Posts in category: Articles

Sin will continue to grow every year, and there will even be new inventions of sin until the church truly rises to her prophetic mandate, summed up in Acts 26:15-19. The church has the divine power to STOP sin from growing. That power is released in the following ways, which cumulatively express the church as salt and light to a corrupt and dark world:

Every Christian should read at least one chapter of the Bible a day and pray for at least 1 hour a day to generate divine power (strength, boldness, courage, wisdom, joy, truth, etc.). This is where our quest for maximum impact starts. If this is not happening, we will only be engaged in what I call “Genetically Modified Impact” (GMI) – an impact that is transient, minimal, or mediocre at best.

Christians, walking in the power generated (as explained earlier), should walk in forgiveness towards each other to promote reconciliation and a united force against the dark world. Christians must know that our fellow Christians are not our enemies, although carnal ones can be used by Satan to give us a hell of spiritual warfare and troubles. The religion of the other sons of Abraham started spreading 600 years after Christ ascended into heaven simply because the church at the time was fighting one another about doctrine – as to whether one can be saved just by faith – something Christ had earlier made abundantly clear. Our impact can easily be sabotaged by bitterness and politicking within local churches, etc. These are strategic approaches by the devil to distract Christians from maximizing our impact within our various spheres and communities of influence.

Christians, walking by the divine power, boldly live by the voice of God in their hearts through the Spirit as we meditate on the Bible. The Holy Spirit also delivers the voice of God to our hearts through other means that do not contradict the nature and work of Christ revealed through the Bible. Living by the voice of God comes with huge persecution, but by the power of the Spirit, we stand. As we stand, over time, many others seeing our great impact and the prosperity we enjoy despite persecution are drawn to the light of Christ in our lives (Isaiah 60:1-3). This trend is supported by the Social Impact Theory (SIT). Indeed, the blood of the martyr is the seed of the church. If we are scared to be persecuted and even to die for standing by the truth, we can hardly maximize our impact. Jesus said, “Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it abides alone” (John 12:24-26).

Christians, by the power of the Spirit, should remain focused on interceding in prayer to scatter the darkness of falsehood, manipulation, deception, etc. in the hearts of people. We must build networks with all kinds of people without condemning them. We must share the Gospel with everyone we encounter and call them to repent (turn from sin to Christ). After they come to Christ, we must continue to pray for them to be established, like Paul did to the churches (Galatians 4:19). A great mistake is to tell people to change before coming to Christ. That is not possible. We must tell them to come to Christ to receive the divine power to change. The worst mistake is to complain about the lifestyle of people and continue to condemn them instead of praying for them, reaching out to them with the Gospel, and painstakingly discipling and mentoring them in Christ.

If we examine ourselves and our local churches within the framework of these four points, we will easily realize the reason behind our individual minimal or mediocre impact in turning people from the power of sin to the power of Christ. Once our individual impact is minimal, it also means our “Corporate Ecclesiastical Impact” (CEI), as I call it, will also be minimal or mediocre. The vice versa is also true. May the Lord have mercy on us and help us.

Written by Apostle S. K. Fianko-Larbi

The months, January to December, are all filled with God’s provisions, protections, and privileges for His sons and daughters. God does not modulate His standards, precepts, and principles towards us just because some hold the opinion that attached to each month is a unique numerological index that has the propelling capacity to release a special blessing and unhindered fortune.

It is instructive to state that all months are the same, and any attempt to associate certain months with happenings and events is not only unbiblical but also unwholesome for Christian growth.

There’s a subtle inroad made by some “cults” who seek extra-biblical revelations by forcefully mapping certain perceived blessings, breakthroughs, miracles, and encounters to every month.

Such a phenomenon is gradually taking root in the lives of “weak believers,” especially because of its global and contemporary dominance via social and traditional media. Unfortunately, its acceptance is widespread because of its perceived consequential harmlessness.

Against such faith-wrecking onslaught, the Apostle Paul writes: “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” (Colossians 2:8-10, NLT)

The focus is to clandestinely replace faith in Christ with faith in superstitions—an attempt to systematically deconstruct faith in Christ Jesus.

In my humble submission, I opine that every new month provides for us:

The opportunity to reflect on how our walk with God could improve by letting our roots grow down into Him and letting our lives be built on Him. Then our faith will grow strong in the truth we were taught, and we will overflow with thankfulness. (Emphasis is mine) (Col. 2:7 – NLT)

A space to live and instill the kingdom values. This we do with the help of the Holy Spirit:

a. Not plotting conspiracies just as lions stalk their prey.

b. Not devouring the innocent.

c. Not seizing someone’s treasures.

d. Not extorting wealth.

e. Not adding to the tallies of widows, orphans, oppressed, neglected, etc., in the land.

f. Not utterly disrespecting the value of life.

