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)



Countdown: 10, 9, 8, 7...

Sunday I worshipped at a church that I refer to as my "second" home church. It was communion Sunday. The pastor spoke about the ordinary wheat and grapes that together make up this holy moment for us as Christians. What he talked about was what happens to the wheat, what happens to the grapes to prepare them for use as the bread and juice used as the communion elements. The wheat is pulled, chaffed, ground, sifts as it is made into flour. he grapes are picked, crushed, separated from the skin, they go through a process as they are made into grape juice. And, even during the communion service, the bread is broken. Christ did the same for us.

As I sat in the congregation and listened, I reflected on my life. The struggles, the heart aches, the abandonment, the rejection. The times when I never thought I would never be able to handle another day. Yet, God took those moments that seemed to crush me, that seemed to put me in despair, that seemed to be victorious in my life and He used them, He redeemed them, using them to glorify His name. That Is why I am moving to Ghana. Not because I am someone special or extraordinary, but because I have been broken and then redeemed. May I live up to the task that He has set before me!