Samuel Kwame Brako: Founder of Gyidi (Saviour, True Faith, Faith Salvation etc) Church
In 1875, the young Samuel Brako (also called Kwame Panin), his mother Afrah, uncles, other siblings and other family members migrated from Juaben in the Ashanti Region during the Second Kumasi-Juaben War of 1874-1875. The defeat of Juaben forces led the people of Juaben, Effiduase, Asokore, Oyoko and other communities to migrate to Akim Abuakwa in the Eastern Region under the leadership of King Asafo Agyei of Juaben. The mother of Samuel Brako and his uncle Kwasi Addai Adutwum settled at Osiem, near Old Tafo in Akim Abuakwa during the reign of King Amoako Atta I of Kyebi. [1].
In 1914, Samuel Kwame Brako received series of revelations from the LORD Jesus Christ, who instructed him to establish a church whose members would worship on Saturday. Samuel Brako before these revelations was originally a member of the Methodist Church at Osiem and functioned as one of the church’s colporteur. Initially Samuel Brako faced a lot of opposition from the established churches and his own uncles at Osiem that caused him to move from place to place within the Osiem township. His uncle Kwasi Addai Adutwum whose house Brako and his wife lived disagreed on the formation of the new church. He threw out Samuel Brako and his wife from his house. This made Brako to move and settle at a place called Kubaase part of the Osiem township. He faced hostility from the people here too. He eventually crossed the Subi River and settled near the Bososo-Begoro Road, (where the present Seventh Day Adventist Church is located at Osiem) and settled there. This location was called Asuogya during Brako’s time but it currently called SDA.
During the early years of the church’s formation, members worshipped alternatively on Sunday and Saturday and with a lot of laxity however, the year in which his son Prophet (Odiyifo) Emmanuel Kwaku Adutwum was born, it became official that the Church would observe the Sabbath with little or no work done on that day. Samuel Brako did not worship with the SDA Church neither was he ever taught by them. Several sources within SDA and the Faith Church indicate that the Faith Church was founded wholly by Samuel Brako as an independent church and Brako only met SDA officials in the 1930s as part of the efforts to merge both Sabbath churches. In fact, at the time of the founding of the Faith Church, there was no SDA Church in the Akim Abuakwa and Koforidua area. SDA only came into being in the Akim and Koforidua areas after the merger efforts failed in 1934 [2].
In 1936, a year after the birth of Samuel Brako’s twins, he bought a large property (which was being used as a cocoa-shed) from the cocoa brokering company Swanzy and used it as a worship centre and also as a dwelling place. [3]. Most of Samuel Brako’s elders lived in this building with him. And it was at this location that the Church became fully established. Samuel Brako also secured permission from Nana Kwaku Agyei (the chief of Osiem) to use the land surrounding the Swanzy building to establish a mission. The chief agreed and many of Samuel Brako’s followers settled there and built their own houses (at present day Saviour Church Mission). Those whose houses are still found in the mission are Papa Gyan, Papa Bonti, and Papa Joshua Darko, John Kwaku Badu (Brako’s brother), Opanin Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi. (Osiem currently has the following residential zones: Afigya, Nsuo Ase, Kubaase, Asantefoɔ mu, SDA, Gyidi, Atwomaa krom, Zongo, Ayigbe town, ECOMOG. During Samuel Brako's time Afigya, Kubaase, Nsuo Ase formed the main part of the village).
Elder Samuel Brako later received one Akokora John from Huni-Valley. The two had not known each other personally. According this account, Akokora John went to Osiem to strengthen Samuel Brako. He was very reluctant to travel to Osiem because it was planting season and wanted to finish clearing the bush and the planting season before moving. The LORD understood his reason for being reluctant and by a miracle shortened the time his corn/maize took to germinate, grow and mature. After this demonstration of the LORD’s power, he quickly harvested their crop and moved to Osiem to join Samuel Brako in building the Church. Not long after the departure of Akokora John, Samuel Brako also received the Kroffa brothers (Samson and Edward) who were staunch evangelists. Soon the church began to grow. The Krofas were instrumental in planting the Church in many parts of the country. They were also prominent prophets that the LORD Jesus Christ used to accomplish many healing assignments [4].
Brako’s wife (Mary Akosua Amonu Gyamfua), his children (Sarah Akua Konadu, Akua Mansah, Prophet Kwaku Emmanuel, Kofi Sem) his brothers Kwaku Adu and Kwaku Badu (the father of Abraham Kwaku Adusei the current head of Saviour Church of Ghana) and his in-laws including John Kwasi Owusu Atobra, and Kwasi Sakra (who were Brako’s brothers in-law, brothers to Amonu Gyamfua), and Kwaku Adu a nephew of Brako were instrumental in laying the foundation of the church.
Other prominent members whose contribution was crucial were Pastor Appiah Dankwa [5], Elder Jacob Kwaku Agyei, John Kwasi Mensah (from Nkyiripuaso near Juaben, and the first ordained baptist in the Church and the father of Brako’s wife), Papa Gyan whose son Kwasi Gyan (was a prominent prophet and a relative of Brako’s wife), Moses Mossi Baanie, Elder Kwasi Beremfo, Papa Bonti, Papa Joshua Darko, Elder Ayitey, Papa Afrifa, Elder Yaw Abrokwah, Elder Duodu (a staunch evangelist and husband of Brako’s daughter Mansah), Elder Kwasi Agyapong Mensah, and Eshun Mensah (a Fanti, a singer and the composer of the Church’s early lyrics) [6]. Eshun Mensah was also Samuel Brako’s secretary (“krakye”) and a prominent evangelist who is credited with the growth of the church in many parts of the country. Opanin Isaac Asirifi was Samuel Brako’s Bible reader (“kenkani”) and lived with Samuel Brako). Ofori Duodu, the son-in-law of Samuel Brako also used his Spiritual gift as an evangelist to preach the word of God to many people in the Akim Abuakwa area. Elder Yaw Abrokwah who was a singer and a prominent prophet left his dwelling at Old Tafo in Akim Abuakwa and moved to Osiem so he could work with Samuel Brako [7]. Elders Emmanuel Obeng, Yaw Dankwa and Kwasi Mensah Agyapong of Amua also strenuously worked with Samuel Brako in establishing the branches in the Kwahu area. The Agogo branch of the Church was established through the pastoral effort of Elders Stephen Atta, Opanin Kone, and (Acheampong who once served in the Agogo Palace). Elder Abraham Nsia of Asamang in the Ashanti Region was also instrumental in the growth of the church in the region.
Women also played important role in the early years of the Church. Apart from Amonu Gyamfua (Samuel Brako’s wife), other women who worked tirelessly with the men included Akua Moomo (a sister to Amonu Gyamfua), Maame Akua Esua, Maame Dansoa, Maame Afua Hum, Maame Yaa Henewaa and Maame Afia Ansah (a singer and a direct sister of Opanin Issac Asirifi).
