GNOMIC MAY/JUNE 2020

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FIRST WORD note from ella

BOLD IS BETTER

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story is told of a vain emperor who commissioned a set of new clothes to commemorate a grand occasion in his empire. The tailors who received the contract were apparently world-renowned and illustrious weavers by their own admission (Many esteemed armchair scholars of dressmaking and couture agree that these gentlemen were the forebears of all trickster tailors worldwide in general, and in Ghana specifically).

These con men of couture craft the most beautiful and most exquisite robes ever imagined. Oh, how beautiful the cut! How sensational the design! How astounding the colours! And the material- the lightest of fey fabrics, so light, one would think that one was wearing nothing at all! They proclaimed, “So amazing is this fabric that it can only be seen by the most intelligent of people. Anyone who cannot see this is obviously unfit for their position”.

Unsurprisingly, the emperor’s court oohed and ahhed, praising the designers and the Emperor alike. Beautiful!

Sensational! Astounding! The wonder robe was draped over the emperor and paraded through the city as the tailors absconded with their remittance. The emperor was, of course, completely naked. However it took a little child, eyes boggling out of her head, to lift her finger at the emperor and cry out with a loud voice; “The Emperor has no clothes!”

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Have you ever wondered what the effect of the child’s bold statement was beyond the embarrassment of the moment?

Essentially she had uncovered the folly of all who had gone along with the charade. By calling out the truth, they were exposed as liars. Did the embarrassed emperor seek revenge? Were his brown-nosing subordinates sacked? Was the child even being bold? Or was she simply being innocently honest, as a child is?

Alas, we shall never know for sure but as surely as art imitates life we can guess from our own communities.

We live in a society that mimics an echo chamber at best. There’s often a cost to going against the popular flow of ideas. Standing out seems to equal standing against and when one goes against culture- well, nobody needs to point out the negative effects of ‘cancel culture’ today.

When we look through history, however, we see that those who changed the course of history gnomicmagazine.com

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did so against the tide of the prevailing norms. Heroes of faith like Abraham, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Corrie ten Boom operated a lot differently than the world around them expected. These historical, often hidden figures stand tall in our memories because they were willing to be the ones standing out- even if their world refused to see them as the outstanding men and women they were. There is not enough time or space to list all these heroes: Paul, Dr. David Livingston, William Wilberforce, Sojourner Truth, Mother Teresa and perhaps, you.

A CHRISTIAN YOUTH MAGAZINE

BOLD ISSUE 13

MAY/ JUN 2020

Publisher | JOHN A. TURKSON

PORTIA N. Y. SINTIM KWASI KYEI-OFFEI PRISCILLA KYEIBAFFOUR UFUOMA MAMOH KOBINA ESSILFIE-QUAYE MAAME ADWOA OWUSU-KONADU ALBERT IDLAFF OFORI

In this issue, we explore when going against the grain becomes worth it and how eternal relevance factors in. We talk about how to be counter cultural in a way that glorifies our Lord. We present many articles circling the theme, including our interview with a doctor who embodies Bold- he left his career as a doctor to witness to the Fula people of Mali.

By the time you read the Last Word, we hope a hunger for boldness is ignited within you.

GNOMIC ACCRA Editor-In-Chief | EMMANUELLA AGYEMAN Content Head | SYLVIA ASARE-DANSO Publicity Head | REUBEN ODAI LARYEA Finance & Marketing Head | CHERYL LAMPTEY Creative Head | FRANK AYUGANE Faith Correspondent | DERRICK NYARKO AMOAKO Special Board Member | NANA KWAME BROWN

One last thing to note about Bold: it is not reactive, it is proactive. It does not seek things to stand against; it has found One to stand for. How strong are your convictions? How deep is your foundation? Are you going along with the flow? Are you willing to stand out?

GNOMIC CAPE-COAST

GNOMIC UCC Editor-In-Chief | YINLOGRE ATONGO Content Head | AMA ASARE BOATENG Publicity Head | ERNEST AMOAH Creative Head | KWAKU BOAKYE GYAMFI SHOLA MAKINDE

Gnomic Magazine invites you to stand BOLD.

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Eatuffour Emmanuella AGYEMAN Tuffour

Gnomic Magazine Accra, Ghana

EIC, Accra MAY/ JUN 2020

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CURRENT NEWS AND FAITH

A health worker checks the temperature of a traveller in coronavirus screening at Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana. (Francis Kokroko/ REUTERS)

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC The world is slowly evolving into the “new normal” where nose masks and hand sanitizers are now a defined ‘daily drug’. This is due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has shaken many countries and brought to the fore the weakness of many healthcare systems as well as the neglect of preventive and public healthcare in major parts of the world.

The coronavirus pandemic is one of the worst to hit the world after almost a decade since the H1N1 influenza in 2009. To many, it is much ado about nothing and would gradually fade away as other pandemics have done in the past. However, the increasing number of cases reported MAY/ JUN 2020

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worldwide and the death toll make others believe that this is not a pandemic that could easily be doused. Public gatherings have been banned, schools have been shut down: quarantine, self-isolation and social distancing are now the new words in the vocabulary of everyone. Face masks have become a part of normal attire and “no mask, no entry” hangs visibly at the entrance of many shops and buildings.

Adjusting to this “new normal” is mindnumbing. Churches, nevertheless, are doing a good job at remaining relevant in these times.

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Online church is now the trend. We probably never imagined virtual church in a thousand years. Many churches have resorted to virtual Sunday and midweek services, as well as Bible studies in a quest to keep their members spiritually alive during this pandemic.

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x CURRENT

TIK TOKING THE QUARANTINE The social distancing season has brought to the fore a relatively new app, TikTok. Founded in 2012 by Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yiming, TikTok has become one of the most popular video-sharing apps in the world. Users create 15-second clip set to music or soundbites, which can be overlayed with digital special effects.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, TikTok was predominantly favoured by British Teenagers who posted prank videos or the latest trending dance routine on it. But since the lockdown, TikTok has become a seething leviathan of user-generated content, chewing down our boredom, our fatigue and our fear and spitting them back at us in 15-second chunks, to be digested ad infinitum. The most important thing to understand about the app is that it is anarchic: it has no internal logic or guiding principle. Many TikTok videos are absurdist jokes. People surprise family members, impersonate celebrities or set up elaborate punchlines. Creativity is paramount.

The mission of this seemingly new app is to inspire creativity and bring joy.The app was popular prior to the season, however, user rates has escalated rapidly during this quarantine season. News from across the globe reported that the app recorded a colossal 2 billion downloads as at 29th April, 2020. Get your creativity on with this new app and while at it, stay relevant.

Scan to join the conversation

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GOD buries His workmen but carries on His work.

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#ThankYouRAVI

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FEATURED

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Salt is a unique and essential ingredient in many foods. Almost everyone can tell when it is missing in a meal. Salt’s relevance is not limited to its flavoring of food, but can be used in preservation, tanning, dyeing, soap making and many more. You may be wondering ‘’How could salt possibly lose its saltiness in the first place, and be rendered useless?’’ I also wondered same, and asked myself what Jesus actually meant by that statement.

According to Bible scholars, the salt used in that era was not as it is today. It was quite impure; being composed of a wide array of other compounds. This salt, when exposed to certain unfavorable conditions, leaves a white powder looking just like salt; but is insipid, having lost all its flavouring and preservative properties¹. Jesus, in the verse above tells us why we are here: to be

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the salt of the earth; telling us our relevance as Christians on earth. And He goes on to admonish us not to lose our saltiness. Salt that has lost its flavor has no effect in the food it is placed in. Likewise, we Christians, who are the salt of the earth, cannot influence our world if we have lost our savour, our flavour, our taste, our essence, our relevance.

One of the ways we lose our savour as salt is trying to be like the world around us; forgetting that we are to boldly stand up, stand out and be distinct. Our relevance as Christians is to bring others to the saving knowledge of Christ, shining as bright lights and transforming our societies (Philippians 2:15). A lot has been done in our world by people who didn’t know Christ; by people whose strength and abilities were limited by their human nature. Imagine what more God can do to transform our society through people who have availed themselves to exercise their relevance on earth. Some giants of the faith have done their part and have left the scene. Now is the time for us to do ours.

However, we cannot influence the world the way we should as Christians if we pattern our lives according to the world’s standards. In this day and age, it is very easy to dance along to the tune of worldly trends. Going against the grain of worldly systems puts one out of flavour and makes them drip.

Many Christians have been gripped by the fear of rejection, and many more pressured by the desire to fit in and feel accepted. Boldly declaring the Christian stance in certain circles is becoming an unpopular thing to do. The fear of being tagged as ‘chrife’, ‘overly religious’ or ‘too spiritual’ has crippled many, pushing them to settle for a lifestyle of lukewarmness where everyone is pleased with them; and are comfortable keeping the message of salvation from that friend who they know deep down really needs Jesus, all in a bid not to ‘offend’ them. We have very limited time as salt to let our flavour be taken in by the world. A time is

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coming, and it will not be long, when we would have to give an account of how relevant we have been in the world GOD has placed us.

There is really no more time to shy away from boldly doing what has been assigned to us.

One last thing about salt is, it does not apologize to do its work. It is not intimidated by the presence of other ingredients or spices.

It just does what it has to do. Dear reader, be unapologetic as you carry out your Godgiven assignment to influence the world for Him. Allow no one or anything to intimidate you or suppress you. Boldly do what you have to do, and let your relevance be seen in your good works, bringing glory to God the Father.

(Matthew 5:16) Finally, as an encouragement, let us remember that our labour in the Lord is never in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58). A great reward awaits us!

So I say; don’t lose your flavour. Don’t lose your savour. Don’t lose your saltiness. Don’t lose your relevance; our world needs you!

References ¹ Hermann, R. (2019). Can the salt of the earth lose its flavor. Retrieved from https:// outlawbiblestudent.org Oakes, J. (2010, November 15). Can salt lose its saltiness. Retrieved from https://evidenceforchristianity.org

THEODORA ADJOA ANSAH

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BOLD Risk taking Brave and audacious Confused to non discerning Blur-sighted and insensible BOLD Makes obvious More-apparent Standing out and evident More than letters; Life in its wholeness

BOLD It’s a calling Not to unawareness of the dangers that come our way, But to have the capacity and ability to face challenges and fear as they throw their glare But BOLD Too many times, is an idea that we embrace fully But in the midst of adversity, we let go of respectfully.