CONCLUSION

Thanking and appreciating God for ushering us into a new month and further trusting in His faithfulness for the ensuing month is godly and biblical. The matter of concern I am urging us all to consider is the unbridled desire to wantonly dissipate the treasure chest of our faith, which is hinged on Christ rather than empty philosophies and sophisticated worldly manipulations.

COLOSSIANS 2:20-23 (NLT):

“You have died with Christ, and He has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, ‘Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!’? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

It is the wall of righteousness that guards the land, but not the strict adherence to a temporary and deteriorating elemental trend. It is all about Jesus, but not a new month. All months are the same.

Written by Pastor Simon Afful (The Church of Pentecost – Madagascar)

In November 2021, a young gentleman appeared on a television set to be auditioned for an opportunity to be mentored by a senior journalist. During the interview, one of the panellists queried him on his previous social media posts, in which he vilified the panel members and other senior journos. Unfortunately, the young man could not justify his actions but sought to suggest that social media posts are sometimes not based on true facts, but intended to generate conversations.

This may be one of many instances where persons who disagree with leadership take to social media to vilify and cast insinuations at such leaders, much of it being personal sentiments with little facts. In a democratic society such as ours, this may not be out of place, considering a linchpin of our constitution is freedom of speech. Democracy itself thrives on collective rulership where voices are supposed to be heard in governance.

Over the years, there has been a general growth in dissatisfaction with leadership across nations: both political and nonpolitical. In 2010, Mohammed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old trader in Tunisia, set himself ablaze as a protest to his treatment by local officials, prompting demonstrations which led to the then president, Ben Ali, stepping down – paving the way for democratic elections in that country. This incident in Tunisia prompted similar protests across North Africa and the Middle East, known as the Arab Springs. These wave of protests and the overwhelming results, made popular to the entire world through social media, inspired many ordinary citizens to, in their own way, rally public sentiments aimed at challenging perceived ills within their respective societies.

Democracy, social media and historic events such as the Arab Springs, have empowered many people to rise and speak to societal issues more boldly. While this has generally kept leaders on their toes, it behoves the Christian to be guided by scripture in confronting issues with leaders both within and without the church.

The 16th chapter of the third book of Moses, Numbers, offers a playbook to guide our conduct as Christians in addressing issues of perceived disagreement with leadership.

Korah, a Levite and first cousin to Aaron and Moses, stood up against the latter, accusing him of exalting himself above the others who make up the Assembly of God. Korah argued that they were all holy and the Lord was among them – Moses and Aaron were no more special than Korah and his cohorts. His view seemed plausible to the chiefs of the congregation, 250 of whom were won over. The Bible described these as well-known men; perhaps respectable people and opinion leaders whose views were not taken lightly. Dathan and Abiram, on the other hand, seemed to be frustrated by the general challenges with wanderings on the desert. It could be inferred from their action that they blamed Moses and Aaron for the hardship Israel was facing. At the end of this confrontation, God affirmed his choice of Moses and Aaron. By opening up the earth and sending fire to destroy the defiant group, He had sent a strong warning throughout the congregation that He would not countenance any rebellion against His chosen.

There are some lessons from this story, as well as guidance provided throughout scripture, which the Christian can glean to guide his conduct towards leaders, so one does not stand the risk of defiance against those God has placed in authority.

First, in any called congregation, there are some who are chosen to lead in specific areas. Within God’s chosen community of Israel, there were some chosen as leaders of the clans, Levites chosen to serve in the tabernacle (this is where Korah belonged), Aaron and his sons chosen as priests among the Levites, and Moses chosen to lead the entire congregation of God’s people (Israel). The bible says in Romans 13:1 (ESV) ‘Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God’. If God has divinely placed others as leaders in the church or society, we must obey them in all humility. Our reverence for God is expressed in reverence for those he has chosen to lead.

Next, standing up to someone God has put in authority is standing up to God himself. Korah was able to rally support from leaders within the community, thinking he had a valid course. Unfortunately, he was on a path to self-destruction, as this turned out to be a confrontation with God Himself. Romans 13:2 says ‘Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment’. God’s administration of our society and church is done through human vessels we call leaders. A leader therefore does not stand in authority of himself, but only in God’s place.

Again, the voice of the people is not always the voice of God. Although Korah garnered support from a sizeable number of the leaders, their view did not represent God’s will. Social media likes and popular sentiments are not a very good measure of the change that must happen. Although individuals may have reservations about administration within any group (church, nation, social groups, work, etc), it does not warrant defiance or mass action. We could be very wrong in our assertions as a group, no matter how appealing our views may be. Do not be misled by popular support and similar sentiments in taking the wrong step of rebelling against God-ordained leadership.

