The deputy Asante Nkramohene ( Sariki Tuba ), Alhaji Amadu Owusu has urged all religious bodies to continue to live peaceful co – existence in order to accelate progress and development.
He said, no nation would see any development if religious faiths are divided.
Alhaji Amadu Owusu popularly known as ” Alhaji Carterpilla ” made the call in an interview with The New Trust Newspaper, shortly after the chief of Kaase in the Asokwa Municipality of Ashanti, Nana Mensah Bonsu I presented a cow to mark the just ended Ei – ul Adha.
Alhaji Amadu Owusu during the ceremony
Alhaji Amadu Owusu said “I really appreciates the collaboration between all religious faiths in Ghana that has reflected in every corner of the nation.
Ghana is recognized as the most peaceful nation in the sub -Sahara Africa which we must be proud of”,he added.
According to him, the day is very significant in the Islamic calendar as God ( Allah ) instructed Abraham ( Ibrahim ) to sacrifice his only son, Issac ( Issa ).
Alhaji Amadu Owusu
He noted that, Allah wanted to test the faith of Ibrahim and for that matter the great lesson Muslims must deduce from it is that though challenges may come but they must remember and stay committed to Allah to overcome them.
According to him, most of Allah’s blessings come from this occasion and that the affluent ones among them must show through slaughter of cows, sheep, goat among others and distribute to the poor.
He thanked Kaasehene for his gesture and pledged that he will continue to seek and work closely with him at all endeavors.
Making the presentation, the Gyaasehene of Kaase Nana Akwasi Sampene on behalf of Kaasehene said, the presentation of the cow was to show that there is no boundary between Kaase traditional council and Muslims in the area.
Alhaji Amadu Owusu with Kaase Elders
He said, Kaasehene has put up Police station and hospital all aimed at ensuring progress and development in the area.
According to him, Kaasehene and his sub-chiefs need more divine protections and guidance and that they should remember them whenever they go to the mosque in order to enable them do more for the people of Source: Charles Ampong
The Ashanti Regional Missionary of the Almadiyya Muslims Mission, Maulvi Hameed Tahir has observed that the Eid Adha signifies obedience and humbleness attitude Ibrahim exhibited towards Allah.
He however expressed the need for Muslims to learn a great lesson from the sacrifice Ibrahim made to Allah with his son Ishmael and replicates such in the society.
Maulvi Hameed Tahir made these remarks during this year’s celebration of Eid Adha.
He asked them to protect the sanctity of Islam and cautioned Muslim youth to desist from acts that have potency to destroy the image of Islam.
He noted that the forebears of its founder should live by the tenet it was instituted. He warned them against their involvement in negative acts such as drug abuse, armed robbery and other social vices.
Maulvi Hameed Tahir
Maulvi Hameed Tahir also pleaded with them to attach seriousness to keeping the environment clean and also focus on their children’s education.
A representative of Metropolitan Chief of Kumasi, Samuel Pyne urged them to continue to sustain peace prevailing in Ghana through religious tolerance.
He said, government is committed to implement human centered policies to bring more progress to the people.
He urged them to rally behind the government and contribute their quota meaningfully to accerelate growth and development.
The Chieftaincy and Religious Minister, Hon Stephen Asamoah Boateng has commended the King of Asante, Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II for continuously supporting the NPP government in its quest to ensure there was peace in every community in the country.
Speaking to the media after conferring with King at the Manhyia Palace over the simmering tensions in Bawku, the Minister noted once Otumfuo had accepted to mediate he was confident a resolution would soon be found for peace.
The Minister narrated that the Asante Overlord has been in the forefront of peaceful negotiations with many feuding factions in the country
‘’The peaceful resolution of the Dagbon Conflict about three years ago which had threatened the peace of the area for more than two decades was brokered by the King and I am sure that once Otumfuo has agreed to play a leading role in the resolution of the Bawku conflict peace would soon be found’’, Hon Boateng stated.
Details:
The Minister said about 70% of the conflicts happening in the country was focused in the area of chieftaincy.
This, he noted makes it imperative for the Ministry and Traditional Council to find a way to nip same in the bud.
As a measure, the Minister said his Ministry would be collaborating with stakeholders to introduce a codification system where the line of succession in traditional setting would be clearly spelt out since that is the main reason conflicts break out.
Otunfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantenhene and Hon Stephen Asamoah Boateng
‘’I would be seeking audience with the traditional authorities for us to seek an amendment in the Chieftaincy act to prohibit cases in the Chieftaincy arena to be settled in court and additionally we would codify the succession plan for chiefs so that when they move on or pass on conflicts could be avoided’’, the Minister intimated.