BOLD We receive it Unfold it Build it to its very form MAY/ JUN 2020

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BOLD It’s the push that takes us to dying humanity around us; Spreading light into its darkness It’s the pull that drives us strongly out of our darkness; Into an unknown and inexperienced illumination, so lovely we can’t leave.

BOLD Single sighted, Shameless, Confident, Reckless, Gutsy, For that which is its purpose and goal.

BOLD It is you It is I It is they and them – That compelled by the Saviour’s love have received a call to bring others to this light BOLD is now.

BOLD is today.

A step further than yesterday.

A step away from all dismay.

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BOLD is us, Followers of Christ!

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manuela kandem gnomicmagazine.com

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Please do not ask me what I spent my childhood doing, but I recently started watching and enjoying Marvel movies. I realize there are the flashy superheroes that get the entire spotlight and there are the other superheroes t h a t are arguably undermined. Well, let’s be real. In a world filled with powerhouses like Thor, The Hulk, Captain Marvel and Thanos, there is little room left to feel the relevance of supporting heroes.

I have read some theories online which suggested that Quicksilver, son of Magneto, who had been overshadowed by his more famous family, needed more exposure. For such a complex character, he could have done so much and be made the center of a major storyline. He had superhuman speed, extreme force generation, and increased metabolism which made him heal faster and perceive danger faster. Nevertheless, he still was not as relevant to the stories the creators wanted to give the world so he was never the superstar.

Relevance - the quality of being closely connected to or appropriate to a matter at hand - is also an underrated superpower. How long you last on any of life’s stages is based on how relevant you are at a particular point in time.

Some people are not just successful; they are also successful at being relevant. They develop business ideas and concepts that stand the test of time. Decades and centuries later, their theories still hold: Newton’s laws for instance have been here to stay for a long while.

Relevance is an underrated super power. Anything that is relevant is a priority. When you are relevant, you matter to society. An idea or concept that is considered relevant is of essence and people will give their energy, monMAY/ JUN 2020

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ey, efforts and attention to relevance.

Ask yourself…

What are you spending time on? Is it of relevance? If it isn’t now, could it be relevant in the future?

If you have big dreams, don’t sleep on it. Sometimes, what was not relevant suddenly becomes number one on the list. Keep pushing! If it has got credence, it will be relevant soon. If it is worth it, it will be relevant: today or tomorrow.

There is a silent power in being relevant. Being relevant gives you automatic life hacks or improved survival. It puts you on a higher pedestal than your peers and makes you successful and content.

Being relevant is a golden legacy.

Don’t wait till your story has ended and people start debating on how much more relevant you could have been to the main story. Don’t wait till people have to theorize how much power you had but couldn’t use to the fullest because you were undermined. I loved Quicksilver, and I think his story ended too soon. But we have a chance, we can use the power of relevance to write and re-write our stories.

Well…while we’re at it, let’s dazzle: superhero-style.

AFIA KWABIAA BAAH gnomicmagazine.com

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GRAHIC

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The trailer goes like: “it’s a God inspired story of intrigue, suspense, romance, purpose and redemption”. It’s a story of a king’s insomnia, a queen’s secret identity and dare, a cousin’s dare, a man’s quest for revenge and power that led to God’s redemptive purpose for a nation and His world to come to pass.

IT’S HADASSAH!

Staged in the 4th century BC, in the Medo Persian city of Susa; the Medo Persians had captured Babylon, Xerxes was in power and many Jews in exile. The writer of the play did not make Himself overt, as none of the characters overtly mentioned His name.

IT WAS A TIME OF WAR

Xerxes ruled 127 provinces extending from Ethiopia to India. Faced with the threat of a rising world power, the Greeks, he held a conference to discuss the way out to face them after which there was a 7-day feast.

At the climax of the feast, the king requests to see Queen Vashti, his wife, for her to display her beauty to his nobles. What this meant, we can’t tell, but she refuses and this leads to her dethronement.

IT’S THE ONLY RECORDED BEAUTY PAGEANT IN THE BIBLE.

Hadassah, a young Jewish orphan, was contestant number 2303 in the pageant to replace the queen and she wins with the name Esther. But she has a secret which only she and her cousin share; a secret that could lead to her fall and perhaps, the fall of many others.

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IT’S ONE OF THE MANY CASES OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN HISTORY.

Manned by the man Haman, the Agagite - a descendant of King Agag, whose ancestors had been killed by the Israelites centuries earlier.

Haman was a high official in the kingdom and demanded worship from the citizens. Many will bow except for Mordecai, a Jew. This led to the plot to not only annihilate Mordecai, but also to take revenge for his ancestors who were killed by the Israelites. Haman sets a date for the annihilation of all Jews in the kingdom and gets the approval of the king. The Jews hear the news and it’s a national day of mourning.

A TWIST IN THE PLOT.

The king had insomnia one night and his diary is read to him to enable him sleep. Flashback5 years back, Mordecai discovers a plot by 2 officials to kill the king. In the process of his diary reading, the king discovers that Mordecai went unrewarded and decides to honour him - the suggestion was from Haman, the king’s right hand man. Haman’s rage for Mordecai deepens. ‹‹For more on the story read the book of ESTHER, a 10-chapter book in the Old Testament›› This story passes as one of the most widely heard stories in the bible, played out in movies and plays; with the name Esther being a very common English name. As we look at exhibiting BOLDNESS in our RELEVANCE, let’s view the plot in this light…

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ACT 4, SCENE 15

for the many perplexed.

Mordecai: “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish.

Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

2. Because your silence and indifference means you don’t care enough- if you completely

remain silent at this time.

Haile Selassie said, “Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most that has made it possible for evil to triumph”. In what way can you be bold to speak out and act in a situation?

Do it and do it now! Don’t even look too far; you can pray to God about the situation. It is before the King of Kings and the Lord of the universe that you will be standing before at the place of prayer. So don’t just stand there, pray something!

Esther: “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day.

My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”

(Esther 4:14, 16 NKJV)

In this scene, Mordecai gives Esther reasons WHY we should be bold if we want to be relevant and subsequent reasons on HOW to be bold.

3. Because God’s plan will be fulfilled anyways, but if you refuse to be bold, you can miss out on it. - Relief and deliverance will arise from the

Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish.

WHY SHOULD WE BE BOLD?

1. Because, the king and Haman sat down

Your name will be in the annals of history as the one who stood aloof when God was raising his army.

to drink but the city of Susan was perplexed (Esther 3:15).

In our generation, some decisions and actions are being taken by a few in authority, which put many others in a ‘perplexed state’ - a state where their lives are in danger, and their livelihoods are at risk. It could be decisions at the place of governance, religion, culture or family. Perhaps you know about it and are in a position to act, and are burdened with it. Be bold and step out

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The question is not whether God’s plan will be fulfilled or not! It’s an issue of whether or not you would make yourself available for God to use you to fulfill his plan. Whether or not you avail yourself, God’s purposes will come to pass anyways- through someone else or some other means and you’d miss out on it. Instead of drawing your plans and asking God to fit in, why don’t you ask God how you fit into His

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plans and purposes for the world and universe at large and, in boldness, fulfill it.

4. ....you and your Father’s house will perish.

What was at stake was not just the present annihilation of the Jews in the Medo Persian Empire neither was it the uncrowning of Esther, it was a bigger thing- the redemptive plan of God – the seed of the woman who was to come from the Jewish race. Friends, the purpose and plans of God are beyond you, and it’s beyond now, and that’s why you need to be bold and do what God has called you to do.

HOW CAN WE BE BOLD?

1. First, be convinced of what God has called you to do- it must not be because your Mordecai is pushing you to do it. You must come to realize that you have a part to play in God’s story of redemption and purpose for the universe, and be ready to take your place. Be fully convinced of what you have been called for and be ready to take action. Who knows if you have been called to be in such a place for such a time like this! We believe in a God who sets the boundaries and habitations of our dwelling place.

Acts 17:26-27 having determined (their) appointed

seasons, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us:.. God did this so that people will seek

and find Him because He is not far from us.

This is the redemptive and ultimate purpose of God- that we will come to the knowledge of Him.

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2. Go gather all the Jews in Susa... This is the place of communal support in being bold. The Akan adage goes, dua koro gye mframa a, ebu (literally translated as ‘if only one tree takes in the air, it breaks down’). Most of the times, because the systems being fought against in our quest to be bold have many seemingly insurmountable hurdles- physically and spiritually- it is best fought with the support of a praying and encouraging community of friends and fellowship.

• Daniel facing annihilation together with the other wise men for failure to tell and interpret the king’s dreams had support from his friends in seeking the face of God. Daniel 2:1719 - Then Daniel went to his house, and

made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a vision of the night.

• Joab tells it in another way... 1 Chronicles 19:12-13 - And he said, if

the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee. Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seemeth him good.

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• Our Lord Jesus needed the company and strength gained from praying with others on his journey to the cross.(Luke 22)

with such people who per their experiences, strengths and weaknesses are available to guide and encourage us to be bold. These are mentors. Denzel Washington said “show me a successful individual and I will show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life. I don’t care what you do for a living- if you do it well, I’m sure there was someone cheering you on or showing the way. A mentor.” Do you have one?

• Sometimes, it may be just one person- like David had Jonathan.

1 Samuel 23:16 - And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

5. Finally, the call to die (“If I perish, I perish.”).

Beautiful testimonies have come out of people who were not afraid to die- they loved not their lives till death and God brought out awesome testimonies from their dying and living.

But one with God is great support, the needed majority.

• Jesus puts it as, “Verily, verily, I say unto

3. Let them pray and fast for me.....

Prayer, whether personal or communal, is an effective supply of grace and strength to be bold. Paul says, God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of boldness and power.

Prayer is an effective means of the supply of the Spirit, so pray on your own in executing the assignments and let others pray for you as well.

You shall receive power and strength from the Holy Spirit to carry out the assignment.

• The four lepers put it as, “If we say, we

4. The push of mentors and godly friends: behind this risk taking move of Esther is a certain cousin Mordecai, who helped her to become a queen, and now, informs her of the slaughter at stake. Today, God provides us

• Paul says, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” ( Acts 20:24)

• After his release from prison, Peter run into the praying home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where the church was praying.

(Acts12:12)

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you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it dies, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” (John 12:26) will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.( 2 Kings 7:4)

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Oh may God teach you the meaning of that name, Immanuel The message is clear. Said by four different people across varied generations, IMMANUEL, GOD WITH US there is a call to die,It someway, diewith to self, is wisdom’ssomehow. mystery –To God us our ambitions, our comfort and our plans, fordesire the to Sages look at it and wonder, angels sake of the see it Master’s plan. The amazing thing is that most of the time, when cannot we takereach that step The plotline of reason halfway to die, we end up not dying, but yield much into its depth fruit. The In order towing be bold, we must be willing eagle of science cannot fly sotohigh die, figuratively, and even sometimes, literally.

