The Takoradi Apostle Area of the New Apostolic Church celebrated a special Easter season with Lead Apostle Samuel Oppong-Brenya celebrating Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday with them. He was accompanied by Apostle Sam and Bishop Ampofo. The three-day celebration is a pivotal event of our salvation.  Our celebration of the holy week began on 7th April, Good Friday, and proceeded through Holy Saturday and then to Easter Sunday.  Three districts namely Sekondi, Antobiase and Takoradi were served by the Lead Apostle during his visit. 

Good Friday
Our Good Friday service began at the Sekondi District with a united service at the Dwomo Congregation. The service was based on the bible text, 2 Corinthians 5: 14-15. The Lead Apostle said: “the love of Christ surpasses the whole of His sufferings, as much as they surpass all our guilt and sin”. “He certainly paid the price for the sins of the whole world. None were excluded from the forgiveness and God’s grace”. Christ knew on the third day he was going to resurrect and was not afraid to die. “This shows us that we should not be afraid during our trying moments because there are certainly better days ahead of us”, said the Apostle.  

Ending the service, the Apostle advised the congregation to let go of their burdens and allow peace and forgiveness prevail during this festive season. He performed Holy Sealing and ordained six priests and two deacons in addition.  The Apostle also attended the Sunday school service prior to the main service.

Holy Saturday
The Lead Apostle next stop was at the Antobiase District. The District had held a three-day Easter convention at the Domama community, as part of their strategy to revive the inactive congregations in the Domama congregation over the past 20 years.

The Lead Apostle served with a text word from John 16:28. Sharing the word, the Apostle said that hardship and persecutions will always come, but believers should remain faithful, knowing this is all part of God’s knowledge and His will. Explaining why Jesus was born in a manger, he pointed that neither His birth place nor burial place belonged to Him nor His family. However, Jesus was given all the power and authority in heaven and on earth; He holds the keys to life and death. Concluding the service, the Lead Apostle encouraged the congregants to be of good nature and live the gospel of Jesus.

After the service the members embark on a vineyard work in the community. The Lead Apostle also inspected a church building in the area.   

Easter Sunday
The three-day Working Area activities culminated in a festive united Easter Service at the Takoradi district in the Kojokrom congregation on the 9th of April 2023.

The text word used for the service was taken from the book of John 14:18-19, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.”

“We must try to carry our own cross because we cannot carry Christ’s cross! Yes, we may have our own challenges but we must know there are better days ahead of us”, said the Lead Apostle. “Despite the pains of His trials and persecution, Jesus carried the cross without complain, no matter how heavy it was. He knew a day was coming when the stone covering His tomb will be rolled away and light will prevail over darkness”.

He continued: “Christ said He would not abandon us when we face tribulations. We are not orphans because the Holy Spirit within us identifies us as God’s children. Jesus said, ‘but the advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I said to you’”

“As members of God’s family, we have this hope: Our Father will not leave us abandoned! The Lord will not leave us unprotected to face the struggles and evils in this world. He has sent us a Helper to fill and equip us. God’s Holy Spirit dwells in us, and would continue to reassure us of the presence of Jesus from the moment of our salvation, throughout our lives into eternity. Amen!”