National development

My Lords spiritual and temporal, Compatriots, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I am both honoured and humbled at the same time to be invited by The Christ Apostolic Church International to be part of the Second Public Anim Memorial Lectures. I know that there are more qualified Pastors and Theologians in this room and in the country for this exercise. In fact, it feels like a schoolboy being asked to deliver a lecture before his professors. However, to have the privilege to speak in Honour and memory of Apostle Peter Newman Anim, whose faith and commitment has been the single most important means of transforming the Christian churches in Ghana in the last century; it is a privilege I could not let pass. Apostle Anim is undoubtedly the “Father of Ghanaian Evangelical Pentecostalism”. God has used the fire he lit not only in the founding of Pentecostal and Charismatic churches in Ghana, which are experiencing phenomenal growth but also the revival of all the mainline churches including the Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Fellowships in the country.  For those of us who are privileged to be Evangelical Pentecostals within the orthodox churches, the liberty of Christ in the Spirit to enjoy fellowship with Christians across denominational lines and to experience warm fellowship everywhere is invaluable. The great revival that God brought to this country through the life of this great son of the land, has brought new lease of life through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In the interest of time, however, this is all that I can say in honour of Apostle Anim. Those interested in learning more about the Father of Pentecostalism in Ghana may read his profile in the Daily Graphic of Wednesday May 20, 2015, or the more scholarly piece given by Prof Stephen Owiredu at the first public Anim Memorial Lectures two years ago. My brief is to address the wider issue of the impact of Christianity in Ghana’s development. I will do so with special reference to the role of Pentecostalism which the Holy Spirit chose Apostle Anim to initiate in the country. CHRISTIANITY, CHRISTIANS, AND THE CHURCH Let me upfront clarify some definitional and semantic issues so that we will all be on the same wave-length: By Christianity I am talking about the religion founded on Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord by the work of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles believed that Yahweh, the God of Israel revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that God the Son, Jesus Christ, came to die on Calvary, shed his blood for the remission of sins and that through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ one is saved and becomes a child of God. The Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father and the Son to effect the salvation work of Jesus Christ, to establish the body of Christ, the Church, and to empower believers for righteous living, propagation of the gospel and disciple making. God the Holy Spirit uniquely baptised the believers on the day of Pentecost.  The core of Christianity is captured in the Apostle’s Creed (and its expanded version the Nicene Creed). That is why many Christian denominations regularly recite the Nicene Creed at worship preceding:  “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into Hell, the third day He rose again from the dead He ascended into Heaven and sitteh at the right hand of God, the Father almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting”. Amen In a nutshell, belief in the Trinity, the Incarnation, Death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit anchored on the Bible as the inerrant, inspired word of God in all matters of faith and practice are the hallmarks of Christianity. To be a true Christian one not only has to have had knowledge of this important doctrinal basis of our faith, but has to have personally repented of one’s sins, and trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour for forgiveness, cleansing and reconciliation with God on the basis of the redemption of Jesus through his blood. Those who thus receive Christ become part of the body of Christ, the Church (with big ‘C’) irrespective of their denominational affiliation. Those who believe or receive Jesus Christ, are made new creatures or born again into God’s family and have eternal life (John 1:12; 3:3-8,16; Rom 3:23-26; 10:9-13; 2Cor 5:17). The Bible is explicit that those who do not have Christ have no life and the wrath of God is upon them (John 3: 17-21). Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except by me” (John 14:6). This is the good news: that God saves sinners on the basis of the redemption of Christ and in no other way. And it is incumbent on every believer to pass it on if that believer has heard and experienced “the joyful sound; Jesus saves”. The power to do is a major reason Christ was sent (Acts 1:8) and our motivation is the “love of God shared abroad in our heart” (Romans 5:5). It is the community of born-again believers who have received Jesus Christ into their hearts who constitute what the Bible calls the body of Christ, the Church. These are believers in all denominations, countries and assemblies linked by their common faith in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Thus, part of the Church is believing Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Pentecostals, Baptists and Charismatics to mention a few. When believers lose sight of this fundamental unity of the Church, they

