“You Owe Me Nothing; I Owe You Everything”- Apostle Dr. Ntumy web

“You Owe Me Nothing; I Owe You Everything”- Apostle Dr. Ntumy

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Without a shred of doubt, his two terms of ten years as the fourth Chairman of The Church of Pentecost saw the church emerging from obscurity to national and international prominence, spreading its tentacles to all continents of the world.

In the last fifteen years, he has been confined to an electronic wheelchair, but that could not stop him from serving as the Director of Literary Works of the church.

Since his assumption of that duty, under his watch, the Church has published twenty books of international standards. The aforementioned and many more are the things he availed himself to be used of the Lord to do  in the church. Many are those who would have claimed indispensability that, but for them, the church could not have assumed its current status, but certainly, not the now retired former chairman of The Church of Pentecost.

In an excellently written response read on his behalf on the occasion of his retirement service held at the auditorium of H4 Hotel, Hamburg, Bergedorf, typical of him, Apostle Dr. M. K. Ntumy drummed home one point- he would not claim credit for anything.

He wrote, “finally, to The Church of Pentecost fraternity worldwide, thank you very much. You do not owe me anything; I owe you everything; I didn’t make you what you are, you made me what I am. Long live the church of Pentecost. God bless us all”.

In that response preceded by the song, “Aseda fata wo, ayeyi fata wo, yen Hene Christo,” Apostle Dr. M. K. Ntumy expressed profound gratitude to the current Chairman, Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye and members of the Executive Council, as well as the immediate-past Chairman of the church, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah (Rtd) for not abandoning him to his fate, but showed him great support.

He remarked, “Chairman Eric Nyamekye has shown us exceptional love and compassion even long before he became chairman. He has visited me many times, and shared with us from his personal resources; called me very often to enquire about our well-being and to pray with us”.

Turning attention to the immediate-past Chairman, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, he recalled, “Chairman Opoku Onyinah told me, “I do not see death in this at a time doubt abounded, whether the following day will see me alive. He insisted, that despite my disability, I still have a lot in me with which to serve the Lord and the Church so retiring me on health grounds was not an option.

“He and his executive council appointed me Director of Literary Works in 2013; today our directorate has published twenty books of international standards”.

He also expressed gratitude to former General Secretaries, Apostle Albert Amoah and Apostle Dr. Alfred Koduah, and International Missions Directors, Apostles B. K. Arthur and Stephen Kofi Baidoo, both of blessed memory with whom he worked during his tenure as Chairman from 1998 to 2008.

He also thanked those under whose administrations he served namely; Apostles Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi and Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, General Secretary and International Missions Director respectively.

In that same response, he paid glowing tribute to his dear wife, Mrs. Martha Ntumy, whom he affectionately calls Lady, for standing by him through thick and thin in his ministry.

Amid a loud applause from the congregation, he said, “at this juncture, dear Chairman, permit me to pay a glowing tribute to my wife, Mrs. Martha Ntumy. My wife of forty-one years now; a ministry partner for the past 39 years; she is all-in-all to me; my beloved wife, a mother and the best of friends.

“Over the past fifteen years when I got into the state of paralysis, the best of my dear Lady came to the fore; my nurse, my doctor and mighty intercessor; Lady, may the Lord richly bless you and greatly reward you”.

He didn’t miss the opportunity to thank his children for acquitting themselves well. For them, he prayed, “may the Lord bless each of you in the continuous journey of life”.

Written by Elder David Tagoe

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Writing In Pain: Apostle Ntumy Fulfils The Hope Of Pastor Mckeown

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INTRODUCTION

They arrived with hearts set ablaze to keep the fire of the Gospel burning, despite the unfriendly African climate that claimed many lives. These individuals are true heroes of the faith. They faced the challenging task of ministering the Christian evangel in a context that often resisted it, resulting in significant losses. Then, a tall Irish man emerged on the scene: Pastor James McKeown.

He preached the word far and wide, establishing a thriving church to the glory of our Christ. Among the many aspirations James McKeown held for The Church of Pentecost (CoP) and the broader Christian community was the utilization of various media, especially writing, to disseminate the Gospel and explain the intricacies of Pentecostal doctrine to CoP members, the larger Christian community, and society as a whole.

Apostle Michael Kwabena Ntumy is the embodiment of this particular hope of Pastor McKeown.

“FOR I BEAR IN MY BODY THE MARKS OF JESUS”

How can one adequately describe Apostle Ntumy? Does his life not exemplify that it doesn’t matter where one finds themselves, but rather, when the searchlight of God falls upon you, your light shines for the world to see?