Otumfuo:
Earlier on in the day, the Asantehene prayed for the Chieftaincy Minister to succeed in his new role as Minister who will deal with both traditional authorities and religious entities.
He noted that Hon Boateng has the competence, experience and temperament to handle the Ministry and asked him to be focused on his mandate.
The King however asked the Minister to take good care of the National and Regional House of Chiefs staff and workers to encourage them to play their roles well.
‘’Governments have not properly taken care of staff at the National and regional houses of chiefs and this affects morale but I trust you my grandson to work to ensure the proper thing was done’’, the Asante King stated.
The Supreme Court(SC), has upheld Appeal court’s ruling that sets aside 7th Day Pentecostal Assemblies elections, directs fresh elections within 6 months to elect new President according to the Church’s Constitution.
The Apex (SC) by a unanimous (5-0) decision thrown out Application for stay of execution by Micaiah Addai against the Court of Appeal decision, calling for an election to elect a new Leader of the Association of 7th Day Pentecostal Assemblies.
It would be recalled that Micaiah Addai first went to the Court of Appeal for stay of execution but lost the case last year and decided to take the matter to the Apex Court in the land (Supreme Court) but he has lost again.
Late Elder Enoch Ofori
Per the ruling of the Court,Micaiah Addai cannot hold himself as the President and that a new leader should be elected according to the Court of Appeal’s ruling.
The first page of certified true copy of the ruling dated 23-05-2023 signed by Registrar of Supreme Court Accra reads “In the Superior Court of Judicature in the Supreme Court Accra-A.D.2023:
CORAM: Dotse JSC(Presiding),Lovelace-Johnson(Mrs)JSC,Amadu JSC,Prof.Mensa-Bonsu(Mrs)JSC and Kulendi JSC
Micaiah Addai(Masquerading as the President of the Association of Seventh Day Pentecostal Assemblies) VS 1.Elder Enoch Ofor Jnr,2.Deacon Anthony Tachie.3.Deacon Yaw Sarfo Kantanka.4.Deacon Stephen Frimpong.
KULENDI JSC:INTRODUCTION: We have before us, an application for stay of execution of a Judgment of the Court of Appeal dated 28th April,2022 pending the final determination of an appeal lodged against the said judgment consequent upon a notice of appeal filed on 14th July,2022”.
BACKGROUND:
The circumstances that occasioned this application for a stay of the execution of the judgment of the Court of Appeal are that:
The parties are members of the Association of Seventh Day Pentecostal Assemblies.Upon the death of the President of the Assemblies,a tussle for leadership ensued between the Applicant and the 1st Respondent.This leadership tussle resulted in suit before the High Court which was amicably settled and the terms of settlement filled and adopted as a consent judgment.Under the consent judgement dated 15th May,2009,the Applicant was to act as the President of the Assemblies pending an election of a new President in accordance with the Constitution of the Assemblies.
However,as at January,2012,no elections were held to elect the President of the Assemblies.Consequently,the Respondents instituted a fresh action seeking among other reliefs,a declaration that the Applicant is not President of the Association.
The High Court dismissed the Respondents Suit but the Court of Appeal set aside the High Court judgment and ordered the Applicant to “convene a General Meeting of all the constituent Assemblies of the Association in Ghana within Six Months from the date of (the) judgment to elect a new President in accordance with the Constitution of the Seventh Day Pentecostal Assemblies” as was initially agreed and adopted as consent judgment in the earlier Suit.
Aggrieved by the decision of the Court of Appeal, the Applicant by a notice of appeal filed on 14th July,2022,has appealed to this Court and has mounted the present application for an order to stay the execution of the said judgment of the Court of Appeal.
In support of this Application, the Applicant has contended that there are exceptional circumstances warranting a grant of an order of stay of execution.
It is alleged that after the consent judgment, the Respondents formed a different group called the Seventh Day Pentecostal Church and have since not paid any dues to the Seventh Day Pentecostal Assemblies as required of every member who earns income under the constitution of the Assemblies.
Applicant also stated that irreparable harm would occasion him should the execution of the judgment not be stayed .It was contended that the Respondents who are no longer members of the Assemblies would be voting to elect a president of the Assemblies.
Applicant further contends that if they were to organize the elections as ordered by the Court of Appeal and his appeal subsequently succeeds, the elections, so organized would be rendered a “fruitless exercise” or in the alternative the successful appeal would be rendered nugatory.
