Christians all over the world have celebrated the death and resurrection of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ with all manner of spiritual and physical activities that depict the joy of salvation for all mankind.
For the numerous membership of the Apostolic Church-Ghana, this year’s Easter meant so much than any other occasion, because the Church is celebrating its 75th Anniversary of the survival and sustenance of God’s power and faithfulness since the Church’s inception at Asamankese in 1935. And so, the occasion was seen as an excellent opportunity to express their gratitude to the faithful God in whose name the Church still exists.
It was an occasion for building unity in diversity around the Church’s corporate vision of revival of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that caused a stir in Ghana, the then Gold Coast. At that time, many Ghanaians saw the need to become born-again, tongues-speaking, hand-clapping worshippers of the true God as the Holy Spirit touched them.
Even though the occasion was marked with the traditional Easter Conventions throughout the country and beyond under the general theme, “The Exalted Christ” (Phil.2:9-11), the Church’s paraphernalia, 75th anniversary souvenirs and special pageantry, took the center stage of all gatherings from 1st to 4th April where some converged at Area level and others at District level.
At the Tema Area of the Church, the 75th Easter Convention was held at metropolitan level where the Manhean, Central, Gulf City and Kpone Districts gathered as one family at the Tema Twidaase School Park to witness the manifestations of the power of God through the ministrations of Apostle John A. Adotey, the President of the Church and Apostle Ebenezer N. Abebrese, Tema Area Superintendent and other ministers of the Church.
In his sermon to round up the 75th Anniversary Easter Convention under the theme, “The exalted Christ”, at Tema on April 4, Apostle Adotey, said that Christians are called by God to humbly and sacrificially serve the Church, their families and the society in order for the purpose of God for the nation could be achieved.
He declared that the Lord Jesus Christ’s exaltation was not by chance, but by conscious effort through humility, sacrificial service and hard work for which Christians are expected to imitate if they would have to be exalted above their spiritual and physical enemies.
The Servant of God, who is also the Head of the Ghana Pentecostal Council (the Council of Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches), mentioned that Christ died for all human races and resurrected with unlimited power, and that, the same resurrection power which has been bequeathed to all Believers, makes it imperative for Christians to be alive and be exalted with Christ above all powers of darkness.
“The exalted Christian is the citizen who does not create or promote confusion, but the one who pays his tax, make peace with all men and sacrificially serve anywhere in the spirit of humility and love. If you believe in the Lord and you humble yourself, Christ will exalt you and place you in higher places far above principalities and powers in the same way as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the Old Testament were exalted by God”, Apostle Adotey declared.
On Easter Saturday, at about 3:00pm the Tema Metropolitan Convention took to the street for a three-hour procession where over 1,300 men and women and few children who were clad in 75th anniversary paraphernalia displayed their overwhelming joy in the Lord amidst singing and dancing to brass band music.
At Kwashieman in the Kaneshie Area, Accra, Apostle Emmanuel Adom, the former Italy Missionary Field Superintendent of the Church, mentioned that the Lord Jesus Christ, being God, became man and dwelt on earth purposely to redeem sinful man. As such, He left His glory and divine status in heaven and emptied Himself only to become obedient servant for the ultimate sacrifice for man’s eternal salvation.
“The super-exalted Christ”, he mentioned, “is a humble King above all kings and our ultimate and perfect example for emulation if we should be exalted above our enemies. If anyone wishes to be the boss, he/she must humbly serve at the bottom, for it is God who exalts the humble and humbles the proud”
Apostle Alex Ofosu, the Head of the Kaneshie Area of the Church, speaking on the theme, “Christ is exalted in His Resurrection”, hinted that, there are several proofs that Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead after three days in the grave and that, all the facts surrounding the resurrection power and authority of Christ point to the truth that Jesus Christ is not only alive, but also highly exalted far above all peoples, kingdoms and powers in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
He said that today, Christians are the beneficiaries of Christ’s resurrection power, having the confidence that Christ will resurrect all believers one day to live eternally with him, adding that, “the course of history has been changed by Christ’s resurrection because all the Old Testament problems have been solved by the highly exalted Christ, and also the door of salvation is widely opened for all mankind to take the due advantage.
Pastor Andy Nortey, the Kwashieman District Pastor introducing the theme, “The Exalted Christ”, called on the Saints to cultivate the habit of humility so that God would extremely exalt them since the way to the top is down, adding that, anybody who wishes to occupy any higher position in life must first, forfeit all credentials and serve in the strength of humility.
He therefore urged all believers to believe that, as painful as they sometimes feel, descending very low in the course of serving humanity is the only way to attain greatness.
“Jesus Christ’s humility, sacrificial lifestyle and total obedience to His father, formed the basis for which He was highly exalted and given a name above every other names, and that, at the mention of Christ’s name, problems, diseases, disappointments, poverty and other things in heaven on earth and under the earth, should bow. This makes the exalted Christ the perfect example for all Christians to follow”. He concluded.
At Nyanyano/Kasoa, the District Pastor of the Church, Ps. P.O. Ahudey, spoke on the “Exalted Christ”, and mentioned that, because Jesus Christ Himself borne our grief and so exchanged His life for our death, and gave His prosperity for our poverty, all believers are granted the privilege to sit with the same resurrected Christ on the right hand of God in heavenly places.
“We are therefore hid in Christ Jesus and reigning with Him in power over all principalities. We are so compelled to dedicate our exalted life to presenting the resurrected King Jesus to the sin-stricken world that others may also receive salvation”, he concluded.
At Mamprobi Area, the Area Head, Pastor Daniel Kissi Bardoom, emphasised the fact that, Christ’s resurrection-power has undoubtedly brought vibrant life not only into people’s life of uncertainty, but also marriages, businesses and hopes have been resurrected. “Death could not hold Jesus; He rose again for the whole world to know that He has power over everything, including Satan. Christians therefore need not fear death because our Lord of Lords has won us the victory. Rather, we should continue broadcasting the good news everywhere that Jesus is still alive and still saving lives”, he said.
The Mamprobi Area, which was recently carved from the Accra Area B’ of the Church, preceded the Resurrection Service with street procession on Saturday when the 75th Anniversary banners and flags were lifted higher in the Dansoman’s principal streets to showcase the faithfulness of God amidst singing and dancing.
At Somanya Area, Pastor Samuel Agyin Kingful assured the congregation that they have no reason to fear any activity of the devil because the resurrected Christ who is exalted above all powers in heaven and earth has empowered all those who put their trust in Him, to be victorious.
He said that, the women who were at the graveyard to embalm Jesus’ body in Matthew chapter 28 met the risen Saviour who told them not to be afraid because He was alive. “This points to the fact that believer’s life is not futile but rather secured on the rock-Jesus for which we can stand firm when faced with rolling tides of life. Because of Christ’s resurrection and exaltation He has the accreditation to save all mankind”, he said.