Move on

WHEN the year draws to a close, people normally take stock of their lives to assess areas of success and disappointment, hurts and thrills, as well as dreams and realities. For some people, it’s a job they got, a fatal motor accident, graduation from college, a lover who dumped them, promotion in the office, etc.

I believe that no matter what happened, the essential thing is how we respond to the occurrences of our lives. Until a person dies, there is no final point of arrival. Even that, as a Christian, I know that there is life after death. Irrespective of what our experiences have been, there are two devils we need to exorcise from our lives – sense of complacency and seat of dismay.

SENSE OF COMPLACENCY
WHEN a husband stops sending those romantic text messages to his wife as he used to do when they were courting; when an employee starts going to the office late after the confirmation of their appointment; when a politician begins to talk thrash to the populace simply because he won an election; a student gets an A+ and begins to relax – that is complacency. We all desire to successful but success could be your greatest barrier to living in continuous fulfilment. Many people fold their arms and cross their legs when they achieve a feat but we need to recognise that every level of success is the beginning of a new phase. The bane of success has been the difficulty to go beyond our success. Yes, we must celebrate but we need to move on. Getting a first class at college is wonderful and worth celebrating but the question is, “What am I gonna do with my degree?” “What about a postgraduate qualification?” So you got that juicy contract – hurray! But you need to execute the contract. That girl said yes, very well! But now you need to nurture the relationship.

As we take stock of our lives, we should take note of the good seasons and celebrate but we must not stay there. We must think that there are higher grounds to cover. We must see beyond our current successes and pursue the possibilities of the future. Complacency would only engender stagnation and mediocrity in your life.

SEAT OF DISMAY
EVERY now and then, things go contrary to our expectation. Some of these unexpected situations hit us so hard. If you go through a series of interviews for a job and you don’t get the offer, it could be disheartening. Or you find your man with another lady. What about losing a loved one – Ah! That’s heartbreaking.

Helen Keller (1880-1968) lost her sight and hearing before she turned two. Nevertheless, she managed to learn to communicate. She observed that, “We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.” That is how she interpreted her disabilities. It’s ok to be dismayed, disappointed or disgusted. But note that there is life beyond disappointment. There is life beyond the guy who disappointed you. You can retake the test later. Don’t settle in your defeat. You need to dust off your mind and make a determination to move on. If you failed once, it doesn’t mean you will fail again. Even if you have failed a million times, you must be upbeat that you will not fail forever. Surely there will be light at the end of the tunnel. See beyond your current hurts and press on for a brighter future.

Each time something goes wrong, remember that something can go right next time. As we make a transition into a new year, I urge you to leap into the year with renewed determination. Rekindle your mind and reach for the prospects of the year.



© December 31, 2009 by Terry Mante

MAXIMISED TALENT

If you are hungry and you don’t eat, you will continue to be hungry although there may be food in front of you. Similarly, if you don’t harness your talent, it does not yield any benefit to you. I have observed that the reason people find life miserable or unfulfilling is seated in their inability to make the best use of their talents. A Junior High School pupil asked me, “Terry, do you think it is better to be a doctor or a lawyer?” I gave her my usual answer, “It depends on your natural inclinations – talent.”

The point is that no one can reach significant heights without effectively deploying their talent. In my book, Attitude is Everything! I put forward that the use of your talent “can make you a world best. All over the world, people have made names for themselves in different endeavours of life. Sports people, politicians, musicians, business leaders, entrepreneurs, preachers, painters, engineers, authors, teachers, entertainers, lawyers, sculptors, medics… have excelled and gained fulfilment by unleashing their talents.”

If you want to be truly satisfied and fulfilled in life, my principal suggestion is that you get yourself engaged in something that offers you the opportunity to make use of your talents. Using your talent allows you to express your uniqueness to the full. For me, that is the highest level of freedom and fulfilment; when you can demonstrate your uniqueness.
You must not keep your talent in cold storage. Step out with confidence and deploy your talent!


Terry Mante
© 2009. Accra, Ghana

LEADERS READ, READERS LEAD

Africa doesn't need strongmen...

