2017 - a Year of Hope

2016 is history. 2017 is full of possibilities. It is right before me. What are my hopes? What dreams do I have? What goals have I set? What choices will I make? All of this remains to be seen. The one thing I am sure of is my commitment to be available to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today I pray the words of John Wesley:

I am no longer my own, but thine.Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.Put me to doing, put me to suffering.Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,exalted for thee or brought low for thee.Let me be full, let me be empty.Let me have all things, let me have nothing.I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,thou art mine, and I am thine.So be it.And the covenant which I have made on earth,let it be ratified in heaven.Amen.

Amazing Grace

 

This morning at Bethel Cathedral in Tamale, we celebrated the induction of the Very Reverend Matthew Zikpi as the Synod Secretary for the Northern Diocese of The Methodist Church Ghana. The Lord has indeed worked miracles in the life of this man of God. Here is an excerpt from his biography:

 

The Very Reverend Matthew Zikpi was born on Saturday 22 March 1958...he was one of the eighteen children of his father who were baptised on 22 October 1961. When Matthew left Offadaa to Assin Atwereboanda in 1971, he totally abandoned the Christian faith and returned to heathenism since that was what he was born into.

 

At "Seyɛna", where he spent most of his years in early life, he grew up to be one of the traditional priests of the "Alafia" Shrine. He rose to the rank of "Kpedziga", a position where he could be described as a high Fetish priest. It is a fact that Matthew could hardly be challenged by anyone in the drinking of alcoholic liquor. He was an experienced tapper of palm wine and "Odoka" as well as a distiller of local gin (akpeteshie).

 

Matthew gave his life to Christ on the 22nd day of January, 1984, after reading a passage from the Holy Bible, (Acts 2:17-21) as he felt the message there could bring God's judgement on humanity including himself.

 

Matthew became active in the local church, attending worship and other activities.In 2001, he graduated with Diploma in Ministries and Diploma in Theology from the Trinity Theological Seminary and University of Ghana, Legon, respectively, both with distinction. In 2010, he was awarded his Masters Degree in Religions from the University of Ghana.

Please read the words that have touched the Very Reverend Matthew Zipki's heart and soul. I pray they will touch yours, too.

 

17 "In the Last Days," God says, "I will pour out my Spirit

 on every kind of people. Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters;

 Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams.

 

 18 When the time comes, I'll pour out my Spirit

 On those who serve me, men and women both, and they'll prophesy.

 

19 I'll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below,

 Blood and fire and billowing smoke,

 

20 the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives,        

the Day tremendous and marvelous;

 

 21 And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved."

Acts 2:17-21 (MSG)