The immediate-past Chairman of The Church of Pentecost and former President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, has called on chiefs and queens to use their revered positions to cause positive change in their communities.
He indicated that although royalty comes with glory, God sees the chieftaincy institution as leadership and that chiefs should ensure that their subjects live in peace and prosperity.
Apostle Prof Opoku Onyinah said this on Thursday, June 2, 2022, when addressing the 3rd Royals Conference of The Church of Pentecost under the auspices of the Chieftaincy Ministry and the Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM).
Speaking on the topic, “Effecting Certain Cultural Changes as a Christian Royal” based on Acts 10:9-15; 15:1-7, he said that within every culture, there are some good and beautiful things about it and vice-versa, hence the need to ensure that those dehumanizing and satanic practices are changed for the good of the people.
He touched on certain cruel traditions such as burying dead kings and royals with human heads which, he said, should be stopped.
“As a Christian royal, when you observe some of these negative and evil practices, you should allow the Holy Spirit to help you to change them. When you do this, your reign will thrive. However, it is not easy to effect some of these changes because certain cultural practices are entrenched,” he said.
He recalled an incident in the Book of Acts chapters 10 and 15 where God revealed a vision to Apostle Peter and instructed him to kill and eat some animals, but Peter declined claiming that they were uncleaned. He said God wanted Peter to reach out to the Gentiles so that they too could be saved. He said God wanted Peter to understand that the Gentiles have also been chosen by Him.
About the argument and confusion that erupted between Apostle Paul and the other disciples due to circumcision, the former Chairman admitted that certain beliefs held by people are sometimes very difficult to break and stop.
“It is difficult to change certain cultural practices, but as a Christian royal, you must allow the Holy Spirit to help you to change them. You will face resistance but you must persevere,” he pointed out.
He added: “As a royal, you must know that God has elevated you to this position to transform your communities.”
Apostle Prof Opoku Onyinah listed some principles that will help chiefs to cause transformational changes in their jurisdictions to propel the growth and development of their communities.
He asked them to pray to God to give them insight and understanding about the negative cultural practices they want to effect; find out the background of that cultural practice; examine it; take a firm decision to change it; provide an alternative; prepare for resistance; dialogue with elders and opinion leaders and communicate the change to the people so that everyone will come on board to ensure a smooth implementation of the changes that they want to effect.
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