The piercing eye of the vulture of research cannot see it. Selah GOD WITH US - HELLS’S TERROR EPILOGUE: THE SILENCE Satan trembles at the soundOF of itGOD Its legions fly at pleas Esther, with Song of Solomon, Thetogether black winged dragon at the pitare quails the only two books which had no mention of before it.

God though many scholars Let Satan come to youand andbible you teachers whisper, GOD have WITH identified various acrostics which show US and the name of Jehovah.

(For moreand on this, check Back he falls confounded, confused. out David the book of SatanPawson’s tremblesteachings when heon hears that nameEsther and Dakes’ commentary on Esther).

GOD WITH US. Selah However, for the purpose of this article, let’s look atIMMANUELthe many times God may be silent in THE that LABOURER’S STRENGTH the various scenes of our lives.

A retrospective How could he preach the gospel, look at thecould story he shows how Godinhad been How bendus his knees prayer, behind the various scenesVashti’s refusal, How could the missionary go into foreign land the beauty pageant, the stand king’sat stake insomnia, How could the martyr Haman’s and the fall etc.

Howrise could confessor acknowledge his master Like itHow has could been said, we can’t seeone theword handwere man if labour if that of God, we can trust His heart.

There will be taken away. Selah many times in our lives that we may just not see the hand of USGod THE clearly as we have known GOD WITH SUFFER’S COMFORT him toIt be.

We can only trust. is the sufferer’s comfort, the balm of his woe The alleviation of his mystery We can trust that; The sleep God gives to His beloved The rest after exertion and toil • He is a good Father who will not give us stones when we ask for bread.

(Mt. 7:19) IMMANUELETERNITY’S SONNET  Heaven’s hallelujah The shout of the glorified The song of the redeemed

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The chorus of angels The everlasting oratorio of the great of the sky the path He taketh • He,orchestra our guide, knows and we will walk with Him.(Job 23:10-11, Proverbs 3:6) Have every reason to rejoice this Christmas Forour Immanuel, God with us us • and Hebeyond. is the Lord God and He willisguide and even much more, He is in us.

Like John even till death. (Psalm 48:14) Wesley said on his dying bed “ the best of it all is that Godtrusting is with us”.

And when is not easy, we will come boldly to the throne of Grace to find help to make us trust Him even more!

REFERENCES The story ends with the Jews been granted 1 A.A. the right toClarke fight from back The on Biblical the dayIllustrator of their Copyright © 2002, 2003, Ages annihilation. They won and set up2006 the festival and Biblesoft, Inc. of PurimSoftware, in honourInc. of it.

Mordecai is promoted to be second in command to the king. All 2 John Piper, Desiring God: O come, O these happened just because people availed come Emmanuel, themselves and were bold!December, 13th 2015.

“…if anyone serves Me, him My Father will 3 Charles Spurgeon, Sermon, Christmas honour.” (John 12:26) Eve, 1854.

PRISCILLA KYEI-BAFFOUR PRISCILLA KYEI-BAFFOUR

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From January 15, 1929 to April 4, 1968, there lived a man, a Black American born in the State of Georgia: a Christian Negro preacher who rose to become a Nobel Peace Prize winner for his non-violent resistance to racial inequality.

The leader of the Civil Right Movement of the 1960’s and the man behind the Washington March speech “I Have a Dream”, Martin Luther King Jnr., is known to be one of the greatest human right activist of history. He was a man who stood for what he believed in and mounted the courage to face the fierce racial discrimination of American history. He led the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955 after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat for a white man on a city bus - a campaign that ended racial segregation on all Montgomery public buses. He led the Albany Movement of 1961, the Birmingham campaign of 1963, and the march on Washington in the same year. He and other civil right activists organized the Poor People’s Campaign of 1968 and within that year, at age 39, he was assassinated.

His activism led to the monumental reformation of American Civil Rights, the attainment of American liberalism

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and progressivism. Across the right revolution. Today, he is of racial segregation and January each year, the life worldwide. We recall the in, stood for his conviction wrong and inhumane.

We reckon that the systems were not outspokenness of people who decided to stand up world has been shaped also make a difference decide to make our

world, he inspired a humanitarian celebrated as a hero against the fight discrimination. On the third Monday of of Martin Luther King Jnr. is commemorated life of a man who spoke for what he believed and campaigned against what he found socially structures of our social, political and religious built by the silence of the indifferent but by the of conviction. They were men and women like us and speak out for what they believed was right. Our by individuals who made their point. Therefore, we can if we learn to speak, if we choose to speak and if we voice heard.

The world suffers a lot not good people. - Napoleon

Bonaparte

In our great minds, we and a dream we want we do nothing about with the talk. Let’s the wrong. Let’s air our be and let’s make our refuse to stay silent

have a world we want to see, a future we want to reach to live. However, these shall remain castles in the air if them. The first step to any development, I believe, starts speak out and work it out. Commend the right and criticize views, speak out our opinions, campaign for what must voice be heard. The world shall be a better place if we when the need arises.

Today we have a choice cowardice, relevance make a difference. And things that matter.”

Don’t be begged to speak. becomes irreparable. Don’t have a voice, create your

because of the violence of bad people but because of the silence of

to either speak or remain silent, to choose courage or or apathy. Our lives begin to count when we begin to “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about Martin Luther King, Jr. Don’t wait till the bad becomes worse and damage wait for that never approaching opportunity. You stage; you have the power, break the silence.

Be the voice of change!

FIIFI ASSABIL

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n a bright sunny day, the master of this big field called out. I was in the town square chatting with friends and having a seemingly good time. He beckoned me over and asked me to follow him because he had some work for me to do. In the course of the journey, he asked me this all-important question that changed my life’s perspective.

‘What does it mean to live boldly in pursuit of your purpose?’ He asked. I was stunned because I didn’t even know this purpose in question, not to talk of even living boldly in its frantic pursuit. He shared

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‘It’s not about you’. with me what it entailed en route to his field, some of which I would like to share with you today.

It is the Master, God, who has called us and not man. The centrality of our purpose in this life is found in God alone and not in any man. That is the main reason why there is a need to be bold to live out this divine purpose. Fear remains a major setback for many believers. Many a man fears to carry out that activity, work, presentation or event. The fear of the unknown and what others may say sometimes nips our thoughts and aspirations in the bud.

The next time we feel engulfed in fear, let us remember the Master’s last words before ascending into heaven…”And, lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age’ (Matt. 28:20b). Let us turn a deaf ear to the naysayers and not give in to unhealthy criticisms by the masses.

There are many people waiting for you to act and your inability to do so may lead to dire consequences in their lives. The stage is set for you to achieve something big in this life, no matter how small you may perceive it to be. The Master seeks to use this small potential inherent in you.

I love how Rick Warren, in his book The Purpose Driven Life, commences with these words, ‘It’s not about you’. We do not live for ourselves. God designed this world such that one depends on the other

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and both depend on Him, the Almighty. I implore you to take courage and start; start that business you have always thought of doing or that book you have always wanted to write or the song you would want to pen down to inspire others or the orphanage you would love to help out with or even the lifetime advice you would want to offer that friend of yours. Break new grounds and start moving. Let us remind ourselves with the words of Joshua to the remaining seven tribes of Israel who had not yet settled in their land of inheritance.

‘How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?’

(Joshua 18:3)

The Holy Spirit is someone we cannot push to the side-line in our pursuit of purpose.

His work in us, as Christians, cannot be overemphasized. He teaches us the way to go, the paths to walk on and the choices to make. He enables us move out of our comfort zone and shine forth. He is the aid and advocate given to us after the Son of Man was seated on the right hand of the Father. I remember the time I was really moved to preach to my mates back in JHS. I prayed to God and He laid the burden ever so greatly upon my heart. I then went to see the then Scripture Union patron who happened to be my former teacher in the primary school. He gave me an opportunity

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to speak God’s word at one of the Scripture Union meetings. It wasn’t an easy thing even standing in front of my mates, not to talk of my seniors.

He was impressed and I know that most importantly, God was pleased.

I was consequently called upon to preach in front of the whole school during one Wednesday worship service; that was a daunting task but God showed Himself faithful that day too. Fast forward to current day as a Counselling & Outreach Team Leader, in retrospect, I understand all the Lord was doing. He builds on the seemingly little things we carry out for Him faithfully. The key here is to pray and seek the guidance of our ever-faithful companion, the Holy Spirit.

help us in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

He gave us this purpose and He wants us to win; not just win but win with Him. Bear in mind that we shall account for every resource He bestowed on us to help us on this journey. Our time on earth is limited. As long as it is day we have to do the work of the one who sent us, for night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4). The stage may seem small but God sees the bigger picture. Hit the ground running; set the ball rolling.

There is victory ahead!

We all have a divine purpose to fulfil in this life. The onus, however, lies on us to discover this purpose for our lives with the Spirit’s aid and live it out boldly. The Master calls on us to boldly approach His throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to

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SMILE, YOU ARE COVERED.

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“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not giving us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind.”

2Timothy 1:6-7 , NKJV

Every individual has that inherent desire to be relevant in life. Most of the youth want to, in one way or the other, influence the society and others. Relevance is contingent on the realization and development of one’s gift or talent. The degree of relevance then will indeed depend on how many people our gifts are influencing and how far above the ordinary they reach.

BOLDNESS becomes a critical component in gift realization, development and execution and hence becomes a catalyst for the pathway into relevance. It is of necessity because while our gifts should be applauded and celebrated, it makes us rather susceptible to be hated, hence the need for boldness. Gifts are idiosyncratic to the individual, like a finger print, and hence being jealous, hating or destroying the individual with the gift will not make that gift available to you. It becomes critical thence that we help in the development of one another’s gifts, so we can benefit from others as well.

2 Timothy 1 then, becomes a great text to complement and augment the issues raised above. In careful study of the text, we would notice that Timothy was brought up mainly by female figures (mother and grandmother). More often MAY/ JUN 2020

than not, when the father figure is absent, unless the mother is tough, most children are overly shielded and that may lead to developmental timidity. It can be concluded that by nurture, Timothy was a timid person. The source of Timothy’s timidity was not only nurture, but also nature. He was the bishop of Ephesus at a very young age and was facing serious oppositions. Paul himself described the oppositions as ‘beasts of Ephesus’ (1Cor 15:32). It is natural that the oppositions, coupled with his young age, and his inherent timidity put him in a state of fear.

