The Walewale Area of The Church of Pentecost (COP), under the leadership of Evangelist Francis Yaw Adu, has organised its first-ever Successors’ Conference for the youth in the Area to prepare them to take over the mantle of leadership.

The conference was held on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at the Nalerigu Central Church building in Walewale.

Speaking on the topic, “The Journey of the Successor”, the Area Youth Leader, Pastor Peter Quayson, who doubles as the Area Secretary, stated that succession is not an instantaneous event but a journey, hence those who want to be like the fathers of The Church of Pentecost should tag along as they gradually leave the scene.

Reading from 2 Kings 2:1-18 and 1 Kings 19:19-21, Pastor Quayson explained that Elisha had to follow Elijah on a journey which started from Elisha’s field and ended beyond the river Jordan. Elisha, on his part, willingly destroyed every tool which could serve as an attraction to look back on the journey. He also observed that the journey is in stages and each of them was relevant for the successors’ preparation.

According to him, Elijah and Elisha first went to Gilgal which means removal of reproach (Joshua 5:9), and, therefore, advised the youth to live above reproach in order to be good successors.

“They then continued to Bethel to remind Elisha of the need to have a personal encounter with God and to Jericho where impossibilities become possible – this was to teach Elisha that it will not be by his might or power but by the Spirit of God as he did with Joshua with the wall of Jericho.

“They went on to River Jordan as well because it is a place of transition and this was to let Elisha know that as a leader you must move from one point to the other no matter how difficult the movement is. “Elisha got the double portion of Elijah’s spirit; he asked for after ending the journey with him,” he noted.

Pastor Quayson further challenged leaders to make it a duty to ensure the success of their successor, saying “The success of a leader is in his succession.”

a bible study session on King Uzziah and his son, Jotham based on 2 Chronicles 26 & 27, was held as part of the conference. Overseer Nathaniel Amoo, who facilitated the session, advised the youth not to be intimidated by the achievements their leaders nor should not they rejoice over the failures of any predecessors, but rather leverage on their strengths and learn valuable lessons from their failures.

Report By: Overseer Emmanuel Kenin (Gbingbani District)