From him, we learn that young people are essential for leading and building the Church. He exemplifies that a gentle and quiet spirit is not a weakness but a virtue to be cherished. When Jesus Christ taught, “If a brother sins against you, go to them” (Matthew 18:15-20), Apostle Ntumy heard and became a champion of Christian unity and religious tolerance. You could ask the Ghana Pentecostal Council (GPC), before it became the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC). If it were possible, you could verify this from the late H. E. Aliu Mahama, a former Vice President of Ghana.

The echoes of their friendship still resonate today, so there’s no need to consult the deceased. In this era of Pentecostal spirituality and the growth of divine healing as a central theme of Pentecostal theology worldwide, a Pentecostal giant found himself incapacitated and confined to a wheelchair, suffering in agony. Remarkably, he did not raise his voice against the God whom it was said could “heal all your diseases” (Psalm 103:3).

Apostle Ntumy demonstrates a remarkable balance in Pentecostal beliefs regarding supernatural phenomena. He understands that misfortunes can have physical causes and stands tall as an exemplar of what it means to be a true Pentecostal. This is a man who bears the marks of Christ. Just like his master, when some thought that God had stricken him, he did not succumb to their allegations or accuse God.

While many consider him a man of sorrow, he rejoices in the Lord’s joy. Suffice it to say that he is a true servant of Christ. His response to ill-health sets a monument for Christians now and generations to come. He bears in his body the marks of Christ’s suffering, just as Apostle Paul did. He heard the call of his master amidst the sound of gunfire, beckoning him to “feed my lamb.”

Undoubtedly, the weight of the memoirs of Paul, detailing the suffering and struggles he endured as a minister of Christ, can be compared to that of Ntumy. Despite these hardships, he pursued his passion for writing, a gift bestowed upon him by the Lord. He has carved a niche for himself as an outstanding writer, significantly influencing writing within the CoP. The hope Pastor McKeown had regarding the use of books to convey the Gospel and the Pentecostal message has been realized through the writing ministry of Apostle Ntumy.

ON TABLETS OF THE HEART AND PAPERS OF HOPE

Pastor McKeown was not a strong advocate for preparing sermon notes, a view shared by many Pentecostals at the time. He believed one should pray until the word was laid on their heart, emphasizing that the word of God should register in the hearts of people as they listened. He once mentioned during a conference, “When I look at your faces, the words were registering. You were taking them in.”

From this perspective, it may seem that writing, in general, did not appeal to him much, but that’s not the case. He particularly believed that ministers of Christ and Christians should endeavor to articulate their thoughts on paper. Barely two years after his arrival in the Gold Coast (now Ghana), in January 1939, he wrote and published an article titled “Gathering Gold in the Gold Coast” in the influential magazine Herald of Grace.

He wrote another report for the same magazine in January 1941. He encouraged people to pour out the reflections of their hearts on paper, benefiting others near and far. In May 1986, during an interview when asked about the number of churches at the time and how evangelism was being carried out, Pastor McKeown emphasized the importance of radio broadcasting and writing in evangelism and discipleship.

He even expressed hope that someday, instead of just magazines, they would have actual books disseminating doctrine clearly to the people. At that time, the CoP had been publishing a magazine called Pentecost Fire, distributed free of charge throughout Ghana since March 6, 1965. These periodicals played a pivotal role in spreading the gospel during the early days of the CoP.

Today, the CoP utilizes both print and electronic media to reach out to the world. Apostle Ntumy’s tangible fulfillment of Pastor McKeown’s desire for “real books” is evident. His writing prowess shone even in the midst of paralysis. He became a true man of manuscripts.

MAN OF MANUSCRIPTS

Apostle Ntumy places great importance on education, creating opportunities for many people to pursue higher education. He further demonstrated the significance of writing, a disposition not commonly associated with Pentecostals. The Apostle’s writing acumen is one of the major aspects of his ministry that will leave an indelible mark in the annals of the CoP.

The institutionalization of Pastor McKeown’s hope can be seen in the Pentecost Literary Works of the CoP, with Apostle Ntumy serving as its director for almost a decade. In addition to personally publishing up to 16 books, he has co-edited over 20 others for the CoP in his role as the director of the Pentecost Literary Works. These books provide detailed explanations of the CoP’s annual themes and make Christian doctrine accessible to many.

Isn’t this what Pastor McKeown hoped for? The Apostle has trained numerous individuals in writing and has reviewed countless other books. To further his vision of transmitting godly knowledge through the written word, Apostle Ntumy established a public library in his hometown.

