The Area Head of the Teshie –Nungua Area Church of Pentecost, Prophet James Osei Amaniampong has called on church leaders to consciously mentor the youth for the sustenance of the church in the next generation and after.
He said it is the vision of the church leadership to equip the next generation with the leadership skills required for their generation by igniting the Pentecostal fire.
Prophet Amaniampong said this when he addressed an All Officers Retreat of the Teshie-Nungua Area of The Church of Pentecost International at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) at Goma Fetteh in the Central Region.
The four -day event which opened last Wednesday was attended by area executives, Elders, Deacons’ bible studies teachers, and Deaconesses, ministry executives’ representatives from the Head office and other areas of the Church.
Prophet Amaniampong said mentoring has been identified as the predictor of a successful career, for behind every great leader is a great mentor. “Mentors serve as agents and catalyst of growth process helping others to reach their God intended maturity,” Prophet Amaniampong said.
“The future of our great church lies in the hands of our youth and we cannot dream of a vibrant church if we do not mentor them, if we do not impart what was given to us by our forefathers to them.”
Prophet Amaniampong urged church leaders to make conscious efforts to unearth the talents and skills in the young people in the various assemblies and assign them responsibilities geared towards grooming them for future leadership roles in the church.
“The Successful mentoring of Joshua by Moses led to the successful handing over of leadership of the Jewish nation to Joshua,” adding, “effective mentoring therefore does not leave generational gaps in leadership succession.
Speaking on the topic “Mentoring today’s generation through exemplary leadership,” Pastor David Nyansa-Hayfron, Youth Director of the Church gave an account of various generations and dispensations in the world system and how Christians embraced it. He said there is the need to mentor today’s youth in the church for tomorrow’s generation. He said mentees should exhibit good character, competence and care for others.
“No matter how difficult the youth in our dispensation are, with the power of the holy spirit we can mentor them to become effective leaders in the church for the next generation,” the Youth Director said adding, “ Mentees need not dress, speak or act like their mentors, what we are looking for is the spiritual gifts and the good thing in the mentor, not the way they preach or walk.”
The International Missions Director of the Church, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo who represented the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyina urged Christians not to lose hope in Christ even when their prayers appear not to have been answered. He said God hears the prayers of all Christians though the responses are varied. He said sometimes God either gives a different response, or a direct response while other times he delays the response or denies the response all to His glory.
He said Christians should know that in God’s own time he will see to all the needs of their hearts.