My Lords spiritual and temporal, Compatriots, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I am both honoured and humbled at the same time to be invited by The Christ Apostolic Church International to be part of the Second Public Anim Memorial Lectures. I know that there are more qualified Pastors and Theologians in this room and in the country for this exercise. In fact, it feels like a schoolboy being asked to deliver a lecture before his professors. However, to have the privilege to speak in Honour and memory of Apostle Peter Newman Anim, whose faith and commitment has been the single most important means of transforming the Christian churches in Ghana in the last century; it is a privilege I could not let pass. Apostle Anim is undoubtedly the “Father of Ghanaian Evangelical Pentecostalism”. God has used the fire he lit not only in the founding of Pentecostal and Charismatic churches in Ghana, which are experiencing phenomenal growth but also the revival of all the mainline churches including the Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Fellowships in the country.  For those of us who are privileged to be Evangelical Pentecostals within the orthodox churches, the liberty of Christ in the Spirit to enjoy fellowship with Christians across denominational lines and to experience warm fellowship everywhere is invaluable. The great revival that God brought to this country through the life of this great son of the land, has brought new lease of life through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In the interest of time, however, this is all that I can say in honour of Apostle Anim. Those interested in learning more about the Father of Pentecostalism in Ghana may read his profile in the Daily Graphic of Wednesday May 20, 2015, or the more scholarly piece given by Prof Stephen Owiredu at the first public Anim Memorial Lectures two years ago. My brief is to address the wider issue of the impact of Christianity in Ghana’s development. I will do so with special reference to the role of Pentecostalism which the Holy Spirit chose Apostle Anim to initiate in the country. CHRISTIANITY, CHRISTIANS, AND THE CHURCH Let me upfront clarify some definitional and semantic issues so that we will all be on the same wave-length: By Christianity I am talking about the religion founded on Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord by the work of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles believed that Yahweh, the God of Israel revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that God the Son, Jesus Christ, came to die on Calvary, shed his blood for the remission of sins and that through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ one is saved and becomes a child of God. The Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father and the Son to effect the salvation work of Jesus Christ, to establish the body of Christ, the Church, and to empower believers for righteous living, propagation of the gospel and disciple making. God the Holy Spirit uniquely baptised the believers on the day of Pentecost.  The core of Christianity is captured in the Apostle’s Creed (and its expanded version the Nicene Creed). That is why many Christian denominations regularly recite the Nicene Creed at worship preceding:  “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into Hell, the third day He rose again from the dead He ascended into Heaven and sitteh at the right hand of God, the Father almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting”. Amen In a nutshell, belief in the Trinity, the Incarnation, Death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit anchored on the Bible as the inerrant, inspired word of God in all matters of faith and practice are the hallmarks of Christianity. To be a true Christian one not only has to have had knowledge of this important doctrinal basis of our faith, but has to have personally repented of one’s sins, and trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour for forgiveness, cleansing and reconciliation with God on the basis of the redemption of Jesus through his blood. Those who thus receive Christ become part of the body of Christ, the Church (with big ‘C’) irrespective of their denominational affiliation. Those who believe or receive Jesus Christ, are made new creatures or born again into God’s family and have eternal life (John 1:12; 3:3-8,16; Rom 3:23-26; 10:9-13; 2Cor 5:17). The Bible is explicit that those who do not have Christ have no life and the wrath of God is upon them (John 3: 17-21). Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except by me” (John 14:6). This is the good news: that God saves sinners on the basis of the redemption of Christ and in no other way. And it is incumbent on every believer to pass it on if that believer has heard and experienced “the joyful sound; Jesus saves”. The power to do is a major reason Christ was sent (Acts 1:8) and our motivation is the “love of God shared abroad in our heart” (Romans 5:5). It is the community of born-again believers who have received Jesus Christ into their hearts who constitute what the Bible calls the body of Christ, the Church. These are believers in all denominations, countries and assemblies linked by their common faith in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Thus, part of the Church is believing Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Pentecostals, Baptists and Charismatics to mention a few. When believers lose sight of this fundamental unity of the Church, they