CONCLUSION

Dear Pastor McKeown, I am pleased to inform you that your hope has been realized in a grand fashion. What began as a mere droplet of water longing to quench the thirst of a vast, arid land has grown into an unending fountain, even in the driest seasons. Apostle Ntumy has answered your call with excellence, even in the face of pain. Apostle Ntumy is a man who deserves admiration from philosophers.

Theologians will find ample material for discussing how God works in the world through his life. Historians, both present and future, who write about the history of Christianity in Ghana must include the story of Apostle Ntumy; otherwise, they leave a significant gap in their narratives, rendering the history incomplete from their perspective. The various forms of art, including literature, poetry, and drama, must embrace the life of Apostle Ntumy, who has brought the Bible to life. Filmmakers should preach his life and teachings. A heartfelt salute to those who refer to him as “a Christian general.”

Written by Elder Dr. Stephen Ofotsu Ofoe

Leave Your Comfort Zones – Bishop Dr Nterful To Ministers web

Leave Your Comfort Zones – Bishop Dr Nterful To Ministers

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The Convener of the United Denominations originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches, Bishop Dr Emmanuel Louis Nterful, has charged Ministers of God to come out of their comfort zone and yearn for maximum expansion of the Church in Ghana. 

The Bishop compared the Church to the mustard seed, which is very small but grows bigger with time to become a giant tree to provide shelter for the multitude. 

He admitted that though the Church began with few individuals, it has gained momentum with time. He, therefore, called for disciples to yearn to raise repented men and women who will make the necessary moral discipline that the nation needs. 

Speaking at the just-ended All Ministers Conference organised by The Church of Pentecost at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, on the topic: “The Cell System and Church Growth,” he said if righteous people take dominion of the affairs of Ghana, it will transform the nation into a peaceful and joyful one. 

He said the Church is the salt of the world. Therefore, the salt must be enough to make the nations feel its presence.

Bishop Dr Nterful further charged believers to consider evangelism a rescue mission that must be tackled with all seriousness and aggression. He told ministers of God not to perceive soul-winning as a talent given by God to some specific individuals. This phenomenon, he said, has caused some ministers to be content with their small membership instead of stepping out of their comfort zone for the people who are perishing in the nations.

He compared the Church to yeast, which catalyses baking. He said the yeast needs to be measured in the quantity of its flour. Therefore, as the nation grows, the Church must also increase to maintain its transformation role.  

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AMC’23 Ends With A Call To Translate Religiosity Into Morality web

AMC’23 Ends With A Call To Translate Religiosity Into Morality

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The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost and President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has reiterated the call for Christians to make intentional efforts to translate their religiosity into spirituality and, by extension, morality to transform the nations with values and principles of the Kingdom of God.

“The journey starts with a commitment to first live and then teach the very values and principles that will nurture individuals capable of being channels through whom the grace of God will flow in blessing society,” he said. 

Delivering the closing address at the All Ministers’ Conference hosted by The Church of Pentecost at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, from Tuesday, September 19, to Friday, September 22, 2023, Apostle Nyamekye underscored the need for Christians to transform the structures and institutions to position the development agenda of the country. 

He stated that the journey towards transforming the moral fibre of the nation should start with ministers who live and teach the very values they profess. 

“The church must consciously move out of our fortress and begin to see our settings as God-given opportunities for ministry – becoming the real salt of the earth and light of the world that will permeate like yeast into every fabric of society with righteousness. 

“Our members must arise to confront the moral decadence in their spheres of influence, no matter the cost nor opposition,” he said.

A communiqué issued at the end of the Conference called on the Church to intentionally identify, promote and strategically support political actors who have proven moral standards at all levels of the political space. It also recommended that the Christian community champion the inclusion of morality at all levels of Ghanaian educational structure by expanding the STEM flagship programme to include morality, thus Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Morality (STEMM). 

The Conference further called on churches to invest in building the capacity of morally sound media personnel and provide the needed logistics with an intentional agenda to provide ethical and quality content to set the pace for media discourse and agenda setting.

The theme for the conference was, “Moral Vision and National Development: The Role of the Church.” It brought together about 2,500 ministers of the gospel and church leaders drawn from the Protestant, Catholic, Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Para-Church organisations across the country.

Speakers at the Conference included Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe (International Missions Director of The Church of Pentecost), Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle (Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast), Most Rev. Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo (Presiding Bishop, Methodist Church – Ghana), Apostle Dr Aaron Ami-Narh (President, The Apostolic Church, Ghana) and Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah (Founder & Apostle General, Royalhouse Chapel International).

