Passing the torch
BY BENNETT ROLAN |
BSF BLOG EDITOR
“One generation commends your works to another,
they tell of your mighty acts.” – Psalm 145:4
G od gifted John Humphrey Amuasi with a passionate mind.
As a medical physicist, John’s research achievements are vast, and his accolades are many. But John is driven by more than professional success. His heart for the Lord compels him to advance the gospel of Christ while pursuing his research for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Before John became a celebrated medical physicist or a beloved BSF board member, he was a young Christian who learned from a mature generation of believers.
“Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. The great mentoring I personally received from my supervisors was an example for me to follow,” John said. “I need God’s grace to practice living for Jesus with a willing heart in the workplace as well as in the church, (knowing) that Jesus is with me and watching everything.”
Growing up in Ghana, John seized every opportunity to pursue his passion. The path took him around the world and allowed him to collaborate with the pre-eminent medical physicists of his generation. John has served more than 40 years on the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, where he was dean of the School of Nuclear Sciences, and as an expert and consultant for the International Atomic Energy Agency.
His work included tumor detection and treatment using imaging technologies (CT, SPECT, PET and MRI). Among his most highly regarded achievements was helping establish the first two National Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Centers in the two major cities in Ghana – Accra and Kumasi – to “manage the menace of cancer in the West African sub-region.”
A heart for Christ
Early in his career, John’s wife, Joyce, was invited to participate in a Bible Study Fellowship prayer group. In 1990, the group established an Evening Women’s Class, and John saw God working firsthand through BSF. He soon joined a men’s prayer group, which evolved into an Evening Men’s Class, where John served as a substitute teaching leader.
Over the years, John has served in various BSF roles, including his position on the board of directors, from which he is retiring after 12 years of service. When asked about his BSF experience, John immediately turns the conversation to God’s Word and BSF’s focus to magnify God and mature His people.
“God has used BSF to deepen my relationship with Him and to strengthen (my) outreach work,” he said. “I must say my commitment to BSF work has impacted every aspect of my secular work.”
Creating a legacy
This is evident through John’s deep conviction to equip the next generation of physicists. In fact, John regards his mentoring work as one of the greatest blessings in his career.
Citing the priest Jehoida, a little-known character in 2 Chronicles, John views biblical mentoring as a responsibility with far-reaching impact.
In 2 Chronicles 24:1-2, Jehoida provided wise counsel to the 7-year-old king Joash, and “Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoida the priest instructed him.”
Through Jehoida’s guidance, the young king restored God’s temple and directed His people to right worship. At the end of Jehoida’s life, the prophet received the great honor of being “buried with the kings in the City of David, because of the good he had done in Israel for God and His temple” (2 Chronicles 24:16).
“What good did Jehoiada do? He passionately mentored 7-year-old king Joash until he became a great king,” John said. “It is said that the Christian youth (the next generation) is the backbone of the Church. I believe this backbone can be strengthened through mentorship to make the next generation more effective in every respect.”
As a young man, John learned from mentors in both his profession and his church. They were men who helped guide and counsel him through the challenges of work, life and faith. Today, John is filling that role for several young physicists, along with many others through church and BSF.
“I am always challenged by Jesus’ statement in Luke 12:48b: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked,” John quoted. “On my return to Ghana, I soon realized that much had been given me, and so I needed to commit myself to serving my Lord and my nation. I asked for God’s grace, guidance and enablement to fulfill every demand, including mentorship.”
Though challenging at first, John stepped into his mentoring role with a sense of humility and compassion, recognizing that true wise counsel comes from God alone.
“Having someone in our lives to guide us toward faith and Christlikeness can be good and helpful,” John shared. “Even better is getting to know the Lord ourselves and learning to rely on the Holy Spirit to be our guide. That is making our faith personal. So it is with any type of mentorship. The mentor’s goal is to assist and guide his mentee to excel and become relevant in their chosen profession, be it sacred or secular, like the medical physics profession.”
Like Jehoida, whose wise counsel impacted the Jewish nation, John’s mentoring work is making a significant difference in the medical physics field.
One of John's mentees shared:
“Prof. John Amuasi’s mentorship style transcends academics. He affects the religious and moral lives of his mentees, as well. He has always provided wise counsel, which has shaped my personal and moral life as a husband and father of two. Not only his words of inspiration and encouragement make him a great mentor, (but also) Prof. Amuasi’s personal lifestyle is one big example that many young colleagues, like myself, have always admired. He always brings his mentees closer to know God and to live exemplary lives. This has resulted in him producing many great personalities who occupy great positions.”