On Saturday July 11, 2009 US President Barack Obama delivered a witty and remarkably inspiring address in Ghana's parliament. His statement challenged African leaders to lead with integrity and commitment to good governance as well as opportunity-creation for all. President Obama also called on the young people of Africa to be responsible for their own lives and the future they desire. Here is the full text of Obama's speech:

Good morning. It is an honor for me to be in Accra, and to speak to the representatives of the people of Ghana. I am deeply grateful for the welcome that I've received, as are Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama. Ghana's history is rich, the ties between our two countries are strong, and I am proud that this is my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as President of the United States.

I am speaking to you at the end of a long trip. I began in Russia, for a Summit between two great powers. I traveled to Italy, for a meeting of the world's leading economies. And I have come here, to Ghana, for a simple reason: the 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Accra as well.

This is the simple truth of a time when the boundaries between people are overwhelmed by our connections. Your prosperity can expand America's. Your health and security can contribute to the world's. And the strength of your democracy can help advance human rights for people everywhere.

So I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world — as partners with America on behalf of the future that we want for all our children. That partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility, and that is what I want to speak with you about today.

We must start from the simple premise that Africa's future is up to Africans.

I say this knowing full well the tragic past that has sometimes haunted this part of the world. I have the blood of Africa within me, and my family's own story encompasses both the tragedies and triumphs of the larger African story.

My grandfather was a cook for the British in Kenya, and though he was a respected elder in his village, his employers called him "boy" for much of his life. He was on the periphery of Kenya's liberation struggles, but he was still imprisoned briefly during repressive times. In his life, colonialism wasn't simply the creation of unnatural borders or unfair terms of trade — it was something experienced personally, day after day, year after year.

My father grew up herding goats in a tiny village, an impossible distance away from the American universities where he would come to get an education. He came of age at an extraordinary moment of promise for Africa. The struggles of his own father's generation were giving birth to new nations, beginning right here in Ghana. Africans were educating and asserting themselves in new ways. History was on the move.

But despite the progress that has been made — and there has been considerable progress in parts of Africa — we also know that much of that promise has yet to be fulfilled. Countries like Kenya, which had a per capita economy larger than South Korea's when I was born, have been badly outpaced. Disease and conflict have ravaged parts of the African continent. In many places, the hope of my father's generation gave way to cynicism, even despair.

It is easy to point fingers, and to pin the blame for these problems on others. Yes, a colonial map that made little sense bred conflict, and the West has often approached Africa as a patron, rather than a partner. But the West is not responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants. In my father's life, it was partly tribalism and patronage in an independent Kenya that for a long stretch derailed his career, and we know that this kind of corruption is a daily fact of life for far too many.

Of course, we also know that is not the whole story. Here in Ghana, you show us a face of Africa that is too often overlooked by a world that sees only tragedy or the need for charity. The people of Ghana have worked hard to put democracy on a firmer footing, with peaceful transfers of power even in the wake of closely contested elections. And with improved governance and an emerging civil society, Ghana's economy has shown impressive rates of growth.

This progress may lack the drama of the 20th century's liberation struggles, but make no mistake: it will ultimately be more significant. For just as it is important to emerge from the control of another nation, it is even more important to build one's own.

So I believe that this moment is just as promising for Ghana — and for Africa — as the moment when my father came of age and new nations were being born. This is a new moment of promise. Only this time, we have learned that it will not be giants like Nkrumah and Kenyatta who will determine Africa's future. Instead, it will be you — the men and women in Ghana's Parliament, and the people you represent. Above all, it will be the young people — brimming with talent and energy and hope — who can claim the future that so many in my father's generation never found.

To realize that promise, we must first recognize a fundamental truth that you have given life to in Ghana: development depends upon good governance. That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That is the change that can unlock Africa's potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans.

As for America and the West, our commitment must be measured by more than just the dollars we spend. I have pledged substantial increases in our foreign assistance, which is in Africa's interest and America's. But the true sign of success is not whether we are a source of aid that helps people scrape by — it is whether we are partners in building the capacity for transformational change.

