Features
Who knows tomorrow?
One of the mysteries of life is what tomorrow may bring. It is something that I believe everybody would love to know, if he had the ability whether through a technological process, a spiritual process or whatever.
Certainty is something that everybody longs for because it makes life so much easier and deletes anxiety from our lives like how a wrong word is deleted from a letter being written on a computer.
In my opinion, not knowing what tomorrow may bring, allows us to realise that we are not in charge of our circumstances, which therefore pushes us to seek God. It humbles us to respect each other because the person you despise today could be your boss tomorrow or someone whose assistance you will need in future.
The world indeed is a funny place and is much more intriguing when it comes to issues like death. No one knows what will happen tomorrow. The person you meet today, looking hearty, healthy and all that, could die the next day and when you hear of it, it becomes a shocking news.
I would like to share a true story I heard and also a personal experience to buttress this point. A host of a very popular radio station, talked about the sudden death of a lady friend. This friend had texted a message to him at about 7:30 am and he had laughed about the message.
Later in the day, at about 2:00 pm in the afternoon to be specific, he was informed that the lady had passed. Such is life and the world we find ourselves. I lost my wife in the latter part of last year.
I was informed that I need to establish cordial relations with the morgue attendants so the corpse will be taken care of properly. I followed the advice and so became friendly with one of the leading mortuary attendants. A couple of months after the funeral of my wife, the morgue attendant had also become ‘funeral’ as boys-boys will say. In other words, he was dead.
I am not sure, in fact I do not believe for a moment that if a prophet had come to prophesy to him that in about three months, he will also be a corpse like my late wife, he would have believed.
Soon after my wife’s passing, I decided to inform certain close friends of mine. One was a Pastor and as I was chatting with another friend I mentioned that I was going to also inform the Pastor friend and to my utter shock, she informed me that the Pastor was no more and that his one week celebration was scheduled for that week. Indeed no one knows tomorrow.
Enough of death and dead people. Let us look at the living a bit. A man framed a cousin of mine years ago in Takoradi and he was wrongly arrested. What made the issue worse, was the connivance of the police CID officer with the timber business man who had wrongly and wickedly accused my cousin and would not allow bail for my cousin.
My cousin was in handcuffs as he arrived in court on the day of prosecution. The case was called and by divine intervention it became obvious to the judge that my cousin was wrongfully charged and the case against him was therefore dismissed.
The judge harshly rebuked the police officer who was the prosecutor and said in open court that my brother can take action against him. My brother was at home when the prosecutor came, in the company of an opinion leader in the city, to beg my cousin for forgiveness.
He was weeping while begging my cousin not to take legal action against him because he was just about to go on retirement. The tables can easily turn so the question of who knows tomorrow must always guide us.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Features
The Prophet part 2
“I can see in the spirit, that some of you have been trading for years without seeing any meaningful profits, some young women have been disappointed by men who have either abandoned them and left for foreign lands and forgotten about them, or stopped sending money for the upkeep of their wives and children.
I can see young men who are desperate for visas to travel abroad but have either been duped by visa contractors or refused at the embassies. From tomorrow, I assure you, the visas will be given.
Young women, I have news for you. You will receive telephone calls, and you will hear very good news. Handsome young men with money in their pockets will come and marry you, and take care of you. Traders, you will get big business and big profits from today. From today, you will see that I am a true prophet who has come to deliver you.”
Shouts of “Amen,” “thank you Prophet” and “I receive it” greeted his sermon. After a final prayer, he asked the congregation to come early the following day, and bring others, because there would be many testimonies.
There would also be “special anointing” for great miracles. Although he did not ask for an offering, most of the people came and dropped notes, and coins at the “pulpit.” When they left, Antobam counted the money.
“GH¢900!” he almost shouted, ‘and I did not even ask for an offering. This is fantabulous!’ Going to the Nana Kofi Broni shrine, he told himself, was a very wise move.
He started making plans……He had to choose a few assistants who would carry out his orders……. He had to hire some chairs as soon as possible……He had to find a suitable piece of land and, if possible, build his own church……. He had to start looking for a nice car, befitting the status of a popular preacher …… And, most importantly, he had to select two, three or four nice, young women to take care of his needs, apart from the servants who would cook, wash, iron and do other errands for him.
