“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20 – 21 NIV)
Very Rev Prof J.N Kudadjie can be described by the following quote from William Shakespeare: “His life was gentle; and the elements so mixed in him, that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, THIS WAS A MAN!”
Osofo Kudadjie, as we affectionately called him, was a staunch Christian, a Methodist who loved Ebenezer Methodist Church, Ada-Foah. He became more involved in the society at his old age when he visited the Society whenever there was an event in the church, such as fund raising, harvest, funerals and even when he visited the town on issues not affecting the church.
His presence was always felt because he played active roles whenever he was around. Two of his contributions, by way of assistance to the Society, which endeared him to the hearts of members were:
1. At a time when the spirit of giving was totally down he came to preach, and expounded on three Old Testament Festivals which correspond to three New Testament ones and emphasized the one which corresponds to harvest, using powerful words to encourage members to give wholeheartedly during that year’s harvest festival, and it worked.
2. Another one was his immense contribution towards Ebenezer’s 100 years anniversary.
During the compilation of the Centenary Anniversary Brochure he edited, proof-read, and took time out of his very busy schedules, to follow us to the press to make sure the publishers just did the work correctly. He fully participated in the Anniversary Celebration itself.
Very Rev Prof J.N Kudadjie’s tribute would not be complete, if we failed to add that he took upon himself to start planning for the 100 years celebration of the Methodist School which was to come off the following year, 2019. He actually designed and printed a number of forms to be given to past pupils of the school to fill, as a way of bringing them together for the Anniversary.
Anyone who got closer to him found him to be loving, caring, soft spoken and accommodating without showing his class as a professor. His love to teach knew no bounds.
His endeavor to impact the Society or the community made him one of three senior Methodist Ministers who tried to bring peace between the Ada-Foah feuding chiefs (the others were Bishop Samuel Kofi Osabutey and Bishop Albert Ofoe Wright).
Legend, we will forever miss you.
Rest in Perfect Peace. Mo ya wɔ saminya. AMEN