This mutual responsibility must be the foundation of our partnership. And today, I will focus on four areas that are critical to the future of Africa and the entire developing world: democracy; opportunity; health; and the peaceful resolution of conflict.

First, we must support strong and sustainable democratic governments.

As I said in Cairo, each nation gives life to democracy in its own way, and in line with its own traditions. But history offers a clear verdict: governments that respect the will of their own people are more prosperous, more stable and more successful than governments that do not.

This is about more than holding elections — it's also about what happens between them. Repression takes many forms, and too many nations are plagued by problems that condemn their people to poverty. No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or police can be bought off by drug traffickers. No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top, or the head of the port authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end.

In the 21st century, capable, reliable and transparent institutions are the key to success — strong parliaments and honest police forces; independent judges and journalists; a vibrant private sector and civil society. Those are the things that give life to democracy, because that is what matters in peoples' lives.

Time and again, Ghanaians have chosen Constitutional rule over autocracy, and shown a democratic spirit that allows the energy of your people to break through. We see that in leaders who accept defeat graciously, and victors who resist calls to wield power against the opposition. We see that spirit in courageous journalists like Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who risked his life to report the truth. We see it in police like Patience Quaye, who helped prosecute the first human trafficker in Ghana. We see it in the young people who are speaking up against patronage and participating in the political process.

Across Africa, we have seen countless examples of people taking control of their destiny and making change from the bottom up. We saw it in Kenya, where civil society and business came together to help stop postelection violence. We saw it in South Africa, where over three quarters of the country voted in the recent election — the fourth since the end of apartheid. We saw it in Zimbabwe, where the Election Support Network braved brutal repression to stand up for the principle that a person's vote is their sacred right.

Make no mistake: history is on the side of these brave Africans and not with those who use coups or change Constitutions to stay in power. Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong institutions.

America will not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation — the essential truth of democracy is that each nation determines its own destiny. What we will do is increase assistance for responsible individuals and institutions, with a focus on supporting good governance — on parliaments, which check abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard; on the rule of law, which ensures the equal administration of justice; on civic participation, so that young people get involved; and on concrete solutions to corruption like forensic accounting, automating services, strengthening hot lines and protecting whistle-blowers to advance transparency and accountability.

As we provide this support, I have directed my administration to give greater attention to corruption in our human rights report. People everywhere should have the right to start a business or get an education without paying a bribe. We have a responsibility to support those who act responsibly and to isolate those who don't, and that is exactly what America will do.

This leads directly to our second area of partnership — supporting development that provides opportunity for more people.

With better governance, I have no doubt that Africa holds the promise of a broader base for prosperity. The continent is rich in natural resources. And from cell phone entrepreneurs to small farmers, Africans have shown the capacity and commitment to create their own opportunities. But old habits must also be broken. Dependence on commodities — or on a single export — concentrates wealth in the hands of the few and leaves people too vulnerable to downturns.

In Ghana, for instance, oil brings great opportunities, and you have been responsible in preparing for new revenue. But as so many Ghanaians know, oil cannot simply become the new cocoa. From South Korea to Singapore, history shows that countries thrive when they invest in their people and infrastructure; when they promote multiple export industries, develop a skilled work force and create space for small and medium-sized businesses that create jobs.

As Africans reach for this promise, America will be more responsible in extending our hand. By cutting costs that go to Western consultants and administration, we will put more resources in the hands of those who need it, while training people to do more for themselves. That is why our $3.5 billion food security initiative is focused on new methods and technologies for farmers — not simply sending American producers or goods to Africa. Aid is not an end in itself. The purpose of foreign assistance must be creating the conditions where it is no longer needed.

America can also do more to promote trade and investment. Wealthy nations must open our doors to goods and services from Africa in a meaningful way. And where there is good governance, we can broaden prosperity through public-private partnerships that invest in better roads and electricity; capacity-building that trains people to grow a business; and financial services that reach poor and rural areas. This is also in our own interest — for if people are lifted out of poverty and wealth is created in Africa, new markets will open for our own goods.

