Posts in category: Church News

The just ended 6^th Royals Conference organised by The Church of Pentecost at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, witnessed a significant moment as 62 traditional rulers publicly embraced their faith in Jesus Christ.

The 3-day event, held from June 25 to 27, 2024, under the theme, “Moral Vision and National Development: The Role of Traditional Rulers,” drew 1,612 traditional rulers from both Ghana and Togo. Among them were 77 paramount chiefs, 38 paramount queenmothers, divisional chiefs, and other royals.

During the closing session on Thursday, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost and President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Apostle Eric Nyamekye, who was the convenor of the conference, preached a powerful sermon on ‘When You Have Become A King/Queen.’

He personally led an altar call, urging the traditional rulers who were not born again to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ—the ultimate source of power and security. Sixty-two responded to the call and surrendered their lives to Christ while many others rededicated their lives to Christ.

Apostle Nyamekye emphasised that their reliance on Christ would provide the wisdom needed to lead their communities effectively. Drawing parallels with King Solomon’s request for wisdom to govern Israel, he encouraged them to seek divine guidance rather than turning to other sources of spiritual power.

The biannual royals conference which began in 2014 under Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, the then Chairman of the church, seeks to bring all royals in and outside the church together to align their rule with godly values and principles to foster peace and development in their communities.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Chairman of the Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI), Apostle Samuel Amponsah-Frimpong, has reminded traditional rulers that God has made them stewards over the lands they survey.

The CACI Chairman said this today [June 27, 2024] during Day 2 of the Royals Conference organised by The Chieftaincy Ministry of The Church of Pentecost at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh l  near Kasoa.

Apostle Amponsah-Frimpong emphasised that God is the custodian of all lands as the creator of all things. However, in His wisdom, He has assigned humans, including kings, chiefs, and other royals, the duty to care for these lands until His coming.

He added that as stewards, humans have a responsibility to keep the land in good shape so that posterity will bless them.

The CACI Chairman highlighted that although God created natural resources for human use, these resources face the challenge of overexploitation.

He pointed out that the growing population contributes to this overexploitation as people seek places to live and materials for building.

Another factor he revealed is the non-adherence to laws and the culture of impunity. He stressed that this is often enabled by traditional leaders and government officials who turn a blind eye to the disregard for laws and even contribute to it, alongside the over-politicisation of important national issues.

Apostle Amponsah-Frimpong explained that the overexploitation of Ghana’s resources has led to the pollution of water bodies, destruction of forest reserves, the risk of certain animals becoming extinct, the spread of strange diseases due to chemical use, and the reduction of fish stocks in territorial waters due to chemical use and foreign intrusion.

To address the challenge of overexploitation, Apostle Amponsah-Frimpong suggested that traditional leaders, whose offices are highly revered and recognised by the 1992 Constitution, should leverage this respect to mobilise their people.

He urged them to conduct activities that will lead to the preservation of natural resources within their jurisdictions and bring about development.

He added that Ghana needs patriots, including traditional leaders, to control the land and preserve it for future generations.

PENTECOST NEWS

The President of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Very Rev. Prof. Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, has suggested that traditional rulers have great lessons to learn from the symbols associated with their offices to guide them to become agents of morality and service to their people.

Addressing the gathering of royals at the Royals Conference organised by The Church of Pentecost under the theme, ‘Moral Vision and National Development: The Role of Traditional Rulers’ underway at Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, Very Rev. Prof. Asamoah-Gyadu said royalty is associated with symbols that are to serve as constant reminders to them in the discharge of their duties.

‘The symbols, colours, names and appellations are not there to make you swollen-headed but to draw your attention to serve,’ he reminded the gathering.

The theologian emphasised that the symbols of office of chiefs and their jurisdictions are not chosen at random but serve as memorials, encouragement, instructions and status, and thus should be a constant reflection of their personality and deeds.

Referencing the Fante names of the months in the year, Prof. Asamoah-Gyadu stated that they point to prudent use of time. He observed that one of the things royals need to help change in society is the use of time.

‘One of the things we are joking with in this country is the use of time, and anyone who doesn’t respect time will live in a corrupt society because when time catches you by you want to catch up and that makes you cut corners’, he stressed.

He regretted that the nation’s leaders; politicians and traditional rulers are aiding in the perpetuation of a lack of shame in the Ghanaian society. 

‘One of the things I’m ashamed of is the lack of shame. When the law catches up with someone, you see politicians gathering at the courts in the name of solidarity. You can’t provide moral support for an act that is immoral,’ he indicated.

He noted that patriotic songs of the country highlight the need for the citizenry to be selfless and morally upright. He stressed that renowned songwriter, Dr Ephraim Amu, described greed as disability because it robs the nation of progress and lack of commitment to moral development as disgraceful.

Prof. Asamoah-Gyadu entreated the royals to submit to Christ as there is no symbol that surpasses the sovereignty and supremacy of God.

‘Your personality is a symbol, and it is sacred. There are things you are expected to do and not to do. There are critical lessons of morality, ethics and service associated with your position as a traditional ruler and you must take them seriously,’ he admonished.

He recommended that the rich symbols of the nation must be incorporated into the educational system of Ghana to make morality a central theme in the development agenda of the nation.  

‘There are many great moral lessons in symbols to guide decision-making and ethical behaviour that will serve as examples of morals in society and inform what we want to teach. Let us imbibe them,’ he concluded.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, has emphasised the need to awaken Ghana’s moral vision for national development.

Speaking at the opening session of the 2024 Royals Conference, Apostle Nyamekye stated, “We must awaken the moral vision of the people. The development of the citizens is the most important factor in the development of the nation.”

Highlighting why the church has recently been actively involved in national development issues, the Chairman mentioned, “The purpose of the church is the transformation of the nation. The history of the church invites it to do so, and righteousness exalts a nation.”

Explaining the church’s role in transforming the nation while advocating for moral vision, Apostle Nyamekye noted that the Great Commission calls on the church to go beyond its walls and evangelize. He added that the church must also be concerned about the environment in which people live.

“The church cannot only evangelise to win souls and ignore their environment. We need to win souls and transform nations,” he asserted.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye stressed the need for deliberate development of citizens ahead of infrastructural development.

He argued that morally bankrupt people undermine national progress, citing examples of how deliberate actions can lead to currency depreciation, inflation, interest rates hikes, and national debt.

According to him, the most important factor in the development of a nation is the character of its people.

To illustrate how the church’s history mandates its involvement in national development, Apostle Nyamekye referenced how the Puritans’ beliefs led to positive transformations in Europe.

He called on royals to respect everyone regardless of social status, eradicate laziness in their communities, and maintain integrity by being truthful.

Touching on the need for righteousness in leadership, Apostle Nyamekye said, “When you are a chief or a traditional leader, it is your service to God and your people.”

He urged the royals to impart Godly principles such as hard work, dignity of labor, patriotism, love, and forgiveness to their subjects.

Apostle Nyamekye admonished all traditional rulers and leaders to live with the next generation in mind and avoid amassing wealth at the expense of future generations.

PENTECOST NEWS