Retirement service was held in honour of Rev. Raphael Oppong and Mrs. Vivian Oppong on 9th December, 2018. Until their retirement, Rev. Oppong who has served Assemblies of God, Ghana for 31 years was the senior pastor of Mount Zion Temple A/G at Bekwai-Ashanti in the Ashanti West region of the church.
Another ceremony was also held in honour of Rev. John Ewusi Kuranchie and Mrs. Cecilia Kuranchie. Rev. Kuranchie until his retirement was the senior pastor of Rhema A/G at Atonsu in the Ashanti East region. He served the church for 37 years.
On behalf of the General Superintendent, Pastors and members of the Assemblies of God fraternity in Ghana, we would like to express our profound gratitude to the almighty God for their faithfulness, loyalty and dedicated service in the LORD’s vineyard. We also congratulate their dear spouses for faithfully supporting and standing with them in the ministry, Ayekoo.
We wish them good health, long life and a fulfilling retirement. God richly bless them.
Below is a brief profile of the retired pastors…
PROFILE OF REV. JOHN EWUSI KURANCHIE
God’s servant Rev, John Ewusi Kuranchie was born on January 6, 1953 at Aboabo No. 2, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Rev. John Ewusi Kuranchie is a native of Nyanfeku Akrofu in the Central Region of Ghana. Rev. J. E. Kuranchie started his elementary education at L/A Primary School, Aboabo No. 2 and proceeded to Adosu L/A Middle School at Nyinahin where he completed in 1973. In 1979, Rev. Kuranchie proceeded to Southern Ghana Bible Institute (now AGTS) at Kormantse-Saltpond and graduated in 1981 with a diploma in Biblical Studies. In the year 2000, he pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Kormantse-Saltpond and was awarded a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) degree.
As a servant of God, Rev. John E. Kuranchie has had diverse experiences in life outside God’s vineyard, all of which cannot be recounted here. Importantly, he began as a bus conductor with the hope of becoming a professional driver one day. That early desire became a reality in 1972/73. After a few years of experience in his new found driving carrier, he got a new job at the Forestry Department where he worked diligently from 1975 to 1979 until he left for the Bible School.
Rev. J. E. Kuranchie got to know Christ Jesus as his personal Saviour and Lord in 1976 during an annual convention of the Christ Apostolic Church at Nyinahin. He surrendered his life to Christ during an altar call led by the guest speaker. During this encounter, he decided to dedicate his entire life to the service of God with much passion and zeal coupled with knowledge unreservedly. As a dynamic youth member in the Nyinahin church, Rev. J. E. Kuranchie devoted much time to prayer and fellowship with the brethren. Two years into his conversion, Rev. Kuranchie experienced the first stirrings of the call of God upon his life and eventually decided to obey this calling in 1979. His senior pastor, Rev. Osei Mensah Bonsu guided him in 1979 to respond to the call to full time ministry. He has remained resolute in this call and he is now thirty-seven (37) years in active ministry after spending three (3) years in theological seminary.
As a student pastor, he served at Wansembre A/G Church for two semesters. God used him to revive the church which, prior to his arrival had been stagnant for a long time. He also led a crusade to establish the Achiase A/G church. In 1980, he assisted his senior pastor at Nyinahin, and a year later he was posted to Danase A/G near Offinso in the Ashanti Region where God used him in mighty revivals and the building of a mission house. Rev. Kuranchie is also credited with starting the I.P.G prayer group. At Danase, Rev. J. E. Kuranchie started a church at Akom and also assisted Rev. Nicolas Opuni to establish the Ofinso A/G church. After graduating from the Bible College in 1981, Rev. John Kuranchie served at Danase A/G with other five (5) churches, namely, Akrofrom, Apagya, Kodie, Aduamoa, and Kwaman A/G.
Rev. Kuranchie became an ordained minister of the Assemblies of God, Ghana in 1986. He was later posted to Evangelical A/G in Santasi where he pastored for ten (10) years. It did not take time for people to recognize the power ministry God has anointed his servant with. His ministry was marked by extraordinary healings and deliverance. During his stay at Santasi, he led Evangelical A/G to establish the following local assemblies: Pakyi No. 1 and No. 2, Atasemanso and Kokoben A/G churches with several surrounding churches being revived. Evangelical A/G experienced massive growth in membership from sixty (60) to four hundred and fifty (450). He built a mission house and established a great school all to the glory of God. In 1996, Rev. Kuranchie was transferred to Upper Room A/G, Mampong. God used him to improve the situation at Mampong with four churches been established and several others revived, two workers namely Rev. Emmanuel Oppong Kofi Badu and Rev. Yaw Owusu were also sent to the Bible College during the tenure of office of Rev. Kuranchie at Upper Room A/G.