This mentee’s doctoral research thesis won prestigious such awards as Best Poster Presentation Award at the Maiden University of Ghana Doctoral Conference in 2015 and the world’s Young Scientist Award by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) and the International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP) in 2016.
Taking action
As believers, we have the unique opportunity to influence the next generation for Christ. Whether we serve in the children’s program at BSF, build relationships in the workplace or pour into younger BSF group members, God can use each of us to spread His wisdom from one generation to the next.
Would you take a moment to pray about how God might want to use you in this way? Together, like John Amuasi, we can offer truth and encouragement to a lost world, one life at a time.
As I get older I value life so much more and have a deep compassion for young people. THANK you for sharing that compassion and the encouragement: One life at a time. For the need seems so over whelming until I realized the ONE life that saved us all. And the one life I have and you have. And the many you in the world….one life at a time telling of the ONE that died for us all. I needed those encouraging words. THANKS!!!
Thank you for your contribution to BSF and for reminding us that we can serve God through our work.
Dr. Amuasi is a source of encouragement to all of us.
It is also a challenge on our role in mentorship.
Thank you Dr, John. May you continue to impact the lives of others
Thank you Dr John Amuasi and your wife Joyce for reminding us the importance of “Passing the Torch” not only to our generation but future generations as well.
My husband and I are firm believers of Psalm 145:4 “One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” Your testimony showed proof of that. Many scriptures in the Bible encourage us as Christ followers to share our testimonies and that testimonies should always point to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, giving Him all the glory in Jesus Christ’s name.
My prayer is that we as son’s and daughter’s of God will take action to obey Jesus Christ, who instructs us in Mark 12:30 to love God and to love our neighbors. It takes that supernatural kind of love to want to share the Good News of the Gospel with our unsaved family members, our communities and on our secular jobs. One cannot help but share their testimony about how Jesus saved them from death and lifted them up from darkness to light: from not knowing Him to having an intimate and personal relationship with the Father through the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Up until 2004 my husband and I had been living a Romans 1:28 lifestyle through 30 years of marriage. My husband was born into a Muslim family and my family were worldly Christians. My family identified more with the world than with the Christian Faith. After meeting my husband at the age of 14, I stopped believing in Jesus as God altogether. Being a Muslim, my husband did not believe Jesus to be God and did not want anything to do with Christianity. Therefore, we were equally yoked.
But In 2004 Jesus manifested Himself to both my husband and me simultaneously. My husband was a Sheriff Sergeant at the time, and only believed in evidence. And I may have stopped believing in Jesus, however Jesus never stopped believing in me. He never stopped believing in us. Jesus showed up in the power of the Holy Spirit “with evidence” and took my husband (the cop) into custody.
Needless to say Jesus made believers out of both of us. The instructions given to us from the LORD were to repent, read God’s word from cover to cover and to pray daily. The Holy Spirit not only instructed us to attend church, but also selected the church which we were to attend.
For my husband and I, an intimate relationship with God is knowing God’s will through prayer and hearing from God through His word with our hearts. Also, by attending BSF and by Him sending other brothers and sisters to us for confirmation of His word.
In 2007 the Holy Spirit also started working on my personal relationship with Him by sending an acquaintance to me to join a BSF Claiss. I prayed and the LORD said “yes,” that was His will for me. I have been attending BSF classes now going on 13 years.
My husband and I both know the importance of leaving a legacy and passing the torch to the next generation. As Pastors we have a very important job of serving God by serving the Gospel to those He sends our way. As the Bible says to whom much is given much more will be required. We all want to hear the LORD say “well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
I applaud Dr Amuasi and his wife Joyce for being willing and obedient vessels, receiving the gifts that God has given them and sharing those wonderful gifts and legacy with others.
God bless you both.
AnnaLisa Jones.
USA.
Thank you Dr. John. We are from HK and experiencing thee love of Christ from BSF. Just want to tell you that your labor of love has reached far and gone deep into the spiritual lives of countless people. Thank you to all yout supporting teams.
Thank you for sharing your testimony.This indeed is an encouragement to the body of Christ.Each one of us that is called by the name of the Lord must live a life of impact.May the Lord bless you abundantly.
Thank you Dr. John Amusai for sharing God’s love in everything that you do. May God continue to bless you and keep you.
Thank you so much for serving and also to your lovely wife, a sister BSF’er! Many are blessed by your work.
Dear brother John, we thank God that your dedicated work at BSF coupled with your professional work as a medical physicist and nuclear scientist of international repute with the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission and the IAEA has received widespread recognition and commendation. Hallelujah! You are also a choirmaster in your local church. It is wonderful how our loving God has giving you the passion and energy to accomplish all these with sister Joyce beside you. God bless you and the family.