Samuel Brako, the Krofas and their co-workers laboured day and night to bring the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to countless others. They preached the gospel to the people of Osiem and the surrounding villages including Old Tafo and Kukurantumi telling them to refrain from alcohol, adultery, adulatory, fornication, theft, and anything that corrupts the body. Brako entreated his followers to pay special attention to holiness, righteous, spiritual growth, fasting, prayers, love and charity.
God filled Samuel Brako with his power (Holy Spirit) and he performed many miracles including one that caused almost the entire Agogo community in Ashanti to convert to Gyidi. Through the healing power of the Holy Spirit the sick were healed, demons were cast, and many souls were saved from the destruction of alcohol. Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their midst members hardly ever got sick and hardly visited the hospital. Indeed, the gospel message preached by Samuel Brako and his lieutenants was so much backed by the total power of the Holy Spirit so much so that it earned them the Akan phrase “kyiri bentoa” which translates as people who have no need for physicians. People feared to sin because as soon as the sin was committed the Holy Spirit would reveal it to the prophets who in turn inform the leaders. The prophets spent most of their time interceding on behalf of the members. No one was paid for doing their job. Founder Samuel Brako preached to members to be content with what they always have.
Under the able leadership of Samuel Brako the Church spread to other parts of Ghana including Kwahu, Akuapem, Fante, Asante and Brong Ahafo. Because of lack of transportation networks most of these places were reached by means of walking. For instance when moving from Akim to Ashanti, Samuel Brako and his team would take the sleeper train from Bososo to Boankra and do the remaining journey by foot. In the early years of the church, it spread mostly through the Akan communities especially the villages but it soon reached the towns.
Church Doctrine and Organisation
The Church was founded as a Spiritual Church and as such God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are to be revered. Both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are recognised as the main source of scriptural authority on which teachings are based. In other words, the Church draws heavily from the New Testament and also the Old Testament. Apart from worshiping and observing the Sabbath on Saturday, Founder Samuel Brako was instructed by the Holy Spirit to let his followers treat the meeting place as a holy place in line with God’s encounter with Moses (Exodus 3:5) and Joshua (Joshua 5:15) in which both leaders were instructed to remove their sandals before approaching God (see also Acts 7:33; Matthew 18:20). As a result members remove their sandals anytime they come into the presence of God. Removal of sandals takes place when members attend church, prayer service or in any other place connected with God. This is in reverence to God [8].
Samuel Brako was instructed to follow the guidelines established in the Book of the New Testament regarding who could be ordained a pastor or Bishop. In this regard, men only would be ordained pastors and bishops, and also to pray at every religious gathering in accordance with the teachings of the Gospel as found in 1 Timothy 2:8-14 (See the notes below for what these verses say). Through this instruction, Founder Samuel Brako ordained many men from every part of the then Gold Coast (now Ghana) to become pastors for the church [9].
New converts must confess their sins during baptism. Baptism is by total immersion. Both adults and children could be baptised. In the early years of the church’s founding, members were not burdened with payments of money such as tithe and weekly collection. Tithe payment is still prohibited. Weekly collection is still voluntary. As they are not paid, pastors and deacons must endeavour to work for their livelihoods and not expect to be paid. Payments in the form of salaries and allowances were and are still completely discouraged. The Church places more emphasis on the use of African melodies. Songs are sung in local language and there is no elaborate use of musical instruments. Water and non-alcoholic beverages are used during the Holy Communion or Sacrament rather than alcoholic wine.
The church under Samuel Brako was organised around four main ministries: The Pastoral Ministry; The Prophetic Ministry; The Evangelism Ministry; and The Music and Song Ministration Ministry. These four pillars were not separated but worked in tandem for the total growth of the Church. (This practice is still noticeable in True Faith Church and Faith Salvation, though it is less noticeable in Saviour Church). Each of the Ministry is headed by a person who is full of faith, wisdom and the Holy Spirit.The Head of the Church (severally called overseer, superintendent) is divinely appointed through prayers and request from the LORD Jesus Christ. Until recently (early 1990s) no elaborate titles (such as bishops, apostles, archbishop) were used for the heads of the various ministries. The title usually used during the early years of the church was the Akan word “Opanin” which translates as “Elder”. (Since the early 1990s, True Faith Church in particular has adopted titles such as bishops, apostles, Senior Apostles for its leaders).
Women are not to be left out in the church organisation. They are to be part of the strong Prophetic Ministry as prophets as well as the Singing and Songs Ministration Ministry. Sarah Akua Konadu, the daughter of Samuel Brako, Madam Akua Esua, Madam Afia Ansah were strong singers whose singing abilities attracted many unbelievers to the Church.
Dress Code
Men and women are to shun costly apparel and any appearance of the world. Men are to wear long robes (white robes during Sabbath days and red robes during all other days and occasions. The robes are to be of the same design. Modesty is emphasised. Women must cover their head so they can have a good relationship with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the angels as is instructed in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Peter 3:3-6 (see the reference below for what these verses say) [10].
Samuel Brako’s favourite sermons were “Love”, “Doing Charity”, “Holiness” and “Righteousness”.
Death of Samuel Brako and Succession
Founder Samuel Brako died in the mid-1940s. [11]. He left behind a well-established Bible-based and Holy Spirit-driven Church with branches all the country. He also left behind 10 children (Akua Konadu, Akua Mansah, Kwaku Emmanuel, Akua Afra, Kwaku Sem, Joshua Adjei Adusei, Yaa Ataa, Yaw Tawiah Moses, Kofi Badu popularly called 13, and Afua Duku) who continued the good work of their father. According to his son Joshua Adjei Adusei, he was present when his father anointed an old man by name Elder Moses Mossi Baanie as his successor. However, Opanin Mossi was old and enlisted Elder Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi to be his assistant. Elder Moses Mossi Baanie became less active due to his age and Elder Asirifi (who was very outspoken) finally replaced him as the leader of the Church. (Elder Asirifi was not a direct relative of Samuel Brako as is sometimes claimed) but lived with Samuel Brako as a young man.
There are no known photographs of Samuel Brako but everyone who saw him acknowledges that his son Prophet Kwaku Emmanuel was the carbon copy of his dad. In other words, Founder Brako was tall and slender.
First Schism
However, after the death of Samuel Brako, disagreement arose between Elder Asirifi on one hand and some of the leaders especially Elder Emmanuel Obeng, Elder Abraham Nsia of Asaman, Elder Yaw Dankwa and Elder Mensah of Asuonyunu on the other hand. The disagreement centred around the Biblical teachings of 1 Timothy 3:2-4 where would-be pastors are supposed to be husbands of one wife [12].
This text concerns the qualification of a bishop. It admonishes pastors and church leaders to be husbands of one wife but Opanin Asirifi had two wives and so the leaders objected to him becoming the leader of the church and administering communion or sacrament. The disagreement was not resolved amicably and the Church split between Opanin Asirifi and the other group during the Convention at Asante Akyem Obogu. Opanin Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi affectionately called Dadeako later named his version of Gyidi “The Saviour Church of Ghana” (nkwagyesom) with the headquarters at Osiem while Elder Obeng and his group called theirs “True Faith Church of Ghana” (nokware gyidifo) with the headquarters at Kwahu Praso, in Eastern Region. Elder Yaw Dankwa anointed Elder Emmanuel Obeng as the head of True Faith Church in 1957 with Prophet Ebenezer Adarkwaa as head of the Prophetic Ministry. Elder Emmanuel Obeng died in 1966 and Elder Joseph Ampadu was divinely elected as his successor in 1967.