Satan cannot prevent God from giving you a gift, but one thing he can do is to prevent you from developing it by the inoculation of the toxin called fear. You will notice quite interestingly that after Paul in 2 Timothy 1:6 asked Timothy to stir and develop his gift, he quickly added in the next verse that he should eliminate 43

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fear. If we are trapped by this spirit, which is the disposition or the mindset of fear, we will definitely fail in developing and expressing our gifts, hence compromising our journey into relevance. Paul admonishes us on how to deal with this disposition of fear; and that is the spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind. These, then, become the source of our boldness.

POWER, one of the secret ingredients to boldness, has been made available to us by virtue of the gift placed in us and the workings of the God within us. This power for boldness is required to develop the gift, work out the gift and overcome all oppositions. In Acts 2, we notice that the release of the Spirit of God was accompanied by boldness. With this boldness the disciples preached and healed.

component for boldness. Sound mind is a mind devoid of confusion; which leads to fear. The confusion comes about when we allow the sayings of others and our current situations to get into your heads. When we know we can do it but people are saying otherwise, we begin to doubt our abilities and become double minded.

As James puts it, a double minded person is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8). Once we are double minded, we fail to make any decisions and resolve to sitting on the fence while time fades away. In order to have a sound mind we ought to put aside anyone or anything that always emphasizes on reasons why we cannot and pray against every negative thought that the devil whispers into our minds.

In summary, God gave us gifts even before the foundations of the world. The gift is for our provision and for His glorification. He creates a need such that our gifts will be of relevance therefore, go out there in boldness and break the power of fear, become relevant and make God proud!

The spirit of LOVE is an essential component of real boldness. The gift inside each of us is to meet a need in the society. Love, then, should drive us to develop our gifts knowing that we would be depriving others of solutions to their problems if we fail. Love should be the real motive behind gift realization. With love as the motive, when we finally arrive at our destination, we would join in with Joseph to say to our opposition, “You meant it for evil but God meant it for good� (Gen 50:20).

BRIGHT FORKUO

The spirit of SOUND MIND is another important

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Who said you can’t?

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INTERVIEW INTERVIEW

UPCLOSE AND PERSONAL + DR SOLOMON ARYEETEY Founder, Pioneers Africa

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x INTERVIEW MAY/ JUN 2020

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HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? You know, I would call myself a missionary. I’ve been a missionary since 1987. When I was a medical student I knew God had called me to be a missionary.

OUR THEME FOR THIS EDITION IS BOLD. FOR US, THIS MEANS THAT GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN FOR THE SAKE OF ETERNAL RELEVANCE IS BOTH NECESSARY AND IN THE LONG TERM, WORTH IT. ADDITIONALLY, WE’RE EMPHASIZING THAT CLARITY OF VISION AND MISSION IS ESSENTIAL TO PURPOSE. HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO YOUR LIFE’S JOURNEY? I once read a book by Watchman Nee and realized that there was an ‘Isaac’ in my life. I knew that this ‘Isaac’ was my decision to become a medical doctor; and it tortured me. When Watchman Nee said ‘God wants your Isaac, give it to Him’, I thought it meant leaving medical school. In my second year in medical school, I had actually packed up my stuff and was ready to leave! It took one of my mentors, Sister Maggie, to speak to me and convince me that God wanted me in medical school.

When I started working as a doctor in Liberia, I used to try to negotiate with God- “Give me some time as a doctor”. In 1982, I even went to the seminary-

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Denver Seminary in Colorado. I believe in studying to show yourself approved. Due to financial constraints, I unfortunately couldn’t complete it - that’s why I’m a half-baked theologian (he laughs).

It was in 1986, while on a trip with a music team I used to minister with, that God moved me. We were doing trips all over North America. We went to a church in Canada called The People’s Church of Toronto and they had a writing on the wall that read, “Why should someone get the gospel twice when others haven’t heard it even once.”

That was the day God finally broke me. Oh how I cried that day!

We visited another church, and for the second time, I met a certain man who had been looking for African missionaries to witness in Africa. He was the main speaker and then there came a little girl, about 15 years old, and she sang the song, ‘People need the Lord’. It felt like God was pointing a finger at me. I was crying. I mean, I was fighting for my medical life and God was saying, “This is why I sent you to medical school, I need you in Mali.”

When I said yes, it was like a relief. I hadn’t even told my wife, but God spoke to her and by the time I got back, she was even more eager to go than I was. And that was the beginning. The stories I have could fill a book. God is faithful.

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“I’m not going to support people who can take care of themselves; you’re a doctor, your wife is a lawyer- what’s wrong with you people?”

One person actually said “The day you will realize you made a mistake hasn’t come yet”.

Christians were the ones trying to stop me.

Unbelievers, interestingly, rather said words of encouragement.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT IT TOOK A LOT OF BOLDNESS TO START PIONEERS AFRICA? I wouldn’t say I was bold; I think God played a trick on me. Whenever I speak about souls, I start crying. When I witness to someone so passionately and they’d respond in a reserved manner, I’d start crying. Such was the passion I had for souls. When I heard that the area was unreached, with no known Fulani Christian in that area, in 1987, I said I’d go.

I was using medicine as God’s tool, to serve people in a place where they couldn’t pay me for it. And for me that’s true love- giving your life for others to find life. My kids were young then; my twins were 6 months old! God has taken care of them. Five of them actually went to school in the US.

The boldness came after someone shared a message with me. That message was, “Don’t be afraid, the will of God will not lead you into a situation where his grace cannot cover you.”

And that has been our boldness; the reason why we’re confident in what God is calling us to.

I think my biggest challenge was that there wasn’t a model for me to follow. The fear was that who’s going to help me take care of my children.

DID YOU FACE ANY OPPOSITION FROM PARENTS/ RELATIVES, FRIENDS, YOUR WIFE OR EVEN YOURSELF? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT?

HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR BACKGROUND IN GENERAL PREPARED YOU IN BECOMING RELEVANT TO THE AREA TO WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED?

I didn’t have a father at the time I was called; but my mother, until she died, would always ask “Explain to me- are you a Doctor or a Pastor?” (he laughs)

I didn’t see it as preparation, but it was on the job training. When I worked as a family doctor in Liberia, there was a certain missionary group I worked with called Sudan Interior Mission.

I wasn’t a member of the mission but every time they were going into the bush and I was available, like on a weekend, I either closed

I faced a lot of opposition from Christians. There was no known Ghanaian missionary going to Mali to work for God among Muslims, so I got a lot of questions. They would say, “Solo, but there are unbelievers in Ghana,” or they’d say

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I actually had so many; almost everyone was my mentor- the leaders in the faith at the time. I’d go and live in their house for a few days. One lady, Sister Maggie- you couldn’t catch her in a time when she wasn’t praying. That’s all she did, her life was so convicted. They were my mentors.

I was around people who were so humble, so helpful and so giving. They practiced giving as a lifestyle and not a compulsion.

my clinic or got somewhere to do locum. On Friday mornings, we used to go into the bush preaching. We’d go and do evangelism and discipleship training and so on, not knowing God was training me to become a missionary on the job.

We learnt how to work with villagers, staying with them throughout the weekend. We were eating with our hands, from the same bowl. You learn to do it. I learnt to eat monkey meat- it’s the best meat! I learnt all those cultural thingslearning a new language. The experience overcomes the fear and anxiety and you get bolder and bolder.

My housemaster in Achimota School, Franklyn Dove, was one of such. When he died, the community of believers mourned. He once washed, ironed and organized the clothes of everyone who went for our missions trip. While I was in school, I was once falsely accused of having stolen some item and he reprimanded me publicly. I was so ashamed, and he must have noticed I wasn’t happy. The next day at 6am, he came to my room, sat with me on my student mattress, put his arm around me and said “Solo, I just came to apologize for what I said to you yesterday. I realize that I was wrong. Please, forgive me.” Wow! I couldn’t believe it! Our SU patron, my house master and my mentor asking me to forgive him? I couldn’t stop the tears. At that time I hadn’t done my quiet time for about 6 weeks. After he left, I picked up my Daily Guide and did all the six weeks.

WHAT PUSHES YOU TO KEEP GOING IN PURSUIT OF YOUR PURPOSE, EVEN IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES? God has supplied my every need. There was nothing we have that didn’t come through the cross. Christ in you the hope of glory- I did a research on the word glory. Glory is the same word for wealth, weight, treasure and majesty.

If you have Jesus, you have a treasure that all the money in this world cannot buy. Every blessing you get, you’re getting it because the cross happened.

One of our mentors came to visit my wife in the cardio ward after she had had a 9 hour surgery.

He looked at her and said (to wit) “Even we, the old folks haven’t gone yet; you aren’t going anywhere”. Then he laid hands on her and prayed for her. Two weeks later, he passed away. His name was Prof. Kwaku Asare.

I don’t regret becoming a missionary.

WHEN IT COMES TO BOLDLY LIVING AND PREACHING A COUNTER CULTURAL MESSAGE, WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR INSPIRATIONS/MENTORS?

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I listened to these mentors, and I tried to imitate them as they imitated Christ.

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WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH EVERYONE KNEW ABOUT LIVING BOLDLY IN PURPOSE? Missionaries are out there boldly preaching Christ and Him crucified, which is the only gospel this book (the Bible) knows about: not money, blessing or anointing oil. People are coming to Christ. The church in Ghana must find its way back, back to the true gospel. Let’s stop playing around.

We don’t just preach Christ and Him crucified...but Christ- His character, His way of life, His humility and His simplicity. We’ve forgotten about that.

We’d rather chase money, saying that money answereth all things. I’ve been taught that ‘the love of money is the root of all evil.’ The hypocrisy I see these days is unbelievable. We must go back to the truth. ‘If anyone wishes to follow me, he must deny himself’- the exact opposite of what we’re told to do to be a champion Christian today.

You young people are Ghana’s hope; get up and do something. There’s work to be done. We need to get up and be bold.

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BRINGS WITH IT A CHANGING LANDSCAPE IN TERMS OF MISSIONS. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS AND WHAT IMPACT WILL IT HAVE ON THE CHURCH AND EVANGELISM? Do you think that through all this COVID pandemic, God doesn’t know what He’s doing? Especially in the charismatic churches? God will make sure the gospel goes out. And this gospel will be preached in all the world. All these things we are doingtrying to get people to be BOLD, it’s not we who are doing it. God will be God.