Lastly, we must be careful to guard our zeal. The Levites were zealous for God and stood when all other tribes went astray in Exodus 32:25-26. The Bible says in Romans 10:2 ‘For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge’. Zeal, simply explained as a strong desire, can be misplaced. We need to balance our desire with knowledge. Sad to say that many a time, our expression of passion for change is without the attendant knowledge. In many fields of society, it is common truth that experts do not talk much. These people have built a wealth of knowledge that has made them appreciate things, for which reason they would not be in a haste to castigate others. Knowledge tames zeal; without it, actions motivated by zeal alone could be destructive. The next time you want to confront leadership, be careful to be sure you are well informed.

In conclusion, the story of Korah, Dathan, Abiram and the 250 men provides an invaluable lesson to Christians on how to engage leaders on issues we disagree with. Our duty as people being led is, first, to obey God by obeying leadership. We must not discount the authority of God bestowed on our leaders and seek to exalt ourselves any higher. We can offer constructive suggestions through appropriate channels and continually pray for our leaders for God to guide them in their duties. Our standard of conduct is the word of God, and not any other ‘rule’. We should be guided by it always. Social media could mislead us into thinking we are pleading a just cause. Likes, comments, views and shares are not a measure of what God approves: we must be careful not to be swayed by that.

Prior to publicly criticizing God’s chosen leaders, be sure to ask yourself these questions:

1. Will my action bring glory to God?
2. Is my action motivated by a genuine love for God?
3. Have I prayed for the leaders I am about to criticize?
4. Have I exhausted all other channels of making my concerns known?

If your answer to any of these is a no, take a breather and reconsider your actions.

The Lord bless our nation. The Lord bless his church. Amen.

Written by P/Overseer Enoch Ofori Kwarteng (Asantekwa District, Kintampo Area)

Introduction

Between September 15 and October, the Volta River Authority (VRA) conducted a “controlled spillage” of water from the Akosombo and Kpong dams. This is the 11th since the inauguration of Akosombo Dam in 1965. The spillage submerged vast area of land downstream in the Volta, Oti, and Eastern regions of Ghana. Media reports suggest that more than 50,000 people were displaced, while homes, farms, and livelihoods washed away. This created severe environmental damage, economic crisis, disruptions in education and increased hardships for vulnerable individuals. Additionally, experts raised concerns about a potential public health epidemic that could follow the flood disaster. Generally, the situation is described as a humanitarian crisis by many.

While the VRA and the National Disaster Management Organization argue that the spillage was a necessary action to prevent a catastrophic dam rupture, there are critical questions about the management of the process and its consequences on both the ecosystem and society. Notwithstanding, this article primarily focuses on the factors contributing to the variation in water levels in dams such as Akosombo, Kpong, and Weija, leading to spillage disasters in recent years.

Historical Water Level Concerns

The operational water levels for the Akosombo dam ranges between 240.00ft and 278.00ft. Deviations beyond these limits have serious implications for hydroelectric power supply, the environment, life, and property. Historical data, such as research conducted by Eric Ocran in 2015, reveals that the lowest recorded water level occurred in 1966 (234.00ft), while the highest was noted in 2010 (277.54ft).

Although concerns exist regarding both low and high water levels, the prolonged focus had been on the lower values. This concern was substantiated by Eric Ocran’s work in 2015, which indicated a potential fall of levels below 226.00ft, which could cause all the turbines in the dam to shut down. Several researches raised similar concerns about the declining water volume in the dam. Beyond that, the Daily Graphic newspaper reported on a group of pastors who prayed at the dam site to avert a potential prolonged electrical power shortage due to low water levels.

In recent years, however, the situation has reversed and the dams are overflowing. Considering that the VRA attributes this year’s spillage to the water level rise to approximately 276ft, several factors may be accountable for the overflows. Some include lower temperatures/evaporation, increased inflows from tributaries, and developments along river courses. Another might be reduced water consumption in the dam for electricity generation due to the construction of the Bui Dam and the installation of thermal plants.

Climate Change as a Significant Factor

All the factors, notwithstanding, a fundamental question could be whether climate variation is a primary contributory factor. According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change is long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, caused by the prolonged accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the atmosphere, and results in more frequent and unpredictable extreme weather events.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), supports this perspective, through data from observations on ground, air, and space, with computer models, that changes in global land and ocean temperatures, rising sea levels, and shifts in extreme weather patterns, such as hurricanes, heatwaves, floods, and precipitation, are associated with climate change.

Local Impact of Climate Change

In a study conducted by Frederick Ebert Stiftung, with the Ghana Agricultural Workers Union, it revealed that Ghana has experienced extreme weather events over the past five years, including severe droughts and heavy rainfall. These events have had devastating effects on agricultural workers and pose significant vulnerabilities to infrastructure, public health, and ecosystems. The World Bank Group’s Ghana Country Climate and Development Report 2022 warns of flooding and drought as consequences of climate change in the country. The report strongly advises the government to establish early warning systems and safety nets for vulnerable communities.

