, it will happen; we shall rejoice together. Thank you very much.

SEASON'S BEST TO YOU

My Beloved in the LORD,
How can I adequately express my gratitude and appreciation to you for your unrelenting prayer and moral support for me throughout this year? For want of a better way, permit me to use the age-old expression, "THANK YOU VERY MUCH"

 Michael and Martha Ntumy in traditional Kente outfit

As we pause to remember God's greatest gift to mankind, JESUS CHRIST, I also remember how through CHRIST you have been a blessing to us throughout 2011.

That is why I send you this special greeting on behalf of the entire NTUMY FAMILY to wish you and those dear to you the season's very best.
 

May the SEED of the woman who was born to bruise the head of the serpent, grant you victory in every aspect of life throughout 2012 and beyond.

May the STAR which led the Wise Men to Jesus, lead you throughout 2012 to your desired destination.

May He who is called the Prince of Peace grant you peace within and without; 
May the Wonderful One surround you with His wonders, miracles and signs;
May the Mighty God show Himself mighty on your behalf;
May the Great Counselor counsel you by His still, small voice throughout the coming year;
May Immanuel establish His Throne in your heart and that you experience the reality of God's abiding presence in 2012 and beyond.

Michael and Mrs Martha Ntumy. His grace has brought us this far; His grace will see us through.

Enjoy A MERRY CHRISTMAS and A JOYOUS, BLESSED AND FRUITFUL NEW YEAR

WORK AND WORK AND MORE WORK

"Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and the future. This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed."(1Tim. 4:8,9 GNT)
Usually when most people are indisposed they are told to take a rest from much physical activity. Getting rested aides the process of recuperation, and is definitely good advice. It is however very interesting to note that in the case of paralysis, the advice is the contrary. You are advised to work and work. That is what I am doing now. The doctors refer to this phase of my recovery as, "Use it or lose it". It implies that if one does not use a part of the body that recovers, one stands the risk of perpetually losing it.It therefore calls for more work; hard training.

In a Physiotherapy session with my therapists

I

In a "Step and Push" session with my Physiotherapist.

In a "Grabbing" session with my Occupational/Ergo therapist

In addition to my usual Physiotherapy and Ergo therapy sessions, I undertake a number of physical exercises at home. I am told to work and work.

Pastor Osahene Amankwatia Boateng helping me to ride my static cycle at home

 Pastor Osahene Amankwatia Boateng of our Hamburg North District helps me to do my Static Cycling, Weight-Pulling and Nocturnal  Gymnastics.

Doing weight pulling at home. Helping me is Pastor Amankwatia Boateng

Doing "Johnny-Walking" at home on my standing machine. Helping me is Elder Owusu-Gyimah of Hamburg/Kumasi New Tafo Area, a Businessman

Pastor Frempong Boateng of our Hamburg South District helps with my Standing and Johnny-Walking sessions.
Beginning usually around 4.00pm with the standing session, my home exercises roll until about 10.00pm, with only a pause for supper, before I prepare to retire for the night. It is hard work. It recently occurred to me that a lazy person cannot afford to be paralyzed.

Well, engaging in both physical and spiritual exercises is our part of the bargain. The actual healing and recovery come from the LORD. That is what we are waiting for. Surely, He will bring it to pass.