Other speakers were Rev. Dr Stephen Wengam (General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Ghana), Archbishop Charles Agyinasare (Founder & Leader, Perez Chapel International), Mr Emmanuel Baba Mahama (National President of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International – Ghana) and Apostle Jude Hama (President, Africa Bible Centre for Disciple-making (ABCD).

The rest were Bishop Emmanuel Louis Nterful (Convener, United Denominations of churches originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches), Rev. Dr Joyce Rosalind Aryee (Founder & Executive Director, Salt & Light Ministries), Mr Bernard Avle (General Manager, Citi TV/Citi FM), Prof Stephen Adei (Former Board Chairman, Ghana Revenue Authority), Dr. Joshua Oppong-Sarfo (Leader, New African Concept), and Apostle Dr John Kpikpi (Senior Pastor, City of God Church).

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Infest Others With Your Purity - Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee Tells Christians web

Infest Others With Your Purity – Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee Tells Christians

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The Founder and Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, Rev. Dr Joyce Rosalind Aryee, has advised Christians to infest others with their purity for a catalysed transformation of the moral fibre of the nation. 

She states that the body of Christ should exert Christlike influence in all aspects of society. 

‘If Ghana is corrupt, then it is directly proportional to our lack of being the salt of the society,” she lamented, stressing, “We have been sitting as salt on the selves of society and not applying our saltiness.” 

Speaking on the topic, “The Church as Salt and Light of the World” at the 2nd All Ministers’ Conference held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, from Tuesday to Friday for pastors and church leaders from over 280 denominations across Ghana, she pointed out that in Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus described the essential attitudes of his disciples. 

She said those ‘be-attitudes’ should be regularly displayed wherever Christians are identified. 

Touching on the importance of salt, Rev. Dr Aryee said salt is so essential and critical to life and was used as a salary for soldiers in ancient days. She postulated that salt is an essential commodity that people need, and it is connected with purity because it comes from the purest of things – the sand and the sea; thus, the Church must be seen to exhibit that purity.

“Whether corporate or individual, we are the body of Christ and must radiate His purity,” she stressed. 

She called on the Church to continually acknowledge the headship of Christ and avoid seeking praise and vainglory, saying, “Unless we realise that the Church is the body of Christ and Christ leads us as head, we can never succeed.”

Dr Aryee intimated that Jesus described his Church as light on a city to shine, salt of the earth to provide taste and yeast to give influence. Until these attributes are common with the body of Christ, the Church will remain insignificant in the nations.  

“As a body of Christ, we are called to hinder social decay by being a sweetener of society. People must emulate us rather than drag us into the pit,” she emphasised.

She observed that “the Ghana we want will be the Ghana Jesus makes. But we have a role to play by halting rottenness in the system.”

She cautioned against being aloof when evil persists in the land, stressing, “We must make sure that the food called Ghana is tasty because we serve as the right proportion of salt in it. Our presence should bring excellence, beauty, and perfection.”

She encouraged Christians not to think they are alone since they and the Holy Spirit are the majority. The power of God has transformed us, and we must make sure that we demonstrate the beauty of Christ in us, she added.

‘We are agents of hope. We must show the joy of the Lord to the people. We are the catalyst of transformation and God’s hope. We cannot isolate ourselves from the world but be actively involved in it. The agenda is about transforming the world. It’s about changing from the inside. Let’s tell our people to stop cheating and stealing,” she concluded.

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The Church Exists To Build Christlike Believers – Apostle Jude Hama web

The Church Exists To Build Christlike Believers – Apostle Jude Hama

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The President of the Africa Bible Centre for Disciple–making (ABCD), Apostle Jude Hama, has said the existence of the Church is to raise mature Christlike believers to effect moral transformation in the nations. 

The former General Director of the Scripture Union (SU), Ghana, said this in a presentation on the topic: “Discipleship: Raising Christlike Believers” at the 2nd All Ministers Conference (the biggest interdenominational gathering of Ghanaian pastors and church leaders) at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh on Friday. 

The disciple–making and training specialist stressed that disciple-making and discipleship should be geared towards the transformation of the nation.

Apostle Jude Hama indicated that God wants his will to be realised when the nation is populated by Christlike persons who know the biblical majestic Christ better so that they can live a regular, consistent lifestyle of godliness with integrity in every area of human life. 