The Respondents, in opposition to this application contend that the application is unmeritorious .They argue that the order is merely enforcing the consent judgment entered by the parties on 4th June,2009 and moreover that the election will be organized in accordance with the Constitution of the Assemblies.
Further, the Respondent submit that this application is intended to unduly delay the election so that the Applicant can continue to unlawfully occupy the position of President, notwithstanding the terms of the consent judgment”.
The use of the word “may” connotes an exercise of discretion.Therefore,in applications for stay of execution,being an exercise of discretion, the bonafides and malafides of the parties cannot be ignored.
Thus,on the face of the deposition,an Applicant ought to be able to demonstrate that the case is not frivolous and that the prayer for an order for stay of execution is made in good faith and not intended to unduly confer a benefit whilst occasioning greater hardship to the Respondent.
In words of Straughton U in Linptype-Hell Finance Ltd V Baker(1992) 4 ALL ER 887,”Where an unsuccessful defendant seeks a stay of execution pending an appeal to the Court of Appeal,it is a legitimate ground for granting the application that the defendant is able to satisfy the Court that without a stay of execution he will be ruined and that he has an appeal which has some prospect of success”.(emphasis supplied)”.
Similarly, in the case of Joseph V Jebele & Anor.(1963)1 GLR 387,it was held as follows;”It is the paramount duty of a court to which an application for stay of execution pending appeal is made to see that the appeal ,if successful,is not nugatory .Wilson V.Church (No.2) (1879) 12 Ch.D.454 at pp.458-459 applied .”
Also,in the case of NDK Financial Services V Yiadom Construction & Electrical Works Ltd.(2007-2008) SCGLR93 the Court held as follows:
”The principles for considering an application for stay of execution pending appeal were well settled; the main principle adopted by the courts was what the position of the appellant would be if the judgment was to be enforced and the appeal was successful.In effect,the essential point in considering such application was whether the applicant would be returned to the status quo ante should the appeal succeed.
Another determining principle was which of the parties would suffer greater hardship should the application be granted or refused”.(See also:Republic v Court of Appeal,Accra;Ex-Parte Sidi (1997-88) 2 glr 170’Appiah v BBC Industrials Co(Ghana) Ltd & City Express Bus Services(2011) 2 SCGLR 8252) .
From the authorities above ,in considering whether or not to grant an application for stay of execution pending appeal ,this Court is minded to consider whether or not exceptional circumstances exist to warrant a grant of the order.
Although,the list of what Constitutes exceptional circumstances is in exhaustive,the following may serve as pointers;a.Has the Applicant mounted a valid appeal to this Court?’
b.Is the judgment sought to be stayed executable or does it have executable consequences?’
c.What is the likelihood of success of the Applicant’s appeal?In other words.whether the appeal is not frivolous ;
d.Will the subject –matter of the appeal be irretrievably lost should the appeal (which on the face of it is not frivolous) succeed? In other words.will the pending appeal or judgment be rendered nugatory if execution is not stayed; e.Has the Applicant demonstrated sufficient good faith and does the application for stay appear to be intended to enable the Applicant contest the appeal or it is for a collateral reason such as an undue advantage, overreaching or even to frustrate and /or deny the victorious party of the fruits of the judgment; f.Will the Applicant shall suffer irreparable loss, hardship, damage or injury if the execution of the judgment is not stayed?;g.On the balance of hardship, will the Applicant will suffer greater hardship than the Respondent if the execution of the judgment is not stayed.
The burden is thus on the Applicant to demonstrate the existence of these considerations which would amount to exceptional circumstances to motivate a determination of an application for an order for stay of execution pending appeal in the Applicant’s favour.
Portions of the Supreme Court ruling sub-headed “RESOLUTION” reads “We note that the Applicant has not been able to demonstrate that the pending appeal is not frivolous.
The only ground, per the notice of appeal, is the omnibus ground that the Judgment is against the weight of evidence. Given that the Judgment appealed against merely affirms a consent Judgment between the parties, the existence of which the Applicant does not deny, we are unable to appreciate the likelihood of success of an appeal lodged exclusively on the \basis of this omnibus ground.
Furthermore, the applicant has not been able to demonstrate any irreparable hardship that would occasion him by conducting the election.
This is because, the evidence shows that the party’s case is one of succession which is ably catered for by the Constitution of the Assemblies.