The two branches continue to observe the Sabbath but over the years there has been significant changes in the organisation of the two churches. As mentioned earlier, the church under Samuel Brako was organised around four main ministries: The Pastoral Ministry; The Prophetic Ministry; The Evangelism Ministry; and The Music and Song Ministration Ministry. These four pillars were not separated but worked in tandem for the total growth of the Church. (This practice is still very noticeable in True Faith and Faith Salvation, and less noticeable in Saviour Church). Each of the Ministry is headed by a person who is full of faith, wisdom and the Holy Spirit. The Head of the Church (severally called overseer, superintendent) is divinely elected through prayers and request from the LORD Jesus Christ. Until recently (early 1990s) no elaborate titles (such as bishops, apostles, archbishop) were used for the heads of the various ministries. The title usually used during the early years of the church was the Akan word “Opanin” which translates as “Elder”. (Since the early 1990s, True Faith Church first adopted the title ”Bishop” for the head of the church. This was later changed to ”Apostle” and then to ”Senior Apostle”). Elaborate titles are still absent in Saviour Church.
Since the death of Asirifi in 1997, the Saviour Church has placed little emphasis on the prophetic ministry, whereas True Faith continues to regard prophetic ministry as a critical component of the church in line with the tradition established by Founder Samuel Brako. Opanin Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi did not let his followers know that he did not found the church. In fact, many in the Saviour Church (except the older generation) until recently did not know that Opanin Asirifi did not found the church. Elder Asirifi worked hard to erase any traces of Samuel Brako’s name from the church. This however, was not the case in True Faith Church. The True Faith Church even composed songs celebrating the immense contribution of the Founder and his elders.
There is one more significant difference between Saviour Church and True Faith Church regarding activities they organise every year. The calendar year of True Faith Church is divided into three: a Synod meeting involving pastors, deacons and church leaders usually held at the headquarters; prophetic meeting involving all the prophets is held around August every year; and annual convention which takes place around 25 December till 1 January of the New Year. The annual convention is rotated throughout the branches in the country. The Saviour Church also has synod and annual convention but not prophetic meeting. Meanwhile the annual convention always takes place at Osiem and nowhere else.
Other Schisms
Both Saviour Church and True Faith Church have suffered further divisions as a result of leadership and succession problems. For example when Opanin Asirifi died in 1997 one of his children by name Mr. Kofi Elia wanted to succeed him (claiming that the church was founded by his father Asirifi) but Mr. Elia was unsuccessful because the elders knew his father did not found the church and so made Abraham Kwaku Adusei, a nephew of Samuel Brako, its new Superintendent or overseer. Mr. Kofi Elia refused to abide by the dictates of the church leadership and the matter went to court. Eventually, Mr. Kofi Elia left Osiem to go and establish his own church at Mankrong Junction and later at Nyanyano in the Gomoa District of the Central Region. (Since the death of Elder Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi, the factions of both Kofi Elia and Abraham Adusei have engaged in violent clashes sometimes involving the use of harmful objects. Millions of cedis worth of property have been destroyed and the good name of the Church has been severely tarnished.
The True Faith Church has suffered more division than the Saviour Church. In the 1980s several leaders in Ashanti Region including Elder Abraham Nsia of Asante Asamang, Magya Sampson of Bodomasi near Kumawu, Pastor Thomas of Abrepɔ of Kumasi, and Prophet Emmanuel Kwaku Adutwum broke away to form Faith Salvation Church and other denominations such as United Faith Church. Later some of the leadership of Faith Salvation and United Faith Church rejoined True Faith Church but some of the members remained to continue to operate as Faith Salvation Church. Faith Salvation has also suffered divisions to the point that there are different versions of Faith Salvation including Spiritual Faith Salvation and Reform Faith Salvation.
The True Faith Church suffered its most devastating schism since the death of Apostle Joseph Ampadu in late 2000s. Apostle Ampadu who according to historical accounts joined the Church in 1948, was ordained a pastor in 1952, and headed the Church for more than three decades. He became the head of the church in 1967. After his death, succession battle rocked the church. In the past the church had always relied on God to determine who could be the leader after the death of the incumbent. Prophet John Owusu Achiaw was the head of the Prophetic Ministry within the Church. Owusu Achiaw was made the caretaker leader after the death of Ampadu. As head of the Prophetic Ministry, it was his duty to find out from God who was the rightful person to succeed Apostle Ampadu. Apostle John Owusu Achiaw demonstrated his interest to become the new head of the Church.
However, after the death of Apostle Ampadu, an audio cassette surfaced in which Apostle Ampadu purportedly nominated Apostle Moses Appah to be his successor. The voice on the cassette was not questioned. However, the authenticity of the cassette was questioned since many of the leadership of the church denied knowing anything about the existence of the cassette. It was thought that Apostle Ampadu was influenced by some leading members who took advantage of his old age to record the audio in order to perpetuate the Kwahu hegemony in the Church hierarchy. Since the death of Samuel Brako and the division of the Church into two, the True Faith Church has always been led by a Kwahu one of the two dominant tribes that form the bulk of the Church’s membership. The other dominant tribe is the Asantes/Ashantis. The Ashantis have been complaining and murmuring about this Kwahu dominance for a long time and wanted the status quo changed. It is this background that made the Asantes to raise serious questions about the need for the cassette [13]. After several meetings majority of the leadership of the Church agreed for Apostle John Achiaw to become the new leader. But Apostle Moses Appah’s faction disagreed and finally took the matter to Court. Eventually, Moses Appah and his faction lost the court battle and proceeded to breakaway to form the True Faith Evangelical Church. The Church was therefore split on tribal lines with the bulk of Kwahu backing Apostle Appah and Asantes supporting Apostle Owusu Achiaw. Since the death of Apostle Ampadu more division has taken place. True Faith of Love headed by Apostle Mensah together with Precious New True Faith Church International headed by Apostle Daniel Adjei came into being. In 2019, Precious New True Faith further split into two.
The Saviour Church, True Faith and Faith Salvation continue to experience litigations which have seriously undermined the good work of Samuel Brako. Indeed, nobody ever thought that Gyidi Asɔre or Memeneda Kɔkɔɔ as the Church is known in the Akan language throughout Ghana could be associated with such litigations and disputes [14]. The Ghanaian media have extensively covered these litigations and leadership succession struggles that have come to be associated with the once glorious Church.