This is great and very encouraging. Thank God for people like John who are able to discern our responsibility as bsf members goes beyond ourselves. Encouraged to continue with a treatment program for those using alcohol & other drugs focusing them more on God’s wonderful plan for their lives. I believe one day they’ll share about God’s love and faithfulness with others. Let’s keep on serving God’s purposes in our generation
Thank you John for being a light for your fellow man. God shows me everyday how people from all walks of life are an inspiration. You are truly a shepherd who has passed on the wisdom that God has given you. May he continue to reveal his glory through you. God bless.
I thank God for John and I am greatly encouraged. When our pastor’s wife asked me to teach a Sunday school class i hesitated and did not think I would be able to do it until i stepped out and did it. I realised that when God calls me to serve He also equips just as in the regular army we are in the army of the Lord, when He calls He also equips and all i have to do is totally depend on Him for all i need i serve as a CL in a BSF class and I’m filled with joy when i see God transforming very young lives that i would have previously ignored as too young to learn. I thank God for the great work BSF is doing for both adults and children. May the Lord bless you all
How inspiring the experiences are.
I am a nurse whose dream is to develop learning modules which are bible-based.
I have also planned that when I retired I would be active in church activities. I have
retired since 2011 and while I am joining church activities I feel I can do more. I have
joined a BSF class on Genesis which, with God’s grace I was able to finish. I tried other
BSF classes but due to my work I was not able to finish it. I guess I am a basket case of
“the mind is willing but the flesh is weak”. I still have that desire to serve the Lord through
my capabilities as a nurse educator. I hope I will be able to discern what the Lord wants me to
do and where to go. Please pray for me.
Thank you Dr. Amuasi and Joyce for your faithful service to BSF. May God guide you in your future endeavors as you continue to serve Him. God gave great wisdom to Solomon and he used that wisdom. God has given you great wisdom; you have used it well in your nation and beyond. May God continue to bless you.
What an exemplary life lived in the will of God! John you are an inspiration to me as l continue to juggle BSF leadership, shepherding of group members, running a very busy business and mentoring both my staff and my trainees. Enjoy God’s continued blessings in retirement.
I have a good friend named Peter Verbeeck whose teenage son committed suicide a year ago. Peter is building a school in Ghana named the Eric Verbeeck School in memory of his son. I would like to know how to put Peter in touch with this outstanding BSF Christian leader.
Dr. Amuasi Thnx for serving in the vineyard of God. I would kindly request that if God gives you more grace, then, transition this period to retire, to doing the work of an apostle.
You can visit countries of Eastern Africa witness the fruits ofLord.and help grow more fellowship. Gods blessings upon you till we meet in heavenly place
Thankyou john for encouraging words..may God help us those inthe ministry to serve him wholly and know that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..
Thank you for this not only a reminder but also an awakening; even though I find myself to be an infant along this path. Although I am only semi-retired senior, not well versed with the scripture, since I transporting special needs children to and from school daily I can care for these children through my work to let them know that it’s through God’s Grace we are here. Furthermore, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance and help I can also interact with my colleagues, of all levels, in loving and peaceful manner under all circumstances. May His mercy and grace equip me daily.
As a young generation I bless all of you for your prayers
Very inspirational and uplifting message. I especially liked Dr. John’s comment “challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” I needed that today while struggling with a project. Thank you for your encouragement.
How timely is John’s story! For someone who is seeking wisdom and guidance through the Holy Spirit on how to serve her Heavenly Father. ..the path to begin on has been brightly lit.
I praise God for BSF and how the word is transforming lives and building his kingdom and reminding us all that it is all for God’s glory and not for our own benefit. The word cuts across race, gender, age etc and unite us all with one purpose – Jesus Christ and His kingdom. This fact only came alive as I studied the word through BSF understanding my life is purposed to glorify God. It has changed who I used to be and given me a new identity in Christ and brought with it contentment and patience to wait for Gods instructions on what to do at every stage of my life. John is reminding us of this. Thank you for your testimony and encouragement. Grace and favour be upon you as you retire.
Wow!
As an African American mother of three sons, this is an empowering testimony.
Thanks to BSF, I’m finding my way home…!
Thank you for the message.
Ralph Neal – BSF, Greensboro, NC
challenges makes life interesting and overcoming them makes life meaningful is really inspiring and encouraging ! I hope this qoute will change my negative outlook to positive attitude when I am facing daily life challenges. John God bless you as you translate to other duties.
I am inspired by what God has done in John’s life. My prayer is that I will do the same. All that the World needs today is Jesus and not the goodies of this world. We all know the goodies are rewards or additions as we trust God with our lives.