The Court’s order was for the election to be conducted in accordance with the Constitution of the Assemblies.
We see no irreparable damage in conducting an election pursuant to the dictates of the Assembly’s own Constitution and the parties’ own terms which they entered as a consent judgment .In any case, the Applicant has not demonstrated good faith to warrant a favourable exercise of discretion .Since the adoption of the consent judgment by the High Court, the Applicant has faithfully held unto the position of leader or President of the Church pending the holding of an election consequent upon the said judgment but rather curiously ,has consistently refused to hold elections in accordance with the sane consent judgment.
In the circumstances, we are constrained to say, with respect to the conduct of the Applicant, that such an approbation of a part of the consent judgment whilst reprobating the other part of the same judgment smacks of bad faith. Significantly ,the Applicant does not deny the fact that from 15th May,2009 till date, the Applicant though benefiting from the consent judgment as interim leader/president, has failed, neglected and/or refused to honour the other terms of the same consent judgment by conducting the elections as ordered by the Court of Appeal.
Needless to say, the consent judgment is a subsisting and valid judgment which has never been appealed since 2009 and therefore its consequences are inescapable”.
By Court:Upon reading the affidavit in support and in opposition to the motion, a thorough review of the annexures thereto,as well as carefully considering the submissions of both counsel,we are of the considered opinion that a proper case has not been made to motivate the exercise of our discretion in favour of the Applicant.
Accordingly, we dismiss the application for stay the execution as unmeritorious. Cost of five thousand Ghana cedis (Ghc5000.00) against the Applicant to the Respondent. E.YONNY KULENDI(JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT),V.J.M.DOTSE(JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT),A.LOVELACE-JOHNSON(MRS)(JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT),I.O.TANKO AMADU(JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT) AND PROF.H.J.N.MENSA-BONSU(MRS) (JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT.
COUNSELKWAME ASIEDU-BASOAH ESQ,FOR THE DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT/APPELLANT/APPLICANT.CHARLES AGBANU ESQ.FOR THE PLAINTIFFS/APPELANTS/RESPONDENS/RESPONDENTS. source:tntnewspapergh.com
After a trip to London for the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty the Queen Consort, the King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is expected back in Kumasi,the Ashanti regional capital tomorrow Saturday,13th May,2023 around 3pm.
The King will be returning to a rousing reception by Chiefs and people of the Ashanti region.
The Acting President of Kumasi Traditional Council who doubles as Bantamahene,Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI,who announced this at a short press briefing at Manhyia Palace on Friday,12th May,2023, said all was set to accord Otumfuo an exceptional rousing welcome for the honour done Asanteman and Ghana.
Baffour Amankwatia explained that tomorrow’s welcome will be exceptional one even though; the King had always been accorded with a rousing welcome from his previous trips to abroad. He said this time round, right from his arrival at Kumasi Airport, Otumfuo will be taken through the principal streets in Kumasi.
Otumfuo is expected to pass through Dischmeso,Abrepo Junction,Bantama through to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital’s (KATH) roundabout through to Adum,Dr.Mensah to Manhyia Palace.
Otunfuo and Lady Julia at London
He therefore urged all residents of Kumasi, especially to come out in their numbers and line-up on the streets with their flags to welcome the King.
King Charles in, Otunfuo and Lady Julia
According to the acting President of Kumasi Traditional Council, a meeting had been held with Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and they have assured them to provide the necessary security to avoid any bad incidents.
Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI addressing the media
The Chief Linguist to Otumfuo ,Baffour Nsuase Poku disclosed that the dress code for the event is white.”Let’s all come out in our numbers to accord Our King the needed reception to appreciate what he has done for us”.
It would be recalled that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Lady Julia joined monarchs and global leaders across the globe to assemble at Westminster Abbey for the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Consort.
Before the coronation, Otumfuo and Lady Julia was received by King Charles in a private audience at Buckingham Palace on May,4,2023.They also attended King Charles’s official reception for overseas guests on May,5th 2023.Source:Tntnewspapergh.com
Apostle Eric Nyamekye was on Thursday, May 4 re-elected the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost for the next five years.
Apostle Nyamekye received a whopping 99.45 percent ‘Yes’ votes to retain his position.
The elections were held at the Church’s 46th General Council Meetings held at the Pentecost Convention Center in the Central Region.
Five years ago, precisely Thursday, May 3, 2018, Apostle Nyamekye, then Area Head of the Church of Pentecost in Koforidua, was elected to succeed Apostle Prof Opoku Onyinah. He became the 6th head of the Church.
