James K. Gyimah - A pioneer of Ghanaian Pentecostalism

James K. Gyimah - A pioneer of Ghanaian Pentecostalism

James K. Gyimah was one of the pioneers of Ghanaian Pentecostalism and key supporter of Pastor James McKeown during the period of disagreement in the infant church of the Apostolic Church, Gold Coast. 

He is also one of the early Ghanaian to have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and subsequently started a fellowship at Akyem Akroso. The late Rev. James Gyimah was born to Opanin Kofi Sintim and Madam Abena Kwakyewaa both of blessed memory. He received his education in  Agona Nsaba whilst staying with a Basel Mission German family.

Working Experience and Marriage

Being raised in farming environment he traded in cocoa purchasing business as a Clerk alongside farming, producing foodstuffs and cash crops such as cocoa. His good skills in commerce led him into diamond business.  Rev. James Gyimah found Maame Augustina Yaa Apeaa of Agona Nsaba and fell in love with her. They were married and were blessed with six children (two daughters and tour sons).

Christianity

James was born into the Presbyterian Church. Coming from a family of that great Church he rose to become a Catechist and an active leader of the Presbyterian Church. His study into the scriptures and prayers enabled him to be baptized in  the Holy Spirit with initial evidence of speaking in tongues . In those days, the christian belief in the glossolalia was alien and thus his baptism into the Holy Spirit attracted rejection from his mother church, the Presbyterian Church and in particular, the Salem Community at Akroso.   He continued his leadership calling by establishing a fellowship in Akroso with teachings of the Holy Spirit Baptism by the Apostolic Faith (USA).

He and another Presbyterian in a nearby community of Asamankesse called Peter Anim Newman who has been also expelled from the Presby Church joined force and affiliated their fellowship to the Apostolic Faith USA. Prior to development, Peter Newman who has received healing through a magazine from the Faith Tabernacle Church USA has adopted the teaching of the Faith Tabernacle Church USA into Ministry.

Rev. James McKeown desired to call James Gyimah into the full time ministry a few months after he had settled at Winneba. The late James Gyimah who was the leader of the African Faith Tabernacle, Akroso branch, rather recommended the late Rev. Asomani, ‘his convert and an active member. Rev. James McKeown made further attempts but these resulted in the further recommendation of Yaw Amoako, J. A. Bimpong and Kofi Owusu all ofAkroso.

Finally, James Kwaku Gyimah yielded to his call into the ministry and was stationed at Wassa Simpa. From there, he was transferred to Nkawkaw and later to Akroso. At the point of being transferred from Akroso to Simpa (Winneba), he fell sick and could not report at his new station. He died in 1952.



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SOURCE: Published by Sampson Rockefellar Ampiaw in COP History