On Saturday, July 20, 2024, the late Shepherd John Ackah Modzaka, a devoted minister of the gospel and a pioneer of the Kumasi Central orchestra, was laid to rest. Apostle Amos Osei-Du of the Kumasi Apostle area led the service and was assisted by Apostles Otchere (Sunyani), Nortey (Konongo), and Bishop Kesse (Konongo).

The service was based on the comforting words from John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Apostle Osei-Du welcomed the gathering, emphasizing that our hope in Christ is not limited to this earth. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” He stressed that true peace cannot be found here, which is why Christ needed to die and leave the disciples, allowing their hope to extend beyond the physical realm. This same principle applies to our late Shepherd, who ran his race and secured victory. He received the call from our Father to return home and await eternal joy in fellowship with Christ. “Shepherd ‘put his hand to the plough’ and never looked back. He served diligently until the very end: an example for us to follow”, the Apostle intimated.

We are on a pilgrim’s journey!
The Apostle likened the late Shepherd’s life to a wise pilgrim who focused on what was necessary and relevant to reach his destination. “He sought God and served Him with all his might. He spent time, resources and sometimes forsook his family to minister to both the young and the old while aiming for that heavenly mansion being prepared by Christ. He has finished his race”.

Our body is a temporal tent!
The Apostle also likened the flesh to a tent, a temporary structure, and urged the gathering to strive for the heavenly mansion not built by hands. “When this tent is destroyed” he said, “Our lives on earth will earn an everlasting body through grace.” He encouraged everyone to focus on the eternal promise, reminding them that “our citizenship is in heaven.” In attendance were retired Apostles Nketiah, Jantuah, Darko, Nzemah, Bishops Dadzie, Antwi Kyeremeh among other minsters from different Apostles areas.

Brief biography
Born on May 26, 1968, at Atokor in the Volta Region, Shepherd John Ackah Modzaka passed away on June 7, 2024 at the age of 54. He joined the New Apostolic Church in 1990, was called to the ministry and ordained as a Deacon in 1994 and became a Priest in 2000. By 2008, he was serving as a Community Evangelist, and in 2015, he was ordained a Shepherd. He left behind his beloved wife, Sister Patience Agawu, and their four children. He was laid to rest in his hometown, Atokor in the Volta Region.

Night of Tribute
On Friday evening, July 19, 2024, the Kumasi Central congregation hosted a night of tribute for the late Shepherd John Ackah Modzaka. The orchestra, the choir (both Kumasi Central and the University Choir (KNUST)) performed. Congregants, retired Apostles Nketiah (Kumasi) and Nzemah (Sefwi Wiawso), the orchestra, and various groups and individuals read tributes in honour of the late Shepherd’s memory.