Letter from Minister Mark Robinson

I am writing to you from Osu which is in Accra, Ghana. As many of you already know, I am completing the last two weeks of my sabbatical programme, which was foiled last year. My focus is “Keeping faith in the face of trauma” and I am thinking particularly about the effects of generations of trauma. I will also seek to tie that into recent “trauma”.

This journey to Ghana has been vital to my research. Some little things that may go unnoticed, have turned out to be of great value. One instance of this occurred last Sunday. On Sunday, I visited the Osu Eben-Ezer Presbyterian church, the congregation is usually 1000 on a Sunday morning and there are two services. The first is an English language service that begins at 7:00 am until 9:00 (but since the pandemic they have moved to 7:30 until 9:00). The second service which is all in the local language of Ga begins at 10:00 am.

When I arrived, those in the courtyard acknowledged me with a respectful nod or bow. I washed my hands at one of the washbasins stationed in the courtyard of the church, as I saw others doing. I then proceeded to enter the church by the front doors, I was met by a welcomer, who sprayed sanitiser on my hands and asked me to follow her colleague. She called me “Osofo”. The second person took me to a door around the side of the building. It was obvious to me that I had been ushered into the minister’s vestry, and there was an open door that led directly to the Communion Table and the pulpit. “Am I expected to preach this morning?” I thought. I noted that she too called me “Osofo”

Before the service the churches 2nd Minister Revd. Frederick Ashaley, assured me that today I would only observe. He led me to a seat where the ministers and church officials sit. The service on this day was led by the children and it was a wonderful expression of praise and thanksgiving to God. It was interesting to me that I was repeatedly called “Osofo” The name made me think of real honour, especially since I was treated with honour at the church. I was welcomed by the senior minister and invited to address the church.

The next day, I was speaking with one of the ministers associated with the local Presbytery office and enquired about the word “Osofo” that I was being called. He explained that in both the Ga and Ashanti languages, many Reverend Ministers are called “Osofo” which means “Servant”.

What an important message and signal, to be regarded a servant and yet being treated with honour. In Luke 14:10 Jesus says “when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.” Jesus and in fact the Bible stresses the importance of serving others.

On Wednesday 3rd March we begin observing the season of Lent, and one of the events we remember at this time is Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, a true act and demonstration of serving others; of being servant. Once when there was an argument among his disciples about who is greatest,

Jesus told his disciples not to “lord it over” others (according to the NIV translation), like the officials exercise authority over them. “26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your servant— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”. Being called “Osofo” was a real honour for me, my job is to live up to the title and do as Jesus commands, to be a servant of God, serving others.