TO LONDON AND BACK

London's iconic "Big Ben"

“What, Apostle Ntumy and family traveled to London and back? How could he possibly have done so in his present condition?” 

Well, I know you will be very eager to read this!

By the kind permission of the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, my wife and I, together with Mike and Joanna, our youngest children, visited London from 2^nd to 16^th July, 2012 for a short vacation. 


For our dear Chairman and the International Missions Board the vacation in London will give us a change of environment with the refreshing that it brings. It will also enable me to push my boundaries and test my limits in many things.

Our check-in at the airport was very smooth. People needing assistance have their special counters. The Red Cross staff at the airport took care of me. We were the first to board and last to disembark on arrival. Flying was as good and pleasant as before.

L-R Elder Eric Mireku, his wife Ruth, Mrs Ntumy

 Daviana and Belinda Mireku, both in  top blue

An Elder of the church in London, Eric Mireku, 
volunteered to drive my car from Hamburg all the way to London. More than that, Elder Mireku took leave from his work to drive us for the entire two week period we were in London. He topped it up by driving the car back to Germany before returning to U. K. Such sacrificial acts are not very common these days. May the gracious LORD bless Eric and Ruth Mireku and their young family.

L-R Mrs Ntumy, Ap. N. O Nyarko, Mrs Helena Nyarko

Our stay in London was amazing. Apostle Newton Ofosuhene Nyarko (COP National Head of United Kingdom) and his team received us with open arms and hearts. They built wheelchair ramps to their living and dining rooms. Their care of us was simply fantastic.

Access to church was unhindered. They even provided a ramp to the platform, enabling me to join the leaders on the stage. I brought greetings and short exhortations to the various church services we attended. The joy of the saints was contagious and overflowing. While some wept for joy (and surely for sympathy as well), others jubilated, thanking God for His intervention in my life.

The visit also afforded me the opportunity of meeting some of my greatest friends in U.K. It was very heart-
warming to see how these great men of God made time and traveled for hours just to visit us in London.

L-R Mrs Ruth Currie and Mrs Martha Ntumy

With Rev and Mrs Currie. Mrs Ntumy in middle 

Pastor Robert Lionel Currie and his wife Ruth came all the way from Bridge Street Elim Pentecostal Church, Leeds, to visit. Pastor and Mrs. Currie were in Ghana as missionaries of Elim Pentecostal Church from 1984 to 1991 when he served as Principal of Pentecost Bible College. “Mama Ruth” as she was fondly called, taught English Language at the college. I was among the first batch of students they taught. His impact on my life and ministry is beyond description.  

With Rev and Mrs Waller. Mrs Ntumy in middle

Also coming to visit were Rev. and Mrs. Waller. Pastor John Waller and his wife Patricia took over from the Curries in 1991. “Mama Trish” as we loved to call her served as the first Administrative Secretary at the newly created International Missions Department while Pastor Waller later moved to the Internal Missions Department at the COP Headquarters. They returned home to U. K in 2002.

With Rev John Glass

With Rev Glass and some COP, UK leaders

Then came Rev. John Glass, General Superintendent of Elim Pentecostal Church. Rev. Glass, through the grace of God, has already made history as the longest serving General Superintendent of his church. He had already visited me two times in Hamburg and said he would not allow such an opportunity to visit me slip by. He is one of my very best friends who honored us by preaching the sermon at my farewell service in Accra at the end of my ten-year tenure of office as Chairman of COP in 2008. We spent that whole afternoon together.

Mike and Joanna at Buckingham Palace

It is very natural for people to test their limits and push the boundaries in any situation they find themselves. Can I do this? What would happen? How would I react? Is there a Plan B?, etc.

On the stage with the Officers of COP, U. K

Knowing the possibilities, those things which are challenging, difficult, or even impossible can help you act appropriately at any given time.

Leading a prayer time in church

Until my anticipated miracle  occurs, it is absolutely necessary for me to push the boundaries of my mobility and test the limits of my abilities. That was one of the main discoveries of this visit.

Joanna and Mike Ntumy

 I am eternally grateful to the Chairman of COP, Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah, the COP National Heads of Germany and U. K, Apostles Sampson Ofori Yiadom and Newton Ofosuhene Nyarko respectively, for the permission and all the logistics and arrangements put in place to make our first visit in almost four years such a refreshing and memorable one. Special thanks to the Area Heads, Pastors, other Officers and members of COP, U.K for the warm welcome accorded us and the wonderful camaraderie we enjoyed.


