Pastor's Appreciation Day , held in honour of Rev. Sameul Akufo at the 1000 Morris Apostolic Assembly,Bronx New York

Rev. Samuel Tetteh Akufo started his Christian life in the Apostolic Church of Ghana at Tema where he quickly became one of the leaders of the Witness Movement and worked very closely with prominent leaders like Apostle Victor Oswald Boafo, Apostle Prosper Hayford, Elder Samuel Ampadu. Rev. Akufo was then a regular key speaker at various crusades, rallies and outdoor evangelistic work organized by the Witness Movements in both Tema and Accra areas. While a student at University of Ghana, Rev. Samuel Akufo was also key member of the Legon Pentecostal Association's Team that participated actively in Rev. Duncan Williams Action ministry's embryonic stage services held at a school in the Airport Residential Area in Accra.

In an exclusive interview with this freelance journalist after the Pastor's Appreciation Day event , held in his honour at the 1000 Morris Apostolic Assembly,Bronx New York where he is the head pastor and also the area head of the New York district , he said he has a special calling from God..

At an early age of eight, the Lord led him to ministry by preparing him through education and spiritual mentorship by the late Overseer Timothy Quaye, Presiding Elder, Tema Community Number One Assembly, the late Evangelist Stephen of Tema Community Number One Assembly and the late renowned Apostle A. K. Anderson, the prolific author of most of the Apostolic Twi Hymns. The former corporate executive was convinced of his calling so that at the Labone Secondary School, he excelled in Bible Knowledge in “O” Levels and Religious Studies at “A” Levels and was also appointed to the leadership office of Assistant School Prefect in the 1975/6 academic year. He gained admission to University of Ghana in 1976 was also elected to the four-man executive leadership team of the Students Representative Council of University of Ghana in the 1977/8 Academic year.

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As a sign of his conviction of his calling into ministry, Rev. Samuel Akufo majored in Religion and Political Science at University of Ghana where he was tutored by world renowned professor of Religion, Professor Kwesi Dickson, he told this Journalist.

Upon graduating from University of Ghana, Rev. Samuel Akufo was posted to Aburi Girls Secondary School for National Service in the 1979/80 academic year. Rev. Samuel Akufo taught Bible Knowledge in Forms 1 to 5, and Religious Knowledge and General Paper in 6th Form, where all of the seven students had an “A” in Religious Studies, a proud record in the history of the school.

Rev. Akufo then decided to move back to home in Tema after National Service in Aburi and taught Bible Knowledge in Forms 1 to 5 and Religious Studies and General Paper in 6th Form at Tema Secondary School in the 1980/81 academic year.

During that year, 1981, Rev. Samuel Akufo published his first book entitled “A critical Study of the Acts of the Apostles”, one of the most well-sought after text-books for “O” and “A” Level Students.

Rev. Samuel Tetteh Akufo was also a key core member of a group of young graduates that started APOSA in 1981.

"Some of the core members were Elder Annan Adotey, now President of the Apostolic Church, Dr. Ofori Addo, Robert Lomotey, now Apostle and USA Area Superintendent."

Highlights of Rev. Samuel Akufo's work in Ghana includes remarkable speech given at the 1st National Leadership Conference for all leaders and pastors held at the Labadi Assembly Worship Center in 1981, a thunderous sermon delivered as a unanimous choice speaker representing the National Witness Movement on Gospel Saturday Night at the 1981 National Easter Convention at the Salvation Army Park in Mamprobi. On Apostle Ernest H. William's recommendation, Rev. Samuel Akufo received full scholarship to attend six weeks leadership training course at the Haggai Institute of Advanced Leadership Training School for 3rd World Evangelism in Singapore.

Rev. Samuel Akufo also became the 1st Editor of the Apostolic Truth, the official newsletter published by the Apostolic Church of Ghana in 1981.

On August 10th, 1981 Rev. Akufo left Ghana for the United States to further his education. Rev. Akufo pursued advanced studies at Oral Roberts University, Harvard University and Cambridge College and earned a Masters degree in Education, and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in theology.