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I like what is happening because it’s going to cripple churches who live on money. People will learn that the church is not a building and it’s not a place; it’s a people. Whether you like it or not, we are being forced to function as a church. There are small group meetings that are happening. In these smaller groups, we understand each other better and the Word goes deeper down. If this will draw us back to 1st century Christianity then I’d say, Akuffo Addo, keep us in lockdown. I see it as a blessing in disguise.

For missions, it’s hindering in the sense that they tell you not to go. What we tell our missionaries right now is that this is a time God has given for introspection; renew, revive and refresh yourself. Get retooled- it’s a blessing in disguise. Pioneers Africa, for example, is restrategizing because the support is drying up but the way things are going now, I’m happy.

THE THEME WE ARE RUNNING UNDER FOR THE YEAR IS RELEVANCE. WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ABOUT CHRISTIAN RELEVANCE IN TODAY’S CULTURE? Jesus said we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth, when previously He had said “I am the light of the world”. In other words, when he was taken from amongst us, we became Him. I can’t imagine how the world would be without light.

We are becoming more and more irrelevant because people are getting wise about hypocrisy in the church. What’s the difference

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FINAL WORDS

between us and the occult now? We’ve lost our cutting edge. Our credibility is toast. We lack integrity. People see us as money grabbing.

We’re supposed to be salt- to season our culture. Look at the corruption in a country that is supposedly 70% Christian.

The Lord said He’ll build his church. We must always remind ourselves that we are not the ones, we are tools in His hands that He’s using. All the glory, all the honour, all the ‘fans’ should go to the One who’s doing the building - not the tools. We should always have a selfeffacing culture for our lives. John the Baptist said it beautifully; I must decrease, He must increase - that should be our motto. People will always put you on a pedestal. As soon as you see it happening, jump down, take a hammer and destroy that pedestal. The greatest one is the one who serves. That’s what Jesus did. He washed other people’s feet, so we should do so.

The Cross is an example for you to follow. You have your cross, make sure you carry yours.

The seed must die. I died a long time ago. I’m crucified with Christ and yet I live- that’s a paradox. A living sacrifice- an oxymoron. What does He mean? The whole act of living is like you being a sacrifice on God’s altar. In Christ it’s like you’ve been offered to God and yet you are being available to be offered every day. You serve people by dying so they will live. If you can remember that, I can guarantee for you a meaningful bold life of purpose.

Once we miss the boat on our core mandate, the devil will give us other things to do.

AS GNOMIC MAGAZINE, THE ONE PRINCIPLE WE BELIEVE IN IS EXCELLENCE. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE YOUTH NEED MORE OF IN TRYING TO ATTAIN THIS EXCELLENCE? This is a very rich very powerful question Good mentors are number one. Many of these ‘mentors’ these days have their own agenda.

Paul said “Imitate me”, but he also says, “as I imitate Christ”. The youth must look beyond their pop culture heroes. Mentoring is more than that. It’s being an example of Christ’s holy living - His holy passion. The youth need leaders who are Christocentric, people who are determined to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified.

My prayer is still there- God knows I’ve prayed it a million times: Lord raise up a new generation to take up the mantle and press on. You are that generation. You don’t need to understand prophecy to understand that. God is telling me, I’m an old man now. Anytime from now, He’ll call us home. I’m still waiting for the day when you guys will fully know that if you don’t do it, nobody else is going to do it.

There’s a lot of passion and enthusiasm out there among the youth. Can you imagine if all that was zeroed in and focused on God and the mission of Christ? Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness. Discipleship, the way Jesus did it. You guys need it in this generation. You need to understand that when you come to Jesus, you’re a dead man. It starts with dying. One of Watchman Nee’s books, The Seed Must Die, will kill you- no pun intended.

You need that kind of discipleship training- that it’s all about Jesus.

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So I’m giving you the charge as an ordained minister of the gospel: Go ye into all the word and make the church relevant in your generation. Every generation owes this duty to their generation

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Daniel 11:32b

…but the people that do know their God, they shall be strong and do exploits!

T

he book of Daniel in the Bible is a great book of exploits. Daniel’s whole life was one big adventure; from captive servant in exile Babylon, to becoming the King’s major right hand man. How? God gave Daniel the spirit of excellence: though the circumstances were unfavorable, he excelled in everything. After divine interpretation of the King’s mysterious dream, he was highly promoted among all the wise men in the provinces of Babylon.

Daniel was bold and courageous; he knew he served a big God. His main focus was to live life to the glory of God. Life is meant to be lived to the full and not just endured. It should not seem that a child of God is merely managing to get by or just struggling to make ends meet. Abraham, God’s best friend, did not struggle through life regarding the material things of life. He was exceedingly rich. Not just riches in terms of wealth but he was rich towards God too. His relationship with God was one of the very best.

After we are saved, the very next item on our list is to bring Gods glory down to the earth by living victorious lives. We serve a big God and He is called the ‘Able God’. He promised in His Word once, ‘Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance!” (Psalm 2:8). Once you are sure of the security of your salvation and certain that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life, you are set for your next best season. What is left on the list for us then is to be bold and do exploits to the glory of God. It is a sad truth that many young Christians live defeated lives, much to the glee of the enemy. Our relationship with God and others are constantly failing and we just can’t seem to be able to hold it together. We keep taking the wrong turn and making the wrong choices ending up in frustration and pleasing the enemy. We weren’t created to make the devil happy; we were made to exercise dominion and power. Our lives must be filled with purpose and relevance. There should be

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a focus and divine direction. We must not live in fear of the future; we must live life to the full, manifesting boldness by God’s Holy Spirit.

In our academics, we must be shining examples: displaying exceptional brilliance and understanding of academic concepts. This is one of the marks of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Oh yes, it’s biblical! Peter was perceived as a learned man once he received the Holy Spirit due to the wisdom and boldness of his speech. It’s our time to tread higher grounds in our spiritual lives, academics and small time businesses. It’s time to try out new things and achieve new successes.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?” You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in

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everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

– Marianne Williamson

Now the big question is…are you doing any exploits yet? The world’s present circumstance shouldn’t stop you from living your dream. Here’s your chance, seize it! It’s still a brand new year; it’s year 2020!

MABEL ESI BOADI

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bit.ly/AboutRELEVANCE

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DARREN SACKEY

man carrying water in Kuntunse had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the man delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the man one day by the stream.

“I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”

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flaws to grace His Father’s table.

“Why?” asked the man. “What are you ashamed of?”

“I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts”, the pot said.

The man felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path”.

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the man for its failure.

The man said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walked back from the stream, you’ve watered them.

For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table.

Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

In God’s great economy, nothing goes to waste.

So as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don’t be afraid of your flaws.

Acknowledge them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway!

‘Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.’

2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT Go out BOLDLY knowing that in our weakness we find His strength!

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our

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ESTHER OWUSUAA ADDO

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Imagine a world of peace A perfect utopia, we Could take control, and cease All of these wars And things would be better We would love each other No pain, no tears No painful agendas, but hey.

We live in fear of things we don’t know Experiences we imagine but never have When this fears comes, it settles, and doesn’t go Leaves us with experiences we imagined, but never had What is more powerful than that?

Than having hypothetical events engrained In your brain But it’s so real, it’s insane How we maintain sanity through this pain.

Is there a solution?

Can someone break these chains?

To give us liberation From our mental banes I can rise above this, because I have courage All things pass, and so shall this barrage As long as I have life I’ll be strong, and bold And one day this strife Will be just another story told.

KWABENA NTI

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And when the stars chose to shine at noon, the sun quietly smiled and said nothing but the quiet smile was full of rays; strong as shine, basking bright, colour to the sky and still quiet. It was only quiet as it smiled. Tonight, the moon is shining as dusk deepens, and still the sun smiles quietly. I hoped the sun would grin, blush and say, “Beat that!”, but my conscience reminded me that the sun’s prideful speech could make us all burn up.

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en thousand times, David must have had opportunity to leave those sheep and insist that he wanted to be at war like his brothers. What is there to a man tending sheep, living like a nomad when he had a home, dealing with flies and feeding on wild fruit? Imagine the everyday smell of sheep when David could have been dining on tables and having some other brother bring him lunch. But these thoughts describe the mentality that, “To be great is to be great where everyone is.” Apparently not! His whole family depended on those sheep, those dirty and stubborn sheep that went off the fields was what fed them. David was a shepherd of what fed his family. David, Mary, Elorm, Cheryl, Samuel, Henry, Afia, Kwame, Amanda; whoever it is you probably are, times and seasons, purposes and plans, each is an opportunity to be relevant and stay relevant.

David was a shepherd boy, but he definitely was no man’s toy; or would you rather I say, no beast’s toy. For what common shepherd is it that says, “I have killed lions and bears and I will do so again?”

Perhaps you’re thinking: I’m only a doctor, a student, a girl, an employee, a f a t h e r,

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a friend, a child, a teacher, and as apt as the word is, you are just you. Spears and cubits of a shield are mighty, horses and chariots alike, but David was David…just David! He was, with a sling and stones and a word of relevance in his heart, saying; “He teacheth my hands to war”. For God and country, Goliath’s head was taken: for God and country, what have you tried and what have you had? Moving away from saying you could only try, you probably should. Let us remake that old song together;

This little light of mine, I’m gon’ let it shine…

This little light of mine, I’m gon’ let it shine…

This little light of mine, I’m gon’ let it shine…

Let it shine, let it shine till it becomes yours.

Yours because the longer it remains mine, the longer I get to only try.

The longer it remains mine, the

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longer I get to decide when you get to see that I have light.

There’s an army of relevance, and their badges bear, “No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel” Because it is only mine, you may not get to see it; but you need my light and I need yours.

the most wrong if he is of no relevance.

David was a shepherd, then a giant slayer, then a warrior, then a king, then a psalmist… and oh, he was one of those commoners that a big king was jealous of. Some of us could be warriors first and then shepherds later. In whatever order it comes, we should understand that relevance is nothing if it is not found in the company of purpose. Be a smiling sun, be relevant when others shine and still be relevant when it’s your time to shine.

Here we are in May 2020, needing no reminders about a pandemic. Imagine your health worker had decided to quit medical school, or your epidemiologist had decided not to stay on the field.

Thank God for an opportunity for these to be relevant. God has created avenues for us to be relevant and we must spend less of our hours trying to figure out how big these avenues are as compared to what others have.

