Rev. Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, has admonished ministers of the Gospel, that ministry is a battlefield, not a fun field. Hence, unless you fight, you cannot win and receive the crown from God. He implored ministers to do all it takes to win the fight against the enemy for their ministries to thrive and impact the larger society.
In his keynote address to the Ministers Conference of the Ghana Baptist Convention, at the 30th Annual Conference at Ejura, in the Ashanti Region, he charged ministers to fight to the end if they are to be successful ministry as the Apostle Paul demonstrated. He charged the Ministers to be motivated to influence their generation by fulfilling the purpose for which God called them.
He reminded them that their call, “is a holy calling, a higher calling, a heavenly calling, a happy calling, and a humble calling.” It is indeed a unique calling that in itself is adequate motivation for the minister to strive to succeed.
Quoting extensively from Psalms 13 and 108, he noted that the demotivated minister feels God has forgotten him and lives in worry, bitterness and anxiety. He is worried because of misplaced values and operates in the language of “I cannot do it”.
Prof. Frimpong-Manso assured the pastors that, God does not forget about his servants and He is able to equip them with all they need for a successful ministry.
He noted that, “the demotivated minister lives in fear: fear of the enemy, fear of defeat, and fear of death”.
He said that Elijah found himself in similar condition, and wished that he was dead. Like Elijah, some ministers do not only grumble that God has forgotten about them, but also, they find faults with the church and its top hierarchy. And nothing seems good to them in the church where they have been called to serve.
The demotivated minister does not observe spiritual discipline such as; prayer and fasting, in-depth study of scripture and retreats among others. They are inward looking, building their own kingdom instead of the kingdom of God; thereby making the ministry unattractive.
Rev. Prof. Frimpong-Manso reproved the demotivated minister, to eschew these negative practices that militate against the kingdom work, and serve with steadfast hearts, trusting God to bless their ministries.
He said a pastor should be firm and not waver, because steadfastness is a virtue that is key for ministry success. A “Steadfast heart is filled with the love of God, and seeks for the deliverance of others”. He added.
The motivated minister serves as directed by God. He does what God tells him to do, and does not depend on himself. As he noted; dependence on God’s word, brings triumph and overpowers the voice of the enemy.
He recalled from scripture that, whenever Israel rejected God’s leadership, they were defeated in battles. Therefore, the man of God, should subject himself to the leadership of God in order to succeed. And that, God’s leadership brings the required assistance for victory in the kingdom work.
Prof. Frimpong-Manso concluded by emphasizing that, the motivated minister, serves with passion, determination to conquer new territories with the gospel, to please God, and impact his generation.
Ministers urged to unite to restore lost Glory of the church
Rev. Frimpong-Manso and leaders of the Ghana Baptist Convention
Ministers of the Ghana Baptist Convention have been urged to unite to restore the lost glory of the church, at its 30th Minister’s Conference at Ejura, in the Ashanti Region.
Rev. Prof., Paul Frimpong-Manso, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, who was the main speaker of the Convention said, the integrity and commitment that characterized the early church in the country has gone down drastically, hence the need to re-capture the beautiful tenets of ministry as was in the times past.
He said, this can be done when ministers unite to pursue the divine mandate given to them in the promotion of the kingdom work. “David with the help of the whole nation brought back the Ark to Jerusalem, “ Rev. Frimpong-Manso noted and added that, in the same manner, we should be motivated and join hands to restore the negative image of the church.
The church today, according to the General Superintendent is be-deviled with vices such as false prophets, carnality, indifference and mediocrity. Others are; pastor’s lethargy, materialism, commercializing of the gospel, and re-branding of sin among others.
He said these vices are the causes of the lost glory of the church, as was experienced in the book of 1st Samuel, when the Philistine captured the Ark of God in battle.
Rev. Frimpong-Manso stressed that, it’s not too late to change the adverse image of the church, if ministers will join forces and pursue the God-given mandate of the church.
He quoted from the book of 1 Chronicles, that ministers should be motivated by a common purpose to restore the lost glory of the church, just as the people of Israel agreed with determination to bring back the Ark to Jerusalem.
Notwithstanding the challenges the church is confronted with today, ministers have to take the bull by the horn, and make the church count by positively impacting society as expected by Christ; the head of the church.
Furthermore, ministers should be motivatedto focus on the areas of competence, to erase the ill feelings sections of the society hold against the church today. He said, in bringing back the Ark to Jerusalem, each group played their roles effectively and were all involved and trusted “God to help them” in that laudable venture.
He urged pastors not to give in to challenges that may confront them in the process, but persevere, because; David and his people did not abandon their objective, but re-strategized to capture the Ark back to Jerusalem when they failed in the first attempt.
“Correct your mistakes as you strive to make the church attractive today, irrespective of the challenges.” Rev., Frimpong-Manso charged the ministers: “We can restore the image of the church in our generation, provided we work with unity of purpose, action and the determination to succeed”.
