Farewell, My Friend

Thursday I attended the funeral of my dear friend, The Very Rev. Ernest K. Baiden. I wanted to go early because, "It will be a big funeral. We need to get a parking place and someplace to sit." said my American mind. The funeral was to begin at 5:30 in the morning. We arrived just before 5:00. Oh, no one was there. There were PLENTY of spaces to park and plenty of empty chairs! We watched as the final preparations were made whilst listening to the squeaks of bats turn into the songs of birds. Morning had come! The stage was set and the casket arrived. Notes were reviewed. We were ready to start. It was after 6:30. 

  

Hymns were sung. Prayers were prayed. Scripture was read. Tributes were given by each of the Churches and Circuits were Rev. Baiden served. They all said the same thing. Rev. Baiden was a man who walked his talk. His life reflected what he believed. He loved the Lord. Anyone who spoke with Rev. Baiden knew that. I was given the honor to write and to read the Tribute given by the Lawra Mission Circuit. I was nervous. I prayed a lot because I knew I couldn't do this on my own strength. The Very Rev. Lawrence Beka stood with me. I began to read. My voice cracked. Oh, I prayed more. God heard my prayer and gave me strength to continue. Afterwards, we walked around the casket to say our final "Farewell." This was done group by group.

Then, the Tributes from the family were read. One of the pastors' wives read the Tribute from Mrs. Baiden. Another hymn was sung. More people viewed their loved one for the last time. Then, the Pastors' Wives walked around the casket. Bertha (Mrs. Baiden) was supported by her friends which were like family to her. The grief she expressed was heart wrenching. 

The casket was closed and the service continued. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Nathan I. Samwini gave the sermon. More songs were sung. More prayers were prayed. It was time to leave for Agona Abodom, near Winneba, for the final burial which took place Friday morning. Then, something happened that really touched my heart. The ministers came forward. They "shooed" the young men who were ready to carry the casket away. And, they picked up their colleague, the one whom they loved and, did for him the last thing they could here on earth. They carried Rev. Baiden's casket to the hearse and put him in.  Now, all was ready to leave.

Rev. Baiden was young, only 61. But, he loved the Lord. He showed all of us that we don't need to compromise our beliefs. We can live in a way that would honor God in all that we do. Let us carry on where he left off....

My Tribute

The Very Rev. Ernest K. Baiden served the Lawra Mission Circuit of the Northern Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana for three years, from 1 October 2012 until 30 September 2015.  To those in the Lawra area, he was known as Brother, Uncle, Father, Pastor, Reverend and most of all, Beloved Friend. Rev. Baiden looked at his time in Lawra as, “This is where God wants me at this time in my life.” In the church, Rev. Baiden’s number one focus was on the spiritual life of the church. His desire was to see people come into a relationship with Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord. He tried to revive and infuse new life into each of the Societies in his charge. Rev. Baiden taught Baptism and Confirmation classes in each Society, as the Caretakers alerted him of the desire of the people to make a public profession of faith. He reestablished the Local Preachers Training Programme within the Circuit, encouraging others to attend the classes and become fully certified Local Preachers. He was ready at a moment’s notice to travel to any village to assist and give comfort to the grieving and brokenhearted people of his congregations. He could often be seen visiting the invalids of the Societies, bringing them communion, encouraging them and praying with them. Many looked at Rev. Baiden as their spiritual father, to the extent for that when people traveled south they would entrust their loved ones to the care of their pastor.

Rev. Baiden was an advocate for the least of those in the community, always lifting up and giving value to the oppressed. He gave dignity to all he met. He was involved in the Special Needs Awareness Programme, helping the families with special needs children realize that their children were important; they were gifts from God, children whose lives should be celebrated. He wiped the tears of many orphans, doing all he could for them. Rev. Baiden was a disciplinarian and did not play favorites. In any situation, if you were correct, he would tell you. And if you were in error, he would tell you that, too. He didn’t believe in rumors, but looked at a person’s character. He sought the truth in all situations.

It was a bittersweet day for the circuit when Rev. Baiden was posted as the Synod Secretary of the Northern Diocese. We celebrated with him. We also grieved at losing his leadership for our circuit. And, now, again, we have to say “Good-Bye” to one who has been Christ to us in so many ways. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

A Most Difficult Weekend

This past weekend was most difficult for me. Friday morning, I received word that my dear friend and colleague, the Very Rev. Ernest K. Baiden, ad died earlier that morning. How could this be true? I just saw him last week. Yet, I knew it was true. I couldn't accept it. I walked around the house like a zombie, not really focusing on anything. Doing something for a bit. Crying for a bit. Staring into space for a bit. Rev. Baiden was more than my pastor, more than my boss. Oh, how I will miss him.

I was scheduled to preach in Kalsagri on Sunday, yesterday. I am very grateful that for once I stayed up late on Thursday, not to color, but to finish my sermon. I knew on Friday, after hearing the news, writing a sermon would be useless. 

The theme of the day was to be, "Listen to the Lord and Live." What a perfect theme for the day! Two days earlier, I wasn't too sure as to what direction the sermon would go. Yes, it was written, but, still... And then, at church, before I preached, I announced Rev. Baiden's death. Most people knew already. Plus, I was wearing funeral cloth. Then, I began. After a few minutes, I put my notes down, and continued. It was truly the Lord who gave me yesterday's message. And, the untimely death of Rev. Baiden was a real life example that people understood.

I am not fond of having people repeat the "Sinner's Prayer." I want people to pray on their own, to mean it when they ask Jesus into their heats. Yesterday, we didn't have an altar call, per se. But, I definitely gave the invitation and had people pray on their own. I asked people to pray and ask Jesus to be Lord of their lives. Or, if they had already done that, which many have, what are the areas of your life where Jesus isn't Lord? Give those to Him. We prayed. And prayed. Surely, the Lord was in this place. This service was the perfect end to a most difficult weekend. Praise the Lord!