Akosombo Dam Case

Analysing the Akosombo Dam’s situation reveals a notable surge in water levels to about 276ft. This surge is a sharp contrast to the situation in the recent past when the dam was at risk of drying up. Authorities consistently attribute the increased water volume to heavy rainfall, a claim supported by data from the Ghana Meteorological Agency. In addition to heavy rainfall, falling temperatures in the region have significantly reduced water loss from the dam due to reduced evaporation.

Conclusion: The Case for Climate Change Mitigation

The evidence strongly suggests that the overflowing dams in Ghana are indicative of the influence of climate pressures. Urgent measures are required to mitigate the impact on vulnerable communities. There is, therefore, the need to take proactive steps, such as investments in Artificial Intelligent tools for hydroclimatology, runoff modelling, remote sensing, and satellite data for early detection of climate pressures, to determine appropriate responses. Additionally, institutions like the VRA should conduct comprehensive assessments of the estuaries, addressing challenges such as silting in the areas before conducting such massive spillages.

Written by David Kyetong Guun (dkguun@pentvars.edu.gh)

The call to repentance is important and must not be neglected. It is entirely accurate to say that it is the first word of the gospel. I shall attempt to explain what repentance means, dive deep into the scriptures, and look at some characters who used the word “repent” at the beginning of their ministries.

Is repentance something we must do before we can come to God? Yes and no. Repentance does not describe something we must do before we come to God; it describes what coming to God is like. If you are in Otsenkorang in the Agona Swedru Area, and I tell you to come to Nsonan, I don’t need to say, “Leave Otsenkorang and come to Nsonan.” To come to Nsonan is to leave Otsenkorang, and if I haven’t left Otsenkorang, I certainly haven’t come to Nsonan. We can’t come to the kingdom of Heaven unless we leave our sin and the self-life. So, repentance is leaving your old self (the world) for a new life in Jesus Christ.

• The first word of John the Baptist’s gospel, whose work was to pave the way for the Messiah, was “REPENT.”

“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!'” – Matthew 3:1-2, NKJV.

In the above scripture, John wanted people to know that the kingdom of heaven was near – as close as their hand. It wasn’t as distant or dreamy as they had imagined. This is why John was so urgent in his call to repentance. If the kingdom of Heaven is at hand, then we must get ready now. Beloved, everything around us shows that the kingdom is near. Are you ready to repent?

• “Repent” was also the first word of Jesus’ gospel.

“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'” – Matthew 4:17, NKJV.

“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.'” – Mark 1:14-15, NKJV.

So, from these two scriptures, we see how Jesus’s ministry began. Jesus, being God, knew how repentance was key in the lives of the Gentiles and the Jews. The sad news is that the Jews thought that they didn’t need any repentance rather than the Gentiles. That is why John the Baptist called the Pharisees and Sadducees “Brood of vipers.” These two groups represented the leadership of Judaism.

According to these two groups, John’s baptism in water was meant for only Gentiles and not them. Because they wanted to show the world how ready they were for the Messiah, though they had not truly repented.

John reminded them that real repentance will show itself in life. It must be a matter of living repentance, not just talking repentance. We must live a life worthy of the calling that we have received from our Lord Jesus. Most Christians do not live up to the standard of the kingdom. We must live the gospel and share it with others.

• “Repent” was the first word of exhortation in the first Christian sermon.

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:38, NKJV.

The church was formed out of the call to repentance. After the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the early fathers stood with boldness and preached on repentance. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, we cannot speak or preach on repentance. One of the works of the Holy Spirit is to cause the believer to witness the lost souls.

PREPARATIONS TO MAKE BEFORE SPEAKING ON REPENTANCE TO OTHERS

• Personal Repentance: It’s important to engage in introspection and reflection before discussing repentance with others. Repentance is a spiritual and personal practice, not just a theoretical idea. Make sure you have truly confessed your transgressions and faults, as this sincerity will give your message weight.

• Knowledge and Understanding: Gain a thorough grasp of how your religious tradition views repentance. Examine the pertinent biblical passages, lessons, and theological stances regarding repentance. Having this knowledge will enable you to provide your message with a strong foundation.

• Prayer and Spiritual Reflection: Spend some time in prayer and spiritual reflection as a means of preparing yourself spiritually. Seek advice from mentors, clergy, or religious authorities to make sure you are spiritually ready to discuss repentance.

• Kindness and Understanding: For each person, repentance is a delicate and private matter. Be sensitive and understanding when discussing the subject. Recognize that sorrow, guilt, or feelings of unworthiness can be difficult for some people. Offer hope, support, and a way to atone in your message.

• Do Not Judge: When talking about repentance, do not adopt a critical or priggish tone. Remind people that everyone experiences regret and that everyone is prone to making mistakes and sinning.

• Individual Journey of Repentance: Remember that each person has a different journey of repentance. Therefore, encourage them to come to their own conclusions about their faith and methods for asking for forgiveness.