We should invest in having results that will satisfy God first and solve the pandemic raging in our worlds always. Again, purpose, time, plans and seasons each should prove our relevance and not competition. A Christian serving a purposeful God is

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Ring ring…Ring ring…Ring ring

hat was me calling Abeiku to thank him for sharing the link to his church’s online Sunday service. I seldom attended church, and even when I did, it was just so I could meet up with Ewurama after the service ended. Ewurama was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen and I must confess… the very first time I set my eyes on her; she captured my mind, body and soul. She had become my only inspiration for joining in for my church’s youth service. I had never owned a Bible in my life and barring John 3:16, which my little sister kept repeating unendingly, I didn’t know of any other Bible verses.

I lived with my grandmother and Ruby, my little sister, in the outskirts of Accra. The only family I had known and grown to love was my ‘area boys’. We were a group of four friends and we spent days and nights together engaging in one sport or the other. Unfortunately, due to this quarantine period, we had to stop meeting and we cancelled all our soccer matches because

of the little wizard called ‘social distancing’.

bold step. I uttered the words carefully after the preacher. For some strange reason, there was something liberating about those words I uttered; it felt soothing.

I woke up this morning in very high spirits; a feeling that something good was coming my way in a few hours. As usual, I grabbed my phone right after waking, to check for any messages…that was when I saw the link from Abeiku.

I had accepted Jesus Christ online. Oh Hallelujah!

The service was over. I looked over my shoulder and glanced at the huge grandfather clock that hanged at my grandmother’s living room. It was midday already! I had promised to call my boys; two of them had been quarantined.

Some health workers had called me a few days earlier about some contact tracing

I was in awe. I had never heard such words before. Pastor Oti spoke about a believer’s authority. Whoever thought mere humans could exude such power over diseases and situations. There was an altar call; this time I didn’t have to raise my hands and walk in between the pews to the front. Right in the comfort of my home, I decided to take that

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exercise because my friend Philippo had contracted the virus.

He arrived from Germany some weeks ago and insisted on hanging out with us. I remember vividly how that night, my grandmother asked me to stay and help my little sister with her assignment but I obstinately insisted that I had plans. My grandmother had no other option than to let me have my way since my mind was already made up.

The vibration from my phone snapped me out of my thoughts.

I looked at the caller ID and suddenly got tensed. Ayi, one of my friends, was calling. The words of the one of the verses Pastor Oti came rushing through my mind…

‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind’ Believing in these words, I said a short prayer under my breath and picked up the call. I was hoping it will be good news.

“Charley, my test came out positive o and Emma’s is negative” My palms were sweaty at the news.

“Is yours in yet?” Ayi asked.

“Not yet. I was told it’ll be in by 3pm so I’m still waiting” My voice shook with fear as I replied.

I ended the call and closed my eyes; reminiscing all I had heard during the online service. I don’t know where the burst of energy came from but I stood up suddenly and began to make declarations.

Sickness has no dominion over me in Jesus’ name!

I am a child of God! I know who I am!

Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world.

My results are negative in the name of Jesus!

I refuse to be a slave of fear!

God hasn’t given me the spirit of fear but of power, of love and of a sound mind!

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I knelt down and suddenly the energy surge created in me an urge to worship God. I realized I didn’t know any gospel songs and my phone didn’t have any either so I quickly went on YouTube and decided to stream a gospel worship mix. I allowed the songs play in the background as I worshipped from my heart. I had never done this before. Every lyric began to make so much sense. I felt anew. Tears began streaming down my cheeks. I wept like a child; I surrendered my all. It was a soothing experience and the atmosphere felt different. I felt strengthened and was ready for the news. It felt like nothing could go wrong.

I checked the time; it was 4:15pm.

The people had not called yet. I picked up my phone and realized I had received a text message, the news I had been waiting for.

It was negative. I was virus-free. I quickly called the number just to be certain and indeed the results were negative. On my knees and with tears in my eyes, I shouted…

‘Jesus, You are real’!

SERWAA

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TECHNOW

O T D E E N U O Y T A H 9 W 1 D I V O C T U O B A KNOW AND 5G.

disease caused by a pathogen that has been transmitted from non-human animals (usually vertebrates) to humans and then spreads from human to human. Coronavirus is biological and can be transferred from one person to the other through the mouth, eyes and nose (MEN) when one comes in contact with an infected person.

The infected patient who may be asymptomatic or symptomatic can transfer the virus to another person through droplets of fluids containing the virus and these are spread through coughing, sneezing or spitting into the air or surfaces.

Scial media has been a helpful tool in most parts of the world. It has made our world a global village. However the magnitude of information is so overwhelming and mostly appears so trustworthy that it is sometimes a challenge to decipher wrong from right, and concocted information from facts. It is no different with this current pandemic, where many have shared various therapies to cure the virus and also, brought out stories with facts to buttress how the virus could have emerged. The 5G story is one of such.

Reports have so far traced the disease to an animal market in Wuhan where the first case was recorded.

Corona virus is a zoonotic disease, an infectious

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first in Southeast Asia to roll out 5G network after Globe Telecom commercially launched its 5g data plans to customers. On 1st November 2019, China officially launched 5G network.

5G DEVELOPMENT AND STANDARDIZATION

EMERGENCE OF 5G In order to achieve this ambitious plan of using internet as a medium to transport big data to connect devices that will enhance industrial efficiency, improve healthcare delivery, education and agriculture among others, the 5th Generation (5G) of mobile telephony technology was developed. It is 10 times the current speed and volume data that is being provided by 4G. This technology was designed to carry voice and big data using non-ionizing electromagnetic wave as a means of transport over the air interface to devices. Non-ionizing electromagnetic wave or radiation is the range of frequencies on the electromagnetic spectrum that cannot cause harm to the human tissue/cell/ DNA when exposed to the radiation.

E.g. FM radio frequencies, television frequencies, 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G frequencies. South Korea, China, and the United States are the countries that have led the world in building and deploying 5G technology. On 3rd April 2019, South Korea became the first country to adopt 5G. In June 2019, Philippines became the

The specifications for a new generation of mobile telecommunications are set primarily by two bodies: ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project). ITU coordinates the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promotes international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and assists in the development and coordination of worldwide technical standards. The ITU is also active in the areas of broadband Internet, latest-generation wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, satellite-based meteorology, convergence in fixed-mobile phone, Internet access, data, voice, TV broadcasting, and next-generation networks.

5G SPECTRUM AND FREQUENCY ALLOCATION 5G is deployed on a range of frequency bands from low and narrow frequency bands to high and wide Frequency bands. This high-band spectrum is sometimes called millimeter wavelength (mmWave) in the cellular industry, and it enables about 18 – 80 GHz of frequency. 5G can be

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deployed with low frequency band such as 700MHz – 2500MHz as being deployed by Verizon, a mobile network Operator (MNO) in the United States of America, to cover wide area while deploying the high-band frequencies to help with the features that 5G promises, including potentially supporting 1 million devices per square kilometer. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of USA has opened up vast amounts of bandwidth in high-band spectrum for 5G. This spectrum is called 5G new radio frequency bands. Verizon deployed its 5G Ultra-Wide Frequency Band UWB network using 28 and 39 GHz mmWave spectrum bands having 40x bandwidth of 4G LTE 700MHz network.

MICROWAVE RADIATION OF 5G The microwave radiation from 5G equipment is not harmful to the human body. In 1947 the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) established the ISM bands, which stand for Industrial, Scientific, and Medical. The goal was to define what devices would be allowed to run at certain bands of radio frequency so that they would not cause interference with other radio communication services.

Frequencies band between 300MHz – 300GHz have been allocated as microwave frequency bands. Because of frequency bandwidth constraints and the requirement of higher bandwidth to transmit big data, 30 – 300GHz range has been reserved by most countries to deploy 5G technology

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to benefit from the wide frequency band. This high frequency does not mean that radiation levels are being compromised. First the range of frequency is still within the non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation which simply means it does not emit harmful radiations that would break chemical bonds or remove electrons when in contact with human tissues. It cannot alter the DNA of humans.

In order for 5G to cover a wider geographical area, more base stations (gNodeB) need to be installed since the very high frequency bands have lower wavelength, in this case it is as low as a millimeter. This increase in the number of base stations, and their proximity to humans, is one factor that may cause some fears in people. However, no health impact has been found after several tests conducted.

The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) is an international commission specialized in non-ionizing radiation protection. ICNIRP checks the emission levels of telecommunication equipment and devices to ensure their emissions are within the acceptable threshold.

IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN COVID-19 AND 5G? It was stated earlier that 5G was officially launched on November 1st 2019 in Wuhan city in China. 16 days after, the first case of COVID-19 was traced. (I.e. 17th November, 2019) also in Wuhan city in China. This is the reason why COVID-19 was attributed to the development of 5G. However, there are certain false conspiracy theories that claim 5G is somehow responsible

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> WHERE 5G SITS IN

THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

for coronavirus. These theories appear to have first emerged via Facebook posts in late January, around the same time the first cases were recorded in the US. These theories appear to be in 2 groups - one claims 5G can suppress the immune system, thus making people more susceptible to catching the virus; the other suggests the virus can somehow be transmitted through the use of 5G technology.

Dr. Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, made a statement that both notions are “complete rubbish”. He again stated that the idea that 5G lowers your immune system doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Dr. Simon Clarke said, “Your immune

>

5G is not harmful to health and it does not cause any disease.

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system can be dipped by all sorts of thing - by being tired one day, or not having a good diet. Those fluctuations aren’t huge but can make you more susceptible to catching viruses”.

While very strong radio waves can cause heating, 5G is nowhere near strong enough to heat people up enough to have any meaningful effect! He concluded with this, “Radio waves can disrupt your physiology as they heat you up, meaning your immune system can’t function. But [the energy levels from] 5G radio waves are tiny and they are nowhere near strong enough to affect the immune system”.

The radio waves involved in 5G and other mobile phone technology sit on the low frequency end of the electromagnetic spectrum. Less powerful than visible light, they are not strong enough to damage cells - unlike radiation at the higher frequency end of the spectrum which includes the sun’s rays and medical x-rays.

It would also be impossible for 5G to transmit the virus, Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol, adds.

“The present epidemic is caused by a virus that is passed from one infected person to another.

We know this is true. We even have the virus growing in our lab, obtained from a person with the

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illness. Viruses and electromagnetic waves that make mobile phones and internet connections work are different things. As different as chalk and cheese,” he says.

the frequency power of 5G technology. “Generally, x-ray, ultraviolet, and gamma rays have negative effects on the immune system. These rays are much more powerful than the 5G frequency,” he said. He also added that it should not be forgotten that the virus is physically transmitted by droplets and not by transmissions. Unay stressed that the advantages of 5G should not be defamed by misinformation on social media.

