“If the generosity and selfless giving of our forebears have brought The Church of Pentecost (CoP) to its current status, then we can only reposition The CoP by emulating or exceeding their sacrificial giving and generosity towards God’s work.”
The above statement was contained in a presentation made by the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at the recently-held Sekondi Area Ministers and Officers’ Retreat (Apostolisation) which took place at the Apostle JWD Cudjoe Memorial Temple, Ketan.
Speaking on the topic, “Sacrificial Giving and Tithing,” Apostle Kumi-Larbi, using Proverbs 21:13, 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, Galatians 6:6-10 as Bible references, defined sacrificial giving as a divine attribute of God that graciously shares with humankind and giving out of your essential budget for a specific course.
He explained that giving is undergirded by the two principles of gratitude and stewardship. According to the General Secretary, gratitude brings out the sense of appreciation that we have for something or someone, especially human beings, giving to God because they want to express their thankfulness for all that He has done.
“When we come to the presence of God, let us be careful not to grumble because if you are grateful of what he has done for you; there is no need to complain,” he stressed.
Expounding the second principle, that is stewardship, Apostle Kumi-Larbi explained that Christians are stewards and caretakers of God’s creation, therefore, they are accountable to God for the application of the talents, resources, and opportunities He Has entrusted to them.
“The percentage of the resources we offer to God and to charitable causes is something we will account for and be rewarded for,” he added.
Apostle Kumi-Larbi, however, observed that one practice that is gradually dying out in the Church is the noble act of members genuinely and willfully giving to support ministers of the Church.
“Members of the Church must uphold this practice of sacrificial giving in the Church, for one of the brand elements of the The Church of Pentecost is giving without being forced or coerced. This brings glory to God, and there is more blessings in giving than receiving,” he stated.
He also advised Church leaders at the local assemblies to be faithful in paying their tithes, teach members to give wholeheartedly, and constantly remind the members to bring all their tithes to the Church.
Apostle Kumi-Larbi also encouraged members to love one another and to extend their acts of generosity and selfless giving to needy members in the Church.
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