In the later part of 1997, Rev. John E. Kuranchie was transferred to Rhema Assembly of God, Atonsu on December 17, 1997. He met a membership of about two hundred and fifty (250) and now has over thousand membership including children, the youth and the adult. Rev. J.E. Kuranchie came to meet uncompleted mission house, a proposed school building with deplorable environment and the church which was broken into factions. Until his retirement, he served as the Atonsu District Pastor.
Great achievement is usually borne out of great sacrifice and is never the result of selfishness. The foundation Rev. Kuranchie has laid in Rhema Assembly of God church is glaring in the eyes of all to behold. Through his ingenuities several churches have been established with pastors posted to such areas. The names of such churches include Action A/G, Adagya where he bought five plots of land for the church, Great Expectation A/G, Feyiase where he bought one piece of plot for them, and Truth A/G, Abidjan Nkwanta where a generous member of that congregation has donated six (6) plots of land to the service of God. May God bless him in Jesus’ name! The evangelistic zeal and mission-mindedness of Rev. Kuranchie has resulted in giving support to countless needy pastors and churches across the country in Assemblies of God. Rev. J. E. Kuranchie is leaving behind a monumental legacy of a magnificent mission house, progressive credit union, vibrant Wednesday prayer meeting, Monday Community devotion and a forty-five seater bus besides other two (2) which have been disposed of.
Rev. Kuranchie has blessed a good number of marriages and has dedicated countless number of children to the glory of God. He also has a track record of taking the church to retreat twice every year at Sekyere-dumase. Through the instrumentality of Rev. Kuranchie’s ministry, the church has experienced both financial and spiritual growth. His ministry has also produced three (3) dynamic associate pastors who are serving in various capacities in the church.
Rev. J.E. Kuranchie has also served in various positions in Assemblies of God, Ghana and other leadership positions, namely:
- Santasi District Secretary (1986-1994)
- Mampong District Pastor (1996-1997)
- Atonsu Men’s ministry representative (1998)
- Chairman of Ashanti Region Prayer Network (2010)
- Atonsu District Pastor (1999-2018)
- Zonal leader- Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic churches (GPCC)
Under his ministry, many ministers have been trained. These include Rev. Emmanuel Oppong Kofi Badu (Amakom District Pastor), Rev. Kingsley Akuoko (Elshadai A/G, Ahenemma-kokoben), Rev. Opoku Ware (People of the Book, Moshie Zongo, New Tafo District Pastor), Rev. Patrick Yamo, Rev. Gibonse (retired), Rev. Albert Agyekum-hene (Onwe), Rev. Oteng Asamoah (Abuakwa), Rev. Yaw Owusu (Heaven Gate A/G, Mampong), Rev. James Abotsi Dzidzinyo (Kings Palace A/G, Nahinso), Rev. Paul Opoku Danzima (Glorious Power A/G, Nyinahin), Ps. Kwabena Boateng Owusu Ansah (Great Expectation A/G, Feyiase), Ps. Emmanuel Avoca Brown (Rhema A/G, Atonsu), Ps. Elijah Kwaku Boateng (Rhema A/G, Atonsu), Ps. Emmanuel Kwame Owusu Ansah (Truth A/G, Abijan-Nkwanta), Ps. Emmanuel Morgan (Peace and Love A/G, Sawua-Prabon), Ps. Manasseh Arhin (Christian Way Chapel, Dompoase-Aprabon) and Ps. Samuel Baido (Grace Sanctuary A/G, Feyiase).
Rev. Kuranchie married Cecilia Acquah, now Mrs. Cecilia Kuranchie and they are blessed with seven (7) children namely, Mrs. Lydia Gyimah, Mrs. Martha Amagashie, Mrs. Mary Kumah, Mrs. Comfort Koomson, Johnny Hayford Kuranchie, Dr. Joseph Godsman Kuranchie and Ebenezer Kuranchie. He is blessed with twelve (12) grand¬children and over twenty-one (21) children named after him. Rev. Kuranchie is a real family man, an inspirer and an example to his wife, his children and grandchildren.
PROFILE OF REV. RAPHAEL OPPONG
Rev. Raphael Oppong was born on July 27, 1952 at Aduamoah in the Ashanti Region to the late Opanin Anthony Manu and Obaapanin Theresah Dufie who is still alive at Aduamoah. He started his elementary school in the year 1958 at Noboam Methodist School in Asante Akyem and later moved to Nkenkensu L/A where he spent most of his years acquiring early education. But due to several transfers of his father, they later moved to Navrongo where he obtained his Middle School Leaving Certificate (MSLC) at Balobia Middle School in 1968.