He submitted that if the growth of the Church is not tempered with Christlike believers, then the growth is a left-over. He stressed that the Church must adequately understand the New Testament biblical pattern for practical disciple-making.

He charged the Church in Ghana to build resilient, mature, Christlike disciples to work on the Ghana God desires. Apostle Jude Hama asked the Church to provide adequate traditional and contextual discipleship and small-group Bible study materials to attain this desire.

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Education Should Target Both Human Mind & Heart – Most Rev. Dr Boafo web

Education Should Target Both Human Mind & Heart – Most Rev. Dr Boafo

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The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana and President of the African Methodist Council, Most Rev. Dr Paul Boafo, has intimated that education in Ghana should inculcate knowledge and piety to provide a holistic formation of the human mind and heart.

According to him, there is a huge disconnect between knowledge and piety, and it is a dangerous crime for that to continue, saying, “Morality in this country is sinking, and in her place, we see greed, murder, selfishness. The Ghanaian society is beset with a lack of accountability, probity and integrity.”

The Presiding Bishop was speaking at the second interdenominational conference for Ghanaian pastors, dubbed ‘All Ministers Conference,’ hosted by The Church of Pentecost at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Gomoa Fetteh near Kasoa. The three-day conference, which ended on Friday, aimed at arriving at the unique role the Church can play in casting a moral vision and national development agenda for Ghana.

Most Rev. Dr Boafo opined that though Ghana has a moral compass, “we have just lost it.” 

He reckoned that the Church is the nation’s moral compass and cannot afford to be silent on national issues that mitigate against progress, development and social transformation. 

He noted that education is one of the tools in the hand of the Church to turn the tide. He advanced that mutual respect, equity and justice, honesty, humility, transparency, courage and conviction are human virtues that must play a major role in Ghanaian schools.

“Knowledge is power, but knowledge that does not set itself in the context of God and takes morality into account is a horrible knowledge that can lead to doom and disaster,” he said, adding, “Perfect students who are heartless is a crime. We have a role to play in our governance, schools and institutions.”

He charged Church leadership to rise and find a way out of the quagmire of deficient leadership and immoral citizenry. 

“Leadership without morality is dangerous. If we are looking for people to lead and direct us, and they have no morals, we are heading for doom,” he forewarned, adding, “If we back out and look on, we will forever be doomed. We must take our place wherever it matters, and education is one such place.”

He advised that in providing quality education by the Church, the aim should be to set the wills of the people right and not to go in there and add to the rot. 

He disclosed that the Wesleyan focus was to see education as the act of recovering to man his rational perfection, and religion was seen as central to achieving that. He was proud that the Church in Ghana had not abandoned this essential role of providing quality education. 

“No institution has given direction and guidance to Ghana than the Church, and this is evident from the educational institutions we find providing holistic formation in hearts and minds.”

He emphasised the need to strengthen all aspects of morality in educational institutions, particularly those established by churches. 

Most Rev. Dr Boafo said any education that is not fashioned to groom students after the fullness of the stature of Jesus Christ has no essence. 

He proposed that the Church strengthen its relationship with the government, bring on board its philosophy and aim of providing education, and design a curriculum emphasising that God is supreme. 

“We cannot have people who are first class students who are corrupt, thieves and do not have sympathy for people, and don’t love people and God,” he lamented, pleading that “morality should not be decoupled from education because it is the part that touches the heart.”

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Let Believers Take Dominion And Rule The Nations – Apostle Dr Kpikpi web

Let Believers Take Dominion And Rule The Nations – Apostle Dr Kpikpi

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The Senior Pastor of The City of God Church and Apostle to the Newfrontiers Churches in West Africa, Apostle Dr John Kpikpi, has charged Christians to rediscover the icon of faith to enable them to take dominion and rule nations to truncate the corrupt and immoral practices flooding the Ghanaian society. 

Addressing participants of the 2nd All Ministers Conference on Thursday at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, Apostle Dr Kpikpi expressed concern about how people perceive politics as a dirty arena that men and women of God ought not to partake in. 

The Apostle to the Newfrontiers churches in West Africa was speaking on the topic, “The Church; God’s Hope for the Transformation of the Nation.” 

Apostle Dr Kpikpi believes that God intentionally calculated a time for Joseph to go and serve in the palace of Portifer, which was a very close position to governance, so he could take charge and avert problems in times of difficulties to save a nation. 

He urged Christians not to vacate the seat of governance for unbelievers. He pointed out that when Jesus Christ was born, the prophecy attributed to him was that his throne would be upon his shoulder, and he would be called the wonderful counsellor and ruler. 

