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The late Deborah Wengam, mother of Reverend Stephen Wengam, General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Ghana, was laid to rest on Saturday following a burial service at the State House in Accra.
The solemn yet celebratory event attracted a large crowd of sympathizers, including Heads of Christian denominations from Ghana and abroad, traditional rulers, foreign diplomats, gospel musicians, and a diverse group of Ghanaians. President John Dramani Mahama, Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, and other high-profile dignitaries attended to pay their final respects.
The ceremony featured heartfelt tributes that celebrated Madam Deborah’s life of sacrifice, faith, and devotion to her family. In his tribute, President Mahama described the late Deborah Wengam as “a good woman, whose womb was blessed by God,” emphasizing her unwavering faith and the legacy she left through her only surviving child, Reverend Wengam.
“Reverend Wengam is a good man. He is God-fearing. He is humble. Reverend Wengam is true and loyal to his friends, and Lordina and I are very happy to have him as our friend. “He is gifted with divine actions, and that is why many people have traveled thousands of kilometers to honor him and pay respects on the passing of his mother,” he said.
President commended Reverend Wengam for his contributions to the Assemblies of God Church and Ghana as a whole, reflecting on their long-standing friendship and spiritual journey. “When I joined the Assemblies of God Church and started to worship at Ring Road Gospel Centre, Reverend Wengam was our Associate Pastor. It was a sad day when he preached in church and announced to us that he was leaving to go and start Cedar Mountain Chapel,” he said.
Reverend Wengam, in his tribute, spoke with deep emotion about his mother’s role in shaping his life and ministry. “As the only son of this precious woman, I cannot pretend that I am the strongest man at this moment. I have suffered immense pain by her loss. “My mother beyond the cliché was one of a kind and I write from the perspective of someone who was carefully nurtured and deliberately fostered by the hand of a godly woman,” he said.
Reverend Wengam recounted personal stories of his upbringing, including how his mother instilled discipline through both love and tough lessons, ensuring he grew into a man of character and integrity. “I am the only surviving child of a woman who had survived four life-threatening surgeries and lost three other children, I did not have it easy. My mother decided to be a full-time mother just to give her undivided attention to me.
“Mom was a disciplinarian and a choleric in temperament. She believed that if she spared the rod, she would spoil the child; therefore, I am a product of the cane. “I found her upbringing so harsh that I sometimes doubted if I was truly her only child. At the same time, she made me a very happy boy,” he narrated.
Rev. Wengam described her as a woman of strong morals, high social etiquette, and a disciplinarian who valued quality over quantity. “Mom made sure I was one of the best and sharply dressed kids around,” he said, He credited his mother’s influence as pivotal to his spiritual growth, recounting her early support for his passion for evangelism, which included financing his first megaphone for ministry.
Delivering the sermon, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, reflected on the inevitability of death and its implications for purposeful living. He quoted Ecclesiastes 7:2, saying, “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.”
Apostle Nyamekye, also Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, urged the congregation to set their lives in order while they still had the chance, emphasizing that death offered no opportunity for corrections or changes. He encouraged the clergy to serve with passion and commitment, recognizing the eternal significance of their ministry.
Apostle Nyamekye ended the sermon with an altar call, inviting attendees to dedicate their lives to Christ. The burial service was interspersed with heartfelt tributes from various groups, including the Cedar Mountain Chapel, the General Council of the Assemblies of God Ghana, and the Africa Assemblies of God Alliance.
Each tribute celebrated Madam Deborah’s enduring faith, selflessness, and unwavering dedication to her family and the church. A poignant moment of the ceremony occurred when Reverend Wengam led family members in a solemn yet spirited procession, dancing gracefully as they passed by Madam Deborah’s coffin in a tribute filled with reverence and gratitude for her legacy.
The late Deborah Wengam’s life and contributions were honored as a beacon of love, faith, and service. She was remembered as a devoted mother, a spiritual pillar, and a woman of great strength who left an indelible mark on her family and community. Madam Deborah was 71 years old.
Source: GNA