In conclusion, we must endeavor to share the gospel wherever we find ourselves. We must recall that offering words of repentance is a holy obligation that can profoundly influence people’s spiritual development. With humility, compassion, and a genuine desire to assist others in returning to their faith and their relationship with God, approach this responsibility. We must live a life of integrity and remain holy for the Lord.

Written by P/Ovr. Solomon Boadi (Otsenkorang District, Agona Swedru Area)

Happenings and life in the Middle East, where life in this world started, haven’t been easy in recent weeks. Even though events towards the end of this age are unfolding faster than expected, my thoughts and deepest condolences are with all who have lost and are still losing loved ones, not to mention the excruciating pain and suffering the most vulnerable in society are going through. May the Lord God of Mercy intervene for cool heads to prevail in Jesus’ Mighty name. Here are a few lessons from the current impasse for our reflection:

Sin is a scam

We are here today, unfortunately, due to sheer disobedience to God’s Word right from the Garden of Eden through history, even until now. Disobedience to God’s Word doesn’t deliver the shortcut it promises. May God help all of us to obey His Word because He is the only one who knows tomorrow from today.

Jesus is the safest bomb shelter

I overheard someone granting an interview saying she was currently hiding in a safe room or a bomb shelter. Sadly, she added that she wasn’t sure what was going to happen to her in the next minute or two.

Technology and the world may attempt to shelter the human body to some extent. However, it doesn’t have what it takes to protect the spirits and souls of humankind. The surest, tested, and tried BOMB SHELTER is THE NAME OF THE LORD! The Ancient of Days is a strong Tower ready to welcome all who are ready to run to Him. Are you in your bomb shelter now?

Humans can be wicked, but God is merciful

World leaders are currently negotiating for a HUMANITARIAN CORRIDOR or a safe passage for the civilians, women, children, and the sick caught up in the crossfire to be moved to a safe location. Here again, warring factions may not easily offer such concessions even when that appears to be the obvious and the least to do. The good Lord Jesus has, however, offered freely a DIVINE CORRIDOR or a safe passage through this barren and ever-degenerating land unto Eternal Life through Christ Jesus. Luckily, this corridor is accessible to all who decide for Jesus during the days of their lives but not after their death.

Earthly possessions are worthless

The online photos of the destruction of lives and properties are also mind-boggling, to say the least. Some of these vehicles and prestigious high-rise buildings were once the pride of their owners out of their efforts and sweat. Today, they have all been reduced to rubble. The Lord Jesus was, therefore, on point when He advised that we lay our treasures in Heaven where no missile or rocket will ever find. We must rethink if we are so fixated on the wanton acquisition of earthly possessions. I saw a family leaving home and most of their belongings behind, walking to an unknown location and not sure if they would survive the next day. They could just not move along with those possessions. God, have mercy! It is, therefore, also true that we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of the world.

Spiritual warfare is real

The footage attached shows a day and night missile bombardment in areas perceived to be enemy targets. Are you, therefore, surprised to learn that the devil equally fires wicked rockets against believers who have voted to be on the Lord’s side? Your disbelief in spiritual warfare doesn’t nullify its reality. Scripture rather admonishes us not to argue but to put on the full armor of God so we can stand during such deadly onslaught against us. The world calls it an IRON DOME or anti-missile dome, but God calls it the believer’s armory.

Hell is real

There are some who still believe that God isn’t wicked enough to design and construct a place called Hellfire for humans to suffer eternally. However, some of the horrific pictures of the fire and smoke ascending into the skies only strike a chord that the D-day will indeed be catastrophic for Satan and his cohorts. God did not design Hellfire for humans, but the devil is busily campaigning for many to join him there. Unfortunately, some in the world have volunteered to become foot soldiers for his campaign team. Therefore, be kind enough to your own soul and spirit by surrendering your life to the lordship of Christ while you are still alive.

Siblings can be at each other’s throats

Per biblical accounts and history, the warring factions (Israel-Gazans) are indeed blood brothers and sisters. If cool heads don’t prevail, members belonging to the same household can fight tooth and nail until whatever they seek is entirely destroyed.

MY PRAYER

Lord Jesus, please be merciful and go to the aid of the suffering masses in both Israel and Gaza. Kindly intervene for cool heads to prevail so a DIVINE corridor would be allowed for the humanitarian aid workers to access the vulnerable. Finally, I pray that You reveal Yourself and Your love to all the warring factions, so they can come to Your saving knowledge. Thank you, Jesus. AMEN!

Written by Pastor James Orhin Agyin

Prior to Jesus’ ascension, he foretold that the gospel would leave the frontiers of Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. In fulfillment, Philip went down to Samaria and shared the gospel (Acts 8:1-23) where many people were freed from the deception of Simon the Sorcerer, whom they wrongly perceived as the great power of God. Over the years, spreading the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth has been made possible by the selfless service of missionaries.

