Story by: Rev. Immanuel Wiafe (Ga West Media Team Lead)
Abetifi, Eastern Region
The 2016 Batch of Ministers of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has been challenged to renew their commitment to faithful and unquestioning obedience to God as they celebrate a decade of ministry.
The charge was delivered by Rev. Dr. Yaw Boadu, Head of Programmes at the Ramseyer Training Centre (RTC), Abetifi-Kwahu, during a three-day retreat organised by the 2016 Ministerial Batch at the Ramseyer Training Centre, Abetifi-Kwahu.
The retreat, held under the theme, “A Decade of God’s Faithfulness: A Fresh Commitment to Obedience” (Luke 5:5), brought together Ministers who underwent ministerial formation at the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon (TTS) and the Ramseyer Training Centre, Abetifi (RTC).
The gathering provided an opportunity for the Ministers to reflect on their first ten years of pastoral ministry, celebrate God’s faithfulness, and prayerfully chart a renewed course for the years ahead.
Delivering the keynote address, Rev. Dr. Boadu reminded the Ministers that the past decade had been characterised by significant milestones, including commissioning, first ministerial postings, probationary studies, ordination, transfers to different congregations, moments of joy, disappointment, sacrifice, and personal growth.
He stressed that these experiences were vivid testimonies of God’s unfailing faithfulness rather than human strength or achievement.
Drawing from Luke 5:1–11, Rev. Dr. Boadu explained that God’s faithfulness demands an equally faithful response from His servants. He emphasised that the appropriate response to God’s is unwavering faith, gratitude, perseverance, worship, and above all, obedience.
He noted that true obedience is not driven by visible rewards or favourable circumstances but by complete trust in God’s character and His Word.
Using Simon Peter’s encounter with Jesus as an illustration, he pointed out that Peter obeyed Christ’s instruction to cast his nets into deep waters despite having laboured unsuccessfully throughout the night.
According to him, Peter’s declaration, “Yet if you say so, I will, ” remains a timeless model of childlike faith and unconditional obedience that every minister should emulate in the face of uncertainty and ministerial challenges.
Rev. Dr. Boadu cautioned Ministers against depending solely on their years of ministerial experience, noting that experience should never replace dependence on God. “There is a danger when people rely on the years of experience instead of trusting God,” he observed, urging the 2016 Ministers to continually surrender their lives and ministries to God’s direction.
He further reminded them that while obedience may sometimes involve sacrifice and suffering, God remains faithful to those He has called and will ultimately work all things together for their good.
He encouraged the Ministers to reflect on God’s faithfulness throughout the past decade and to embrace the next phase of ministry with renewed dedication, humility, and unwavering confidence in God’s promises.
The three-day retreat featured Morning devotion, Bible studies, prayer sessions, good of the fellowship, spiritual reflection, and discussions aimed at strengthening the Ministers for effective service in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
The gathering also served as a platform for thanksgiving, mutual encouragement, and recommitment to the sacred task of proclaiming the Gospel.
