The Deputy Director of the Youth Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, Elder Amos Kevin-Annan, has asked parents to let the presence, beauty and the glory of God in them reflect in the lives of their children.
“When your children look at you, do they see the presence, beauty and the glory of God in you?” he asked, adding, “For a man to maintain the family altar, he needs to be a matured person and have the capacity to take responsibilities. The family altar is a place for our godly legacy.”
Elder Kevin-Annan said this in a sermon on the topic, “The Man in the Maintenance of the Family Altar” on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Sakumono during the April edition of the Ministries Week.
Explaining what an altar is, the Deputy Youth Director said the altar is a place of slaughter, sacrifice, or a place where people give their best. It also a place of surrender, he added. “If we are going to build a family altar it starts from loving the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul,” he said.
“As New Testament believers, our altar is in us, because we are the temple of the Most High God, and when Jesus comes into our lives, He gives us new altars.”
Reading from Deuteronomy 6: 4-9, Leviticus 6:13, Ezra 7:10, among other scriptures, Elder Kevin-Annan encouraged men to build an altar beyond morning devotions, by prioritising family Bible reading and devotions, hanging scripture-based objects, quotes, images in visible places in their homes. He advised parents to endeavour to eat together with their children and households to help in building the family altar.
He further encouraged fathers to develop a praying culture before and after bedtime and meals; have family conversations during pick-up and drive times from school, play games together and read and search the scriptures.
Elder Kevin-Annan introduced a seven-point step to go about building family altar: “Be flexible, start with worship, stay calm, commit each day, keep it fun; encourage creativity and invest in prayers.”
He also advised men to go beyond the ritual daily busy schedule and ignoring their wards by consciously and internationally making time for their wards. “A family altar can alter your life,” he concluded.
The Resident Minister of PIWC-Sakumono, Pastor Anthony Owusu Sekyere Kwarteng, was grateful to Elder Amos Kevin-Annan for sharing his rich ideals with the church. He also commended members of the Women’s Ministry for participating in the programme.
He urged all men to get involved in the activities of the Men’s Ministry in order to meet the objectives of the Vision 2023 and to possess the nations for Christ.
Report by Yaa Asantewaa Adu Boahene.