His vision was to become a professional teacher but due to financial constraints, he went to work with Abire Construction Company (ACC) as a Time Keeper in 1969 to raise money to further his education but all efforts was to no avail. In 1970, due to frustrations and eagerness to build a better and brighter future, he came back to Ashanti Region to enroll in Abu Tailoring Academy (ATA) and passed out in 1973 as a professional Fashion Designer.
He was born a Catholic and with the zeal to serve his maker faithfully he became a zealous member. His father was later not pleased with his active involvement in the church, so he was forced to stop in 1967 and then decided not to join any church.
He later moved from Navrongo and came back to Ashanti Region. He was one day roaming around Akwatialine when he saw a big auditorium having the inscription “Light House Assemblies of God”. He stood there a while starring at the inscription and there came a man from the auditorium who called him and convinced him to join them in fellowship. He then asked him to come the following day which was on Saturday, so he got there as proposed and was allowed to join the Sunday School Teachers preparatory class on that very day. From then he became a zealous member of Assemblies of God.
He was baptized in the year 1970 by Rev. Stephen Amponsah (Light House A/G, Akwatialine) and subsequently trained as a Sunday School teacher and later, New Converts Class was permanently given to him to teach of which Rev. Dr. Paul Yaw Frimpong-Manso, now the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Ghana and the Late Evangelist Akwasi Amoako of Resurrection Power Ministry, Santasi were among his students. He was also a chorister for about ten good years. He matured in his Christian life: hence, became a member of the Missions group under the supervision of Rev. Nicholas Opuni in establishing churches in Kumasi of which many churches were planted.
He met his lovely wife Vivian Oppong (Mrs.) in the choir at Light House A/G, Akwatialine. So they got married in 1979 under the guidance, supervision and blessed by Rev. Nicholas Opuni. In 1980, the Lord God called him into the ministry but did not have the zeal to become a full-time pastor, so to please his maker he decided to establish a church or two to be free from the call and through God’s power he established Redemption A/G at New Suame. But since man proposes and God disposes, he never had a comfortable life till he surrounded to the call in 1984. In the beginning of his ministry, he was sent to Bibiani in the Western Region to establish a new church (Trinity Assemblies of God) which has now become a vibrant one in the region.
He was enrolled into Southern Ghana Bible Institute (SGBI), Saltpond in 1985 and completed in 1987. After completion he was posted to Mount Zion A/G Bekwai-Ashanti where he has been in the ministry till his retirement. He also attended Maranatha Institute of Ministry Training (M.I.M.T). As a result of hard work and desire to self-actualize himself, he further pursed a degree programme in Bachelor of Theology at the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary (Kumasi – SEE) in 2009. He also pursued a Law programme in the Ministry at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology – Kumasi.
Rev. Oppong’s track records of humility, dedication, loyalty, faithfulness and godly example have contributed immensely in shaping the direction of the various local churches, departments, and districts of the Assemblies of God, Ghana. His passion for missions moved him to lead the various local churches he has pastored into many significant outreaches including church planting in many towns and villages, such as: Redemption A/G-Suame-Kumasi, Bibiani in the Western Region, Holy Spirit A/G-Essumejah, Bethel A/G-Behenase, Living Faith A/G-Denyase, Revival Centre A/G-Anwiam, Grace Chapel-Amoamo, Liberty Temple-Bogyawe-Ankase, Victory Temple- Sanfo-Aduam, and Redemption Assembly at Amoaful.
Rev. Oppong has also served in several positions in A/G and other leadership positions. Positions held by him in the ministry include:
- Bekwai District Pastor from 2005 to 2012
- Amansie District Pastor from 2001 to 2002
- Amansie/Adansi District Treasurer from 1993 to 2000
- A member of the Ashanti Electoral Committee
- Men Ministry representative (Rep.) of the then Ashanti Mid-West Section
- Chairman of Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council – Bekwai Zone, from 2007 till his retirement.
The Lord God has blessed Rev. & Mrs. Oppong with six (6) children namely: Emmanuel Oppong, Samuel Oppong, Jonathan Oppong, Daniel Oppong, Grace Oppong and Abigail Oppong.
He also adopted an eight year old girl been Yaa Achiaa Freduah, who is now the wife of his eldest son, Emmanuel Oppong. He later had another adopted daughter in the person of Miss Rosemary Owusu of Obuasi who is currently a teacher.
