The Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Episcopal Sister Joy-Philippe Bruce which fell on Sunday, 16th January 2022 was marked by a Thanksgiving Service at the Anagkazo Assemblies Fountain of Life Cathedral, Kumasi.
There was a gathering of a number of Bishops from different parts of Ghana. From the North, the Convener of Jesus is the Answer Denomination, Bishop Kwaku Atiemoh and his wife LP Shine; also Bishop Fred Nortey and his wife LP Ayisha from Bawku and Bishop Samson Kissi and his wife LP Helena from Bolgatanga; Episcopal Sister Kathleen-Sarah Parker-Allotey from Anagkazo Assemblies – Grace Chapel, Awoshie, Accra. Bishop Brian Adu and his wife LP Helen Adu from the Catch the Anointing Headquarters in Accra were also there. From Kumasi, Bishop Charles Amoo, Asokwa and Bishop Nassib Hage, Atonsu were also in attendance.
Family members from far and wide attended the service. Former Students of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) who were pastored, nurtured and groomed by ES Joy fulfilled a long-standing promise to ‘Come Home’ for their favourite Campus Pastor’s 60th birthday celebration.
Thanksgiving was the theme running through the service as Miklez from the First Love Center in Accra performed with some dancing stars. Minister Bibi from ICGC, Obuasi led the Congregation in a special session of Praise.
Archbishop Kwasi Ampofo preached a riveting word on Faith from the book Faith Secrets by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, the Founding Bishop of the United Denomination Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UD-OLGC). He pointed out that ES Joy’s life story was a faith story. Standing in faith together with her husband, Archbishop Patrick Bruce, they departed from Norway to Ghana, then to the North of Ghana where there was no branch of the UD at the time, planted and grew the Northern churches from nothing to what it is today.
As part of the service, congratulatory video messages and greetings were played from Bishop Eddy Addy of the Makarios Church as well as from ES Joy-Philippe’s sons and their spouses – Apostle Nikki and Lady Pastor Francine from the First Love Church, Mahajanga, Madagascar and Pastor Ashong and Lady Pastor Joanne from The Makarios Church Banjul, Gambia. This added an International flavour to the occasion.
