Rev. Dr. Frederick Primrose Deegbe, a renowned man of God and former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, has retired as the Senior Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church of the Ghana Baptist Convention.

A retirement service organised in his honour coincided with his 70th birthday celebration.

Rev. Dr. Deegbe has served as the senior pastor of the church for the past 34 years, making him one of the longest serving ministers in the church's history.

At the official retirement service held in Accra, Rev. Eastwood Anaba, founder of the Fountain Gate Chapel, recounted his youthful experience with the retired man of God.

According to him, Rev. Dr. Deegbe was his bible class teacher at the Calvary Baptist Church, Adabraka, in the early 80s.

Rev. Anaba attributed a greater part of his firm Christian belief to the mentorship of Rev. Dr. Deegbe, whom he described as his father and teacher in the Lord.

Speaking on the topic: "Retiring the Retirement," the dynamic preacher said the retirement service in honour of Rev. Dr. Deegbe was rather a rerouting service.

"Retirement is a threaded word to most secular and spiritual workers. It sounds like the end of the road to many people. When we say retirement, it's almost like a game over. Nevertheless, for me retirement is where you are released from a familiar territory to an unfamiliar...it's where you are released from duty to a revived and a restored personality," he stated.

Rev. Eastwood Anaba encouraged Rev. Dr. Deegbe with what Caleb said in Joshua 14:10-12 and charged the retired Senior Pastor to be strong and take advantage of his transition to explore new territories, offer counselling and direction to the church and other Christian organisations.

He prayed for fresh strength and power for Rev Dr. Deegbe and his wife to climb every mountain and possess their possessions even in their old age.

On his part, Rev. Dr. Deegbe who is also a lawyer, expressed his appreciation to God for His grace and mercies accorded him in different ways.

He congratulated his beloved wife, Pastor Mrs. Joana Deegbe Esq, for standing by him in the 43 years of their marriage with 3 children.

Rev. Dr. Deegbe also thanked his fellow pastors, elders, deacons and all workers of the church who stood by him in his ministry.

He pledged his unwavering commitment to serving God, the church, and the nation even in retirement.

The Retirement Service was led by Rev. Charles Oppong Poku, Vice President of the Ghana Baptist Convention.

The Calvary Baptist Church, in partnership with the Ghana Baptist Convention, donated a brand new Toyota Lancruiser Prado vehicle and an undisclosed retirement package to the retired Pastor.

Rev. Dr. Deegbe was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel by the Ghana Baptist Convention in November 1983 and served in a Senior Pastor's capacity for 34 years.

He is a past General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana and was a lecturer at the Ghana Baptist Seminary, Senior Pastor at the New Tafo Baptist Church in Kumasi, Senior Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, member of the Board of the World Council of Churches, member of All African Council of churches, member of All African Baptist Fellowship, Baptist World Alliance and Chairman of the Christian Council Fellowship of West Africa among others.