“Therefore, as believers who carry the DNA of Christ, we must step up our effort to control and rule the nations,” he stressed.

The City of God Church Senior Pastor said thrones and rulership were created and made sacred and pure by God. Therefore, Christians must take up the mantle of rulership to fulfil the promises of God for the nation. According to him, governments should jiggle when they hear of believers staging up for transformation. 

Apostle Dr John Kpikpi maintained that politics originated from the Bible. He noted that Jesus Christ had to defend himself before political leaders; therefore, believers should not consider politics a dirty game and quit. 

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Nation Transformers Are In Christian Homes – Prof. Adei web

Nation Transformers Are In Christian Homes – Prof. Adei

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Professor Stephen Adei, a former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), has posited that the home is the best avenue for the intergenerational transfer of the Christian faith.

He said the home remains the potent force for instruction in solid Christian values, ethics and morals.

According to the founder of the Ghana Christian International High School, the people expected to transform the nation are in the Christian home. However, he observed that only a few people are working at winning and discipling them.

Presenting a paper on the ‘Christian Home and National Development’ at the 2nd All Ministers Conference ongoing at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Prof. Adei mentioned the home as a place of worship of God and a demonstration of unconditional love and affection. 

“If we train our home to be salt and light, our children can’t help but preserve the moral fibre of society,” he said.

Prof. Adei opined that every Christian has three callings: to abide with Christ, tell their families what the Lord has done, and go into the world and preach the good news. 

“Your home is the first place to testify if you’ve really met the Lord. They know you inside-out, but when they see the change, then you have won them for Christ.” 

He advised parents to make Jesus the Saviour of the home and its Lord, stressing that Jesus must be the head of the family and his word must rule.

He said since the Church continues to serve its purpose of disciplining Christians, the church in the Christian home can meet seven days a week. “The family must meet to share the word of God regularly and pray for themselves, the Church and the nation,” he stated, adding that the home is a den of protection, a means of God’s provision and above all the house of God.

He said if the home is well-discipled, it becomes an instrument for social cohesion, economic and political development and spiritual transformation. He disclosed that discipling the home takes time and requires intentional efforts. 

“Parents must give the needed attention to the home, and be intentional about it,” he said.

He said time management becomes crucial in this enterprise of discipling the home and admonished parents to use their precious time for discipling the home. He tasked the gathering to learn to balance their time at work and make time for discipling the home. 

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Integrate Faith And Formal Education – Archbishop Palmer-Buckle Calls web

Integrate Faith And Formal Education – Archbishop Palmer-Buckle Calls

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The Metropolitan Archbishop of the Cape Coast Dioceses of the Catholic Church, Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, has challenged managers of the educational institutions in Ghana to integrate faith formation and formal education into the educational system in the bid to produce citizens who are morally sound for national development.

“In fulfilling the Great Commission, faith formation is crucial and inseparable from each other in order to form a proper person, a holistic human being who would mature into a full stature of Christ,” he said.

He added: “An integration of faith formation and formal education in the nation for humanity, as well as service to people, would leave a lasting legacy for the next generation notwithstanding the challenges today.”

He stated this on Thursday when speaking on the theme, “Moral Vision and National Development – The Catholic Church Perspective,” at the 2023 All Ministers Conference (the biggest non-denominational gathering of Ghanaian church leaders) at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh near Kasoa.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle stated: “Education of the head, the heart and the hands ought to be inseparable and indispensable. It must rather be aligned to ensure that the holistic development and formation of citizens is in line with the kingdom of God and its principles.”

Sharing lessons and best practices from the Catholic church’s perspective on building a morally sound nation, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle said that the Catholic church undertakes the grooming of a lot of people for Christ-like leadership in all the various aspects of human endeavours, be it politics or traditional, civil service, industry and enterprise, academia and legal, among others. 

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle further called for a denunciation of all that is unrighteous, evil and contrary to the values of the kingdom of God. Challenging the ministers, he reiterated the need for Christians to bring to bear their qualities of salt, light and yeast in fulfilling the Great Commission.

“Our salt should purify us as leadership of Christianity of our rot and unrighteousness. The light of Christ that we bear should enlighten the darkness in our lives as leaders of the Christian population in Ghana. Our yeast should proactively be empowering of all circumstances of those entrusted to us,” he said.

He stressed: “There is only one moral vision, and it is Christ Jesus Our Lord. The 1992 constitution is the blueprint of moral vision and should not be taken for granted.”

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