Charismatic faithful keep "watch over" the nation

Accra, July 22, GNA - The usual Friday night spree of Accra has taken a dramatic twist with zealous Charismatic faithful invading the capital with intensive all-night prayer session across the length and breadth of the capital.

A visit to some Charismatic Churches by the Ghana News Agency on Friday night and early hours of Saturday, revealed that the faithful were busily engaged in charismatic prayer - speaking in tongues, prophetic ministration, healing and teaching, which were occasionally interlaced with praises and worship songs.

The Church, with a sense of military combat precision, GNA observed had divided its artillery for a three-way warfare; the first group of faithful starts from 18:00 hours to about 21:00 hour's; the second keep vigil from 22:00 hours to dawn, and the third group operated through the radio airwaves from dawn till late morning.

According to the organisers, the watch night (vigil) services were mainly to engage in spiritual warfare, offer Christians the opportunity to have divinely inspired power encounter with God, share fellowship, seek spiritual and physical direction and intercession for the nation. Churches visited included; Global Revival Ministries International at Accra High Street; Harvest Chapel International at North Tesano; The Lighthouse Chapel International at Korle Bu; Power Voice Ministry International near the Victory Bible Church at Aworshie; the Cross Over Chapel International at Kweshieman; and Royal House Chapel International at Awudome.

At some of the Churches, GNA observed men receiving instant healing, while people with intractable health problems received solutions to their problems, which defied scientific ways of healing. Most of the leadership of the all-night sessions told the GNA that; "we are spiritual warriors and as such need to engage in warfare on behalf of the nation, our families, communities and focus on other social problems including broken homes."

"We pray against bribery and corruption and other social vices as well as offer thanksgiving to God for the peace he continues to shower on this nation, Ghana," Mr Charles Ofori, Assistant Protocol Officer at the Global Revival Ministry, stated.

He said the all-night under the powerful direction of Prophet Nana Osei Sarkodie attracted faithful not only from Accra, but neighbouring countries as well.

This demonstrated the Christian concept of unity in diversity, being preached by the Churches with people sharing testimonies of encountering God's spiritual blessing.

Prophet Samuel Yartey of the Power Voice Ministry said the proliferation of Churches should not divide Christians but rather strengthen them to win more souls to the side of God. Elder Samuel Kenney-Hastens of the Cross Over Chapel emphasised on the essence of all-night and noted that demonic forces operated mostly in the night "that is the ideal time to deal with such powers of darkness effectively."

He said over the past five weeks the Church had organised continuous all-night sessions under the banner of "Breaking the Barriers," with particular focus on removing national hindrances, family barriers and other spiritual brocade.

Elder Kenney-Hastens, however advised religious leaders against organising Churches as business entities but as it's an institution for instilling in their membership discipline, good morals and the promotion of positive transformation in the society.

He expressed concern about practices of some religious leaders and elders, who engaged in activities that cast a slur on Christianity and created the wrong impression that Churches had now become avenues for amassing wealth.

Quite significantly there were no activity at all the orthodox churches GNA visited.

As Accra and the rest of the nation slept after the challenges of the week and others engaged in diabolic nocturnal activities, the faithful and zealous charismatic Christians watched and earnestly prayed.