In Ghana, many accounts have been given regarding the history of Christian missionary activities. However, the majority of literature link the presence of the first Christian missionaries to the arrival of the Portuguese in the year 1471. Although the Roman Catholic Chaplains of the Portuguese traders and armed forces were to serve as missionaries to the local people in Elmina, their concentration was much on trade and chaplaincy. As a result, the era of missions in the 15th century did not record significant conversion of the local populace.

Later, in the 19th century, Basel/Presbyterian and Wesleyan/Methodist missionaries achieved much success in laying the foundation for the spread of the gospel in Ghana. The Basel mission sent four missionaries, Karl Salbach, Gottlieb Holzwath, Johannes Henke, and Gottlieb Schmidt between the ages of 24 to 27 to the Gold Coast in 1828. Three of them died within eight months while the last, Johannes Henke, died within three years of their arrival. Unfazed by these casualties, they sent three missionaries, one of whom was a medical doctor. Unfortunately, two of them, including the medical doctor, died within three months, depicting a poorer chance of survival than the former. The survivor, Andrea Riis, moved to the hilly outskirt of Akropong, where, together with missionaries he recruited from the West Indies, launched a successful mission. Significantly, the activities of these forerunners from the Catholic, Basel, and Wesleyan missions paved the way for the mission enterprise in the twentieth century.

Thus, in 1937, an Irish missionary, James McKeown, was sent by the Apostolic Church, Bradford, UK to the then Gold Coast (now Ghana) to help a group of believers of the Apostolic Faith in Asamankese, led by one Reverend Peter Anim. After years of hard work filled with schisms, sacrifices, and divine interventions, he founded the Church of Pentecost on August 1, 1962. He is described as a simple man who quickly adapted to living conditions in Ghana. His insistence on building a self-financing, self-propagating, and self-governing church made him build solid structures for the nascent church, which is now found in 151 nations of the world. James McKeown taught the church to be self-reliant without sourcing funds from overseas. He also trained and mentored young people, many of whom became Pastors of the church. On October 1, 1982, James McKeown handed over to the first Chairman of Ghanaian descent, Apostle Fred Stephen Sarfo, and died seven years later on May 4, 1989.

Sowing the seeds of the gospel came with many challenges, casualties, and hostilities. Mainly, tropical diseases like Malaria claimed the lives of many missionaries, thereby slowing down progress of work. As stated earlier, the Basel missionaries experienced major casualties, losing seven missionaries within a few years. Also, but for the timely intervention of a district commissioner, Reverend James McKeown, who took ill six months after his arrival, would have lost his life due to the no-medication doctrine of the Anim-led church.

Furthermore, preaching against practices such as polygamy and human sacrifice brought sharp disputes between the missionaries and some chiefs. In addition, policies like building Christian communities (Salems) were misconstrued as efforts to undermine the authority of parents and traditional rulers. In Ghana, Salem communities were built in places like Akropong, Osu, Abokobi, Peki, Kyebi, Abetifi, Nsaba, and Anum. Under the Salem policy, converts were required to move out of their homes to settle in communities on the outskirts where they were closely monitored by the missionaries. Due to the separation, they did not partake in activities like festivals, wars, and rites of passage sanctioned by the traditional authorities. As a result, some of the local folks resorted to making life uncomfortable for the missionaries, whom they thought had used religion to foment the breaking of ranks by the local populace.

With regards to movement, poor transportation networks hindered their forays into the inland regions. Some had to trek long distances on foot with the assistance of porters and guides. Sadly, some of the porters and aides became disloyal along the line, bringing much loss to the missionaries. Against this backdrop, many of the missionaries restricted their work to the coastal regions, leaving much of the inland regions and northern part of the country unattended.

Despite these challenges, the Christian missionaries did not confine their work only to spreading the gospel. They built schools, cared for the sick, trained artisans, and introduced the local folks to modern methods of farming and new crops like cashew, black pepper, cotton, mango, and ginger. Another significant contribution of the Christian missionaries was the development of literature in the local languages, which facilitated the translation of the Bible into some of the local languages. Specifically, Rev. Johannes Zimmermann in 1858, wrote a grammar of the Ga language, while Rev. J. G. Christaller in 1874 produced a Twi Grammar and Dictionary. The Roman Catholics, who were the first to work among the Fantes, initiated similar works in Fanti and Nzema, while the Evangelical Presbyterian missionaries were the first to develop literature in Ewe.

To the glory of God, the seed sown through the toil, tears, financial sacrifices, and the deployment of human resources amidst the peril of death has borne much fruit.