The results of Thursday’s votes proved that Apostle Nyamekye has won the hearts of the conclave.
He polled 1,255 ‘Yes’ votes out of a total of 1,262 on Thursday. He had garnered 994 ‘Yes’ votes out of a total of 1009 five years ago.
Meanwhile, at the same Council Meetings, Apostle Samuel Gyau Obuobi was also elected the General Secretary of the Church
He replaces Apostle Kumi Larbi, who served for 10 years in the role.
Apostle Obuobi, 53, polled 1,256 ‘Yes’ votes out of a total of 1,262, representing 99.6 percent.
We often say there is hope for everyone unless the dead, meaning the dead can not be used for anything good again in this life of the living because it is impossible to bring back the dead to live. Therefore, as soon as a person gives up the ghost, that ends every hope, but in Christ Jesus, all things are possible, including the dead coming back to life as our Lord Jesus Christ did during his time.
Emmanuel Kofi Kpentor and his Father, Daniel Kwaku Kabre
A 7-year-old Sunday School boy of The Church of Pentecost, Emmanuel Kofi Kpentor, has miraculously exercised an unbelievable faith, bringing his dead father back to life.
The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, narrated this miraculous event in his State-of-the-Church Address to councillors at the 46th Session of the General Council Meetings of the Church at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Gomoa-Fetteh, on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
According to the Chairman, the boy’s father, Daniel Kwaku Kabre, was pronounced dead by the Worawora Government Hospital and was to be sent to the mortuary. As an idol worshiper, all hope was already gone.
“However, to the surprise of the nurses and doctors at the facility, his seven-year-old son, Emmanuel Kofi Kpentor, said he would not allow them to take the body of his dead father to the mortuary until he had prayed for the father to wake up,” an excited Apostle Nyamekye told the gathering.
Upon his insistence, the medical personnel allowed him to pray for the deceased father. Whilst transporting the corpse of Emmanuel’s father to the mortuary after his prayers, the ‘dead body’ started shaking, and was rushed back to the doctors for medical attention.
“By God’s grace, he was restored to life, surrendered his life to Christ, and, together with his wife, was baptised on June 26, 2022,”, Apostle Nyamekye said amidst cheers of praise from the gathering.Source:PENTECOST NEWS
Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost and President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), has urged church leaders to prioritise the youth and children in church activities and leadership development.
He made the call during his State-of-the-Church address on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at the 46th Session of the General Council Meetings underway at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa in the Central Region of Ghana.
According to Apostle Nyamekye, as of December 2022, children and youth represented 75.3% of The Church of Pentecost’s total membership.
Aps.Eric Kwabena Nyamekye,Chairman of COP
He emphasised the importance of involving young people in planning church activities and programmes at all levels and providing them with the necessary training and mentorship to take up leadership roles, as they are the Church’s future leaders.
Apostle Nyamekye charged the clergy to preach the unadulterated word of God, instilling sound principles and ethics in the hearts and minds of young people to prevent them from being deceived by the world’s deceptions.
“Our youth and children are the inheritance we leave behind for the next generation. Therefore, make every effort to teach them the right doctrines,” he said.
The Chairman emphasised the Church’s commitment to the youth and children and its desire to provide them with the necessary spiritual foundation to thrive.Source:PENTECOST NEWS
Infact sometimes even a pastor can pray for a peaceful passage for a relative or a church member.
In the Bible, we see that even though Mary the mother of Jesus Christ and other loved ones grieved over his death because they saw it as a tragedy, it was and has been a gain to all humanity.
The tragedy occurs when the death occurs while the ‘victim’ was not well prepared for eternity (meaning he died without committing his/her life to Christ Jesus, the Lord).
To die without knowing Christ is a disaster no man should be a victim of. Jesus Christ painted a very vivid picture of what happens to such a person in his parable in Luke 16.
Luke 16:22-24 KJV
[22] “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes,being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. [24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame”. [emphasis added].
Look at the conclusion of the verse 24: “…for I am tormented in this flame.” This is a real tragic end!
I do not have statistics to prove but it appears to me, that the death rate in the past decade keeps increasing than it used to be. People are now dying in tens and hundreds in small communities monthly. And this, to us at Mercy Train Missions, gives cause for concern. The cemeteries are getting full, and people in some parts of the world are forced to accept cremation.
See, it is full with lives that could have been saved, full with people whom the Lord could have used to save, shepherd or impact other lives.
