2018 Pastors' Conclave

A minister of God once invited Oral Roberts to a series of meetings he had organized. But Oral Roberts did not show up! However, prior to that, the Holy Spirit had prompted the minister to prepare fervently for the meetings. After all the publicity and advertisements, the man of God was not going to be there! So, on the first day of the programme, the teeming crowds packed out the auditorium, anticipating the supernatural power of God to show up in their midst as Oral Roberts ministered. But they did not know he was not coming. Clutching his Bible in unease, the minister approached the pulpit as the emcee welcomed "the man of the moment". The exhilaration and rousing shouts were killed by deafening silence as congregants' expectations were not met. They must have thought, "We came here to have an encounter with Oral Roberts, not some unknown preacher from our city."

Nonetheless, as soon as the minister mounted the pulpit, words of knowledge poured from his lips and miracles happened all across the auditorium, with the blind seeing, the lame walking and terminal illnesses departing from bodies!

From that time, he did not need to invite Oral Roberts because the fame of him had spread abroad...all because he listened to the Holy Spirit's command to prepare for the meetings!

Indeed, it pays to obey the Voice of the Holy Spirit!

There was an elder of the Church of Pentecost who was overly excited about a young fiery preacher whom he had recommended to James McKeown. The man of God, however, heard from the Spirit that the young minister should not be ordained. Subsequently, the man of God travelled and then this same elder recommended the young minister again for ordination in his absence. So the young minister was ordained in the man of God's absence and sent to serve in the same elder's assembly.

One day, the elder, who worked at Valco, left some documents at home and decided to go back for them. When he arrived, the bedroom door was ajar...and there his wife was...under the sheets with the young minister he had recommended for ordination! 

The elder grabbed the young minister by the singlet and put him in his car, driving with just one hand all the way from Tema to James McKeown's residence at Accra Central.

He confronted the man of God, "Have you seen the pastor you gave me?!"

James McKeown replied, "Is he not your pastor; you brought him!"

And that was it; the young man was dimissed!

Disobedience can cost you so much!

Bishop Matthew Addae-Mensah, on the first evening of the 2018 Pastors' Conclave related these anecdotes to drive home his points. It was a time of sober reflection as the man of God taught the clergy present.

He pointed out that the goal of the Conclave was to go over the work done in previous year and find new strategies to face the new year in order to maximize growth and potential.

Teaching on the foundations of ministry, the man of God shared the first two foundations viz. loyalty and obedience.

Bishop recapped some of the key points shared during the morning session. He noted that anything without a foundation cannot last. He urged clergy present to dig deep!

He disclosed that our loyalty is first to God. We must love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. 

He charged the clergy to be extremely loyal to God and to protect the things that belong to Him.

He noted, "If your foundation is strong, you can make mistakes but you'll come back to God...when you are loyal to God and you see others walking in sin, you are grieved; that's the zeal of the Lord."

Our second loyalty is to the ministry. Bishop stated, "You cannot be in Gospel Light and be building another ministry." Circumcise your heart. Bishop intimated that loyal people don't cover up sin. They can pray for you but they will ask you to repent. He challenged the clergy to be loyal to the vision of the Church, which is Church planting.

He said, "Without loyalty, whatever you build will collapse. Disloyal people are a walking time bomb. They are against honouring leaders. Be loyal even unto death. Be loyal to your calling. Take time to develop your calling. If you are disloyal to your own calling, you won't give yourself wholly."

The man of God taught extensively on obedience. He touched on obedience to God's Word, His servants and His Spirit.

The man of God hinted, "How you obey God and how far you obey Him is the measure of your love for Him."

Bishop pointed out that when you operate in disobedience, you are like a witch or wizard. He disclosed that obedience to God and to the servant of God can promote you.

He further noted, "You can fast and pray for 30 days but if you are not walking in obedience nothing will change!"

Citing the instance of Saul in 1 Samuel 10:1, 1 Samuel 16:1 and 1 Samuel 15:19-25, the man of God warned the clergy to beware of being disobedient. He said, "If you want to obey God, put aside the sentiments...as soon as you obey God, He will meet you half the way."

Reading from Job 36:11-12, Bishop shared that obedience opens doors unto us. God wants us to OBEY Him and SERVE Him (see Job 36:11). Isaiah 1:19 says that if you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land.

"Stubbornness will not help your ministry to grow. If God calls you, He expects you to obey Him. God cannot lead any man who cannot submit to Him," the man of God taught.

Citing several instances of obedience to the Holy Spirit, from the book of Acts, Bishop admonished the clergy to pray and seek His direction (see Acts 16:5-12; Acts 13:1-2; Acts 10:9-17).

The meeting ended with the clergy humbly calling upon God in repentance for acts of disobedience.

'Twas a night of repentance!

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