Bishop Larry Odonkor, the missionary-in-charge of Lighthouse Chapel International's branch in Madagascar, hugged his assistant pastor, Rev. Edmund Amartey, at the Ivato International Airport in Madagascar.
It was his final farewell to Madagascar, his mission, and the man who had assisted him in the expansion of the church there.
A 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser was parked behind the two guys, an inanimate assistance. Bishop Larry Odonkor's official vehicle, a faithful worker who had led him around the island country's cities, smashing over potholes, to deliver the gospel message.
For the last time, the church's official automobile was transporting him. Cars, unlike Larry's assistant pastor, cannot be embraced, so Larry gave it a quick, hard kiss.
turned the keys over to Rev. Amartey and vanished inside the airport, only to be snatched by an Ethiopian Airlines aeroplane.
Bishop Larry Odonkor and his family arrived in Accra on January 15, 2020, after a 24-hour flight.
Larry Odonkor received a document by DHL about two years later, on December 20,2021. Madagascar was the source of the item.
The document in question was a court summons. Larry Odonkor was sued by Lighthouse Chapel International in Madagascar, alleging him of selling the church's Toyota Land Cruiser and pocketing the proceeds.
Larry was ordered to pay 80 million Ariary (GH157,200) in damages, according to Lighthouse. Larry was given 40 days to locate a counsel and submit an appearance in court before the matter was scheduled to be heard on January 19, 2022.
“Shocking!” The suit was detailed by Larry. "Is this where we've arrived to?" he inquired. He hadn't expected anything like this.
Larry Odonkor came in Ghana from Madagascar in January 2020, and four months later, he submitted his resignation in April.
"I believe the church has too much power. Then there's the issue of statistics rather than people's well-being. I don't think I'm free enough to follow God. Larry Odonkor told a friend who asked why he resigned, "Bishop Dag wants to be God in my life, and I can't let that."
Larry Odonkor went on to sue Lighthouse Chapel International for economic exploitation, psychological trauma, and emotional abuse, along with five other former bishops and pastors.
The church retaliated by filing criminal charges against Larry Odonkor in Ghana and then Madagascar.