The Anyaa Ablekuma Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle William Ohemeng-Kwakye, has advised ministers and their wives to build good relationships to make maximum impact in ministry.
He gave this advice during the opening session of the 2023 Ministers and Officers Retreat (Apostolisation) of the Hohoe Area at the Kpoeta Central Assembly auditorium.
According to him, relational ministry does not exist on its own but involves mutual trust, and it must be done intentionally.
He encouraged all the participants to build healthy relationships with fellow ministers, their spouses, children, extended family, communities, officers, and members.
He further taught the participants how to build relationships by building contacts, connecting with people, and caring for the members through which they may know their problems and ‘challenge them’ to come out of their predicaments.
“No man is an island to himself. God Himself built a relationship with man by drawing man near. Hence, there is a need to relate to help win and build the people up for Christ,” he said.
He explained that relationships expose one’s own inner attitude, test one’s character, help develop one’s capacity for interpersonal relationships, and teach them how to handle people.
“God related well with man, and even when humanity sinned, God still made provision for man. He walked with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses, among others,” he added.
He said that God is a loving father who opens up to His creation. He mentioned David as an epitome of the shepherd-sheep relationship, citing his testimony to King Saul about his relationship with his flock.
However, he emphasized that Jesus is the ultimate model for the shepherding ministry.
“The poor, the marginalised, the sick, and even sinners related well to Jesus. He is the epicenter of our relationships. We have been called to lay down our lives for the flock,” Apostle Ohemeng-Kwakye noted.
He enjoined all the participants to build sustainable relationships through communication, trust, respect, and forgiveness.
He also advised them to consider the tone and choice of words when communicating and to maintain confidentiality by not breaking the trust reposed in them by others.
He further encouraged the Church leaders to build a strong trust with mutual respect for all, including their spouses, members, colleagues, and leaders.
Touching on forgiveness, Apostle Ohemeng-Kwakye entreated Christians to learn to “forgive and forget” by overlooking offenses, pardoning offenders, and waiving the faults of others.
“It is not easy to forgive, but it is worth doing as the Lord God Himself forgave us. If the church would be very vibrant, then know that forgiveness is therapeutic, and that Jesus Christ, the author and the finisher of our faith, has left a model relational ministry and has set the path for us to follow suit. Indeed, effective relational ministry leads to transformation,” he said.
Report by Ben Baidoo.