One area that holds out both undeniable peril and extraordinary promise is energy. Africa gives off less greenhouse gas than any other part of the world, but it is the most threatened by climate change. A warming planet will spread disease, shrink water resources and deplete crops, creating conditions that produce more famine and conflict. All of us — particularly the developed world — have a responsibility to slow these trends — through mitigation, and by changing the way that we use energy. But we can also work with Africans to turn this crisis into opportunity.

Together, we can partner on behalf of our planet and prosperity and help countries increase access to power while skipping the dirtier phase of development. Across Africa, there is bountiful wind and solar power; geothermal energy and bio-fuels. From the Rift Valley to the North African deserts; from the Western coast to South Africa's crops — Africa's boundless natural gifts can generate its own power, while exporting profitable, clean energy abroad.

These steps are about more than growth numbers on a balance sheet. They're about whether a young person with an education can get a job that supports a family; a farmer can transfer their goods to the market; or an entrepreneur with a good idea can start a business. It's about the dignity of work. Its about the opportunity that must exist for Africans in the 21st century.

Just as governance is vital to opportunity, it is also critical to the third area that I will talk about — strengthening public health.

In recent years, enormous progress has been made in parts of Africa. Far more people are living productively with HIV/AIDS, and getting the drugs they need. But too many still die from diseases that shouldn't kill them. When children are being killed because of a mosquito bite, and mothers are dying in childbirth, then we know that more progress must be made.

Yet because of incentives — often provided by donor nations — many African doctors and nurses understandably go overseas, or work for programs that focus on a single disease. This creates gaps in primary care and basic prevention. Meanwhile, individual Africans also have to make responsible choices that prevent the spread of disease, while promoting public health in their communities and countries.

Across Africa, we see examples of people tackling these problems. In Nigeria, an interfaith effort of Christians and Muslims has set an example of cooperation to confront malaria. Here in Ghana and across Africa, we see innovative ideas for filling gaps in care — for instance, through E-Health initiatives that allow doctors in big cities to support those in small towns.

America will support these efforts through a comprehensive, global health strategy. Because in the 21st century, we are called to act by our conscience and our common interest. When a child dies of a preventable illness in Accra, that diminishes us everywhere. And when disease goes unchecked in any corner of the world, we know that it can spread across oceans and continents.

That is why my administration has committed $63 billion to meet these challenges. Building on the strong efforts of President Bush, we will carry forward the fight against HIV/AIDS. We will pursue the goal of ending deaths from malaria and tuberculosis, and eradicating polio. We will fight neglected tropical disease. And we won't confront illnesses in isolation — we will invest in public health systems that promote wellness and focus on the health of mothers and children.

As we partner on behalf of a healthier future, we must also stop the destruction that comes not from illness, but from human beings — and so the final area that I will address is conflict.

Now let me be clear: Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at war. But for far too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun. There are wars over land and wars over resources. And it is still far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole communities into fighting among faiths and tribes.

These conflicts are a millstone around Africa's neck. We all have many identities — of tribe and ethnicity; of religion and nationality. But defining oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different tribe, or who worships a different prophet, has no place in the 21st century. Africa's diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division. We are all God's children. We all share common aspirations — to live in peace and security; to access education and opportunity; to love our families, our communities, and our faith. That is our common humanity.

That is why we must stand up to inhumanity in our midst. It is never justifiable to target innocents in the name of ideology. It is the death sentence of a society to force children to kill in wars. It is the ultimate mark of criminality and cowardice to condemn women to relentless and systematic rape. We must bear witness to the value of every child in Darfur and the dignity of every woman in Congo. No faith or culture should condone the outrages against them. All of us must strive for the peace and security necessary for progress.

Africans are standing up for this future. Here, too, Ghana is helping to point the way forward. Ghanaians should take pride in your contributions to peacekeeping from Congo to Liberia to Lebanon, and in your efforts to resist the scourge of the drug trade. We welcome the steps that are being taken by organizations like the African Union and ECOWAS to better resolve conflicts, keep the peace, and support those in need. And we encourage the vision of a strong, regional security architecture that can bring effective, transnational force to bear when needed.