Ps.James Appiakrong
Why we’re worried
Our passion is to see people get saved, not necessarily live long. Long life on earth could be a bonus. After all, the real life is what we experience after leaving this earth; living forever whether in flames (hell) or in joy (heaven). Hence we are worried because:
1. Unfortunately, many preachers seem to now focus more on acquiring material substances which to them, signifies blessings, than preaching what Jesus asked us to preach, which the Apostles very well did; the Kingdom of God. See Luke 4:43, Acts 28:30-31.
2. The world seems to be running at a faster pace than it used to, leading to rampant miserable deaths, and the church (the watchman)appears to be in a snoring state, adamant of the numerous people heading towards hell…including some who are with us in the church.
There is therefore the need for the church to arise and also speed up.
3. Many Christians seem to be busily chasing after material gains, at the expense of working out their own salvation with fear and trembling.
Mercy Train Missions is not in anyway against acquiring material gains but we are guided by the advice Jesus Christ gave in Matthew 6:30-33 KJV
[30] “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? [31] Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or,
Wherewithal shall we be clothed? [32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” [emphasis added]
4. Even worst, there are still Christians who have allowed themselves to be misled by the deceitful ‘once saved, forever saved’ doctrine due to their itchy ears and desire to satisfy the flesh.
I heard the story of a preacher who held a crusade and only one person gave his life to Christ. And that one person was Billy Graham. Years after that this man Billy became a great Evangelist holding the biggest crusade ever in world history and winning millions of souls to Christ.
Again, many people in the Ashanti region of Ghana (West African country) have also heard of the story of the late Evangelist Amoako. He was a street boy and chain weed smoker, committing all sorts of crimes.
Then one day during an outreach by a preacher, he was convicted and surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The street boy Amoako then grew in Christ speedily and became one of the greatest Evangelists, even till now, that the Ashanti region, and Ghana for that matter, has ever seen.
Now, imagine if that first preacher did not hold that crusade and Billy didn’t get saved there. Imagine if that preacher didn’t reach out to street boy Amoako with the gospel. What would have happened if these preachers also focused on enticing, deceiving or stealing members from other churches, while ignoring the thousands perishing without Christ.
Now many pastors are no longer even holding crusades, many haven’t preached about repentance in a long while, and the church…even the church is filled with sinful members, talk less of the streets. We know that every healthy church shall always have ‘babes’ which signifies growth and outreach rate, but when members who are several months and years old still behave as babes and unrepented persons, then the church has a lot of work to do, and this we must do with all compassion and diligence.
Charge
Let us Arise. Christians around the world, Arise.
Let us arise onto the mandate whereof our Lord gave us in Matthew 28:19-20. We were not tasked to go around the world amassing wealth for ourselves but amassing souls for Christ Jesus our Lord. Every other thing that comes along is bonus. Let us not lose sight of the main target and chase the bonus.
Arise dear believer, Arise.
The writer, James Appiakorang is the President of Mercy Train Missions Ministry. He is a pastor at House of Faith Ministry, Jesus Haus branch (Achimota).
The General Overseer of the Caravan of Prayer Outreach Ministry at Gyinyase in the Asokwa Municipality of Ashanti, Apostle Johnson Ackah Braimah, has expressed disgust about the rate at which some Christians engage in insults and other form of unwarranted form of behaviors as a shortcut for self vindication.
This attitude,he said was unacceptable and Christians must always be guided by the forgiving spirit as one of the principles of the Bible.
Speaking during this year’s Easter convention, Apostle Braimah said, it is now difficult for someone to see clear difference between Christians and non Christians since the two are mingling in the acts that retard progress and development of the nation.
Notably among them, he said include armed robbery, fornication, and corruption among others.
He said it was very unfortunate and disturbing because Christians are supposed to set good examples in the society they live in as followers of Christ.
Apostle Braimah further bemoaned attitude of some Christians who moved from one place to other in search of solutions to their problems. According to him, this attitude is as a result of situation where some ” fake ” pastors are also taking advantage and duping innocent people by selling oil, water, sugar, orange and other items at a higher prices.
“We Christians are to blame ourselves; we have given these fake pastors a weapon to fight us instead of consulting the holy Bible for the spiritual directions and healings “he said.
On the LGBTQ, Apostle Braimah said, the practice is an abomination under Ghana culture and norms and therefore we should eschew the temptation of accepting this practice which has gained root in other western countries.
He said, those who are secretly doing it needs serious prayers as he believes is not their will but as a result of being controlled by the evil spirits.
