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Christ figure in a stained glass
representation at Methodist Church,
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Ghana Wesley
United Methodist Church honors Prof. Albert
Wright for good work
December 27, 2009, Arlington,
Virginia, USA
Citation read by Brother Joseph Andorful, Worship
Leader
WESLEY…..…YE TWER NYAME…… GHANA WESLEY…...YE
TWER NYAME TSEASEFO
Bro. Albert Wright, affectionately called
Prof, I am greatly honored to stand here
today as one of the 13 founding fathers and
mothers of this God’s church to appreciate,
honor and thank you for the valuable and
magnificent work you did as caretaker for
the Church.
You held the position of caretaker from
October 21, 2001 when the church was born
through May 1, 2005 when we got a pastor.
Again, you resumed the position of caretaker
from July 29, 2007 when our pastor left us
unceremoniously until December 1, 2009 when
we found a new pastor—in the person of
Pastor Emmanuel Nkrumah.
I first met Prof in July 2000 at the
residence of Dr. Ben. Gyepi-Garbrah during
one of the series of meetings which birthed
Gaddiel Acquaah Memorial Methodist Church.
His contributions to the issues discussed at
the meeting warmed my heart and I thanked
God for bringing such an experienced and
wise man into our fold. His presence at the
meeting was not by accident but by God’s
design. Prof was therefore, the obvious
choice when it became necessary that we
select a caretaker for GWUMC after we broke
away from Gaddiel Acquaah Memorial Church in
October 2001.
Right after your selection, you began
throwing your energy, passion, and training
into full gear for this church (GWUMC).
The spiritual journey that God commissioned
you to take us through suddenly became bumpy
and rough because Satan immediately put on
his devilish armor to do everything in his
wicked power to thwart your efforts of
leading the church in the direction that
would glorify God’s name. Satan did his
worst to divide the church, especially the
leadership. With all the humiliation,
spiritual battle, and bad-mouthing which I
know did physically drained you and got you
frustrated, you kept calm and unruffled on
the surface, and waded through muddy waters,
with intense prayers and God’s guidance.
These challenges in a way strengthened you
spiritually because you used the armor of
God to fight off these spiritual challenges.
I remember somewhere in the early 2003, you
seriously considered giving up the position
of caretaker, when some church members
frustrated you with their persistent
requests of finding a pastor for the church.
It will amuse you to know that some were
even speculating that you wanted to go to a
Bible School and become a pastor that was
why you were deliberately delaying to find a
pastor for the church. However those of us
closer to you, knew the frantic efforts you
were making in that direction. I also
remember vividly that one day during the
frustrating moments, you invited me to your
home on my way from work and revealed to me
your earnest desire to step down as
caretaker of the church. You added that
however, on the previous night while lying
in bed with your eyes widely open, you heard
distinctly a voice asking you a question as
to why you wanted to give up that position.
That voice told you emphatically that the
church belonged to Him (God) and that you
had been given the position of caretaker in
order to take care of His (God’s) children.
I know that revelation frightened you, but
it also assured you to continue with what
God has charged you to do, regardless of all
odds. You have since had the joy to do the
Father’s will.
Prof, you took up the torch and waved it
wide; the torch that lighted time’s thickest
gloom.
Prof your earthly loss is heavenly gain.
Prof, you are a Gimper and role model to
GWUMC members because you are somebody who
does more than expected of him.
Prof, your abilities, experience, training,
personality which embodies your temperament,
disposition and character, your willingness,
strengths, expectation of others to perform
God’s assigned responsibilities, all
endeared you as a father, friend, mentor,
advisor, leader, manager, guide, and a
buddy.
Prof, the entire Ghana Wesley family is
thanking you today and praying to God to
bless you indeed and enlarge your territory
and for God’s hand to be with you and your
family for ever and ever.
Well done and thank you.
Note: Professor
Albert Wright, a renown sanitation and water
development engineer, teacher, researcher,
innovator, and a devout Christian
(affectionately called THE ARCHDEACON by
this publisher) has been a pillar, a vast
resource person, and a father figure for
many within the community at Ghana Wesley
United Methodist Church and, indeed, also,
for many in the larger community of Africans
in the Washington metropolitan area.
Related article:
Recognizing Professor
Albert Wright
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Lifetime Achievement Award - AfricaSan
Awards 2009
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