Membership
The many break ups have given rise to the phrase “Brako Faiths” which is a term used to refer to all the denominations that trace their origin and heritage to the Founder. Membership of the Brako Faiths are more than 100,000 worldwide. According to Baeta (1962:66) in 1954 Saviour Church had about 3,421 members, however by the early 1960s the figure had more than doubled to 7000 found in 83 branches. In 1995, the Missionary Atlas Project (MAP) put both members and affiliate members of Saviour Church to 31,800 found in 257 branches. In 2014, the leader of the Church at Osiem said the church membership was 100,000 of which 80 percent were into farming. The figure for True Faith Church in 1995 was 50,600 with 183 branches (MAP, 2005:23) [14]. From the 1990s onwards, particularly under the leadership of Elder Joseph Ampadu, the True Faith Church established several branches throughout the world especially in Europe and North America. Today, it has branches in Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
The Saviour Church under the leadership of Abraham Kwaku Adusei has embarked on several socio-economic infrastructure projects particularly at Osiem where it is headquartered. It has built a major clinic (Hawa Memorial Saviour Church Hospital) that serves Osiem and its environs. The clinic has facilities such as Maternity, Orthopaedic, X-Ray, Scan, Pharmacy, Out-Patient Department and Laboratory and other units. It has also established a nursing training school at Osiem (Saviour Church Nursing and Midwifery Training College (SCNMTC), and has a functioning secondary school that serves not only its members but the entire Osiem community and its environs. The church has 12 basic schools throughout the country. The Church has also connected every home in its catchment area at Osiem with pipe borne water. During the time of the late Elder Isaac Asirifi the Osiem community enjoyed electricity and this has continued under Abraham K. Adusei [16].
The Akan phrases such as ‘Memeneda som’ (Sabbath worship), ‘Memeneda Gyidifo’ (Sabbath Believers), ‘Memeneda Kɔkɔɔ’ (Sabbath Observers who wear red robes), ‘Nkwagyesom’ (Saviour Church), ‘Nokware Gyidi’ (True Faith) are all names associated with the Church.
Written by Lord Aikins Adusei. Adusei is a great grandson of Samuel Brako. Adusei holds BSc degree from Kwame University of Science and Technology (KNUST, Kumasi-Ghana), MSc degree from Stockholm University (Stockholm, Sweden), another MSc degree from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Uppsala), and is a PhD candidate in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, London in the United Kingdom. Adusei is worried about the disintegration and destruction of the church his grandfather founded and is mounting campaign reverse the decline of the Church [17].
Copyright: No part of this account can be distributed, copied, edited without the authorisation of the author.
Notes
[1] Addo-Fening, R. 1973. The Background to the Deportation of King Asafo Agyei and the Foundation of New Dwaben. Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 213-228
[2] SDA was only established at Osiem in 1935 after the talks in 1934 failed. True Faith Church takes their year of foundation from 1914 whereas Saviour Church takes the year of foundation from 1924, the year Sabbath was fully recognised. This explains why True Faith Church celebrated 100 Years Anniversary in 2014 while Saviour Church celebrated 90thAnniversary in the same year.
[3] Swanzy, H. 1956. A Trading Family in the Nineteenth Century Gold Coast. Transactions of the Gold Coast & Togoland Historical Society, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 87-120; Southall, R. J. 1978. Farmers, Traders and Brokers in the Gold Coast Cocoa Economy. Canadian Journal of African Studies, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 185-211
[4] Sampson Krofa was a powerful evangelist/prophet who was gifted with the power of healing and was used by the LORD tremendously. Sampson Krofa played instrumental role in establishing the branches at Kukuom, and Techimantia among others.
[5] Pastor Appiah Dankwa, John Kwasi Owusu Atobra, Edward Krofa along with Eshun Mensah were the most educated members of the church at the time. Atobra who was a hunter for the King of Juaben also helped to found the village called kurofrom near Nkyiripuaso. Eshun Mensah married the daughter of Opanin Kwaku Sem of Osiem. Mensah is credited with bringing Gyidi to Besease, and Nkawkaw in Kwahu.
[6] Eshun Mensah (a former pupil teacher) was responsible for the songs that the True Faith Church continues to use today. Saviour Church used to use the same songs until it changed it in the 1970s by adding other instruments rather than bells. The changes in Saviour were made by Opanin Kwabena Nti.
[7] Edward Krofa married Maame Akua Esua (sister to Brako’s wife Amonu Gyamfua). Maame Afia Ansah was a singer and direct sister of Opanin Issac Asirifi. Saviour Church used to use the same songs until it changed it in the 1970s by adding other instruments rather than bells. The changes were made by Opanin Kwabena Nti who introduced the style of music and songs in Saviour Church. He also introduced the concept of Boysco, Girlsco and Womensco in Saviour Church in the 1970s.
[8] Exodus 3:5 “And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Joshua 5:15 “And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.” Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three [people] are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”.
[9] 1 Timothy 2:8-14 vs 8) “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 9) But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11) Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12) But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13) For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression”).
[10] 1 Corinthians 11:4-10 vs 4) Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5) But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6) For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7) For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8) For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9) Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10) For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels”. 1 Timothy 2:9 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array”. 1 Peter 3:3-6 vs 3) “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5) For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands.”
[11] Baeta, C. G. 1962. Prophetism in Ghana: A Study of some ‘Spiritual’ churches. London, S.C.M. Press; Nortey, J. J. 1989. Independent African Churches—Are They Genuinely Christian? Adventist Spectrum, Vol. 20, No. 2, p. 29-37
[12] 1 Timothy 3:2-4 KJV [2] “A bishop then must be blameless, the HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; [3] Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; [4] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity”.
[13] Some of the schism happened in the 1980s because of this perceived dominance of the Church leadership by Kwahu.
[14] Gyidi Asɔre (translates as Faith Church). Memeneda Kɔkɔɔ (translates as Sabbath observers who wear red robes).
[15] Baeta, C. G. 1962. Prophetism in Ghana: A Study of some ‘Spiritual’ churches. London, S.C.M. Press; Missionary Atlas Project (MAP). Ghana, West Africa Snapshots Section. http://www.worldmap.org/uploads/9/3/4/4/9344303/ghana_profile.pdf (accessed 28/02/2020)
[16] Ghana Today. 2014. Saviour Church of Ghana is 90 years. 27 February 2014. https://www.todaygh.com/saviour-church-ghana-90-years/ (accessed 28 February 2020).
[17] To cite: L. A. Adusei. 2020. Samuel Brako: Founder of Gyidi (Saviour, True Faith, Faith Salvation etc.) Church.
*All Bible quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
In 1875, the young Samuel Brako (also called Kwame Panin), his mother Afrah, uncles, other siblings and other family members migrated from Juaben in the Ashanti Region during the Second Kumasi-Juaben War of 1874-1875. The defeat of Juaben forces led the people of Juaben, Effiduase, Asokore, Oyoko and other communities to migrate to Akim Abuakwa in the Eastern Region under the leadership of King Asafo Agyei of Juaben. The mother of Samuel Brako and his uncle Kwasi Addai Adutwum settled at Osiem, near Old Tafo in Akim Abuakwa during the reign of King Amoako Atta I of Kyebi. [1].