Abruptly, he told himself, this hungry, scruffy Kukurantumi boy was being transformed into a man of power and money, with some of the most beautiful women in town at his beck and call. Wow!
After a shower and supper, he shut the door to the very small room that served as his bedroom and dropped on the bed. Almost immediately, the shrill sounds, like whispers, began.
This time he did not express any fears. He realised to his great surprise that even though the sounds were not in the form of any language, he could understand them.
Tomorrow there will be testimonies……they will give money……. some rich people are being prepared …….they will bring big money ………. we will give them what they want, and they will bring money ……. big money …….big, big money……the women will also come, a number of them. ‘
He went to sleep smiling and whispering to himself, ‘big, big money, and women!’
He woke up at 5 and took a shower. After a breakfast of tea and several slices of bread he set off. On reaching the venue he saw to his great surprise that the place was full.
Very full, and quite a number of people rushed to embrace him and give him the wonderful news. The excited people narrated the testimonies about big sales, telephone calls from relatives directing them to go to Western Union, and impotent husbands who had miraculously rediscovered their magic powers.
He was truly glad that Nana Kofi Broni’s magic had already started working, but most of his attention was focused on the ladies in the congregation. He noticed to his great delight that some of them were really nice. I must start making my selection, he told himself. Today!
“Give a mighty clap offering to the great, mighty one for his wonders among us!” he started, and the response was very big.
“I said yesterday that you were going to see signs and wonders, and I am very happy that my word has been fulfilled. Even though we have taken allowed one hour for testimonies, many more of you would like to testify.
Tomorrow, I promise you that there will be ample time. I will only preach a short sermon. The rest of the time will be taken up by consultations, after which I will give directions on what to do to ensure that you defeat your enemies, secure your marriage and, most importantly, continue increasing your profits in your business.” His sermon was interspersed with ecstatic shouts of “Amen,” “it is true,” “God bless you” and “I receive it.”
His final word was emphatic; “Big miracles are coming your way. Keep attending church, and don’t forget to give thanks to God.”
By Ekow de Heer
Features
Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship launches project to transform young lives
The Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) Ghana has launched the Senior High Schools and Colleges Project (SCP) aimed at empowering and transforming the lives of young people.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Mike Ocquaye, the former Speaker of Parliament, emphasised the need to catch them young and train them as the current times were challenging.
He lauded the project, calling on all to support it, saying “In fact, it’s very important to catch them young, train them, lead them, guide them, and mentor them because the times are indeed rough,” Prof. Ocquaye said.
Mr Ekow Egyir Dadson, the Director, Schools and Colleges Directorate, stated that since its inception in 2018, the SCP had reached over 70 educational institutions with countless testimonies of transformation.
“We began with the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) Legon, and now in 2024, we have visited 74 schools and impacted the lives of over 100,000 students, some of whom were personally mentored and now have graduated from the universities.”
He explained that the SCP, a vision by FGBMFI Ghana, was a bold outreach programme designed to call young people to Christ, train and equip them for the future.
He cited testimony-sharing, mentorship, career guidance, entrepreneurship and counseling as some of the unique approaches to be used in reaching out to the targeted students.
Mr Emmanuel Baba Mahama, the National President of the FGBMFI Ghana, launched the SCP Manual, which would help the FGBMFI Zonal Family Chapters across Ghana in order to adopt schools and colleges within their catchment areas.
The Schools and Colleges project is making a great impact; we have had first-hand testimonies from school heads, teachers, and students (mentees) about the SCP. This project has come to stay, Mr Baba Mahama assured.
He, therefore, called for more volunteers and partners to help the SCP shape the next generation of leaders and citizens.
Findings by the FGBMFI revealed that Ghana’s senior high schools, colleges, and university students face growing challenges like addictions, indiscipline, poor academic performance, pornography, homosexuality, broken homes, and a lack of godly guidance.
That had been a concern to many parents and society, “but the FGBMFI believes there is hope to rescue and restore these young students,” Mr Mahama said. –GNA
