Deaconess Grace Mensah - Astute Contemporary Prophetess

Deaconess Grace Mensah - Astute Contemporary Prophetess

Another giant figure to have influence Pentecostalism in Ghana is the birth of Deaconess Grace Mensah (also known as Grace Amoah, Mama Grace or Odehunfo Grace of Edumfa). She was endowed with power gift and being full of faith she led many people to Christ.

HER CHILDHOOD

Deaconess Grace Mensah was born on 31^st December, 1923 to OPANYIN KWESI AMOAH and MAME AFUA FOTWIWA, she was the 9^th child out of the fifteen children of the family. She was raised in Egyirekrom in the Central Region of Ghana by her parents. It is believed that at her childhood, the family were foretold about how the Lord would use Grace by a Fulani trader who also advised the family to provide adequate education for her upbringing. The stranger further, advised that she must be given a copy of the Bible and be trained in it as well.

EDUCATION AND MARRIAGE LIFE

Being in a big family, Auntie Grace could only attend elementary school due to the financial constraint. Though she has received an oracle concerning her future, Grace was reluctant in her zeal towards Christ till 1948 when she got married to Elder John Mensah. The couple’s love for God and general hardwork turned them into adventurers. They travelled for greener pastures in many places and settled in Ivory Coast. The husband was an astute farmer while Grace herself an enthusiastic trader.

CALLING

Grace has resisted the calling of God upon her life in the beginning. Perhaps she was trying to use her interest in commerce and lack of good education as an excuse to hinder the fulfilment of a truly divine destiny. This resulted in numerous challenges as the family struggled to make end meet. However, she finally yielded to the calling of God, she was baptized in water by the Church of Pentecost and served God faithfully from 1954. She testified she was instructed to start a prayer fellowship. With the aid of the husband she started Bethlehem Prayer Centre (Popular known as Edumfa Prayer Camp) in 1972 in the family house.

EDUMFA PRAYER CENTRE

It is very imperative to throw light on the very ministry of this later day gallant heroine. The ministry started with handful converts in the house of her husband. As the ministry expanded, God opened avenue for Grace which provided her a vast land. In July 2008, when I visited the camp she testified on how the name EDUMFA was adopted. She said God commanded her in a vision to “pick up grace” the phrase is a translation of the Fante language “Adom, Fa” meaning God has instructed the prophetess to claim that special grace to assist those in need.\r\n

Truly to her charge, she gradually developed the centre into a city of tens of hectares with modern buildings and infrastructures for accommodation, spiritual and material healing and recovery. She funded the ministry from her income in her immense farms.

Edumfa Prayer Camp associated with the Church of Pentecost. For many years the place served as a revival centre of the Church. Many ministers and Christians from all walk of life travelled to Edumfa to wait upon the Lord. The revival centre also furnished the church of Pentecost with many baptized convert. Edumfa was under Abura Dunkwa District of the Church of Pentecost and the District Pastors were having oversight responsibility of the ministration of the centre. Mrs. Grace Mensah’s ministry crossed the borders of Ghana and Africa to the globe. Many people people traveled to the centre for God’s guidance. Politicians trooped the centre for guidance and advice.

HER GENEROSITY

Prophetess Grace, also called Sixteen, was a cheerful giver. Through her benevolence she provided financial support to visitors, co-workers, the poor and need. In fact, her benevolence aided in miracles as well. It became phenomenon in her ministry that many who has received gifts from her have had various testimonies of miracle.

FALLOUT OF THE MINISTRY FROM COP

Auntie Grace’s humility sailed the ministry through all difficult moments until her final days on earth. The Church of Pentecost was going through a general reformation in its teachings and practices. The prayer centres were all on the radar. The church has sought to ensure that sound doctrine is preached, acceptable practices are adhered to. Centre visitors who needed medical assistant are helped by professionals. All centres who refused the implemented directives were dissociated from the Church of Pentecost. Since Mummy Grace was far older, there was the need for a proper transition of authority. Her daughter, Mrs. Becky Bedford and her then husband Apostle Emmanuel Bedford inherited the ministry, registered it under the new name of Edumfa Heavenly Ministry and further implemented alienated teachings of special foods a Christian must eat, water baptism and others. Additionally, the Human Right Watch in Ghana were also raising human right infringement against the centre. According to the Church of Pentecost the two partners failed to agree on the teachings of the COP and directives to sanitize those barred practices. Hence, the Church of Pentecost disassociated themselves from Edumfa.

NATIONAL AWARD

The woman of faith and her husband were devoted farmers producing cash and food crops. They owe cocoa and copra plantations in Central Region. This plantations together with others won the family twice the GHANA BEST FARMER AWARDS in 1999 and 2004

Conclusion

It must be noted, Grace Mensah remained a committed Pentecostal despite the difference which emanated from her daughter’s teachings and practices which led to separation of the two ministry. Grace is highly celebrated for her mighty work of faith. Share the story and remember to commend. Let me here from you.



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