The remains of the Madam Deborah Wengam was laid to rest on Saturday following a well-attended burial service at the forecourt of the State House in Accra. The late Deborah Wengam was the biological mother of the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Ghana, Reverend Stephen Yenusom Wengam.
File past body
As early as 7:14 am , the casket carrying the remains of Rev Wengam’s late mother was opened for public viewing. The clergy were the first group of people to file past the body followed by the Women’s Ministry of Assemblies of God, both current and past, Executive Committee members of Assemblies of God and other invited guests as the police band provided solemn music. The family of the late Deborah Wengam as well as former and current General Superintendents from Ghana and abroad also filed past the body. In all 24 Regional Superintendents in Ghana and 15 General Superintendents travelled from abroad to witness the burial service.Among the dignitaries that paid their last respects were former and current Chief Justices of Ghana, Georgina Theodora Wood and Gertrude Torkonoo respectively, the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas and wife of former President Dr Hilla Limann, Fulera Limann. Heads of churches of various denominations were among other dignitaries that filed past the body.
Burial service
The burial service also brought together thousands of people from all walks of life including other notable dignitaries like the former President, John Agyekum Kufuor, members of the Diplomatic corps and Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Finance,Maureen Magreth Hinda-Mbuende. Foreign missions of Assemblies of God, Ghana from the United States of America, Canada, Australia as well as African countries such as Gambia,Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria, Togo, Mali, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa and Liberia were all in attendance to pay their last respects to the late Deborah Wengam. The National Executive Committee members of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council(GPCC) were among those who paid their last respects to the late Deborah Wengam.
Praises and Worship
The burial service also afforded attendees, dressed in mourning attire, the opportunity to dance to inspiring renditions of praise songs that got almost everybody dancing. Guests were also treated to soothing choral music, giving the gathering a blend of variety that suited the event.
Tributes
Heartfelt tributes flowed freely from representatives of the Cedar Mountain Chapel in East Legon, the General Council of Assemblies of God,Ghana, the Africa Assemblies of God Alliance, and the family of the late Deborah Wengam. With deep affection, Reverend Wengam and his wife Monica and their children- Ithra Frema and Matthew King Wengam shared their tributes.
One theme that ran through almost all the tributes was that the late Deborah Wengam was a virtuous woman worth emulating by all.
Surviving son
Reverend Wengam further explained that “it seems her only assignment in life was to raise me and that was it. The day I was elected General Superintendent, she was overjoyed and then suddenly she began to speak of her desire to go home to her maker. Six months before mom passed, she gave me a call with a serious message.”
The General Superintendent recalled that her mother before her demise said, “my son, I raised you and you’ve never brought shame to the family. Make sure you exit from the office of the General Superintendent with clean hands. She really had me wondering when she repeated herself just a month before she passed.”
“She never left anything to chance. Mom carefully showed her emotions and was not too expressive of her tender side. She’s a woman who has seen a lot of pain in her life” he acknowledged.
Reverend Wengam stated that her late mother’s life taught him that “it is very important that we find our purpose in life. No matter how hard it gets, we must fight our battles and keep our hope in God.”
“I can’t imagine how she was dealing with life. She however instilled in me a sense of humility, proper behaviour and emotional intelligence and these have opened doors for me everywhere” he added.
President’s tribute
President John Dramani Mahama in his tribute, said Mama Deborah was a good woman, and God blessed her womb stressing that “as the Bible said in Luke 1.42, Elizabeth told Mary, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Mama Deborah’s womb was indeed blessed.”
President Mahama further indicated that “she bore four children, of which three passed away, and the only surviving child was Reverend Wengam, who today is precious in the sight of God. Reverend Wengam is a good man. He’s God-fearing. He’s humble. Reverend Wengam is true and loyal to his friends, and Lordina and I are very happy to have him as our friend.”
President Mahama paid glowing tribute to the late Deborah Wengam for raising what he described as a “man gifted with divine actions, and that is why many people have travelled thousands of kilometres to honour him and pay respects to his late mother.”
“Reverend Wengam has been a spiritual mentor to my wife, Lordina, and I” the President further revealed.
Sermon
In a sermon, the President of GPCC, Apostle Eric Nyamekye reminded the gathering to be guided by the fact that death is a serious matter and gives no room for correction therefore believers need to repent and correct their mistakes before it is too late. Meanwhile a Thanksgiving service is scheduled to take place at the Cedar Mountain Chapel in East Legon, tomorrow(Sunday, January 26, 2025).
Who is Deborah Wengam?
The late Deborah Wengam was born on May 28, 1953 in Nakpanduri in the North East Region. Her late father, Elijah Nyankpen Libagtib was a Paramount Chief of the Bimoba Traditional area from 1969 to 1985. Her late mother, Margaret Wanib Namak, was from a polygamous home. Madam Wengam pursued her elementary education at Nakpanduri Primary School and wrote her Middle School Leaving Certificate at Bunkpurugu Middle School in 1970. Her father was a health worker in the midwifery department and the Assemblies of God Nakpanduri Clinic for 45 years.
She was the second of seven siblings. In 1971, she married the late Matthew K. Wengam and they were blessed with four children with three deceased. The first and only surviving child is Reverend Stephen Wengam, General Superintendent of Assemblies of God,Ghana.
Devoted Christian
Madam Wengam was a devoted Christian and an active member of the women’s ministry. She was christened and dedicated to the Lord at Nakpanduri Central Assemblies of God by the late Pastor Alhassan in 1953. She gave her life to Christ at the age of 10 and served the Lord for 61 years.
Personality
Madam Wengam was a disciplinarian and an introvert, choleric and phlegmatic. She was God-fearing, decent and kept her chastity till marriage. She was industrious, prim and proper.
She was a role model to many during her youthful age.
Ministry, community involvement
She was a diligent and faithful housewife. In 1979, she became a founding member of Faith Assemblies of God Nungua with her husband and son.
She was the first women’s ministry president of Assemblies of God. Madam Wengam cared deeply about her extended family. Two of her siblings moved to Accra and stayed in her home until they found their feet.
She also adopted two nephews, Joseph Laare and Selina Laare. When her husband served as the king for many years, they hosted many men of God in their home. Notable among them were the late Rev. Namyela Panka, the first indigenous General Superintendent, and the late Rev. Dr. Simon Asore, former General Superintendent.
Legacy
Madam Wengam loved hymns from melodies of praise. She was familiar with 95 per cent of the hymns. Some of her favourite hymns were, “When we all get to heaven, “I’m pressing on the upward way”, and “we will understand it better by and by.”
She was one of the greatest cheerleaders of her son. She loved her grandchildren dearly. Though a housewife, she opened an investment account for her first grandchild, Ifra Yenupiini Frema Wengam.
By Vincent Amenuveve
