The mortal remains of the late Rev. Samuel Apeligeba, a retired minister of the Evangelical Church of Ghana (ECG) was laid to rest on Saturday, November 27, 2020; after a memorial and burial service was held at Zuarungu-Dabore in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region.
The General Executives of ECG as well as majority of pastors in the church and well wishers from across Ghana took part in the final memorial service of the late Reverend Minister.
Born in 1950 at Zuarungu- Dabore, Rev. Apeligeba died on October 8, 2020 at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital after a short illness.
He was 70.
He was the first son to his parents, Mr. Apkarikiya and Mma Adoa, both of blessed memory; natives of Zuarungu.
With no background of formal education, Samuel spent his early life herding cattle and sheep.
Seeking a break from the hardships of childhood in Zuarungu, he left home at the age of 13 in search of a better life in Kumasi in the Ashanti region where he became a street boy who wandered from one menial job to the other to fend for himself.
Samuel ended up as a houseboy to some missionaries of WEC in Kumasi where he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and personal savior.
One of the Missionaries, Ross Cambell realized young Samuel’s zeal for the Lord and taught him to read and write so as to be able to read and understand God’s word contained in the Bible. Hence Samuel was able to read and write in English.
Following an unusual dream which Samuel believed to be a divine revelation of his calling, he was encouraged by the WEC missionaries to enroll in a school of ministry.
His Bible training was in two parts; the first at Kpandai, mostly in Hausa and Twi; and the second in English at Damango.
Samuel Apeligeba’s first posting as a pastor was to Zongo-Macheri, near Kete-Krachi in October 1974 among the Nchumburu ethnic group.
He began his ministry not drawing any salary from the church but working with his own hands as a laborer to farmers; some of whom happened to be his church members.
Rev. Apeligeba was transferred to Kpassa to strengthen and expand the ministry there. He also planted four churches in neighbouring Togo, among the Losso and Kabre ethnic groups.
His next movement was to Lungni. Over there, God miraculously protected Rev. Apeligeba and his family from curses which became testimonies in and around Lungni.
The people of Lungni were amazed and some confessed that he (Rev. Apeligeba) possessed strong powers. This challenged many men and women in the community who gave their lives to Christ.
Other duty stations he served included Tamale and finally Bolgatanga, his homeland; where he retired from active ministry.
When Rev. Apeligeba first arrived at Bolgatanga, ECG had only 8 branches in the Upper East Region. Before he retired from active service, the total number of branches had reportedly increased to 29. Under his stewardship. The Bolgatanga Zone was also elevated to the status of a district.
The Evangelical church of Ghana, in a tribute, said “Rev. Apeligeba was one of the pioneering pastors in the church.”
According to the church, he “served his maker and ECG faithfully to the end”; having began as a Church planter and later a Pastor from 1974-2016.
The widow, Mrs. Miriam Apeligeba, in a moving tribute recounted what the departed spiritual leader meant to her.
“My love, you were the only true friend I had. You were my mentor, my pastor, and my father. I have always wondered in my heart how I will survive in this world without you. You were my anchor, my pillar and my ever-present burden sharer.” Her tribute read.
Rev. Rtd. Samuel Apeligeba survived by a wife, Mrs. Miriam Apeligeba, 3 sons and 3 daughters.
He has authored the great lessons God taught him in a memoir “The Shaping of a Disciple for Royal Use.”
The book contains deep lessons gleaned from his over 45 years of experience in ministry. It is describe by many as the Late Rev. Apeligeba’s precious gift to the next generation of church leaders and Christians in general.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Ghana