Currently, Christians constitute 71.3% of the population of Ghana according to the Ghana Statistical Service. The mustard seed has grown to become a ‘towering’ tree with branches serving as a place of refuge for many nations. Commendably, the Church of Pentecost, which started in Ghana, has entered into 151 nations of the world through missions. Aside from bringing salvation to many through the gospel, activities of missionaries have contributed significantly to education, health care delivery, agriculture, and civilization. In view of this, everyone must contribute to keep the torch of missions handed to us burning. Surely, the fire of missions must not die in our generation. Support missions by praying for missionaries, giving in support of missions, and spreading the gospel everywhere. Long live the Great Commission, Long Live the Christian Enterprise, Long Live Missions in the Church of Pentecost.

Written by Pastor Joseph Owusu-Boateng (Traveling Secretary – PENSA-Sunyani Sector)

Eschatology is the study of the end time according to Christian belief. Christians are encouraged to prepare by living a life of faith, love, and obedience to God. In Matthew 24:42, Jesus said, “Therefore, keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” It is important to stay alert and ready for His return. Let us explore how we can actively engage in this preparation.

One needs to focus on prayer, study the Word, and live a life of righteousness. In 1 Thessalonians 5:6, it says, “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.” This means that being spiritually awake and alert makes a true Christian conscious of Christ’s return.

Staying connected to a community of believers is vital. Hebrews 10:25 encourages us not to give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but to encourage one another—all the more as you see the Day approaching. Always remember that being part of a Christian community helps us to stay strong and encourages us to persevere in our faith in Christ Jesus.

Actively serving others and sharing the good news of Jesus also help Christians stay grounded concerning the second coming of Christ. In Matthew 24:14, Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Fellow Christians, by spreading the message of salvation, we can help others prepare for Christ’s return while staying vigilant ourselves.

Maintaining a fervent prayer life is very essential in preparing for the end time. We always seek God’s guidance, wisdom, and strength through prayer. This is one way we can stay spiritually vigilant, watchful of the signs of the end time, and remain connected to the Holy Spirit.

In conclusion, I encourage Christians to study eschatology, stay active, live a life of faith, love, and obedience, pray, study the Word, be part of a supportive community, and actively share the Gospel. By doing so, we will be prepared for the second coming of Christ and keep others on their journey of faith.

Written by Deacon Silas Aboagye (Okornya District, Agormanya Area)

Ghana has always been a beautiful religious landscape. The art on the world canvas of religious turmoil looks different when the lens focuses on Ghana. Right from the days of the colonialists to the contemporary times, we have lived in harmony. I have seen how Christians and Muslims live in peace in this nation. Once, my car caught fire, and Muslims risked their lives to douse it for me. Currently, my mission house is situated in the heart of a Zongo and from my predecessors till date, we have lived in peace and mutual respect.

It has, therefore, been disheartening to see and hear that, at times, Christians get at each other when we could be so nice to people of other faiths. The question then has been, what is happening to the body of Christ? The apostle Paul admonished that the eyes cannot tell the hand, ‘I don’t need you’ (1 Corinthians 12:21). The forebears of the Pentecostal and charismatic movements in Ghana knew this so well so that at the time when there was a seemingly boiling tension in the land at the Pentecostal front, they did not divide but sought ‘Unity in the Spirit’. The branches knew they were of one Tree of Life (Jesus Christ). After five decades and more, we witness the fruit of their foresight. We see the move as the Ghana Pentecostal Council spread its wings to become the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council. We have seen how the council is getting more vibrant each day at the national level and among the clergy. The wing of inward-looking denominationalism is gradually breaking down at the top, which is heart-warming. 

However, unity in the Spirit is not about unity in the clergy. It is about that the Church ‘may be one’ (John 17:21). As we celebrate GPCC week this year under the theme, ‘United for God’s Glory,’ we must all work at unity in the Spirit for God’s glory at all levels of the church. I humbly want to suggest some practical steps GPCC can take at all levels to ensure the unity we all desire trickles down even to the level of our Children’s Ministry in the various denominations.

First, let us learn to understand the practices of member churches so that any critique will be constructive and not disparage one another, especially before the congregations. Let us not behave as the average Ghanaian politician who will dirty their opponent during party primaries and turn around to talk about uniting to fight for a national election. When we speak ill of ourselves to our congregations, we mock our coming together. We sow the seed of discord among them, and they see our coming together as a charade than the true spirit of ‘Unity in the Spirit’ we advocate. 

Related to this is the need to avoid being over ourselves on our successes and uniqueness in a manner that seems to spite others. We must be humble to know that we do not know it all or have it all and that there is something to learn from one another. The more open we are to ourselves, the more our unity in diversity will affect one another as we work at unity. We do not need to look down on ourselves but lift one another. Let us all know that people have different tastes; thus, the gospel is baked in different flavours (denominational uniqueness) to meet those tastes. The key here is to see ourselves as the one body of Christ. We must cultivate humility and avoid assuming that everything and everyone revolves around us.