In 1914, Samuel Kwame Brako received series of revelations from the LORD Jesus Christ, who instructed him to establish a church whose members would worship on Saturday. Samuel Brako before these revelations was originally a member of the Methodist Church at Osiem and functioned as one of the church’s colporteur. Initially Samuel Brako faced a lot of opposition from the established churches and his own uncles at Osiem that caused him to move from place to place within the Osiem township. His uncle Kwasi Addai Adutwum whose house Brako and his wife lived disagreed on the formation of the new church. He threw out Samuel Brako and his wife from his house. This made Brako to move and settle at a place called Kubaase part of the Osiem township. He faced hostility from the people here too. He eventually crossed the Subi River and settled near the Bososo-Begoro Road, (where the present Seventh Day Adventist Church is located at Osiem) and settled there. This location was called Asuogya during Brako’s time but it currently called SDA.
During the early years of the church’s formation, members worshipped alternatively on Sunday and Saturday and with a lot of laxity however, the year in which his son Prophet (Odiyifo) Emmanuel Kwaku Adutwum was born, it became official that the Church would observe the Sabbath with little or no work done on that day. Samuel Brako did not worship with the SDA Church neither was he ever taught by them. Several sources within SDA and the Faith Church indicate that the Faith Church was founded wholly by Samuel Brako as an independent church and Brako only met SDA officials in the 1930s as part of the efforts to merge both Sabbath churches. In fact, at the time of the founding of the Faith Church, there was no SDA Church in the Akim Abuakwa and Koforidua area. SDA only came into being in the Akim and Koforidua areas after the merger efforts failed in 1934 [2].
In 1936, a year after the birth of Samuel Brako’s twins, he bought a large property (which was being used as a cocoa-shed) from the cocoa brokering company Swanzy and used it as a worship centre and also as a dwelling place. [3]. Most of Samuel Brako’s elders lived in this building with him. And it was at this location that the Church became fully established. Samuel Brako also secured permission from Nana Kwaku Agyei (the chief of Osiem) to use the land surrounding the Swanzy building to establish a mission. The chief agreed and many of Samuel Brako’s followers settled there and built their own houses (at present day Saviour Church Mission). Those whose houses are still found in the mission are Papa Gyan, Papa Bonti, and Papa Joshua Darko, John Kwaku Badu (Brako’s brother), Opanin Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi. (Osiem currently has the following residential zones: Afigya, Nsuo Ase, Kubaase, Asantefoɔ mu, SDA, Gyidi, Atwomaa krom, Zongo, Ayigbe town, ECOMOG. During Samuel Brako's time Afigya, Kubaase, Nsuo Ase formed the main part of the village).
Elder Samuel Brako later received one Akokora John from Huni-Valley. The two had not known each other personally. According this account, Akokora John went to Osiem to strengthen Samuel Brako. He was very reluctant to travel to Osiem because it was planting season and wanted to finish clearing the bush and the planting season before moving. The LORD understood his reason for being reluctant and by a miracle shortened the time his corn/maize took to germinate, grow and mature. After this demonstration of the LORD’s power, he quickly harvested their crop and moved to Osiem to join Samuel Brako in building the Church. Not long after the departure of Akokora John, Samuel Brako also received the Kroffa brothers (Samson and Edward) who were staunch evangelists. Soon the church began to grow. The Krofas were instrumental in planting the Church in many parts of the country. They were also prominent prophets that the LORD Jesus Christ used to accomplish many healing assignments [4].
Brako’s wife (Mary Akosua Amonu Gyamfua), his children (Sarah Akua Konadu, Akua Mansah, Prophet Kwaku Emmanuel, Kofi Sem) his brothers Kwaku Adu and Kwaku Badu (the father of Abraham Kwaku Adusei the current head of Saviour Church of Ghana) and his in-laws including John Kwasi Owusu Atobra, and Kwasi Sakra (who were Brako’s brothers in-law, brothers to Amonu Gyamfua), and Kwaku Adu a nephew of Brako were instrumental in laying the foundation of the church.
Other prominent members whose contribution was crucial were Pastor Appiah Dankwa [5], Elder Jacob Kwaku Agyei, John Kwasi Mensah (from Nkyiripuaso near Juaben, and the first ordained baptist in the Church and the father of Brako’s wife), Papa Gyan whose son Kwasi Gyan (was a prominent prophet and a relative of Brako’s wife), Moses Mossi Baanie, Elder Kwasi Beremfo, Papa Bonti, Papa Joshua Darko, Elder Ayitey, Papa Afrifa, Elder Yaw Abrokwah, Elder Duodu (a staunch evangelist and husband of Brako’s daughter Mansah), Elder Kwasi Agyapong Mensah, and Eshun Mensah (a Fanti, a singer and the composer of the Church’s early lyrics) [6]. Eshun Mensah was also Samuel Brako’s secretary (“krakye”) and a prominent evangelist who is credited with the growth of the church in many parts of the country. Opanin Isaac Asirifi was Samuel Brako’s Bible reader (“kenkani”) and lived with Samuel Brako). Ofori Duodu, the son-in-law of Samuel Brako also used his Spiritual gift as an evangelist to preach the word of God to many people in the Akim Abuakwa area. Elder Yaw Abrokwah who was a singer and a prominent prophet left his dwelling at Old Tafo in Akim Abuakwa and moved to Osiem so he could work with Samuel Brako [7]. Elders Emmanuel Obeng, Yaw Dankwa and Kwasi Mensah Agyapong of Amua also strenuously worked with Samuel Brako in establishing the branches in the Kwahu area. The Agogo branch of the Church was established through the pastoral effort of Elders Stephen Atta, Opanin Kone, and (Acheampong who once served in the Agogo Palace). Elder Abraham Nsia of Asamang in the Ashanti Region was also instrumental in the growth of the church in the region.
Women also played important role in the early years of the Church. Apart from Amonu Gyamfua (Samuel Brako’s wife), other women who worked tirelessly with the men included Akua Moomo (a sister to Amonu Gyamfua), Maame Akua Esua, Maame Dansoa, Maame Afua Hum, Maame Yaa Henewaa and Maame Afia Ansah (a singer and a direct sister of Opanin Issac Asirifi).
Samuel Brako, the Krofas and their co-workers laboured day and night to bring the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to countless others. They preached the gospel to the people of Osiem and the surrounding villages including Old Tafo and Kukurantumi telling them to refrain from alcohol, adultery, adulatory, fornication, theft, and anything that corrupts the body. Brako entreated his followers to pay special attention to holiness, righteous, spiritual growth, fasting, prayers, love and charity.
God filled Samuel Brako with his power (Holy Spirit) and he performed many miracles including one that caused almost the entire Agogo community in Ashanti to convert to Gyidi. Through the healing power of the Holy Spirit the sick were healed, demons were cast, and many souls were saved from the destruction of alcohol. Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their midst members hardly ever got sick and hardly visited the hospital. Indeed, the gospel message preached by Samuel Brako and his lieutenants was so much backed by the total power of the Holy Spirit so much so that it earned them the Akan phrase “kyiri bentoa” which translates as people who have no need for physicians. People feared to sin because as soon as the sin was committed the Holy Spirit would reveal it to the prophets who in turn inform the leaders. The prophets spent most of their time interceding on behalf of the members. No one was paid for doing their job. Founder Samuel Brako preached to members to be content with what they always have.
