She Trusted and She Obeyed
A Tribute to
Patricia Adu- Baah
March 17th 1962 to April 8th 2020
Laid today 22nd May 2020
When I received the news that auntie Pat had gone to be with the Lord, I wept. It's hard to describe the multitude of thoughts and emotions that those tears represented.
To think of auntie Pat at Home with Christ makes the thought of heaven all the more tangible and sweeter.
There is a great sense of joy that auntie Pat has finished her race and is in the presence of the Lord Whom she served faithfully for so many years. She has received that welcome from Christ that we all long to hear: "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord" . She has been reunited with a host of other heroes of the faith who have gone before.
At the same time, I feel a real sense of loss and sadness that a soldier of the faith, should be taken from us. We know that day comes for everyone. But auntie Pat lived a short, fruitful, surrendered life.
The mark she has left on so many who have been around her or have read the daily divine nuggets, listened to her surmons, heard her speak, and been encouraged to emulate the example of Godly living over these years, is remarkable. Once Shirley said to me "even in the full swing of honouring her birthday with a smooth secular song, mum would quietly ask if a Godly song could be played instead". That was the woman auntie Pat had become over the years.
Throughout the twists and turns of her journey over the next 20 decades, auntie Pat steadfastly demonstrated what it meant to simply "trust and obey." Because she viewed God as being altogether sovereign, faithful, wise, and good, even when she could not fathom His plan or His purposes, she knew He could be trusted. The appropriate response was to obey Him. So in an era when people want God to be a dispenser of their comfort, wishes, and needs, auntie Pat kept coming back to this message: "God is worthy of our obedience our worship, and our surrender to Him as Lord.
Countless people, especially women who read auntie Pat's accounts and daily nuggets are called to reflection and responded by saying, "I want to follow these Godly principles." Only God knows how many have been called to serve whilst she directed them. People from all walks of life around her have been inspired to know and follow Christ in a better way. Even from Yesterday's viewing, testimonials suggested that some felt a strong desire to take up the baton.
On a more personal note, I admired and observed auntie Pat from a distance for many years. Most recently found out that we share almost the same birthday just one day apart. She was always immaculately put together and carrying her smile and verve everywhere. I recognise a lot of her in me. My own life and ministry stands on the shoulders of remarkable woman of God like her, my mother as well as others, who have been diligently serving in full-time ministry.
In 2018, I met her at a Christian singles seminar she organised with her daughter my dear friend Shirley, where I felt I was at the right place at the right time. Right there, auntie Pat mentioned that Shirley talks often about me and my Christian singles ministry and this has really inspired her to also serve the singles in her church in that manner. She was so gracious in her ways. She encouraged me to press on and to continue doing whatever God lays on my heart to do. She was about to tell me how far she had come, to be the person she was now, but the seminar was about to start. Again at the end of 2018 at her home, at Shirley's baby shower, I caught a sight of how organised and a great cook auntie Pat was. I quickly gathered that she had realised the need to lay aside her past hurts and press on with the things of God.
In 2016 the Women Empowerment Ministry, and in 2019 ( correct me if I'm wrong with those dates Shirley) Auntie Pat's Daily Divine Nuggets were launched through her daily whatsapp posts that touched a generation of Christian women in a profound way. Women all accross her life are testifying of the impact that auntie Pat's witness, had in their lives, and shaped their view of womanhood, of God, and of the gospel. Readers who had not been close to auntie Pat before , but they felt like they knew her. They thought of her as their spiritual mother, mentor, and friend.
Those who followed will remember that auntie Pat highlighted in each daily nuggets posts how: "You are loved with an everlasting love. Glory be to God" .
Isn't that a great way to summarize auntie Pat's life and influence, especially to women who are struggling to get out of bed and push through life? We thought of her as our friend, and she thought of us as hers. She pointed us back to Scripture and to the love of God, which is enough to sustain us and carry us through every situation, every season, every circumstance of life.
I hope in future when the story of her life is told, people will say: "She trusted and she obeyed."
I'm deeply thankful for the example of this life lived for the glory of God.
Whilst I rejoice that auntie Pat is with her Savior, she leaves behind a great void. Just yesterday at her viewing, her photographer friend said: "As these older servants of Christ pass, the responsibility is on us to lead the next generation in the pathway of righteousness. God have found her ready. And for those of us still living, is because our work on earth is not yet finished or that we are not yet ready". Now that she is gone, I feel a stronger than ever call to proclaim the ways and heart of Christ to those who may not be familiar with auntie Pat, but who need to know and love and trust and serve Him as she did.
I will miss auntie Pat. I'm deeply thankful for the example of this life lived for the glory of God. She has left a rich legacy through her writings—I plan to reread many of her daily Divine nuggets post in the days ahead, and urge you to do the same, whether they are familiar or new to you.
May the message she has written on so many of our hearts, be one we write on the hearts of those who are coming behind us. And may God find us faithful, as was our friend auntie Pat—all the way to the finish line.
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God.
Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Heb. 13:7-8)