We must realise that this call to unity is not a general spirit of friendliness or camaraderie. Unity is a product and result of the Cross and the Spirit’s work in us. It goes beyond the unity of secular life. It is the very life of the Spirit. Walking in Spirit means working together. We are not aiming at everything for the sake of unity or our pride – it is ‘of the Spirit. 

We need to be patient with ourselves. Long-suffering and forbearing with others is crucial as we desire unity. Others may offend us in various ways. There will be complaints. Wherever there are people, complaints and dissatisfactions are bound to happen. The swiftness with which those with the mandate attend to the issues is critical. 

At the local church level, let us talk more about GPCC, the benefits of unity, and the need for this unity and promote it. Leaders of the local churches and the members should be encouraged to see other Christians in different denominations as brethren in Christ and relate well with them both at work and in the communities in the spirit of ‘Unity in the Spirit’.

We can create room for the lay leaders in the local churches to fellowship among themselves with the GPCC Districts and Zones as the clergy do regularly. This will break the ‘dividing walls’ between how the clergy see GPCC and how the laity appreciates it. 

In the homes and marketplaces, our members can promote the unity of Pentecostals and Charismatics by coming together for devotions, Bible study, prayer meetings and other godly commitments. The Church of Pentecost can lead the way with our already-established Home Cell and Worker Guilds.

At the monthly meetings of the clergy to deliberate on GPCC at the District level, the laity should be allowed to join occasionally. It is not enough to let them represent the clergy when they cannot attend. At least once every quarter is enough to promote the course of GPCC.

There should be more GPCC communal efforts, such as clean-up campaigns, peace campaigns, sports festivals, marriage seminars and cooking competitions, among others, at the various levels of the council. We must make our unity practical and expand the frontiers of that unity. 

Finally, we need to raise constant prayers for the unity of the body of Christ; GPCC must be on our prayer radial, not only during GPCC events. Let us lift prayers for the leaders, the body, and each church member. Pray that you will be one in Spirit and purpose. GPCC must be on our constant prayer list. The more we pray about it, the more the Spirit will lead us to innovate, ameliorate, and expand the vision of GPCC.

As I conclude, let us remember that our unity already exists: The unity in the Spirit already exists as a spiritual reality through the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. We are already united in Christ, and the Holy Spirit maintains that unity as we ‘walk in a manner worthy’ of our calling (Ephesians 4:1). Our calling towards Unity in the Spirit is to build on and preserve what has been attained. Unity does not happen easily or automatically, nor can it be demanded or presumed. We need to build and maintain the unity of the Spirit with painstaking effort. And if it is to be ‘deeply rooted’ rather than superficial and enduring rather than fleeting, it will take time and endurance to build. Let us make the time.

Promoting unity among church members of different denominations is crucial for the growth and witness of the Church in the land. Remember our common identity; focus on what unites us rather than what divides us. We should always remember that we are all part of the body of Christ. Our unity glorifies God. 

GPCC, unity in the Spirit!

Written by Pastor George Osei-Asiedu

As a preacher, whenever you have the opportunity to share the gospel, aim to save souls, not empty people’s wallets/pockets; offer hope, not burdens.

As it is written, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17, KJV). Sadly, that is not the case now; in fact, one’s faith often dwindles when seated under the ministration of some contemporary preachers.

Many messengers today venture into the world, spreading their philosophies, cloaked in religious ideals. I once witnessed a man preaching at a bus station, flipping through what appeared to be a Bible. His message lacked substance and lacked any biblical references. Upon closer inspection, I discovered he was using a pamphlet, not a Bible. After a brief speech, he spent the larger part of the time soliciting money as an offering for his ministry. Sad!

During a period of prayer and fasting, seeking guidance on how the end-time generation can remain faithful to the Lord in light of Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:22-24, God revealed to me that contemporary messengers must possess the ability to expose deception.

The devil is leaving a mark on the minds of this generation, falsely portraying preachers as money-seekers. Today, many people hesitate to listen to street preachers because they’ve encountered so many who don’t truly convey the message.

The 2022 Afrobarometer Survey conducted by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Ghana, has been released, and to my astonishment, religious leaders (many of whom are Christians) rank among the most corrupt individuals in the country.

I fear that if this pattern continues, messengers of the word may be viewed similarly to the tax collectors in the days of Jesus, eroding trust in men of God due to the actions of a few.

The devil is determined to diminish the value of messengers by making some preach and act inappropriately, tarnishing the reputation of all messengers. However, he is a liar!

Apostle Peter targeted the kingdom of hell and converted three thousand souls to heaven instantly.

We should also do same. We must preach the unadulterated word of God for the salvation of souls.

When preaching our message should revolve around these key truths: Jesus saves, Jesus grants eternal life, Jesus loves you. And After we have fulfilled our part, let’s leave the conviction of the heart and the rest to the Holy Spirit.

Written by Elder Owusu-Bibini (Dumasua District)