Under the able leadership of Samuel Brako the Church spread to other parts of Ghana including Kwahu, Akuapem, Fante, Asante and Brong Ahafo. Because of lack of transportation networks most of these places were reached by means of walking. For instance when moving from Akim to Ashanti, Samuel Brako and his team would take the sleeper train from Bososo to Boankra and do the remaining journey by foot. In the early years of the church, it spread mostly through the Akan communities especially the villages but it soon reached the towns.
Church Doctrine and Organisation
The Church was founded as a Spiritual Church and as such God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are to be revered. Both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are recognised as the main source of scriptural authority on which teachings are based. In other words, the Church draws heavily from the New Testament and also the Old Testament. Apart from worshiping and observing the Sabbath on Saturday, Founder Samuel Brako was instructed by the Holy Spirit to let his followers treat the meeting place as a holy place in line with God’s encounter with Moses (Exodus 3:5) and Joshua (Joshua 5:15) in which both leaders were instructed to remove their sandals before approaching God (see also Acts 7:33; Matthew 18:20). As a result members remove their sandals anytime they come into the presence of God. Removal of sandals takes place when members attend church, prayer service or in any other place connected with God. This is in reverence to God [8].
Samuel Brako was instructed to follow the guidelines established in the Book of the New Testament regarding who could be ordained a pastor or Bishop. In this regard, men only would be ordained pastors and bishops, and also to pray at every religious gathering in accordance with the teachings of the Gospel as found in 1 Timothy 2:8-14 (See the notes below for what these verses say). Through this instruction, Founder Samuel Brako ordained many men from every part of the then Gold Coast (now Ghana) to become pastors for the church [9].
New converts must confess their sins during baptism. Baptism is by total immersion. Both adults and children could be baptised. In the early years of the church’s founding, members were not burdened with payments of money such as tithe and weekly collection. Tithe payment is still prohibited. Weekly collection is still voluntary. As they are not paid, pastors and deacons must endeavour to work for their livelihoods and not expect to be paid. Payments in the form of salaries and allowances were and are still completely discouraged. The Church places more emphasis on the use of African melodies. Songs are sung in local language and there is no elaborate use of musical instruments. Water and non-alcoholic beverages are used during the Holy Communion or Sacrament rather than alcoholic wine.
The church under Samuel Brako was organised around four main ministries: The Pastoral Ministry; The Prophetic Ministry; The Evangelism Ministry; and The Music and Song Ministration Ministry. These four pillars were not separated but worked in tandem for the total growth of the Church. (This practice is still noticeable in True Faith Church and Faith Salvation, though it is less noticeable in Saviour Church). Each of the Ministry is headed by a person who is full of faith, wisdom and the Holy Spirit.The Head of the Church (severally called overseer, superintendent) is divinely appointed through prayers and request from the LORD Jesus Christ. Until recently (early 1990s) no elaborate titles (such as bishops, apostles, archbishop) were used for the heads of the various ministries. The title usually used during the early years of the church was the Akan word “Opanin” which translates as “Elder”. (Since the early 1990s, True Faith Church in particular has adopted titles such as bishops, apostles, Senior Apostles for its leaders).
Women are not to be left out in the church organisation. They are to be part of the strong Prophetic Ministry as prophets as well as the Singing and Songs Ministration Ministry. Sarah Akua Konadu, the daughter of Samuel Brako, Madam Akua Esua, Madam Afia Ansah were strong singers whose singing abilities attracted many unbelievers to the Church.
Dress Code
Men and women are to shun costly apparel and any appearance of the world. Men are to wear long robes (white robes during Sabbath days and red robes during all other days and occasions. The robes are to be of the same design. Modesty is emphasised. Women must cover their head so they can have a good relationship with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the angels as is instructed in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Peter 3:3-6 (see the reference below for what these verses say) [10].
Samuel Brako’s favourite sermons were “Love”, “Doing Charity”, “Holiness” and “Righteousness”.
Death of Samuel Brako and Succession
Founder Samuel Brako died in the mid-1940s. [11]. He left behind a well-established Bible-based and Holy Spirit-driven Church with branches all the country. He also left behind 10 children (Akua Konadu, Akua Mansah, Kwaku Emmanuel, Akua Afra, Kwaku Sem, Joshua Adjei Adusei, Yaa Ataa, Yaw Tawiah Moses, Kofi Badu popularly called 13, and Afua Duku) who continued the good work of their father. According to his son Joshua Adjei Adusei, he was present when his father anointed an old man by name Elder Moses Mossi Baanie as his successor. However, Opanin Mossi was old and enlisted Elder Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi to be his assistant. Elder Moses Mossi Baanie became less active due to his age and Elder Asirifi (who was very outspoken) finally replaced him as the leader of the Church. (Elder Asirifi was not a direct relative of Samuel Brako as is sometimes claimed) but lived with Samuel Brako as a young man.
There are no known photographs of Samuel Brako but everyone who saw him acknowledges that his son Prophet Kwaku Emmanuel was the carbon copy of his dad. In other words, Founder Brako was tall and slender.
First Schism
However, after the death of Samuel Brako, disagreement arose between Elder Asirifi on one hand and some of the leaders especially Elder Emmanuel Obeng, Elder Abraham Nsia of Asaman, Elder Yaw Dankwa and Elder Mensah of Asuonyunu on the other hand. The disagreement centred around the Biblical teachings of 1 Timothy 3:2-4 where would-be pastors are supposed to be husbands of one wife [12].
This text concerns the qualification of a bishop. It admonishes pastors and church leaders to be husbands of one wife but Opanin Asirifi had two wives and so the leaders objected to him becoming the leader of the church and administering communion or sacrament. The disagreement was not resolved amicably and the Church split between Opanin Asirifi and the other group during the Convention at Asante Akyem Obogu. Opanin Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi affectionately called Dadeako later named his version of Gyidi “The Saviour Church of Ghana” (nkwagyesom) with the headquarters at Osiem while Elder Obeng and his group called theirs “True Faith Church of Ghana” (nokware gyidifo) with the headquarters at Kwahu Praso, in Eastern Region. Elder Yaw Dankwa anointed Elder Emmanuel Obeng as the head of True Faith Church in 1957 with Prophet Ebenezer Adarkwaa as head of the Prophetic Ministry. Elder Emmanuel Obeng died in 1966 and Elder Joseph Ampadu was divinely elected as his successor in 1967.