Hoping that where I have moved to ((UK) I will find mentors to walk along with me. This is my desire.
As a body of Christ works together please pray for me to find a church that worships God in truth and Spirit that I will continue to grow and impact the people around me who are mostly unbelievers. May the LORD be glorified in all things as we continue to seek Him everyday.
This is beautiful. John and I were mates in the University and some of us saw this Christ-like life in him. When we met in BSF Accra Me’s class he did show this maturity. One can see this in his answers to questions during discussion time. I have learnt a lot from his humility. You and Joyce have been shining examples for me and my wife. Thank you
John and I were colleagues at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission and I can attest to his humility and show of compassion for others. After I joined BSF and both of us had retired from work, anytime we meet we will share some experiences in our lessons. May the good Lord continue to strengthen John and all of us to continue to impart what we learn in BSF to the next generation.
I have had the privilege of knowing Dr. Amuasi since I joined BSF in 1998 in Accra EM. I must say in all honesty that he has allowed the Good Lord to drive his daily agenda with immense admiration for most us. His fatherly and elderly role at Accra EM is profoundly known by all us. He deserves to retire for working admirably in the vineyard if our Lord
Indeed Daddy John & Mummy Joyce have been parents in Christ Jesus for me for years since I joined BSF and through my time in leadership just as Chris and John Morris… Definitely, BSF is a lifetime learning ground of The Word of God. I will say thank you again and again for your time and care through the years. And for as long as Our God Almighty Reigns and Renews us in life and health and peace I say thank you so much…!!!!!
Yours In Christ & AT HIS FEET [LUKE 10:38 – 42]
Olivia
SHALOM
How honoring to God your life John Amuasi! Through your blog, I feel the power of God’s word as He led you on the journey of a lifetime. Thank you for everything you have done and will continue to do forward helping others to long for that personal relationship with Jesus. God speed John.
Thank you for being an example and a role model to many, including me. God richly bless you, Sir!
Several years ago someone told me, “Retirement (or stepping aside to allow others the same opportunity you were given) isn’t in the Bible.” This year I saw a form of retirement in a wise man named Barzillai. Bravo, Dr. John Humphrey Amuasi for listening to God like Barzillai and knowing when to let the younger generation rise to the occasion! May God give you new opportunities to “tell of His mighty works!”
As a middle aged believer, young mother this is encouraging to me that my service in BSF or any other capacity is never in vain. It also challenges me to look forward to the time where I will have to mentor other’s in the work of the Lord. Dr John Amuasi is an inspiration. May He retire to greater exploits.
Thank you Susie for sharing this testimony. Thank you Dr.John Amusai for making an eternal difference in the lives of so many people. I pray my teaching in the School program will yield eternal benefits in the lives of the children in my care. God bless your future endeavours.
Dear Lynn, I would be interested to learn of a place in the Bible where it states that someone “stepped aside to allow others the same opportunity [they] were given”. I am not aware of anywhere. Indeed, Leadership is not an “opportunity” in a human sense, it is a service. And, of course, Biblical leadership is knowing the word of the Lord and following it, rather than simply “being in command”. Both Absalom and Adonijah were convinced that it was their time to “lead”, and it is clear that this was the wrong attitude and indeed outside the Lord’s will, and they fell under judgement.
However, there are clear cases where people handed over the positions that they held. We have recently studied David, who pronounced his son Solomon King, while he was still alive, although clearly no longer as physically capable due to old age. We note that Solomon, like David, did not push himself forward into the position, but waited for the Lord to put him there.
I note that BSF has a retirement age. This is clearly a Biblical concept. We learned previously in Numbers 8:24–26 that the Levites were to step aside from the listed Levitical duties at the age of 50, although they could still assist. From this we see that this is not retirement in the modern sense of the word, but is a stepping aside to focus on serving the Lord in other (perhaps less strenuous) ways.
May the Lord bless Dr Amuasi for his service and continue to bless him as he continues to serve the Lord in other ways. Praise God.
Thank you Dr. John for sharing this beautiful testimony with all the BSFers . I have been challenged to take up the role of mentoring my Nieces and Nephews and the young people around me since I have gained so much from my many years of study of the Word of God in BSF.
John, it was my pleasure to serve with you for five years. Your grace and wise advice to those of us you impacted is far more than you know. May God continue to bless you in your continuing effort to pour the blessings of Christ into the lives of othrs. You are a shining example for us all.
Peace,
Bob Duggins
Such a well documented account of your life work, personally, professionally, and spiritually ….always putting God first. It both encourages, and challenges me through your wonderful examples…thank you so much for sharing…..