Stephen K. Owusu

Rest thee well Owura!

Like the many wonderful lives you touched, I'm glad to be among the many you called son.

I met you in 2007, just when I had accepted Christ at the Church of Pentecost, Seattle Assembly. Either by divine order or by the grace of mentorship that you carried, you assigned me responsibility to work under you as the Local Financial Secretary. Little did I know the task would be the bridge that would keep me in the house of God.

As a young man, who had lived the freedom and the pleasures of American life, coming to God soon exposed challenges. Had it not been you, the connection and bond of church work that we shared, I would have gone back to the world.

Our relationship developed over the years, you called me son, and truly made me feel like one. There was no church task you did not pull me into. We served on many committees, explored ideas, solicited business ventures, and many more. Overtime you taught me to be strong, to have conviction, to be a deep thinker, and to stand firm on principle. When engaged in deep discussions on issues, you always sought to understand the basis for one’s ideas, suggestions, and points. I Iearnt to think through issues and mastered the ability to articulate my reasons for, or against in discussions.

Your recall was always vivid and you regaled me and others with stories about your early life – your days at Accra Academy and Legon, your nights out at Apollo Theater, your study abroad, your careers, including your time at Ghana Cocoboard, your business partners, your taste into politics, your affiliation with various groups, associations, and many more. You made your life an open book and invited us to glean from it. You did not hold back, but rather shared your life to help make ours better.

By the grace of God, and your genuine willingness to embrace everyone, our father-sonship bond deepened.

In the Spring of 2014, when the call came for you to serve our Ghanaian community in the greater Seattle area and the State at large (GHASEA), you believed in me and pointed out that, if was not coming with you, you are not taking the position. You gave me time to think about it. I could not say no. You led the executive team and we carried out the responsibility of serving GHASEA. Through this, GHASEAFest, an annual festival of sports, fun and games brought the community together. GHASEA expanded its reach into neighboring Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, BC. Also, through your efforts, other community leaders from West Africa engaged and discussed innovative ways toward addressing the needs of its citizens. Your vision also included how to bring together the various Ghanaian local groups under the umbrella of GHASEA.

As a Papa, you were firm on principle, but when our views were not congruent, we always found ways to put our differences aside and forge for the common good. We sought and considered ideas of each other.

Within the Church Organization, you had great relish for handling every task and assignment. You were a tireless man willing to do everything.

When circumstances in 2016 had me in Ghana for an extended stay, you connected me to a friend to ensure my wellbeing and you followed up with regular phone calls to check-in. As the saying goes “Show me your friend and I will show you my character,” your friend did not disappoint me. He was an extension of your genuine care and concern. Thanks to you, I reaped where I had not sown.

Despite the health limitations, your spirit remained high. Your proclamation “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD” Psalm 118:17, is proof that a man’s work is not finished by reason of poor health. Notwithstanding the ups and downs, sickness could not hold you. Rather, you demonstrated that there is beauty and nobility in life, and that it’s worth living no matter the challenges. You remained passionate and sharp, serving God and man to the end.

You invested so much in people, closely and actively tendering in their growth, working tirelessly for the Church, and the community at large. You gave your all-time, energy, wisdom, knowledge, skills, kindness, and everything, to all. All a person ought to do was reach out, either in person or electronically about a task or question and you got into action to ensure things got accomplished.

We will remember and appreciate how you sacrificed and gave fully of yourself, pouring out into others for their well-being and success.

In sorrow, we are grateful for the fullness of the life you lived, not letting the circumstances of health be a limitation in any way. You showed us that there’s no reason to give up, give excuses, but to live in all fullness. You have really played your part and played it well.

Mr. Adjei, Owura, Papa, Nana Kumnipa V, I am grateful. Today, if am indebted to men, you are among those I owe. You are in the Hall of Fame of men and among the vessels that have carried me thus far. You will forever hold a place in my life. I'm grateful to God for having and knowing you. I feel honored and privileged to have been a part of your life. Thank you for being a father to me. Thank you for seeing in me that which I couldn’t see, nor knew of myself, and for helping bring it alive.

In your departure, your name and legacy lives on through us – the lives you’ve birthed, the many you’ve touched, the numerous you’ve mentored, trained, influenced, served and, changed by your selflessness. Together we celebrate your life being thankful that the Lord God Almighty gave us the special privilege of bringing such a wonderful person into our lives. Truly, by your sacrifice, you lived and declared the works of the Lord. A man who took a genuine interest in seeing the development of others.

I will remember and appreciate your mentorship, care, insight, service, leadership, commitment, and dedication. This is the life you shared.

My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Helen Adjei (Maafio), the children, grandchildren, in-laws, etc. I know how you held the man who has departed in high esteem.

Fare thee well Owura!

Mr. Adjei, Yaa wɔ ojogbaŋŋ !!

Papa Da Yie!!

Rest thee well Servant of God and Men!!

Rest thee well in the bosom of your Maker!!

Stephen K. Owusu

Seattle, October 2021.