The two branches continue to observe the Sabbath but over the years there has been significant changes in the organisation of the two churches. As mentioned earlier, the church under Samuel Brako was organised around four main ministries: The Pastoral Ministry; The Prophetic Ministry; The Evangelism Ministry; and The Music and Song Ministration Ministry. These four pillars were not separated but worked in tandem for the total growth of the Church. (This practice is still very noticeable in True Faith and Faith Salvation, and less noticeable in Saviour Church). Each of the Ministry is headed by a person who is full of faith, wisdom and the Holy Spirit. The Head of the Church (severally called overseer, superintendent) is divinely elected through prayers and request from the LORD Jesus Christ. Until recently (early 1990s) no elaborate titles (such as bishops, apostles, archbishop) were used for the heads of the various ministries. The title usually used during the early years of the church was the Akan word “Opanin” which translates as “Elder”. (Since the early 1990s, True Faith Church first adopted the title ”Bishop” for the head of the church. This was later changed to ”Apostle” and then to ”Senior Apostle”). Elaborate titles are still absent in Saviour Church.
Since the death of Asirifi in 1997, the Saviour Church has placed little emphasis on the prophetic ministry, whereas True Faith continues to regard prophetic ministry as a critical component of the church in line with the tradition established by Founder Samuel Brako. Opanin Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi did not let his followers know that he did not found the church. In fact, many in the Saviour Church (except the older generation) until recently did not know that Opanin Asirifi did not found the church. Elder Asirifi worked hard to erase any traces of Samuel Brako’s name from the church. This however, was not the case in True Faith Church. The True Faith Church even composed songs celebrating the immense contribution of the Founder and his elders.
There is one more significant difference between Saviour Church and True Faith Church regarding activities they organise every year. The calendar year of True Faith Church is divided into three: a Synod meeting involving pastors, deacons and church leaders usually held at the headquarters; prophetic meeting involving all the prophets is held around August every year; and annual convention which takes place around 25 December till 1 January of the New Year. The annual convention is rotated throughout the branches in the country. The Saviour Church also has synod and annual convention but not prophetic meeting. Meanwhile the annual convention always takes place at Osiem and nowhere else.
Other Schisms
Both Saviour Church and True Faith Church have suffered further divisions as a result of leadership and succession problems. For example when Opanin Asirifi died in 1997 one of his children by name Mr. Kofi Elia wanted to succeed him (claiming that the church was founded by his father Asirifi) but Mr. Elia was unsuccessful because the elders knew his father did not found the church and so made Abraham Kwaku Adusei, a nephew of Samuel Brako, its new Superintendent or overseer. Mr. Kofi Elia refused to abide by the dictates of the church leadership and the matter went to court. Eventually, Mr. Kofi Elia left Osiem to go and establish his own church at Mankrong Junction and later at Nyanyano in the Gomoa District of the Central Region. (Since the death of Elder Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi, the factions of both Kofi Elia and Abraham Adusei have engaged in violent clashes sometimes involving the use of harmful objects. Millions of cedis worth of property have been destroyed and the good name of the Church has been severely tarnished.
The True Faith Church has suffered more division than the Saviour Church. In the 1980s several leaders in Ashanti Region including Elder Abraham Nsia of Asante Asamang, Magya Sampson of Bodomasi near Kumawu, Pastor Thomas of Abrepɔ of Kumasi, and Prophet Emmanuel Kwaku Adutwum broke away to form Faith Salvation Church and other denominations such as United Faith Church. Later some of the leadership of Faith Salvation and United Faith Church rejoined True Faith Church but some of the members remained to continue to operate as Faith Salvation Church. Faith Salvation has also suffered divisions to the point that there are different versions of Faith Salvation including Spiritual Faith Salvation and Reform Faith Salvation.
The True Faith Church suffered its most devastating schism since the death of Apostle Joseph Ampadu in late 2000s. Apostle Ampadu who according to historical accounts joined the Church in 1948, was ordained a pastor in 1952, and headed the Church for more than three decades. He became the head of the church in 1967. After his death, succession battle rocked the church. In the past the church had always relied on God to determine who could be the leader after the death of the incumbent. Prophet John Owusu Achiaw was the head of the Prophetic Ministry within the Church. Owusu Achiaw was made the caretaker leader after the death of Ampadu. As head of the Prophetic Ministry, it was his duty to find out from God who was the rightful person to succeed Apostle Ampadu. Apostle John Owusu Achiaw demonstrated his interest to become the new head of the Church.
However, after the death of Apostle Ampadu, an audio cassette surfaced in which Apostle Ampadu purportedly nominated Apostle Moses Appah to be his successor. The voice on the cassette was not questioned. However, the authenticity of the cassette was questioned since many of the leadership of the church denied knowing anything about the existence of the cassette. It was thought that Apostle Ampadu was influenced by some leading members who took advantage of his old age to record the audio in order to perpetuate the Kwahu hegemony in the Church hierarchy. Since the death of Samuel Brako and the division of the Church into two, the True Faith Church has always been led by a Kwahu one of the two dominant tribes that form the bulk of the Church’s membership. The other dominant tribe is the Asantes/Ashantis. The Ashantis have been complaining and murmuring about this Kwahu dominance for a long time and wanted the status quo changed. It is this background that made the Asantes to raise serious questions about the need for the cassette [13]. After several meetings majority of the leadership of the Church agreed for Apostle John Achiaw to become the new leader. But Apostle Moses Appah’s faction disagreed and finally took the matter to Court. Eventually, Moses Appah and his faction lost the court battle and proceeded to breakaway to form the True Faith Evangelical Church. The Church was therefore split on tribal lines with the bulk of Kwahu backing Apostle Appah and Asantes supporting Apostle Owusu Achiaw. Since the death of Apostle Ampadu more division has taken place. True Faith of Love headed by Apostle Mensah together with Precious New True Faith Church International headed by Apostle Daniel Adjei came into being. In 2019, Precious New True Faith further split into two.
The Saviour Church, True Faith and Faith Salvation continue to experience litigations which have seriously undermined the good work of Samuel Brako. Indeed, nobody ever thought that Gyidi Asɔre or Memeneda Kɔkɔɔ as the Church is known in the Akan language throughout Ghana could be associated with such litigations and disputes [14]. The Ghanaian media have extensively covered these litigations and leadership succession struggles that have come to be associated with the once glorious Church.
Membership
The many break ups have given rise to the phrase “Brako Faiths” which is a term used to refer to all the denominations that trace their origin and heritage to the Founder. Membership of the Brako Faiths are more than 100,000 worldwide. According to Baeta (1962:66) in 1954 Saviour Church had about 3,421 members, however by the early 1960s the figure had more than doubled to 7000 found in 83 branches. In 1995, the Missionary Atlas Project (MAP) put both members and affiliate members of Saviour Church to 31,800 found in 257 branches. In 2014, the leader of the Church at Osiem said the church membership was 100,000 of which 80 percent were into farming. The figure for True Faith Church in 1995 was 50,600 with 183 branches (MAP, 2005:23) [14]. From the 1990s onwards, particularly under the leadership of Elder Joseph Ampadu, the True Faith Church established several branches throughout the world especially in Europe and North America. Today, it has branches in Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
The Saviour Church under the leadership of Abraham Kwaku Adusei has embarked on several socio-economic infrastructure projects particularly at Osiem where it is headquartered. It has built a major clinic (Hawa Memorial Saviour Church Hospital) that serves Osiem and its environs. The clinic has facilities such as Maternity, Orthopaedic, X-Ray, Scan, Pharmacy, Out-Patient Department and Laboratory and other units. It has also established a nursing training school at Osiem (Saviour Church Nursing and Midwifery Training College (SCNMTC), and has a functioning secondary school that serves not only its members but the entire Osiem community and its environs. The church has 12 basic schools throughout the country. The Church has also connected every home in its catchment area at Osiem with pipe borne water. During the time of the late Elder Isaac Asirifi the Osiem community enjoyed electricity and this has continued under Abraham K. Adusei [16].