America has a responsibility to advance this vision, not just with words, but with support that strengthens African capacity. When there is genocide in Darfur or terrorists in Somalia, these are not simply African problems — they are global security challenges, and they demand a global response. That is why we stand ready to partner through diplomacy, technical assistance, and logistical support, and will stand behind efforts to hold war criminals accountable. And let me be clear: our Africa Command is focused not on establishing a foothold in the continent, but on confronting these common challenges to advance the security of America, Africa and the world.

In Moscow, I spoke of the need for an international system where the universal rights of human beings are respected, and violations of those rights are opposed. That must include a commitment to support those who resolve conflicts peacefully, to sanction and stop those who don't, and to help those who have suffered. But ultimately, it will be vibrant democracies like Botswana and Ghana which roll back the causes of conflict, and advance the frontiers of peace and prosperity.

As I said earlier, Africa's future is up to Africans.

The people of Africa are ready to claim that future. In my country, African-Americans — including so many recent immigrants — have thrived in every sector of society. We have done so despite a difficult past, and we have drawn strength from our African heritage. With strong institutions and a strong will, I know that Africans can live their dreams in Nairobi and Lagos; in Kigali and Kinshasa; in Harare and right here in Accra.

Fifty-two years ago, the eyes of the world were on Ghana. And a young preacher named Martin Luther King traveled here, to Accra, to watch the Union Jack come down and the Ghanaian flag go up. This was before the march on Washington or the success of the civil rights movement in my country. Dr. King was asked how he felt while watching the birth of a nation. And he said: "It renews my conviction in the ultimate triumph of justice."

Now, that triumph must be won once more, and it must be won by you. And I am particularly speaking to the young people. In places like Ghana, you make up over half of the population. Here is what you must know: the world will be what you make of it.

You have the power to hold your leaders accountable and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can conquer disease, end conflicts and make change from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes you can. Because in this moment, history is on the move.

But these things can only be done if you take responsibility for your future. It won't be easy. It will take time and effort. There will be suffering and setbacks. But I can promise you this: America will be with you. As a partner. As a friend. Opportunity won't come from any other place, though — it must come from the decisions that you make, the things that you do, and the hope that you hold in your hearts.

Freedom is your inheritance. Now, it is your responsibility to build upon freedom's foundation. And if you do, we will look back years from now to places like Accra and say that this was the time when the promise was realized — this was the moment when prosperity was forged; pain was overcome; and a new era of progress began. This can be the time when we witness the triumph of justice once more. Thank you.

LITTLE BIRD

For such is the way life goes. Dream about your flight so high,
Lift a foot and flap your wings Hurdles here and hurdles there High and higher still lies your way.
You fail today,
You try again tomorrow
For cowards are not those who fail
But those who fail to try.
And there lies the day When you shall say Determination overlooks struggles. Someday in the nearest future You’ll realize that dreams come true. So keep dreaming little bird, Keep dreaming.

POEM WRITTEN BY BOLAJI BUREMOH ( Ashesi class of 2010)

Give up to go up!

IN MY interaction with people, I haven’t met a single individual who says, “As for me, I intend to retrogress.” Every university student I've dealt with is desirous of a terrific result at the end of their examination. Every businessperson aims for positive returns on their investments. Parents want their children to end well. I want to progress in my life and I suppose you too. If you are asked, I presume you would say, “I want to be successful.” That’s a good desire to have but the essential question each of us must answer is this: “How can we progress to a higher pedestal of life?”

I believe that to be able to move forward and higher in life, we must cast away all the things that hinder us. There are habits and character traits that impede our progress in life. There are friends whose company and advice are inimical to our ambition to succeed. There are TV programmes that are not good for us. It is not every book that adds value to our lives. So to go up, we must give up.

