The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost and President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has urged Christians to practically translate their acts of religiosity into spirituality by demonstrating their changed life wherever they find themselves.
He made this call on the last day of a week-long meeting of Heads and Ministry Directors of The Church of Pentecost to unveil the five-year vision of the church dubbed: “Possessing the Nations” (Phase 2). The prayer meeting also saw the launch of the 2024 church theme: “A People Unleashed to Transform their World.”
Apostle Nyamekye explained the distinction between religiosity and spirituality, emphasising that religiosity involves external customs, rituals, and traditions, while spirituality entails the demonstration of the values and principles of Christ, such as godliness and morality.
He urged Christians to intentionally journey from religiosity to morality if they want to impact society as Daniel did.
He cited Daniel’s actions in refusing to eat food from the king’s table and resisting the ‘no prayer edict’ as acts of religiosity. He said Daniel’s trustworthiness and blamelessness made him stand out (Daniel 6:4–5).
“All the visions and prayers will not count if Christ cannot be formed in us,” Apostle Nyamekye iterated, adding that “mere religiosity does not transform a nation, but a transformed life does. It proves the power of God to change lives.”
Apostle Nyamekye lamented the prevalence of wrong things happening despite activism in many religions worldwide and proposed that Christians exhibit a life of pure morals to reverse this trend.
He referred to 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, highlighting three evidences of a truly repentant person: a transformed life, a commitment to serve, and a heart yearning for the return of Jesus Christ.
Expounding on the characteristics of an unleashed church, the Chairman stressed that as churches grow, their ministries must grow broader.
He encouraged every member to prepare to be unleashed into a form of ministry, stating that “the mark of a great church is not about the seating capacity but her sending capacity as well.”
Apostle Nyamekye stressed: “You cannot save an individual and forget the society in which they live. Both must be evangelised.”
He highlighted the need for the church to focus on both saving souls and providing social services.
He emphasised that the church must actively participate in transforming society and engage in issues of the state to have a meaningful impact.
Drawing inspiration from Daniel 5:11f, he urged Christians to work towards occupying places of influence so as to effect concrete changes at the workplace and in society.
PENTECOST NEWS.