The Akan phrases such as ‘Memeneda som’ (Sabbath worship), ‘Memeneda Gyidifo’ (Sabbath Believers), ‘Memeneda Kɔkɔɔ’ (Sabbath Observers who wear red robes), ‘Nkwagyesom’ (Saviour Church), ‘Nokware Gyidi’ (True Faith) are all names associated with the Church.
Written by Lord Aikins Adusei. Adusei is a great grandson of Samuel Brako. Adusei holds BSc degree from Kwame University of Science and Technology (KNUST, Kumasi-Ghana), MSc degree from Stockholm University (Stockholm, Sweden), another MSc degree from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Uppsala), and is a PhD candidate in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, London in the United Kingdom. Adusei is worried about the disintegration and destruction of the church his grandfather founded and is mounting campaign reverse the decline of the Church [17].
Copyright: No part of this account can be distributed, copied, edited without the authorisation of the author.
Notes
[1] Addo-Fening, R. 1973. The Background to the Deportation of King Asafo Agyei and the Foundation of New Dwaben. Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 213-228
[2] SDA was only established at Osiem in 1935 after the talks in 1934 failed. True Faith Church takes their year of foundation from 1914 whereas Saviour Church takes the year of foundation from 1924, the year Sabbath was fully recognised. This explains why True Faith Church celebrated 100 Years Anniversary in 2014 while Saviour Church celebrated 90thAnniversary in the same year.
[3] Swanzy, H. 1956. A Trading Family in the Nineteenth Century Gold Coast. Transactions of the Gold Coast & Togoland Historical Society, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 87-120; Southall, R. J. 1978. Farmers, Traders and Brokers in the Gold Coast Cocoa Economy. Canadian Journal of African Studies, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 185-211
[4] Sampson Krofa was a powerful evangelist/prophet who was gifted with the power of healing and was used by the LORD tremendously. Sampson Krofa played instrumental role in establishing the branches at Kukuom, and Techimantia among others.
[5] Pastor Appiah Dankwa, John Kwasi Owusu Atobra, Edward Krofa along with Eshun Mensah were the most educated members of the church at the time. Atobra who was a hunter for the King of Juaben also helped to found the village called kurofrom near Nkyiripuaso. Eshun Mensah married the daughter of Opanin Kwaku Sem of Osiem. Mensah is credited with bringing Gyidi to Besease, and Nkawkaw in Kwahu.
[6] Eshun Mensah (a former pupil teacher) was responsible for the songs that the True Faith Church continues to use today. Saviour Church used to use the same songs until it changed it in the 1970s by adding other instruments rather than bells. The changes in Saviour were made by Opanin Kwabena Nti.
[7] Edward Krofa married Maame Akua Esua (sister to Brako’s wife Amonu Gyamfua). Maame Afia Ansah was a singer and direct sister of Opanin Issac Asirifi. Saviour Church used to use the same songs until it changed it in the 1970s by adding other instruments rather than bells. The changes were made by Opanin Kwabena Nti who introduced the style of music and songs in Saviour Church. He also introduced the concept of Boysco, Girlsco and Womensco in Saviour Church in the 1970s.
[8] Exodus 3:5 “And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Joshua 5:15 “And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.” Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three [people] are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”.
[9] 1 Timothy 2:8-14 vs 8) “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 9) But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11) Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12) But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13) For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression”).
[10] 1 Corinthians 11:4-10 vs 4) Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5) But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6) For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7) For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8) For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9) Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10) For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels”. 1 Timothy 2:9 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array”. 1 Peter 3:3-6 vs 3) “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5) For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands.”
[11] Baeta, C. G. 1962. Prophetism in Ghana: A Study of some ‘Spiritual’ churches. London, S.C.M. Press; Nortey, J. J. 1989. Independent African Churches—Are They Genuinely Christian? Adventist Spectrum, Vol. 20, No. 2, p. 29-37
[12] 1 Timothy 3:2-4 KJV [2] “A bishop then must be blameless, the HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; [3] Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; [4] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity”.
[13] Some of the schism happened in the 1980s because of this perceived dominance of the Church leadership by Kwahu.
[14] Gyidi Asɔre (translates as Faith Church). Memeneda Kɔkɔɔ (translates as Sabbath observers who wear red robes).
[15] Baeta, C. G. 1962. Prophetism in Ghana: A Study of some ‘Spiritual’ churches. London, S.C.M. Press; Missionary Atlas Project (MAP). Ghana, West Africa Snapshots Section. http://www.worldmap.org/uploads/9/3/4/4/9344303/ghana_profile.pdf (accessed 28/02/2020)
[16] Ghana Today. 2014. Saviour Church of Ghana is 90 years. 27 February 2014. https://www.todaygh.com/saviour-church-ghana-90-years/ (accessed 28 February 2020).
[17] To cite: L. A. Adusei. 2020. Samuel Brako: Founder of Gyidi (Saviour, True Faith, Faith Salvation etc.) Church.
*All Bible quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Very enlightening. My mother was a staunch member and I joined the church myself for some few years. This history is very revealing. Thanks for the great work done!!!
ReplyDeleteAsomdweooo,Amen.thank you for this historical background of the church,am now a member less than two years
ReplyDeleteI'm very enlightened with this, I'm a member and a lineage of Elder Yaw Dankwa, my mom used to talk a lot about how her grandpa started the church in kwahu,.... thanks so much 🙏
ReplyDeleteGreat story am also a member
ReplyDeletemay the good lord bless savior church
ReplyDeleteEuropeans brought Christianity to Africa, even though it was inherited from the Middle East. Ghanaians, we are all gentiles. Why must a gentile create his own Christianity because he claims he had the vision from the Lord, oh no. It doesn’t work like that. Christianity was there before claiming you had a vision…We are not talking about the teachings of this kind of Christianity for now, but just think about the above point first. So great persons in this kind of Christianity observe the sabbath jus as the Bible commands❤️ but bear in mind “True Faith” and “Faith Salvation” is not a church from God sorry, people are just blind.
ReplyDeleteThat someone else having vision to establish another church basing on the bible is the nature of Christianity. Remember Ellen G. White, and also the founder of the latter days Saint and the many other denominations across the globe. There is nothing wrong with that.S. Shalom. I am Joshua Richard Akwasi Oppong, True Faith Church International , Evangelist or Ankaase branch in Ashanti near Mamponteng.
ReplyDeleteAll this stories are fake, who taught you this, Fake writers
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ReplyDelete