GIVE UP YOUR LIFE

It is said that anyone who is not ready to die for anything has nothing to live for. Jesus Christ said that “whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life...will find it.” If you surrender yourself to your dreams, you will be willing to pay the price for it. Surrendering yourself indicates a determination to stretch yourself to get what you want. It shows the sacrifices one is prepared to make in exchange for their aspirations. Nelson Mandela is an idol today because of his utmost dedication to his vision. He wanted to see his country liberated and in pursuing that vision, Mandela surrendered his life. He gave up his own freedom to achieve his country’s freedom. Today, Mr Mandela is arguably the world’s most revered personality. Your success depends on how much of your life you are willing to give.

GIVE UP YOUR FRIENDS

Good company enhances great values. Who is your best friend? Why is that person your best friend? My belief is that friends must be people who help us to get closer to our dreams. Anybody whose association with me does not enhance my capacity to achieve my dreams is not a friend. They may be good people but definitely not friends. It is not everybody you know who can accompany you to where you want to go. They may be nice people to hang out with but can’t travel with you. Such people will only keep you at one place – if they don’t draw you backwards. The logical thing to do is to distance yourself from people like that.

The road to your destiny is narrow and only few people can go with you. You don’t necessarily need every smiling person in your life to go with you. Just make up your mind to go and those who can will follow you. If nobody can go with you, then you have to make a choice to either remain down with them or give them up and go up.

GIVE UP YOUR TREASURE

Your dream will cost you something valuable. Any goal that has no price is cheap and is not worth pursuing. Going up is expensive. It may involve using your hard-earned dough to purchase priceless books, attend courses, or change your wardrobe. You may have to learn a new language. Your treasure could be your money, time or possessions. What you give inspires what you receive. What you walk away from determines what you walk into. What you sow is what you reap. If you want to attain an enviable position in life, give something enviable. When it rains it is those who have planted good seed who receive good harvest.

ICGC: Renewing Perspectives

“You don’t come to church to clap your hands and jump around. You come to church to be educated and inspired.” Those words spoken by the pastor of Christ Temple, the flagship cosmopolitan assembly of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) in Accra, Ghana made an indelible imprint on my mind. Every week Pastor Mensa Otabil stands behind his pulpit and speaks what I would describe as words of insight and inspiration. He eloquently uses biblical concepts to propose practical solutions to the perplexing challenges of mankind, especially those in Africa and other third world settings. For me, it is this aspect of the ministry that fascinates me significantly.

At ICGC Christ Temple, emphasis is placed on personal responsibility. I consider the message of personal responsibility so crucial in the African context; a place where we easily blame former slave masters, colonialists, and witches for our national and personal woes. Instead of carving for ourselves initiatives that will lift us out of the doldrums of poverty, diseases and illiteracy, we mostly prefer to look through the window and expect that some people in Europe and America would use their taxpayers’ money to rescue us. Those of us who are religious will spend countless hours praying and believing that things will work out. At ICGC, I’ve learnt that God has given me wisdom, talents and power to manage my life productively. I’ve understood that what happens to me is not as important as how I respond to what happens to me. Instead of looking through the window and pointing fingers at external forces, I must look at the mirror and use my power of imagination to adopt a creative response to situations that I face in life.

Additionally, I have come to appreciate that life is a purposeful existence and that every human being has a contribution to make to the world. We have all been endowed by God to fulfil a mandate on earth. To have a meaningful experience of life, one must come to terms with what their God-given assignment in life is and strive to fulfil it. Through the message of ICGC, I have discovered my purpose in life. In this regard I have been able to get a leadership development organization running. I have also published two books and I am presently working on three others for publication in 2010. Today, I am able to function as a personal development consultant, media columnist and motivational speaker – thanks to the ministry of ICGC.

I am also particularly impressed with the church’s commitment to excellence. As a deliberate policy the church’s affairs are marked with excellence, precision and professionalism. Church services and conferences are organised with finesse, musical groups sing with utmost professionalism while the protocol services are top notch. Lessons gleaned from this aspect of the church have enhanced my expertise as a conference architect and author.

