The Gbawe Methodist Society in the Northern Accra Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana has held a talk on its Centenary theme to mark the celebration.

The well-attended which was led service by the Superintendent Minister of the Gbawe McCarthy-Hill Circuit, Very Rev Emmanuel Borlabi Bortey was themed “100 years of Methodism in Gbawe: Celebrating the grace and power of God” was led by  

Addressing the gathering, the Very Rev Borlabi Bortey said: “We are celebrating the life of the church, and specifically what God has done through the life of his church in Gbawe; the Gbawe Methodist Church, which is now 100 years old.”

He noted that the Gbawe Society, 40-years ago was a small congregation, “just a village church.”

“However, the transformation of Gbawe village into a township meant that the church could not remain small.” 

The Bishop-elect of the Accra Diocese also applauded the men and women of God who responded to the clarion call to date.

“Thanks to the visionaries who responded to the need for change. Thanks to all who worked to secure the new site, men and women of vision. May they remain ever blessed in our Lord.” 

He further observed that the act appears to be a re-enactment of the well-known parable of Jesus on the kingdom of God as a grain of mustard seed or the seed which grows secretly.

He explained that no one knows how the seed grows, “but suddenly we find a full-blown tree bearing fruits and we all wonder how it all happened. It is all by the grace of God. (Mark 4:26-29, 30-32.) It is all by grace: we come to faith by grace, not because we are worthy.” 

Very Rev Borlabi Bortey also noted that “the hundred year’s celebration is a celebration of God’s gift to us.

It is by God’s unmerited mercies working through the early fathers of this church, that the indigenes who first embraced the Christian faith and, despite various forms of opposition, held on to the faith and have handed over the tradition to us in our modern-day”.  

Touching on how the church had survived over the years, the Very Rev stressed that it was the doing of God.

“Otherwise, how did it happen that the Gbawe stool agreed to bequeath a large tract of land to the Methodist Church Ghana which now provides the site for the Wesley Grammar School, the Methodist University, and the Headquarters/ Secretariat for the Accra Diocese? 

How did it happen that the elders bequeathed to us a large tract of land for Gbawe Methodist Primary school and another one for our present new site? It is all the doing of the Lord and it is marvellous in our sight.”

Furthermore, he emphasised that the Gbawe Society is a manifestation of the power of God.

“The One hundred years continuing survival of Gbawe Methodist Church is evidence of the power of God at work among us, beginning with our ancestors. 

There were power confrontations: traditional beliefs will not go away just easily. There were contests of powers. But through it, all God protected and preserved his children.” 

He added: “The tenacity of the faith of our fathers won some of their brothers and sisters over to the Christian faith. Though the entire village did not become Christian, it received enough recognition and respect of the traditionalists and the elders.” 

Very Rev Emmanuel Borlabi Bortey said, above all, it is believed that the native inhabitants of Gbawe saw something of the transforming power of the gospel; “they saw something of the new life of Jesus in the Christian believers: new values, new ethical standards and behaviour; the gospel offered something which could attract in the conduct of the believers. 

It was the empowering grace of God at work in the believers.” 

The Superintendent Minister of the Gbawe Society also urged members to celebrate this power of God in the Church and for the church; this power of God which makes the impossible to be possible.  

“And because we believe in this all-conquering power of God working on our behalf, we can never be fainthearted, we can never be discouraged on life’s journey, we can never despair (lose hope).

We shall confidently march on as a church from victory on to victory as our Lord leads our battles as a church and as individual members of the church of Christ, in our individual lives as well as in our corporate life as a church.” 

He prayed that for victory for the church and members in the coming days and months. 

“And we know all this is possible also because His grace abounds towards us. We are victorious not because we are deserving but because of the countless goodness and mercies of our God.”