We give praise to our LORD God Almighty for His great grace which made everything possible. To you my beloved in Christ, thank you very much for your continuous prayer and moral support. Keep praying with me until the ultimate recovery takes place.


                                             MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL

L-R Pastor Kwesi Otoo, (Area Head, London Met.), Mrs Ntumy, Ap and Mrs Mensah (Oda, Ghana), Ap. Ato  Addison (Teshie- Nungua, Ghana), Pastor  Kwame Blankson Rtd, Ap. Newton Nyarko, National Head, COP, U. K

GHANA MOURNS OUR PRESIDENT

GHANA  MOURNS  OUR  PRESIDENT

The Late President J.E.A. Mills

For the first time in our history, a sitting President of Ghana has passed away. This was the sad news which reached my ears today, Tuesday 24th July, 2012.  
PROFESSOR JOHN EVANS ATTA MILLS IS NO 
 MORE. He was 68.

On this occasion of our national loss, I offer my deepest condolences to the newly inducted President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Mahama, Mrs Naadu Mills (Widow), the Government and People of Ghana.

The Late President Mills

Bereavement and disasters, in African societies, are usually embraced as communal affairs. People set aside, albeit temporarily, their differences of all sorts. They usually emerge from it much stronger than before.

Late President Mills taking Oath of office, 7th Jan., 2009

As we come together from our various political, religious, ethnic and social divides to mourn our President, I appeal to my fellow compatriots to stay calm, exercise restraint in all that we do or say and allow our laid-down constitutional and democratic procedures to be followed. It is an uncharted course in our political history, and I appeal to all stakeholders to unite in order to properly manage this transitional period. Just as we have emerged from previous socio-economic and political crises in our history, I know we will emerge from this transition stronger and more united
.
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 Between 1998 and 2008 when I served as Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Worldwide and President of Ghana Pentecostal Council, I had both the divine responsibility and privilege of serving under two Presidents-- H.E Flt. Lt. J. J. Rawlings and his V.P, H.E Prof. J.E.A Mills and H.E J A Kufuor and his V.P, H.E Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

With President Kufuor, Osu Castle, 2001

With President J. J. Rawlings in his office, Osu Castle,1998

With Vice President Aliu Mahama, Osu Castle, 2005

 I humbly call upon all Christians to arise in prayer. Let us supplicate before the Throne of Grace on behalf of our Motherland. The God of Heaven will hear us. His unerring Spirit will lead and guide us safely through. We will emerge stronger and better.

With then Vice President Mills, Osu Castle, 1998

           MAY GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA , AND MAKE OUR NATION 
                 GREAT AND STRONG.  

A TITANIC TRIO VISITS

COP Europe Heads, February 2012. Hamburg

I have often mentioned how the grace and mercy of God are sometimes demonstrated through the privilege of having ministry colleagues and others across the globe paying us visits. The camaraderie we enjoy; the fellowship we share; and the spiritual refreshing that we enjoy during such times are simply reinvigorating and rejuvenating.

Such was our blessing a couple of weeks ago when Elder Clement Wilkinson, Apostle Rigwell Ato Addison and Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, all of Accra visited us.

Elder Clement Wilkinson and I

Elder Clement Wilkinson visited on 27^th June, 2012. He is the young, charismatic CEO of McKeown Ventures, one of the topmost enterprises in the real estate business in Ghana. With branches in all the regions of Ghana, he buys vast expanses of land and builds for sale or to the specification of his clients. Starting just about a decade ago, McKeown Ventures (smartly named after the Founder of The Church of Pentecost), has become one of the business titans in Ghana.

Apostle R Ato Addison and I

Apostle Rigwell Ato Addison is a household name in Ghana, especially within The Church of Pentecost (COP). Both his grandmother, Mrs. Christiana Obo, and his mother, the nonagenarian, Mrs. Eunice Addison, were among the pioneers who rubbed shoulders with Rev. James McKeown in the formative years of COP. Apostle Addison, an accountant by profession later entered the pastoral ministry of COP and rose through the ranks to become the third General Secretary of COP (1988-1993). He has also served as Financial Manager at the Headquarters of the church and missionary to Nigeria and Australia, among others. He is currently the Area Head of Teshie-Nungua Area in Accra. He visited us on 28^th June, 2012.

Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi and wife, Margaret

The third of the trio to visit us was Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, General Secretary of Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches Council (GPCC). The GPCC, until recently known as Ghana Pentecostal Council (GPC), was formed in 1969 by four churches, Assemblies of God, Christ Apostolic Church, The Apostolic Church of Ghana and COP. It has now grown to serve as the umbrella organization for more than 220 Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches, the largest Christian organization in Ghana.

 


I had the great honor and privilege of serving a two five-year term as President of GPC from 1998-2008, the period in which I also served as Chairman of COP.  

The gentle and affable Apostle Samuel Antwi took over from Apostle Ekow Wood as General Secretary of GPCC in 2009. He has the enviable record of being the pioneer of COP in Zimbabwe and some countries in East Africa.

L-R Mrs Martha Ntumy, Apostle S. Y. Antwi, myself, Mrs Margaret Antwi

Apostle S. Y Antwi and his wife, Margaret, were delegated by the leadership of GPCC to visit us on their behalf. They expressed the gratitude of the Council to God for my life and also interceded fervently for my ultimate recovery. They also brought us special gifts from the Council.

Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah

We are indeed grateful to Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah (Chairman, COP) who is the GPCC President, Rt. Rev Sam Korankye Ankrah (General Overseer, Royal House Chapel), and Apostle Stephen Amoani (Christ Apostolic Church), 1^st and 2^nd Vice President respectively, the rest of the National Executive Council members as well as the entire membership of GPCC for their prayers, support and diverse expressions of love. 

  In a related development, we were privileged to receive one of the most prominent personalities of The Church of Pentecost, Elder Edmund Bismark Adjabeng of Nkawkaw, Ghana. He is one of the longest serving members of the BOARD OF TRUSTEES of COP. He came to Hamburg on a private visit and called on me to see how I was faring.

Eld. E. B. Adjabeng and I

Dns Felicia Gyimah-Sakyi, Eld. E. B. Adjabeng, Ms Adjabeng

A FATHER'S VISIT

Prophet E. Appiah-Agyekum

Only few people have played as many pivotal roles in my christian life and upbringing as Prophet Ebenezer Appiah-Agyekum. Called into the COP Pastoral Ministry in 1972, he was first posted toWenchi in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. In 1980 he was transferred to Yendi in the Northern Region where I had also been serving as a School Teacher and had been converted and joined COP the previous year.

It was during his time as District Pastor of Yendi that I was ordained Deacon of the Church in 1980, and Elder in 1981. He officiated at our wedding in 1982 and was the one who recommended my candidature into the Pastoral Ministry in 1984. He officiated at my Farewell Service and released me into full-time pastoral ministry.

Isn't it amazing? A real spiritual father, isn't he

 He tells of his delight when I joined him in the Pastoral Ministry and as he saw the hand of God upon me, lifting me through the ranks to the high office of Chairman of COP after only fourteen years of pastoral service. He has followed my progress at every stage with keen spiritual binoculars and alacrity. Our battles were his battles and our victories, his.

Rev Agyekum with our family in Hambu

When he heard of my indisposition, he joined other concerned people across the globe to pray for me. In addition he has endeavored to visit me every year from Ghana. On this particular visit he arrived on 20th June and has continued to intercede on our behalf.

Prophet Appiah-Agyekum preaching in Hamburg Central Assembly.

Prophet Ebenezer Appiah-Agyekum, COP Area Head of Kwadaso, Kumasi, now aged 64, will retire from active service next year with many laurels in God's Kingdom. In COP, his enviable record of having one of his spiritual sons joining him in the Pastoral Ministry and rising to become Chairman of his church while he himself remains in the ministry, will remain unbeaten for many more years to come.

L-R: Prophet Appiah-Agyekum, myself and Apostle Sampson Yiadom

 Like many others however, his greatest desire is to see me on my feet again, doing Kingdom Business.
O LORD, let this happen---soon.
 

Delivering an address about four years ago in Ghana

   

FROM ENGLAND WITH EAGERNESS

A family walk in our nearby forest.

We are amazed at how after three years in my present condition, many congregations and individual believers have sustained their passionate intercessory prayers for me. During special prayer conferences, All-night prayer meetings, regular church services and other church gatherings, prayers are offered for me. Individuals spend various amounts of time fasting and praying for us. Besides, very many people frequently telephone or email us to find out how we are faring and to encourage us.