Since inception, the 25-year old church has been active in the social fabric of Ghana. Strategic social intervention programmes pursued by the church especially in the area of education have been quite relevant. The Central Aid Educational scholarship scheme has over the years offered assistance to several needy students to pursue their education in various second cycle institutions. My fascination here stems from the fact that these scholarships are offered to people from or walks of life regardless of religious or ethnic background. Again, the Central University College – another initiative of the church – is gradually emerging as the leading private university in Ghana. The clean water project unveiled by the church in 2009 has also gone a long way to provide potable water to some deprived settings in the Ga West Municipality. As a tithe-paying member of the church, I am satisfied that my financial contributions to the church are being put to good use. Aside that, I feel terrific that I’m part of an organisation that is adding value to people’s lives and augmenting government’s efforts at making lives better for Ghanaians.

Finally, I would like to make mention of the inspiring leadership of Pastor Mensa Otabil. Since inception, Otabil has offered insightful and exemplary leadership to move the church from one level of growth to the next. Beginning in a small classroom in Kanda, a suburb of Accra, International Central Gospel Church has evolved to become a multi-faceted network of over 100 churches and ministries spread across several parts of the world. The story of ICGC is a story of good leadership and purposeful commitment. It’s an inspiring story of what every person can achieve if we set our minds on a definite objective. Whenever I step foot on the premises of Christ Temple, I get encouraged to persistently pursue my aspirations irrespective of the challenges I face.

I consider ICGC an inspiring place to be. It’s a place where life is discovered and I have no regrets being part of this remarkable church.

A STORY THAT CHANGED THE ENTIRE WORLD

THE ANTECEDENT OF EASTER 

According to the Bible, God created the world and everything that constitutes it. He crowned His creation with human beings at the commanding heights. Our role was to partner with God to rule His kingdom. God wanted us to superintend the physical realm on His behalf. He gave us sufficient authority to dominate the earth as well as maintain and harness all the elements and resources of the earth. Somewhere along the line, we lost our guard and ceded our authority to another force. It then became necessary for God to repossess what man had relinquished. He sent His Son Jesus to carry out that mission.

 

THE MISSION OF EASTER

Jesus came to reclaim and repossess what man had given away. His intention was to restore us to our dignified position in life. Jesus’ operation on earth was to give us dominion over demonic forces and all the storms of life. The birth of Jesus was an announcement of a new dawn in human existence. His death symbolised the end of our bondage to elements of darkness. It marked the end of ignorance and insecurity in the mind and heart of man. It does not end there. Three days after His death, Jesus returned from the dead. He vanquished death; having done that He set the stage for our restoration. All the conditions necessary to put us back to our privileged position had been met.

 

THE OCCASION OF EASTER

Every year, when we celebrate Easter, we try to accentuate the mission of Jesus. We remember what Jesus did to restore our dignity. While we may want to go to the beach, play some games or participate in various church activities during Easter, we should not lose consciousness over its real essence. This year, as we celebrate the occasion, it must not just be a holiday; we should determine to make it a holy day. We must realise that the significance of Easter is to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus. We have to be aware of how His death and resurrection influence our destiny.

 

THE PEOPLE OF EASTER

Somehow, Easter has come to be seen as a festival for Christians. Well, my own view is that Easter is a festival for humanity. At the time Jesus died, there was no Christianity. Christianity evolved only after Jesus had resurrected and ascended to heaven. Christianity as a religion is a creation of man. Easter is for every person who desires to have a meaningful existence. It is for people who are seeking to live a dignified life. Anybody who accepts what Jesus did qualifies to be part of Easter. If you acknowledge that the death and resurrection of Jesus was to give you a meaningful and dignified life, then you are the person of Easter; you have cause to celebrate and give thanks to God.

 

EVERYDAY IS EASTER

What Jesus did for us has daily significance. It is not exclusively useful to us during Easter. It benefits us every time; even when we are dead. It stands to reason that each day of our lives we acknowledge what He did for us. We must always walk in the consciousness that we have been redeemed by God through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Easter is not just an occasion, it’s a daily celebration.