The 2022 Officers’ Retreat dubbed ‘Apostolisation’ is underway in the Dunkwa Area of The Church of Pentecost under the theme: “Equipping the Church as an Army to Possess the Nations” (Hebrews 13:20-21, Ephesians 4:11-12, Ephesians 6:10-11).
Hosted by Apostle Jones Awuah Afrifa (Dunkwa Area Head), the annual prayer and teaching retreat had Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh (Director of Pentecost Men’s Ministry and Executive Council Member), and Apostle Fredrick K. Andoh (Assin Foso Area Head), as the guest speakers.
Speaking at the ministers and wives’ session of the retreat on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at the J. K. Pray Auditorium, Apostle Jones Awuah Afrifa thanked ministers and their wives for their dedication and selfless service towards the Kingdom business. He encouraged them to stay focused and tuned to the Holy Spirit for a great revival.
Delivering a sermon titled: “The Minister as a Soldiers of Christ” – 2 Timothy 2: 1-6, Ephesians 4:11-12, Hebrews 13:20-21, Apostle Fredrick Andoh said that every minister is an ordinary person who has strength and weakness but was called, chosen and commissioned by God for his Kingdom business.
According to him, because God called, choose, and commissioned the minister for a purpose, he expects them to be responsible and fruitful in their calling. He encouraged ministers and their wives not to relent in their calling but give out their best in the Kingdom business.
Apostle Andoh gave seven descriptions of a minister from 2 Timothy 2:1-21. First and foremost, he said the minister is a child of God and as a child of God, they are expected to be humble and submissive to God.
Secondly, he pointed out that Apostle Paul writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1-6 described the minister as a solider. As soldiers, he said ministers are to obey their commander, and not entangle themselves with civilian affairs.
“Obedience is a necessity to fruitfulness in the ministry,” he said.
He advised ministers to endure hardship for God, because Jesus endured the cross for the sake of humanity to bring salvation to the entire human race. He said ministry is hardwork, and that there are so many pressures in the ministry that only ministers who can endure can finish their work as faithful servants.
He also advised ministers to obey and submit to their leaders at all levels and within the ranks of the ministry and pursue the vision of the church.
According to him, loyalty is one of the greatest virtue of a soldier, and admonished ministers to be loyal to each other.
Thirdly, he revealed that the minister is an athlete and God expects them to run according to the rules in the ministry which is the word of God. He explained that to run as a minister means to be zealous and dutiful in all seasons and at all times.
“Many ministers are running but not according to the rules of the kingdom. You must run according to the rules so that you will obtain the prizes,” he said.
He observed that so many ministers are disqualified by God not because they are not working hard but their hard work is not in line with the true purpose of God and the expectations of the Kingdom.
Apostle Andoh pointed out that the minister is a farmer and every good farmer depends on the weather to plants his crops. He advised them to rely on the Holy Spirit to teach them what to do in the ministry instead of leaning on their own understanding.
“It is God who gives grace and power for service. Rely on him and seek help from him,” he stressed.
The Assin Foso Area Head revealed that the minister is a worker, a vessel of God, and a servant of God. As a worker of God, he must know the code of conduct and the protocol of the kingdom business and apply it in the discharge of their duties.
He also asked ministers to always prepare, avail themselves and remain flexible so that they can be molded and put into maximum use by God. “As servants of God, ministers must remain humble and teachable,” he stressed.
Bringing his message to an end, Apostle Fredrick Andoh advised ministers and their wives to fish out for kingdom successors who will carry out the work of the ministry in their generation. Such people, he said, must be trained and mentored just as Paul mentored Timothy. The kingdom successors, he said, must be people with integrity, faithful, and have ministerial abilities.
Report by Pastor Twene Adane Justice, Dunkwa Atechem District.