 

We are eternally grateful. In fact we do not take these expressions of love for granted. Rather we reckon them as part of God’s manifold gifts to us as we travel this phase of our life.

Besides, the LORD continues to bless us through the visits of brethren from across the world. They come with one mission: “We have been praying for you with all our hearts but, in addition, we have desired to pay you a visit to see how you are faring”

Bro. Emmanuel Ansah and his children, Aseda (left) and Kweku (right) flanking me.

The latest to visit us were Bro. Emmanuel Ansah and his two children from Manchester (7th June, 2012) and Deaconess Joana Kofi-Sikah from London (11th-14th June, 2012). 

Bro. Ansah is part of a group of members who regularly meet for intercessory prayers in the Manchester local assembly. They have been praying very intensively for me and, taking advantage of a visit to Continental Europe, he decided to visit me with his two children, Adjoa Aseda and Kweku Kumi, on behalf of his colleagues. 

Dns Joana Kofi-Sikah with me in the standing machine

Dn Emmanuel Ntumy, Dns Kofi-Sikah, and Elder Moses Atuahene Dofuor, my cousin who is on a short visit from Ghana, standing around me.

Deaconess Joana Kofi-Sikah from Croydon Assembly on the other hand is a retired banker and certificated Fund-raiser. She has been a member of The Church of Pentecost for 55 years now. She is a passionate intercessor whose prayers reach out to many. She came in the company of Deacon Emmanuel Ntumy, our eldest son.

Dn. Emmanuel Ntumy, our eldest son

Their prayer passion was very contagious as we spent quality time together in prayer late into the night. We prayed and prayed. They interceded; we supplicated for my healing, trusting God to bring about my recovery, sooner or later.

Martha and I beside a pool in a nearby forest. The LORD stills our souls in the tempests of life.

 One observation which keeps striking me in the face is this: Though, humanly speaking, I bear the pains and traumas of paralysis alone in my body, hundreds of thousands of beloved brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe, bear me up in their hearts and minds before the Throne of Grace---everyday---making my road less hard to travel. To such, we are eternally grateful. 

  

 

FROM FRANCE WITH DEEP NOSTALGIA

   

L-R: Pastor Andrews and Mrs Faustina Gyamfi. Mrs Ntumy. Mrs Victoria and Pastor Asante

FROM FRANCE WITH DEEP NOSTALGIA

They came from France;

A delegation of four;

Two Pastors and their wives--

Andrews and Faustina Gyamfi of Paris District,

Obeng and Victoria Asante of Mantes-La-Jolie District.

The Church of Pentecost, France, occupies a special place of affection in my heart. 

In July 1995 while serving as National Head of our church in Cote d'Ivoire, the leadership of our church asked me to be temporarily responsible for our church in France. This meant that I would need to pay short-term missionary visits to that country to nurture the young church.

Martha and I during one of our visits to France

My first visit to the church in France was in September of that year. That was when our churches in Europe were reeling in the wake of church splits arising from the doctrinal errors of ancestral curses and post-conversion deliverance. My first strategy was to stabilize the churches through sound doctrinal teaching and prayer meetings to meet the various needs of the saints.

Pastor Andrews Gyamfi and his wife Faustina. Andrews was one of my Elders when we ministered in France. Faustina is a Musician with many albums to her credit.

By early December when I returned to Cote d'Ivoire, only a handful of our members in Paris had left the church. My wife and I returned the following year after which we were asked to take up residency as National Head in May 1996. We had churches in Paris, Marseilles, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Mulhouse and Mantes-La-Jolie. Surely, such growth and expansion of the church without a full-time minister was a real testament to the lay leaders who shepherded the church from its infancy coordinated by Elder Emmanuel Apea (now, Rev. Dr. Apea), then UNESCO Director for Science Education.

With my wife and our two youngest children, Mike and Joanna, we eventually arrived in May 1997. We went straight into action, establishing and equipping the members and reaching out in evangelism and church planting. By the turn of the year we had, through the grace of God, planted three new churches in Lyon, Avignon and Troas.

Martha and I in our backyard garden in Hamburg. Spring is here; the flowers blossom after the terrible winter. Surely when weeping comes in the night joy follows at the break of day.

There was great excitement in the church as all indicators promised a very fruitful missionary assignment. The leadership of our church at the international headquarters was happy because being young (I was then 39),  they knew I could spend many years there as resident missionary for the benefit of the church. This was, however, not meant to be. Exactly one year later (May 1998), at our General Council Meeting in Koforidua, I was elected Chairman of the church.

