To My Pastor, Discipler, and Mentor
“Tomorrow we celebrate the new moon festival. You will be missed when your place at the table is empty.” (1 Samuel 20:18, NLT)
The Very Rev Prof Joshua Kudadjie was a godly man of integrity the Lord Jesus blessed me with, as my pastor, chaplain, discipler and mentor. My Legon years were a very significant and cherished period in my spiritual formation. And the story of that formation and my build-up into an authentic maturing disciple of Jesus cannot be told without recording Very Rev Prof Kudadjie’s special contribution and investment in my life as my chaplain and discipler in Legon.
Over the years, till his passing away, he had been a mentor I deeply loved and respected. In fact, just a few months ago, I dedicated my new 350-page book on “Transformation Disciple-making” to him, and other beloved senior friends who discipled me.
I initially encountered then Mr. Joshua Kudadjie as a freshman in University of Ghana Legon Hall in 1973. I was hungry for spiritual growth, and I needed a challenge in my new Ivory Tower environment, to grow into a more mature Christ-like disciple. Mr. Kudadjie’s position as Warden of Legon Hall and his own Christian spirituality fitted the evangelical spiritual mentor I needed.
I attended regularly the morning devotions and Sunday evening services in the Hall Chapel planned by the Chapel Warden. As my Chapel Warden and discipler, Mr. Kudadjie gave me opportunities to serve Christ with him in his chaplaincy work. He appointed me as his sacristan, and involved me in drawing the preaching plan for each of the three terms we had then: Michaelmas, Lent, and Trinity.
Mr. Kudadjie taught me practical pastoral leadership of a Church congregation. He taught me how to lead the Church worship service and to so conduct the liturgy in an effective way that it brings God to the people; and brings the people of faith in the Church service to God. I learned from him that the Church service must, therefore, be integrated and all parts be in harmony with the service theme: the Bible readings, the hymns, the choir anthem, the prayers and other parts of the liturgy must harmonise with the theme of that service. There must also be discipline from the processional hymn, to moving the congregation through the liturgy, and finally the recessional hymn and close of the service. The public reading of the Bible passages and the preaching of God’s word would constitute the climax of the worship service. The focus must be Christ, and Christ alone. Worshippers must leave the Church service fulfilled, that they have had communion with Christ and worshipped Him in fellowship with the congregation members.
I returned to Legon to do graduate studies and research in Entomology. I resumed regular attendance at Legon Hall Chapel services and the patronage of chaplaincy services. Rev Prof Kudadjie, I guess, felt he had raised a “Timothy.” He nominated me to the Legon Hall Council of the University of Ghana, as the Chaplain to succeed him! I was humbled. That gave me opportunity to serve as Pastor/ Chaplain of Legon Hall. Were those for me, equipping seasons and introduction to full-time Christian Ministry?
From Research in Entomology at Legon and my role as Legon Hall Chaplain, and in the sovereignty of God, I moved into full-time Gospel Ministry, working among University Christian Students as GHAFES staff and later as CEO of Scripture Union for thirty years. It was Rev Prof Joshua Kudadjie who preached the sermon at the last SU Annual General Meeting Thanksgiving service at the Hephzibah Christian Retreat Centre, Kitase. In 2009 when the opportunity came for me to serve on President John Atta Mills Chaplaincy Team at the Presidency, Rev Prof Kudadjie had prepared me for that task. Rev Prof Kudadjie was one of my key examples of faithful evangelical leadership. His life is worth emulating. He pursued ethical leadership.
I love Rev Prof Kudadjie. There is another side of him I have to mention. He had a spirit of excellence – “if it must be done; it must be done well!” He sought to carry out every assignment with diligence and a ring of excellence. He was not interested in merely going through activities but wanted to see programs and projects result in bearing fruit and leading to transformation.
Last year, some of the key conversations I had with Rev Prof Kudadjie centred on his long-time dream of a “Centre for Character Formation.” He sent me a copy of his final draft document on that vision. And I am wondering which Institution would host his “Centre for Character Formation,” not only as a befitting memorial to him but essentially as a strategy for Ethical Leadership Development and Character Formation for Church Renewal and National Transformation. Will it be hosted by Methodist University or University of Ghana, Legon or Trinity Theological Seminary?
I began the year 2020 nursing some visions, ideas, and thinking through some personal needs in my life. Who ministers to the Minister? Who pastors the Pastor? I needed someone who would give me very objective, ethical, spiritual, godly, feedback on those visions and ideas and needs. Rev Prof Joshua Kudadjie emerged top of the list of mature godly believers I could talk to. But death has robbed me of that privilege. I am grateful that Rev Prof Kudadjie had discipled me to maintain accountable relationships, but I will very much miss his wise counsel nonetheless.
Rev Prof Kudadjie was a devoted husband and father to Mrs. Miriam Kudadjie and the children; may God the Holy Spirit soothe their pain of loss and grief. Rev Prof Joshua Kudadjie, you were a professor of Ethics and Philosophy of Religion, “who walked the talk.” Fare thee well, my beloved chaplain, discipler, and mentor. We shall surely meet again in Heaven. Meanwhile, rest in the perfect peace of our Lord Jesus the Christ – your Saviour, Redeemer and Friend! Amen