My Lords spiritual and temporal, Compatriots, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I am both honoured and humbled at the same time to be invited by The Christ Apostolic Church International to be part of the Second Public Anim Memorial Lectures. I know that there are more qualified Pastors and Theologians in this room and in the country for this exercise. In fact, it feels like a schoolboy being asked to deliver a lecture before his professors. However, to have the privilege to speak in Honour and memory of Apostle Peter Newman Anim, whose faith and commitment has been the single most important means of transforming the Christian churches in Ghana in the last century; it is a privilege I could not let pass. Apostle Anim is undoubtedly the “Father of Ghanaian Evangelical Pentecostalism”. God has used the fire he lit not only in the founding of Pentecostal and Charismatic churches in Ghana, which are experiencing phenomenal growth but also the revival of all the mainline churches including the Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Fellowships in the country.  For those of us who are privileged to be Evangelical Pentecostals within the orthodox churches, the liberty of Christ in the Spirit to enjoy fellowship with Christians across denominational lines and to experience warm fellowship everywhere is invaluable. The great revival that God brought to this country through the life of this great son of the land, has brought new lease of life through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In the interest of time, however, this is all that I can say in honour of Apostle Anim. Those interested in learning more about the Father of Pentecostalism in Ghana may read his profile in the Daily Graphic of Wednesday May 20, 2015, or the more scholarly piece given by Prof Stephen Owiredu at the first public Anim Memorial Lectures two years ago. My brief is to address the wider issue of the impact of Christianity in Ghana’s development. I will do so with special reference to the role of Pentecostalism which the Holy Spirit chose Apostle Anim to initiate in the country. CHRISTIANITY, CHRISTIANS, AND THE CHURCH Let me upfront clarify some definitional and semantic issues so that we will all be on the same wave-length: By Christianity I am talking about the religion founded on Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord by the work of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles believed that Yahweh, the God of Israel revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that God the Son, Jesus Christ, came to die on Calvary, shed his blood for the remission of sins and that through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ one is saved and becomes a child of God. The Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father and the Son to effect the salvation work of Jesus Christ, to establish the body of Christ, the Church, and to empower believers for righteous living, propagation of the gospel and disciple making. God the Holy Spirit uniquely baptised the believers on the day of Pentecost.  The core of Christianity is captured in the Apostle’s Creed (and its expanded version the Nicene Creed). That is why many Christian denominations regularly recite the Nicene Creed at worship preceding:  “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into Hell, the third day He rose again from the dead He ascended into Heaven and sitteh at the right hand of God, the Father almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting”. Amen In a nutshell, belief in the Trinity, the Incarnation, Death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit anchored on the Bible as the inerrant, inspired word of God in all matters of faith and practice are the hallmarks of Christianity. To be a true Christian one not only has to have had knowledge of this important doctrinal basis of our faith, but has to have personally repented of one’s sins, and trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour for forgiveness, cleansing and reconciliation with God on the basis of the redemption of Jesus through his blood. Those who thus receive Christ become part of the body of Christ, the Church (with big ‘C’) irrespective of their denominational affiliation. Those who believe or receive Jesus Christ, are made new creatures or born again into God’s family and have eternal life (John 1:12; 3:3-8,16; Rom 3:23-26; 10:9-13; 2Cor 5:17). The Bible is explicit that those who do not have Christ have no life and the wrath of God is upon them (John 3: 17-21). Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except by me” (John 14:6). This is the good news: that God saves sinners on the basis of the redemption of Christ and in no other way. And it is incumbent on every believer to pass it on if that believer has heard and experienced “the joyful sound; Jesus saves”. The power to do is a major reason Christ was sent (Acts 1:8) and our motivation is the “love of God shared abroad in our heart” (Romans 5:5). It is the community of born-again believers who have received Jesus Christ into their hearts who constitute what the Bible calls the body of Christ, the Church. These are believers in all denominations, countries and assemblies linked by their common faith in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Thus, part of the Church is believing Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Pentecostals, Baptists and Charismatics to mention a few. When believers lose sight of this fundamental unity of the Church, they