Those in social media, who claim that people get the coronavirus because 5G technology weakens the immune system, make baseless allegations, said a Turkish social media expert.Deniz Unay, a social media expert said information in digital world spreads as fast as COVID-19 outbreak when he had an interview with Anadolu Agency. According to Unay, on one hand, the world is fighting with the virus; on the other hand, it is also struggling with the baseless allegations related to the virus due to contents which are shared uncontrollably on social media. He said one of those groundless allegations is that due to the effects of 5G technology on the immune system, people get the coronavirus. Unay added that though there is no research about the effects of 5G on the immune system, this misinformation has spread rapidly.

REFERENCES 1. Retrieved from https:// citinewsroom. com/2020/04/5g-technology-and-the-link-to coronavirus-disease-article/ on 29th April, 2020 at 19:30pm.

2. Retrieved https://www.qualcomm.com/ invention/5g/what-is-5g on 27th April,2020 at 10:00 am.

3. Retrieved from https://www.aa.com.tr/en/ latest-on-coronavirus-outbreak/is-there-anyconnection-between-5g -covid-19/1817018 on 1st May, 2020 at 1:00pm

“According to researches and tests of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), 5G is not harmful to health and it does not cause any disease,” he said. He further adds that people like to produce conspiracy theories; that is why some people spread this kind of allegations. “When the profiles of those, who claim that 5G is among the causes of contracting the virus, are examined, it can be seen that they believe in and share many different conspiracy theories,” he said.

According to Unay, the basis of these claims, which are not based on scientific research, is

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“Necessity is the mother of invention.”

(English proverb)

Not too long ago, the most popular significance of the word “ZOOM” was probably relative to seeing a detail in a photograph in better clarity. However, the newest buzzword on everyone’s lips in these times, “Coronavirus” has come to change the first association the average person makes with the word “zoom” to the app that has made such a difference to the whole world -Eric Yuan’s ZOOM app.

Once upon a time, Eric Yuan was a freshman in university who was in love with his girlfriend. Relatable? Mostly… until you get to the part where you find out that his girlfriend lived far away from where he was schooling and the only way he could access her was by ten-hour-long train rides. What’s a man in love to do? Stay in his room and weep? Well, this thorny conundrum provided the inspiration for Eric Yuan to start looking at videotelephony as “an easier way of visiting her”; an effort which has, eventually morphed into the app that has us connected to each other despite the fact that we must practice social distancing.

Relevance.

something to build, something to invest in and be of great relevance to the world while bringing glory to the Master who gave us those talents.

It is important for us not to underestimate the gifts God has given us and to invest in them. In the spirit of how all things work together for the good of those who love God (Rom. 8:28), this era of quarantine may be just the time you could use to discover those talents and abilities deep inside you and develop them.

For make no mistake, the world is waiting for you. Someone is waiting for you, and your gift is absolutely relevant to someone’s life. You never know which prime moment your gift will be called for. I doubt Eric Yuan knew back in 1987, when the idea of developing videotelephony came to him, that several years down the line, the whole word would be ZOOMing in on it as a prime means of communication.

The ideas, the gifts and the talents that the Master has given you are very relevant to the world we live in … if only you will seize the day. It is but a matter of time.

All of us are the solutions to someone’s problem; all of us were called to make an impact in the lives of the people around us in one way or another. Like the servants in the parable of the talents, the Master has given everyone something. Some may have five, some two, some one but when it comes down to the bottom line, everyone has something; something to develop,

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I

t would be of little surprise that your subconscious intuitively hummed the melody accompany-ing these words. To one person, this might just be a familiar line from a song. To another, it is just a farfetched reminder of what the road after Salvation looks like.

I beg to differ. This is a call that continues unabated, one which must be imprinted in our minds and on our hearts; Stand Up and Stand Out! In this dark world, the greatest calamity to befall man is not death, but life with-out Christ- He who gives us a reason and a purpose.

Fortunately for us believers, we have found a new life in Christ. Yes, we know Jesus and have a growing relationship with Him. Yes, we have been filled with the Holy Spirit. However, the elephant in the room still remains.

How do we temper bold evangelization with secular relevance? How do we boldly walk in our earthly purpose and not kowtow to the standards of this world? With this in mind, let us go on a jour-ney to discover how to boldly live out, stand up and stand out for Jesus!

In my 20 plus years on this planet, I have come to realize that one of the biggest challenges to our calling to spread the Gospel is being unsure

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of when to evangelize through words or action.

Many people are offended by any belief that opposes their own. I grew up in an environment where everybody’s views were accepted even if they were wrong or contrary to the norm. At the time it was a progressive way of thinking.

However after being born again and saved by Jesus, how was I going to tell the ‘lost’ of my newly found and proclaimed belief, if indeed I was sup-posed to accept that their belief systems were also valid? After a series of these contentions in my mind, I found my answer in the life of Paul in the Word of God.

day basis, we can then show others who Christ is. This is not to say we should solely focus on fellowship with Him alone. It’s definitely a balancing act! It would be an absolute disaster if we turned a blind eye to the culture of today, causing others to miss the opportunity of the Holy Spirit to reach them, right where they are.

If we’re in tune with the world around us and with His voice simultaneously, He will show us how to minister to whoever He places in our path.

So do you remember that feeling in your gut that nudged at you to speak to someone about that IA that didn’t go so well? Or that interior whisper to ask them how they are feeling when they are all alone or silent? What about that idea to post a tweet on addictions? The Holy Spirit is al-ways welling up inside us, telling us to act, asking us to trust and most importantly obey.

Arguably, no individual shared Christ as passionately as Paul the “Apostle of the Gentiles” throughout the span of Christian history. One of the things I found most intriguing about Paul’s ministry across the world was that he spent time studying each community before ever stepping foot near a pulpit! He learnt their intricate culture and ways of living and even shared in their plights and sorrows. He became a member of their community and not a loose strand in their fab-ric- just as Christ did for us when he walked the earth. Paul who was fully filled with the Holy Spirit, fulfilled the central call of the Christian: to be in the world, and not of the world. Once he established real relationships with others founded on love, he was able to reach them and speak to them where they were and as they were through the Holy Spirit, sharing the Good News to them in their own terms and expressions of secular language.

In the moments I’ve recognized and responded to these ‘nudges’ in blind acquiesce; I have been surprised beyond my imagination. In response to genuine passion and concern, people have opened up to me on a range of issues from heartbreak to depression. What I find most humbling in all of this is that, I seem to be the angel who has met them at their point of need when I share words of comfort. This however is the full working of the Holy Spirit in my life-an opportunity to snatch a soul from hell. Finding common ground and getting on their level almost always does the trick. There are areas of convergence in our culture which we should explore to reach the un-reached- from music to food to sports to social media. How can we transform secular enjoyment into reflections of Christ’s light, opening the way for meaningful conversations?

As cliché as this saying is, it still holds true-you can’t give what you don’t have. Daily communion with God is an absolute necessity if we want to navigate this terrain successfully. We need to be in tune with the Spirit personally in order not to allow opportunities pass us by every day due to our carnal judgment or lack of awareness. When we seek Him on a day to

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Sanguines like myself handle our day to day business with a joy that sparks curiosity in

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others, with a contagious smile, or by surprising someone by buying them lunch. If you’re seeking to break barriers with all audacity, you can even sit and talk with someone who is unusually quiet and reserved or share an uplifting YouTube video with someone on your contact list. We may not see the fruit of our seeds immediately, but we should also never underestimate God’s ability to act in the simple through us!

of being “fishers of men” to being “keepers of the aquarium”. While we may not say it so obviously, many live as though the Church’s purpose is to make sure that Christians are happy and content.

We focus on our own spiritual health, our own fellowship and our own doctrinal purity, often at the expense of interaction with the world. We shy away from engagement of the secular world with the Gospel which is quite paradoxical. Jesus does not say, “You are the salt of the Church” or “You are the light of the Church.” We are called to be salt of the earth and light of the World.

Of course, one size doesn’t fit all. There are many methods to be witnesses of Christ’s love – whether speaking words of Truth, praying for others silently, or loving in the little things. It could be simply listening to others or expressing genuine joy. These should be part of our daily walk. However one thing I would like to emphasize is that, when I’m vulnerable and relatable with people, when I find common ground, they are more open to my beliefs and experiences and I to theirs which enables me to get across my message in a non-imposing manner. This enables the gospel to reach them more effectively and from then on the Holy Spirit does the rest.

We are ambassadors of Christ, visiting a world that is not our home, showing people how awesome our real home is, and inviting them with our outstretched non-judgmental arms to come with us. We are the light of hope to those who are stumbling around in spiritual darkness. We are reminded that each of us have a paramount duty to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us and as in the parable of the talents, we can reliably predict Him to want the crème de la crème on His investment upon His return . Our energy, time, talent, finances and more, are all gifts that we have been freely given by Him, with which to we are to live out our God given-purpose on earth. So go out in all confidence and courage in pursuit of your purpose to win the world for Jesus by standing up and standing out!

Every day, we come in contact with people who differ from us in perspective and reasoning. I believe strongly that these souls are specifically placed in our path by God. When we feel called to evangelize, there is fear of being rejected and that makes us uncomfortable. That is totally log-ical. However, we must remember we’re not called to comfort and Christ was not accepted by all.

We must remember that though we are not of the world, we must be in it because our presence is relevant to shaping and changing the status quo. In today’s world as Christians, we seem to have changed our core mandate

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The Lord in all his wisdom has endowed each man with a special gift which when manifested is beneficial to humanity.

Those who duly manifest their gifts may peacefully embrace the afterlife with the hope of an eternal relevance, satisfied with the knowledge of having fulfilled their life’s purpose in their generation. In the fulfilment of purpose, the virtue of boldness cannot be overemphasized.

Boldness is the willingness to take risks and act innovatively; it is likened to confidence and courage. It is the catalyst that makes every idea a reality and moves people to act out their dreams. Throughout history, the revolutions and innovations that have transformed humanity’s fate and brought improvements in life have been due to the bold actions of upright men. Consider the

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circumstances surrounding these instances from the Bible: David’s extraordinary defeat of the seemingly unsurmountable Goliath; Daniel’s casting into and eventual escape from the den of lions; Jesus Christ’s willful embrace of an excruciating crucifixion on Calvary; or in our contemporary world, the example of freedom fighters like Nelson Mandela who confidently opposed the evils of apartheid in spite of the immense apparent persecution he eventually suffered. Clearly, these are very fearful and terrifying situations which very few men will be bold to face. The boldness that led to such achievements is uncommon and cannot be shown without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That is why we are so blessed as Christians.

