Lead Apostle Samuel Oppong-Brenya conducted a funeral and burial service for the late retired Bishop Kwabena Kyere of Cape Coast Apostle Area at the Oda Central Church in the Oda district on Saturday March 7, 2020. In attendance were Lead Apostle Ohene Saffo and all active and retired Apostles and Bishops in Ghana and their wives. District Leaders, their wives and members from Cape Coast and other surrounding Apostle areas and the family of the late Bishop also attended the service.
The bible passage for the funeral service was taken from an extract in Mark 14:6, 8: ‘… She has done a good work for Me... She has done what she could...’
In oneness in heart with the choir, as they had sung the hymn ‘It is well with my soul,’ Lead Apostle Samuel Oppong-Brenya begun the service by making the gathering aware that it is well with their soul, “Indeed, we can say it is well with our soul. Then, let us all remain silent in faith, lest we speak of that we do not know.”
He further remarked that the late retired Bishop has done well, because he has finished his work as a servant of God. Elaborating on the bible passage, Lead Apostle Oppong-Brenya explained that a woman was sharply criticized for pouring an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard on the head of Jesus Christ, but the Lord went unto her rescue by calling on those who were indignant to let her be.
He has done a good work. “Today this woman is in Oda, in the nature of our brother, our minister and a servant of God. The late retired Bishop Kwabena Kyere has done a good work for the Lord.” “What good work did he do?”, Lead Apostle Oppong-Brenya queried and entreated, “It is not easy to come across a man born of a woman, who has faith in God and carry the cross of Jesus Christ.”
He said it is very difficult for a man to be a minister in our congregations, because the sacrifice of the word of God is given in its pure form. For someone to serve in the New Apostolic Church in the capacity of a Bishop requires great works, humbleness, calmness, fear of the Lord and goodwill between his leaders and the congregation. These enable one to carry the cross of the Lord. The Lead Apostle further stated that the late retired Bishop has done a good work, through him many have come to the house of God.
He has done what he could. “If all men might have done what they could, we would have pleased God. Unfortunately, some are doing the work of God in hypocrisy”, the Lead Apostle said. He stated that the late retired Bishop never grew weary in all the long years of service entrusted to him. “He did what he could, he has completed his works of faith in the service.” Lead Apostle Oppong-Brenya said he strongly believed the last words of the late Bishop would have been, ‘Father, receive my spirit’ and thus concluded, “the Lord be with you, for you have done a good work and have done what you could.”
Lead Apostle Ohene Saffo, Apostle Ashie Kotei and Bishop Asare were called upon to serve at the service. The late retired Bishop Kwabena Kyere served as a Minister in the New Apostolic Church from 1986 when he was ordained Priest to November 18, 2018 when he was retired as Bishop of the Cape Coast Apostle area.