Opinions of Thursday, 10 October 2019

Columnist: Razak Kojo Opoku

Revivalism dying in Ghana; Christian leadership sleeping on their divine assignment

Razak Kojo Opoku, Founder and President of Concerned Voters Movement (CVM) Razak Kojo Opoku, Founder and President of Concerned Voters Movement (CVM)

Revivalism is an increased spiritual interest in the life of Christian Society and expansion of God's Kingdom with a local, national and global effect.

Revivals are aimed at massive soul winning agendas in an effort to increase the Christian Population across Nations of the World.

The religious composition of Ghana in the first post-independence Population Census of 1960 was:

1. 41% of Christians

2. 25% Muslims

3. 23% Traditionalists

4. 9% Others

According to the 2010 Population Census, Christianity is still the largest faith group in Ghana with approximately 71.2% of the total population, Muslims declined from 25% to 17.6%, Traditionalists declined from 23% to 5.2% and others declined from 9% to 0.8%.

This remarkable sharp growth of Christianity from 41% in 1960 to 71.2% in 2010 largely attributed to the Spirit of Revivalism operating in the era of 1970s, the 1980s and 1990s championed by the Pentecost Movement pioneered by Apostle Peter Kwaku Mensah Newman Anim of Christ Apostolic Church International and Reverend James Mckeown of the Pentecost Church and Charismatic Movement pioneered by Reverend Enoch Immanuel Amanor Agbozo of the Ghana Evangelical Society (GES) and Archbishop Nicolas Duncan Williams of the Action Chapel International.

These aforementioned Revivalists contributed immensely to the training and mentorship of several other Revivalists in the 80s and 90s who travelled the length and breadth of Ghana winning souls and establishing Churches.

Through Duncan Williams, Revivalists such as Dag Heward-Mills, Rev. Ampiah Kwofie, Rev. Eastwood Anaba, Rev. Steve Mensah and several others were raised to propagate the spreading of the Gospel across Ghana including Campuses.

Rev. Enoch Immanuel Amanor Agbozo's Ghana Evangelical Society (GES) also did play a yeoman's role in the development and training of Pastor Mensah Otabil, Bishop Charles Agyin Asare, Rev. Eric Kwapong, Rev. David Abbey and several others to help the propagation of the Gospel across Ghana including Campuses.

The late Brother Amoako and Bishop Asare Bediako of Resurrection Power and Living Bread Ministries also played their yeoman's role in raising several Pastors in the spreading of the Gospel.

In the early 90s, several Revivalists were also raised such as Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah of Royal House Chapel, Bishop Nii Tackie Yarboi of Victory Bible Church, Rev. Gordon Kisseih of Family Life Church, Rev.

Victor Osei of Family Chapel and others to contribute to the spreading of the Gospel across Ghana including Campuses.

However, the Catholic Church, Methodist Church, SDA, Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Apostolic Church, Christ Apostolic Church International, Church of Pentecost and other Churches continue to spread the Gospel alongside the Charismatic Movement.

The early aforementioned Revivalists performed creditably well to ensure the fastest spreading of the Gospel and growing of the Church in the 70s, 80s and 90s. They were able to reach out to almost every Soul at that time, filling Sports Stadiums during crusades in the absence of today's Technology, Advertising, Private Media and Social Media Platforms.

But now, there is an enormous presence of Technology, Media, advertising methodologies and Social Media Platforms yet the Spirit of Revivalism is seriously Dying in Ghana. The appetite for God's Word and Christianity is Dying rapidly in Ghana.

Charlatan Pastors with satanic and false doctrines are on the rise and True Revivalists are sleeping on their Divine Assignment to reach out to the perishing souls.

The focus of the majority of Pastors today is useless competition amongst themselves.

Pastors with churches too are harassing, intimidating, misguiding, and misbehaving towards Souls and Congregants.

The 2020 Population Census would determine whether Christianity has increased or decreased in the last 10 years from 2010. And it would be a very big disappointment and embarrassment to the Christian Community if the population of Christians drop from 71.2% downwards after the 2020 Population Census.

The big question now is, as 2020 Population Census approaches, what is the Christian Community especially the Revivalists doing to increase the Christian population from 71.2% upwards to the Glory of Christ Jesus?