Retirement service has been held in honour of Rev. John Anto Dorsah and Ps. Mrs Gifty Anto Dorsah on 20th December 2020 at Amazing Grace A/G, Bogobiri-Obuasi in the Ashanti West region. The ceremony was attended by several pastors including the Regional Executives of the Ashanti regions. The ceremony was officiated by the Regional Executives and supported by the National Pension Administrator, Mr Felix Nana Boakye. Rev. Anto Dorsah until his retirement was the Head Pastor of the Amazing Grace A/G in the Obuasi West and served for 24 years in the ministry.
In a sermon titled ‘The Ministry life, worthy of remembrance’ and the reference scripture from Acts 26:17-24, using the Apostle Paul, as an illustration, Rev. Adu Gyamfi, the Regional Secretary asserted that Paul told them about the relationship that has existed between them in verse 18. Paul also reminded them of how he has laboured in the ministry works in verse 19. Rev. Adu Gyamfi further noted that Paul told them to remember what was not profitable in verse 20 and also Paul told them to remember the souls he has won in verse 21. To this, he admonished the congregation to remember the relationship that existed between them and the retiring pastor, Rev. Anto-Dorsah and how he has laboured in the ministry as he retires from this ministry.
Goodwill messages were read on behalf of the General Superintendent, Regional Superintendent, District Pastor and Local Church to highlight the various contributions of Rev. Anto-Dorsah. The National Pension Administrator also made the declaration of retirement for Rev. Anto-Dorsah and also presented his End-of-Service benefits to him. Donations, as well as gifts, were presented to the Retiree and his family. Prayers were also said for the retiring pastor. The celebrant also expressed gratitude to God, his family and everyone for their support.
Profile of Rev. John Anto-Dorsah
PREAMBLE: ‘Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also f am apprehended of Christ Jesus’.
Brethren, I count that myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do. forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:12-14
Rev. John Anto-Dorsah was born on the 7th December 1953, to the late Ex. Sergeant Yeji Dorsah and Madam Elizabeth Kampo at Accra. They came from Upper West Region, a town called Chepuri in the Jirapa District. He was the fourth but the first son. They were six children and three (3) had passed on.
Due to his sporting activities, he was enrolled into Akwatia L/A Primary School in the Eastern Region even though he had already been rejected by the school because he was underaged.
He later relocated to Twifo Nyenase as a result of his father gaining employment at Obuasi Ashanti Goldfields which compelled him to send him to his Junior brother to continue his Primary Education. His father again relocated the family to Obuasi which saw him continue his Primary and Elementary Education in Obuasi.
After Elementary Schooling, he gained employment at Ashanti Goldfields, after some years. He was trained as a blastman which enabled him to work through Timber Shaft, West Shaft, E.T.S, and finally Anyinam Shaft which saw him rise to the rank of Senior Blastman.
In 1975, he met the Lord through the witnessing of Rev. Joseph T. Bamfo, who was very instrumental in his early Christian life because his father did not agree. He later met John Kofi Fletcher who was like a brother to him with whom he worked in the fellowship. Before going to the Bible School, he established a prayer and deliverance group in the Scripture Union (SU) fellowship in which he was a leader in Obuasi. Through the fellowship, they established about 20 Scripture Union (SU) fellowships in the villages.
In 1979, He had a call of God and through prayer and fasting, it was confirmed. He entered into Ghana Christian College and Seminary in Abeka-Accra from 1980 to 1983. During this period, he had the privilege of meeting Rev. S. A Cudjoe who was a classmate, Rev. Joy Amankwah who was very instrumental in the Bible School, he also met Rev. Awade who welcomed them as brothers, and lastly Rev. Moses Sumaila who was then a Presbyter at Assemblies of God. During his Bible school education, he also met Rev. Cosmos Aboagye who later become the first pastor to establish the first A/G Church in Obuasi through the help of the Scripture Union Fellowship (S. U).
2. In 1996 the late Rev. C. 0 Danquah came to Obuasi and under his mentorship groomed him with Master Addai who was then the Chief Deacon of Living Faith Assemblies of God. Under the close observation of Rev. Danquah, he was given assignments to various churches. He surprisingly made him write the Bible School Exam which allowed him to enter Into Mid-Ghana Bible College in Kumasi.
Rev. John Anto-Dorsah has furthered his education after his Diploma in Theology at the North Western Christian University an Affiliate of Newburgh Theological Allied Education.
The servant of God has been married to his lovely wife, Pastor Mrs Gifty Anto-Dorsah since 23rd March 1992 and the Lord has blessed them with four (4) children; Rejoice Amma Dorsah, John Anto-Dorsah Jnr., James Noble Kambo Dorsah and Gifty Akua Dorsah.
The Lord through servant has planted two churches at New Dekyiwa and Still Waters A/G at Nana Ponko Obuasi. Rev. Anto-Dorsah held the position of Senior Pastor in Amazing Grace Assemblies of God, Bongobiri, Obuasi. He Supported the Treasurer, Rev. Lawrence Mensah who was the then Treasurer for 12 years under Rev. Emmanuel Anane as the past District Pastor for Obuasi and became the District Treasurer for Obuasi West for 4 years.
Rev. John Anto-Dorsah served for Twenty-Four (24) years as the Senior Pastor. The church has witnessed steady growth, spiritually, numerically, and infrastructurally under the 24 years of able leadership of Rev. Dorsah. Under his able leadership, the church has developed the church building to an appreciable level.
Together with Amazing Grace Centre, Rev. Dorsah has supported the following to acquire training as ministers of the Gospel.
1. Pastor Edward Osei at Still Waters A/G Nana Ponko, Obuasi
2. Pastor Mrs Gifty Anto-Dorsah at Amazing Grace A/G – Obuasi Bogobiri
Rev. John Anto-Dorsah and family sincerely express our deepest appreciation and gratitude to you for your prayers, presence, and presents on this day of my retirement service.