Posts in category: Top Stories

To transform the larger world, we need more people to get involved, including both the young and the old, the literate and the illiterate, and the skilled and the unskilled.

One sector that requires particular attention, as we focus on witnessing the Lord’s work, is Educational Institutions. By concentrating on this area, we can empower more individuals to transform their world, making the Church’s agenda for 2028 a reality

Periodically, many teens and youths spend considerable time away from home and their local church due to the demands of the school system. Some spend five or six days a week at school, while others may stay there for months on various campuses. Consequently, our teens and youths often lack sufficient time in local churches and homes to be nurtured with kingdom values and principles. Thus, nurturing children with these values should be a hallmark of every Christian Teacher.

An important reality is that students will not only complete their academic levels but will also carry the kingdom values and principles instilled by Christian Teachers into their future endeavors. This underscores the need for Christian Teachers to be equipped to go beyond the curriculum and infuse these values when dealing with their students.

Many students possess potentials beyond the school curriculum, requiring Christian Teachers filled with the Holy Spirit to identify and assist them. Given that students spend more time with teachers than any other stakeholders, Christian Teachers must position themselves to transform these students, enabling them to impact their world. This is a crucial responsibility for every Christian Teacher in your school or class, as stated in Proverbs 22:6, emphasizing the training of every child without partiality.

HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE & IMPACT YOUR STUDENTS TO TRANSFORM THEIR WORLD;

1. BE THE EXAMPLE:

Charles Reade, a British novelist and dramatist, said, “Example is contagious behaviour.” Christian Teachers must recognise that students learn through imitation, observing how teachers dress, talk, and conduct themselves. As a teacher, your actions and inactions shape the personality of your students, making it essential to maintain credibility, trustworthiness, and honesty.

2. BE KNOWLEDGEABLE:

To be effective and impact students, Christian Teachers must continually educate themselves. Students have different temperaments, and teachers must know how to handle each one, presenting a glorious church in the form of their students. Understanding their skills advancement and coaching them appropriately is crucial, as is addressing their curiosity with accurate knowledge to guide them through life’s challenges.

3. BE THEIR PASTOR:

In the role of a Christian Teacher, your classroom is your church premise. Beyond the school curriculum, instill kingdom values and principles documented in the Bible. Use them to instruct, reform, inspire, and direct as needed. Ensure orderliness, enhance Christlike character, and allow the functionality of the Spirit of God to work in the classroom. Love, respect, inspire, and instruct your students, acting as a shepherd guiding a flock under your authority.

In conclusion, consider the wisdom of John 15:16 [MSG], “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil.” Christian Teachers, unleash your students by being exemplary, acquiring knowledge to coach and nurture them, and fulfilling the role of their pastor.

Written by Elder Tonnie Baffoe (Schools Outreach Ministry Coordinator, Agona Swedru Area)

Within the context of biblical teachings, the notion that sex is synonymous with love is a misconception deserving careful examination. While Scripture acknowledges the sacred union of marriage as a suitable context for sexual intimacy, it also underscores that love goes beyond mere physical expression.

The Bible delineates love as patient, kind, not self-seeking, and enduring (1 Corinthians 13:4-7), attributes that extend beyond the physical act of sex. Thus, reducing love to solely sexual intimacy not only diminishes the profound nature of biblical love but also distorts the divine design for human relationships.

Moreover, the Scriptures caution against the perils of lust and impurity, urging believers to honour God with their bodies and flee from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18). By equating sex with love, individuals risk succumbing to the trap of prioritising physical pleasure over the spiritual and emotional aspects of love outlined in the Bible. Instead, the biblical narrative invites followers to pursue love rooted in God’s unconditional and sacrificial love, surpassing earthly desires and enduring through trials.

Embracing this biblical perspective empowers individuals to navigate relationships with wisdom, discernment, and reverence for the profound depths of love as ordained by God.

“Anyone whose actions or inactions negatively affect the love between you and God doesn’t love you and does not want the best for you.”

Written by Elder Owusu Bibini (Dumasua District)

In a world undergoing profound transformations across all facets of life, marriage faces its share of challenges and changes. In this dynamic landscape, the institution of marriage, ordained by a divine covenant, has come under scrutiny. Divergent humanistic ideologies, such as LGBTQI+, challenge its traditional concept. These secular humanistic ideologies clash with the original divine design of marriage and have become strong waves wrestling against the truth. They toss infants in the body of Christ back and forth, sometimes blowing some people away from the kingdom of the beloved Son, Jesus. Thus, the body of Christ must refocus on the fundamental intentions of God regarding marriage in this evolving world.

Marriage can be succinctly defined as a sacred covenant established by God between a man and a woman, determined by their biological birth and culminating in the union of husband and wife. Unfortunately, contemporary society has witnessed the rise of alternative views and relationships that challenge this conventional understanding. These shifts have led the body of Christ to contend with important questions about the sanctity of marriage and family life.

The institution of marriage originated in the Garden of Eden. The first-ever union between Adam and Eve officiated and witnessed by the Almighty God, marked the inception of marriage. This foundational event, recorded in Genesis 2:23, happened in the presence of God. This underscores the divine intention that every marriage should be established in the presence of God, making Him the primary witness. As Malachi 2:14b emphasises, “The Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth.” This transcends mere physical spaces like church buildings and underscores the spiritual foundation upon which marriages should be built. Thus, marriages should be officiated and established in an environment saturated with the Spirit of God.

God’s creation, including marriage, serves a specific purpose. The intention behind the institution of marriage is clear in Scripture. Christ likened Himself to the bridegroom and Christians to the bride, illustrating that marriage should mirror God’s intended relationship with humanity. Therefore, God designed marriage to be a tangible representation of His love and devotion to humanity.

In Ephesians 5:25, husbands are instructed to love their wives as Christ loves the Church, showcasing the nature of God’s love for humanity. This love transcends circumstances and situations, requiring husbands to love their wives unconditionally. Likewise, wives are urged to submit to their husbands, mirroring the Church’s submission to Christ. Marriage serves as a platform to explicitly convey the image of the unconditional love He (Christ) has for us and the submission Christ expects from humanity. It is, therefore, essential for believers to uphold their marriages with dignity and the mind of Christ to glorify Him.

Unfortunately, in contemporary society, many marriages seem to defy the biblical principle that the husband is the head of the household, just as Christ is the head of the Church. While empowerment and equality are vital in various aspects of life, marriage represents an exception. The intention of God is for wives to respect the headship of their husbands in the same way the Church respects the headship of Christ. Empowerment should not lead to competition for headship. Christ empowers the Church in numerous ways, yet the Church never seeks to unseat Christ’s position as its head. Similarly, empowered wives should not vie for leadership within the marriage. It is God’s intention that marriage showcases the unwavering submission of humanity to Christ and places Him in His rightful position as the head of all their endeavours.

In conclusion, it is essential to recognise that these intentions of God regarding marriage reflect His glory. They hold a special place in His heart, as marriage serves as a conduit through which His glory will be revealed. It is the duty of every Christian in marriage to uphold these divine intentions and honour the institution of marriage as a means to enlighten the world about its significance.

Written by: Elder Michael Boakye (Macedonia Assembly, Kronom District, Suame Area)