The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has called on ministers to uphold sound doctrine and preach the basic message of salvation.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi said this at the Ministers and Wives’ session of the recently-held Nkawkaw Area Ministers and Officers’ Retreat, popularly referred to as Apostolization.

Reading 1 John 2: 18- 27,  he explained that Apostle John wrote the letter to the Church to correct the wrong doctrine being that was preached at the time.

According to him, some people in the church at the time believed the wrong messages that were being taught by those who had veered from the faith and had left the church (1 John 2:19).

The General Secretary noted that it is important to eschew false doctrines because one’s personal perception of reality is determined by his or her beliefs and that also dictates their attitude.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi, therefore, urged the ministers to preach the message of the Cross, which is the essential part of the Christian faith. He also cautioned them not allow themselves to be engaged by the non-essentials such as money, food, clothes and vehicles.

Quoting 1 Corinthians 15: 3-6, the General Secretary advised ministers to preach Christ-centered messages incorporated with evangelistic truths.

He also advised them to make the propagation of the gospel message their utmost priority. He noted that just like the Apostles, who preached the crucifixion and resurrection where they went, ministers should make the propagation of the gospel message their primary responsibility.

“It is wrong to stop preaching to take offering because it is about to rain during an outdoor programme. The gospel is of more importance,” he advised.

In order to uphold sound doctrine, Apostle Kumi-Larbi said ministers must understand their calling, emphasizing that “ministry is a call, not a career”. He further explained that a career is a job or series of related jobs that one does for a living while a call is a charge to keep; a commitment to duty to obey a superior being.

He, therefore, urged the ministers to bring to bear on their ministries their expertise, exposure, giftings and abilities.

He also advised the ministers to package the message well without losing the essential truth.

“Your sermons must stress the four-square gospel – Jesus the Saviour, Jesus the baptizer, Jesus the healer and Jesus the soon coming King. This gospel must not be substituted with the prosperity-gospel or the suffering-free gospel,” he said.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi also urged the ministers to radically evangelize their communities through rallies, crusade and stratified evangelism even though the costs of undertaking such initiatives may be relatively high.

Recounting his own ministerial experiences, he advised ministers to strive to add value to their ministry. Quoting Ecclesiastes 5:10, Apostle Kumi-Larbi advocated for gentleness, frugality, integrity, humility and the pursuance of truth to achieve a fruitful ministry.

He admonished ministers and wives to render selfless pastoral care to their members, saying that “it is possible for a minister  to visit every member in his district at least once within his period of stay at a particular station.”

Concluding his message, the Apostle Kumi-Larbi said Christianity teaches how God made Himself known in Jesus Christ as the only way to Salvation (John 14:6). Hence, The Church of Pentecost maintains that salvation cannot be found or obtained in any other person, religion, belief or creed, except through faith in Christ’s atoning work on the Cross at Calvary.

The wife of the General Secretary, Mrs Rose Kumi-Larbi, who was also present at the event, urged the ministers’ wives to reach out to the youth by involving themselves in the activities of the Youth Ministry and making themselves accessible to them for guidance and counsel.

Report By: Pastor Bright Nyamedor