We eventually left France in August 1998 for Ghana to assume office as 4th Chairman of COP, then operating in 44 countries.

Apostle Dr Emmanuel Owusu and his wife Pat. Dr Owusu is currently the National Head of COP, USA.

After a couple of ministers had played acting roles in the church in France, Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Owusu was posted from Canada as National Head from 2003 to 2009. He was succeeded in the same year by Apostle Osei Owusu Afriyie (the incumbent) from United Kingdom.

Apostle Osei Owusu Afriyie, current National Head, COP France

 Now you can understand why the visit of these precious brethren aroused so much nostalgia in us. And even more, it was during my apostolic oversight that both Pastors were ordained Elders in the church. You see the relationship?

Pastor Obeng Asante and his wife Victoria

Their heart-cry, like that of the millions of others, is one--- that the LORD would lift me up to my feet again.  

"IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO ACT, LORD" (Psa. 119:126 NIV)

DID YOU KNOW THAT A SCHOOL HAS BEEN NAMED AFTER ME?

A couple of weeks ago, one of our apostles called me from Ghana. As we shared reminiscences over many things, he expressed many wishes for me, including that somebody somewhere would name a school after me.


I told him that was not a big deal to me because God honors His faithful servants in different ways. If he had that as a desire for me, I was glad to inform him that his prayer had already been answered.
Now please read on.

Between 1961 and 1965, the Ghana Government, through the Volta River Authority (V.R.A), undertook
the construction of the Akosombo Dam to generate hydro-electric power for the nation. The construction of the dam resulted in the flooding of some upper parts of the Volta River, creating the Volta Lake, the world's largest man-made lake. It covers an area of 3,502 square kilometers. The flooding affected about 700 villages and a total of about 80,000 people. Re-settlement towns, 52 in number, were built for the affected communities who were evacuated to these townships before the dam was completed.

Apostle Ntumy Junior High School block.

Osramani is one of these 52 towns. It is an agglomeration of 15 villages which were settled there in August, 1964. The V.R.A which managed the town had built two Primary Schools and one Middle School for the new community. This Middle School (which later metamorphosed into Junior High School) served the ever-increasing population until September 2010 when the Government of Ghana, with some communal support, established this second Junior High School for the community.

Apostle Dr Opoku Onyinah, Chairman of COP (with microphone), offering the Inaugural / Dedication Prayer before the Pillar of Plaques.

The school was formally inaugurated by Apostle Dr Opoku Onyinah, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost in October 2010. He was assisted by Mr. Akara, District Director of Education, Apostle David Tekper, COP Area Head, Kete-Krachi and Pastor Maclean Arthur-Gyan.

The Chiefs, Elders and the Youth of the town decided to name the school after me, "in recognition of (my) numerous contributions to the development of the town."

Apostle Dr Michael Ntumy and his wife Martha.

LESSONS I LEARNT FROM THIS.

When the COP Area Head for Kete-Krachi called and broke to me the news of naming the school after me, I was overwhelmed. I wondered how and why. First, it was a public school ("government school") which, may normally bear the name of the town or community. Secondly, I was not aware that a new school was being built for them, let alone to have contributed anything to its construction.

I immediately contacted the leadership of our church to discuss it with them and they gladly consented to it.  I thereafter requested our Chairman who happened to be traveling to the Kete-Krachi Area around that time to inaugurate and dedicate the school for the community, which he graciously obliged.

In deep gratitude to God and the community, I learnt many lessons from this great act of grace done me:

1. It is God who honors people. Nobody should go round seeking to be honored.
2. We should not grow weary in doing good. Sometimes though the beneficiaries may not know how to express their gratitude, they are grateful. When they have the opportunity of opening up to you one day, you would be overwhelmed by what they say or do.
3. Our good deeds for the LORD will never go unrewarded. If human beings (the people of my town), who are prone to forget, remembered my personal contributions to the town over a long period of time, how much more will God not remember to reward us for our various good works.
4. When God blesses you, remember to bless others, your "Jerusalem"---your hometown, your church, humanity as a whole.

PS. I have responded appropriately to the kind gesture of the community. We want to make the school an "A" school. Somebody is putting up a computer lab and library block for the school. If there is any way you want to help achieve my dream for the school---library books, computers, etc, you may contact me through this email address: ntumybooks@yahoo.com.
God bless you.