The Koforidua Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Osei Asante, has admonished pastors and their wives to have a Christ-centered goal for the people God has called and placed in their care.
Speaking on Tuesday, January 25, 2021, at the ongoing Eastern Regional Ministers and Wives’ Conference on the topic, “The Goal of the Church: The Role of Revival,” he explained that a goal is a result or achievement towards which an effort is directed.
Highlighting the difference between goal, purpose, and a process, he said that a goal is what one builds, whilst a purpose and process are why and how one is builds.
He admonished ministers not to allow the goal for the church to be lost since Jesus has already set the goal for the church – “I will build my Church.”
Quoting Howard Hendricks who asked a minister, “What are you trying to do to these people anyway,” the Koforidua Area Head charged ministers to have a purpose for the people God that has called and trusted to their care to shepherd. He further advised ministers to nurture believers so that they will be devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
“What are we doing at our various local assemblies?” he quizzed, adding, “Ministers must not just hold services for meeting sake, but we must strive to experience God at our meetings.”
With reference from Ephesians 5: 22-27, he stated that the goal of the church is that the church would be a beautiful bride prepared for her bridegroom which is Christ (Rev. 19: 7).
He entreated ministers of the church to ensure that their programmes and activities are geared towards the goal of the church.
Using Matthew 25: 1-13, Apostle Asante, who is a member of the Executive Council and Coordinator of the Eastern Regional Coordinating Committee of the church, encouraged ministers and their wives to prepare themselves for the coming of the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
Further reading from Ephesians 2:10, he indicated that as craftsmen take their time to mould an artifact, “we as ministers must carefully craft the members that God has put in our care.”
On the focus of the church (Romans 8: 28-29), he explained that God’s purpose is that the new convert would become like Christ and that must be the purpose of the minister of the gospel.
“God is receiving a Church without spot or wrinkle,” he said, he said, adding: “Ministers are representatives of God on earth and must therefore pursue the goal of preparing a people without spot or wrinkle to meet the Lord.”
“A Christian must go beyond the basics of having an understanding that prayer is an interaction with God and not just communication with God.”
Touching on revival, Apostle Asante explained that revival is “a sovereign activity of God where He renews His people individually and cooperatively in vigour – affecting both sincerity of belief and quality of behaviour by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
According to him, when there is an outbreak of revival it leads to the goal of the church.
Report by ERCC Media Team.
