To Our Dear Friend - “Uncle Joshua”

It is with mixed feeling of sadness and joy that I write a tribute on behalf of my family, at the celebration of the life and ministry of the Very Rev Prof Joshua Narteh Kudadjie, whom we affectionately called “Uncle Joshua.” It is sadness because we have lost a dear friend, and joy  because he has been called home peacefully by our gracious Triune God.

The first time I met Uncle Joshua was in 1972, when I was at the then Trinity College, Legon as a ministering student, having entered in 1969 with “A” Level in Zoology, Botany and Chemistry. I wanted to do Licentiate in Theology (LTh) that was being offered by the Department of Religious Studies, University of Ghana, to some students at Trinity College. I had to consult Uncle Joshua, who was then a lecturer at the Department, about the basic qualification I needed to do that course. His advice was that since I had no “A” Level grade in Religious Studies, it would be necessary to meet that entry requirement. Having registered as a private candidate with WAEC for that course and passed, by God’s grace, I was admitted by the University of Ghana to begin my theological studies in Licentiate in Theology, thanks to the advice from Uncle Joshua.

Very importantly, that first meeting in 1972 took place in his residence, and he and Mama Miriam graciously made me feel at home. Little did I know that a seed of friendship had been sown that would one day become a big tree to provide shade for our two families. Indeed, later on, Uncle Joshua took such a keen interest in the well-being of our children, Kwame and Mavis, that he never ceased to enquire of them.

A second encounter with Uncle Joshua was when I came to teach at the Trinity College, Legon after successfully completing my doctorate studies. At that time, Uncle Joshua was teaching Christian Ethics and the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Ghana, and I was handling a course in Philosophy of Religion and Christian Ethics at the Trinity College, Legon. Our academic interests brought us together, and we became close friends, pursuing a common desire to contribute to providing information on what ought or ought not to be done in various areas of our common life in church and society.

As we both spoke at different fora and, especially, as we taught our courses in Christian Ethics at the University of Ghana and Trinity College, Legon, we realized the need for a book or books that would address issues of social concern. We, therefore, mooted the idea and made a proposal to Asempa Publishers. Our idea was warmly welcomed and we were commissioned to write two or three volumes of books on a number of topics in relation to ethical behavior in society. To meet the needs of a wider public, the publishers asked for simple books written in very clear language, and without footnotes.

This assignment deepened our friendship, as we spent a number of days at different times at the Catholic Conference Centre, Nsawam where we read and planned, reflected and prayed, discussed and wrote. The outcome of this work led to the publication of two volumes, The Christian and National Politics, in 1991, and The Christian and Social Conduct, in 1992. The two were later consolidated and published in 2004 as Christian Social Ethics, by Asempa Publishers.

What is interesting and, indeed, very important is that our relationship as friends united our families. Our wives, Miriam and Grace, were the first to read drafts of the two volumes of books to test for clarity and understanding, and for their comments. Our children too came together as friends as a result of our working together. In 1989, when Uncle Joshua was commissioned as a Methodist Minister at the Wesley Cathedral, Accra, we were among the few people who witnessed that event, and we took a picture with our wives. Grace and I were also present when he was later ordained into the Ministry in 1991. Uncle Joshua and I, including our families, continued to support each other in various ways as Methodist Ministers.

When later, I became the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana and the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana,  and in the year 2000 Uncle Joshua was appointed Associate Professor at Methodist University College and became the Vice Principal from 2003 till his final retirement in August 2014, our two families continued to unite in supporting our various ministries.

The last picture that we took was at the 2019 Annual All Ministers’ Retreat and Fellowship of the Kingdom (FK). Interestingly, at that meeting, both of us felt we needed to take a picture to remind us of our old age. Due to the associated issues with aging and other commitments, we were not able to see each other in the ensuing months as often as we would have wished.

We however kept on praying for one another until the afternoon of Tuesday, January 21, 2020 when we heard that our dear brother, Uncle Joshua had been called home peacefully to be with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as He promised the disciples (John 14:1-3).

Uncle Joshua was a man of integrity, a humble, simple, wise, intelligent, honest, principled and hardworking Minister of the Methodist  Church Ghana. His strong faith in the Triune God made him calm, fearless and strong in the face of all kinds of challenges in life. Indeed, what the apostle Paul told Timothy about his own ministry towards the end of his life, is also a clear testimony of Uncle Joshua: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing”(2  Timothy 4:7-8).

Uncle Joshua, Rest in Perfect Peace until we meet again and see each other’s face in the presence of our Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!!!