Rev. Clement Anchebah: Shepherd of souls
Some people travel to their National Service stations and return with various baggage; either they desert their stations, get married, or leave behind many unwanted stories, babies not the least.
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Others become change agents who leave indelible footprints several decades after performing that civic duty to the State.
Rev. Clement Anchebah belongs to the latter. Having been posted to the Upper West Region after completing his course at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), he decided to kill two birds with one stone.
He decided to practise the animal husbandry programme he pursued at the university, and for which reason he had been posted to that station in the first place, and also to preach the gospel to his people.
It was in this same era that Rev. Eastwood Anaba, his soul brother and friend, established the Fountain Gate Chapel in 1987 in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
It was then known as the Northern Deliverance in Tears Ministry. Rev. Anchebah automatically became a founder member of the ministry.
With ardour, he gathered a few born-again young people around and shared his vision. Through this, the Wa branch was born in 1988. He became the head and served for 10 years before relocating to Accra.
Rev. Anchebah set up the first Accra branch located at Ofankor, a suburb of Accra, in 1998 where he has been the leader till date. He is also the Chairman of the International Presbytery, a position he took over from the General Overseer, Rev. Anaba.
Rev. Anchebah also managed to nurture seven additional branches across the capital.
Chatting with The Mirror during one of his charity works at the Shelter for the Abused Children based in La, a suburb of Accra, humble-looking Rev. Anchebah shared his story; from a modest lover of the Word of God to a distinguished Man of God within the Charismatic circles, when he celebrated his 60th birthday with the children.
Pastor's responsibilities
Asked about his responsibilities and motivation, apart from preaching, Rev. Anchebah explained that "A sheep can be totally lost within a few miles of its home.
“With no sense of direction and no instinct for finding the fold, a lost sheep usually will walk around in a state of confusion, unrest, and even panic. It needs a shepherd to bring it home."
Besides teaching, he exercises oversight responsibility for the flock by the example of his life. To him, being a pastor requires getting in among the sheep. It is not leadership from above so much as leadership from within.
"An effective pastor does not herd his sheep from the rear but leads them from the front. They see him and imitate his actions," he explained.
According to him the most important asset of spiritual leadership is the power of an exemplary life.
"Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
“We all want change, however until a person is deeply touched and decides to adapt to the change there is little you can do about that,” he said.
Change
Rev. Anchebah noted that "most people are not happy with their lives, yet they continually venture down the same road of unhappiness; never willing to change.
“As you take a bird's eye view of your current lifestyle, do you like what you see? Are your relationships, career choices, financial situation and other aspects of your life truly satisfying? Or do you feel there should be more?" he asked.
"While most of us have moments of joy, they are usually overshadowed by hours, days and even years of affliction. Stress, depression, heartache and overall anxiety are human nature. But it doesn't have to be the case for you. You deserve to have the best life possible.
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“I got born again in 1978 and that encounter changed my life forever. I know what God is using me for. He keeps blessing me every day," he exhorted.
Ups and downs
During the initial stages of the church in Wa, he encountered several challenges. For instance, he suffered persecution from prior-established churches, especially as the Charismatic concept was still novel and considered by some to be radical.
He also faced negative reactions from certain people in the region. However, none of this left him daunted.
Financially, he went through hard times because most of the ‘flock’ were not in the position to support the ministry financially. He was therefore not on salary for several years.
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"It was these early stages of the ministry that I got married to my wife who was then known as Roseline Tevui now Mrs Anchebah. We have four children and adopted an additional three who are dear to our hearts," he said, grinning broadly.
Within the 10-year period that he served in the Upper West Region, he succeeded in setting up several branches of the church in many districts. For example, he set up the Tumu and Lawra branches and several others in the Sawla-Kalba District, which are all flourishing.
As part of his desire to give the ministry a strong footing in the Upper West Region, Rev. Anchebah put up a church building in the very early stages for the Wa Church and established an office which now serves as the regional office for the Fountain Gate churches.
He also established a school in the Wa Municipality which has since turned out junior high school graduates, many of whom are serving the nation in various capacities.
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As a shepherd guiding a huge flock comprising thousands of members, he even counts current pastors among that flock.
Notable among the Men of God he has raised are: Rev. Dr Alfred Kpieta, Rev. Cornelius Yakung, Pastor Ato Arkorful, Mr Lawerence Dakrah, Pastor Julius Donbo, Pastor Jatoe Tusung-Kamwinenye, Pastor Joseph Dassah and Pastor Benard Anchebah, among others.
The humble servant
Rev. Anchebah, who turned 60 last Friday, hails from Goli in the Nadowli District in the Upper West Region.
His parents are Golinaa Anchebah II (known in private life as Sgt James Nintang Anchebah) and Mrs Gboleamah Anchebah, both deceased.
He was born in Tarkwa in the Western Region, started school at the Essikado Roman Catholic (RC) Primary School in Sekondi and then moved to Bibiani where he attended the Bibiani RC Boys’ School.
Having a father in the security services often comes with the changing of schools. It is therefore not surprising that he attended different schools while growing up.
From Bibiani, his father was transferred to Takoradi. He therefore moved to the Airforce Basic School and then to Sampa, Sunyani and Techiman all in the Brong Ahafo Region.
"My father finally retired from the Ghana Police Service in Techiman. As a result, the family moved to the Upper West Region. I therefore wrote the Middle School Leaving Certificate in 1972 at the Wa Tendamba Middle School".
By dint of hard work, he passed the Common Entrance Examination in 1973 and gained admission to the Zuarungu Secondary School, now known as the Bolgatanga Senior High School.
He wrote the GCE Ordinary Level in 1978 and it was "while waiting for the results that I got born again and accepted Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour," he shared.
Having passed the GCE O' Level, he attended the Tamale Sixth Form course in 1980. There, his quest for spirituality made him join the Scripture Union (SU) and he later became one of its leaders.
The Eastwood-Anchebah connection
When asked where the strong ties between him and the Rev. Anaba emanated from, he explained that he was Rev Anaba’s senior while they were in the secondary school.
However, after staying home for two years before going to the university he also became Rev. Anaba's junior at the university.
Recounting the juicy tale, he said 'In fact, Rev. Anaba and I were roommates at the university as well and both crazy for Christ. Therefore, coming from the Upper East, he decided to start the church in Bolga while I was sent to the Upper West Region, which is also my area, after a year of the establishment of the mother church."
As childhood friends and spiritual brothers with the common purpose of leading the flock and winning souls for Christ, neither of them has turned his back on the other.