Rev. Samuel Akufo, now married for 20years, married his wife Mrs.Joyce Akufo in March of 1990 and together they have three beautiful girls with the oldest daughter now a sophomore student at the prestigious Boston College in Massachusetts.

"Rev. Samuel Akufo's uniqueness as an ordained minister stems from his amazingly well rounded background,he is also an anointed minister, a banker, an accountant, a consultant, a writer, a graphics , multi-media designer, a degreed teacher, a church planter, an insightful preacher, a computer software expert, a creative genius, a loving husband, father , pastor, a driver, a helper and exceptionally committed to his ministry work, where he spends virtually all-day, 7 days a week to do God's work."

Prior to becoming a full-time minister in the Apostolic Church in the year 2006, Rev. Samuel Akufo excelled in the corporate world with an exceptional leadership and executive career history with Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta as Senior Operations Analyst and Planning and Control Coordinator for the entire 6th District of the Federal Reserve Bank System.

The former banker also held the high office of Assistant Vice President with 1st Union Bank which merged with Wachovia.

Other corporate offices held include Senior Area Manager for International Profit Associates, Small Business Development Manager with AT&T, Senior Account Executive with Mobil Chemical, a division of Mobil Oil and Senior Consultant with George S. May Consulting based in Chicago.

On May 14, 1995, Rev. Akufo was ordained in the new church he had started in Phoenix, Arizona as the 1st Pastor of the Apostolic Church in North America by the then President of the Apostolic Church, the late Apostle Atta-Antwi and the late Apostle Victor Oswald Boafo both of blessed memory.

The Lord has used Rev. Akufo to establish several churches in the United States.

The preacher has also selflessly channeled a lot of his own financial resources to support most of the churches he started.

Churches planted by Rev. Akufo include Church of Pentecost, Atlanta, The Apostolic Church, Phoenix, AZ now taken over by default by Church of Pentecost, The Apostolic Church, Virginia and The Apostolic Church, Providence, RI.

Rev. Samuel Akufo has also played a significant role in building up a number of churches namely Church of Pentecost, Los Angeles, The Apostolic Church, Charlotte, NC, The Apostolic Church, Delaware and is currently on his second tour of duty leading the 1000 Morris Assembly of the Apostolic Church into greater heights.

The man of God has a solid history of turning churches around from virtually unknown status and unimpressive looks to very impressive looks and gaining remarkable exposure and recognition. On August 28, 2010, the Apostolic Church International, 1000 Morris Assembly under Rev. Samuel Akufo's leadership won the very prestigious African Excellence Award Trophy in Religious Service in the USA at a grand ceremony held in the heart of New York City, New York.

The humble servant of God, has also held several offices in the Apostolic Church, offices held include Field Secretary for the USA Area, Area Finance Pastor and most importantly, was the Chairman of the Governing Board of Apostolic Churches in the USA. The Key Assemblies supervised were Bronx White Plains Road, The Virginia Assembly, The Atlanta Assembly and The Toronto, Canada Assembly during the period 1998 and 1999 when he handed over to Apostle Ebenezer Abebrese who was posted to the USA by the Council in Ghana to come and assist with the work.

In the year 2000, Rev. Samuel Akufo, then Pastor of the Virginia Assembly extended invitation to the award winning gospel group The Soul Winners of Ghana then led by Elder Kenneth Appiah.

This is the story of the servant of the Lord who knew his calling from a very early age and has remained totally and sacrificially committed to the work.

Rev. Samuel Akufo's favorite verses are found in Philippians 3:13-14 and Ecclesiastes 3:11 May Jehovah God bless you as you continue to pray for this Soldier in the Lord's Army.

Nana Osei Tutu,the presding elder and all those who were given the Nana Osei Tutu, the Presiding Elder, Elder Stephen Erzah, the Secretary, and Elder Kenneth Appiah, the music rabbi, the Praise & Worship leader of the church all expressed their heartfelt thanks to this great man of God who has helped elevate the status of this church to a very high standard.

FROM: PRINCE OSEI BONSU, BRONX NEW YORK.