The knowledge that we have Christ is our hope of glory. We can and must fulfil our purpose in our generation because our boldness is in Christ who strengthens us.

Not all people are naturally

bold– past experiences, unhealthy beliefs, or temperaments ignite insecurities and fear in many people. As Christians, however, we are joyful because of our salvation through Jesus Christ.

This hope is the basis of our faith and the source of our boldness.

To lead

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effectively, speak truthfully, and be pure in our conduct, we need to be bold. We have a charge to spread God’s Word, live worthy lives and manifest the gifts God has innately placed within us for all the world to see. Yet, we encounter strong opposition and difficulties in endeavoring to achieve them: we fear that we may fail, we may be rejected by loved ones, or we may hurt our reputation. Whenever we decide to be great, opposition is imminent, and that is why we must be bold. For those who have no basis for their hope, it is difficult to be bold. But for us Christians, the reality of the Holy Spirit is good news. We are confident in the knowledge that Christ who never fails is in us and for us.

For those who believe in the sovereignty of boldness and confidence, it is important to remember that the presumable manly virtue cannot stand alone. Vain boldness is lethal: it results in people being rash and impulsive, and making hasty decisions which are detrimental to them and others who look up to them.

The naturally bold must particularly be wary of the tendency to become egoistic - arrogance borne out of the admiration that people spontaneously have for the bold. To effectively remain relevant to our generation, Christians must nurture virtues such as humility, patience and selflessness in addition to boldness. In so doing, we learn and know the truth we proclaim, exhibit good judgment, are receptive to other people’s views, and set our priorities right.

We are then equipped to remain relevant to our generation in God’s plan.

We must always remember: a life led in imitation of Jesus is bound to upset or challenge, explicitly or implicitly, the status quo. Therefore, for the Christian leader, the fear should of contention hold him back from leading fairly, the comforter from encouraging others, the able from assisting others, the musician from ministering to great multitudes, or the preachers and teachers from proclaiming the truth.

We should act boldly because very often, the only way to figure out what to do is to do something. In so doing, we remain relevant both now and eternally.

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FOOD

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INSTRUCTIONS

INGREDIENTS

• CRACK the eggs into a medium mixing bowl. Add your dairy of choice and the salt. WHISK just until the egg yolks and whites are blended. Whisk in all or half of the cheese if desired before frying. Set the mixture aside.

• 3-6 eggs • 3 tablespoons milk • ½ teaspoon salt • 1 cup (4 ounces) grated or crumbled cheese (OPTIONAL)

• WARM the olive oil or butter in a 12″ cast iron skillet until simmering.

Add the vegetables, starting with chopped onions or other dense vegetables. Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, then add any softer vegetables such as zucchini.

COOK until those vegetables are tender, then add any garlic or greens, and cook until fragrant or wilted. Season with salt, to taste.

• 3 to 5 cups vegetables or greens of choice (or 3 cups leftover cooked vegetables or greens) • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil or butter • Garnish: Chopped or torn fresh, leafy herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro, or dill) (OPTIONAL)

• WHISK the eggs once more and pour the mixture over the vegetables.

STIR with a spatula briefly to combine and distribute the mixture evenly across the pan. If you reserved any cheese, sprinkle it on top of the frittata now. Cook over low to medium heat until eggs are almost set; 8 to 10 minutes.

• REMOVE from heat. COVER and LET STAND until eggs are completely set and no visible liquid egg remains, 5 to 10 minutes. CUT into wedges.

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O

n February 24th, the world remembered the life of a man at the Staples Center in Los Angeles where he once played for the Los Angeles Lakers. A man who believed that greatness is to inspire the people next to you, that greatness does not live and die with one person, but in turn inspires others.

This man was nicknamed The Black Mamba, born August 23, 1978, an American professional basketball player, and played as a shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers in twenty seasons. He was married for 19 years to his high school sweetheart Vanessa Liane and this love birthed four daughters, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, Natalia Diamante Bryant, Bianka Bella Bryant and Capri Kobe Bryant. A family man by all standards, his wife Vanessa described him as the father who would lift up the toilet seat for you even after using it, a father who bathed his kids, and a father who inspired the best out of his children.

He believed in the ability of a person to inspire others to also achieve greatness. He was loved by many because of his life which spelt out exactly what he believed in, GREATNESS. His spectacular moves and games as a basketball hall of famer has left many vacuoles in the heart of many NBA stars as well as fans.

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x SPORTS passion, and FEARLESSNESS. Traits he embodied through and through. A man who never left anything to chance, Kobe’s distinguishing attributes were preparation, persistence, curiosity, a commitment to excellence and influence, and of course boldness. In what was a heartfelt speech at the memorial held for Kobe and his daughter Giana, Michael Jordan affirmed this curiosity in Kobe. A curiosity that led him to call even at odd hours of the day to enquire about foot work and better his game.

Kobe had low points in his career as well and this led to the creation of his doppelganger, the Black Mamba. At a point when he felt he had to separate his personal life from his life on the court, he coined the name, the Black Mamba while watching the movie “Kill Bill”. A man who suffered various comparisons to other great basketball players like Michael Jordan, Kobe only aspired to be a better version of himself at each game.

His legacy is relevant to us in this day as we aspire to accomplish great things and take a bold step. But as we try to make a legacy out of our lives today, understudying the greatness of others should enlighten our minds and our hearts to help others up even as we achieve selfactualization.

On the 26th of January, 2020, in a very unfortunate incidence, Kobe died at 41 in a helicopter crash together with his daughter and seven others.

As the world stilled to the news of His death as well as his daughter, his legacy lives on.

On October 23, 2018, he released the book “Mamba mentality; how I play”. Mamba mentality is a mindset for constant self-improvement in the pursuit of your highest potential for life. The five key emotions under this mentality are honesty, detachment, optimism,

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Episode 1 – BOLD It’s a little past 4pm, tells the small ‘yam’ in his cold, pale, pruney palm.

The rains seem to be finally showing signs of relenting, but in the skies the drama is far from over. In fact, the fury is on! Echoes from the thunderings challenge the very foundations of every erupted structure, small and huge alike, as they vibrate through the earth.

And when the flashes of lightning rocket across the gloomy skies, they give a fearful unusually intense illumination and brightness to everything around. This Friday afternoon in August is scary. As he gazes at the rippling surface of the dirty large pool of water that threatens to raid even the small safe corner he has taken refuge at, he is battling on the inside. A part of him wants to step out of this small comfortable zone; the other is crippled by fear, fear inspired by the many “what if’s” that have flooded his vulnerable mind. Meanwhile the new bout of screams and wailings he hears is fast increasing in intensity. He is in torment; a voice keeps telling him “this time you must do something… you are a doctor!” and anytime those words hit him, the sad scene he witnessed a few minutes ago replays all over again, and with such vividness. The clarity of the picture that haunts him is too discomforting. She was crying hopelessly for help as she run past the small container that is sheltering him. The fierce rains and the feel of insecurity in the air were the least of this middle-aged woman’s concerns. All that mattered to her was to get the young lady she was carrying in her arms, whoever she was to her, to the nearest place of help as fast as she could. It looked like she was almost about to lose her, if she had not already lost her – lying motionless with her full weight on the arms that supported her, her suspending head, arms and legs swinging freely in the air, her tongue fallen out of her mouth that was copiously foaming, she looked a real vegetable. He witnessed all this and was okay to look on comfortably from his safe haven. And as the scene keeps coming back to him, many questions are running through his mind. Could he have done something? What could he have possibly done?

In a split second the fear gives way, and an unusual courage grips him

He has seen a few people dash across the street to see what’s happening this time around. Pressure is mounting on him and he is crumbling under it. “Must be knee level” he estimates, taking another look at the large collection of water that seems to be receding now. In a split second the fear gives way, and an unusual courage grips him, he grabs his wet, heavy bag pack and tosses it at his back. He steals a last glance at the pool of water, this time with determination-shot eyes, and then “splash”, he steps into the water. Indeed the waters are almost up to his knees, but the MAY/ JUN 2020

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opposition is significant. This muddy water is heavy and as its currents move they offer a considerable resistance to his progress. In every respect, his courage is tested as he navigates carefully and cautiously through the waters, a step at a time, under the load that is behind him. He manages to prevail against the odds and he finally steps out, a man on a mission. Everybody is heading for one direction, and so following suit, he hastens to the scene he is very much curious to see. It is all crowded in the middle of this wet street, potholes are filled with muddy water, gutters are running and spilling over, and there is hardly any space for vehicular movement.

“A doctor… a doctor… give way… step back” and that is how he manages to squeeze himself through this gathered crowd that is overcome with the shock of the unanticipated atrocity they are witnessing now. Some are looking on helplessly in disbelief, others can’t help it but cry their hearts out, and a few clear-headed ones are in the middle giving their best efforts to bring some hope. He bumps into a few bodies and steps on a few feet, but he keeps his focus – he must get to the middle of this gathering and he does. Suddenly the attention of the crowd shifts, another figure has taken center stage. It’s a young man, a little over five feet and a half, with a body that speaks rather very little of his bravery. He looks very unsightly, wet and dirty, with water constantly dripping from the bottom hem of his soaked blue-black trousers unto his wet brown boots. Taking over from the men in the middle, he stoops low and, looking closely at the “lifeless” body that lay in the middle of this gathering, he places two fingers on the neck. “Quick! Get a ‘pragiya’… we don’t have time” he shouts at the men. He immediately places his right palm on the back of his left hand locking his fingers together, and placing them on the bare chest of this body, he begins to push as hard and fast as he can with every remaining strength in him. He seems to know what he’s doing, or does he? He has been pushing for the past 5 minutes and just when his arms are about to fail a yellow motor vehicle drives to the scene, screeching to a sudden halt. Quickly, the men mobilize the body to the back of the motor vehicle and he steps in too.

Away, they take off at top speed but he can still see the crowd through the back of the vehicle. As the figures of the staring crowd begin to grow smaller he spots a boy making a rather ambitious attempt to catch up with the racing vehicle. As he is running he is waving his right hand vigorously in the air. “Oh no!” he realizes, it’s his bag pack of valuables. But the mission-bound motor vehicle has taken off, and for obvious reasons, can afford neither to slow down nor stop. Meanwhile, the only rest his arms have had is the few seconds it took to get into the vehicle. They are now trembling terribly with each push, but he must push – a life hangs in the balance.

To be continued . . . *yam – a small mobile phone with basic functions *pragiya – a commercial motor tricycle

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1.

The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel� is the latest biopic of the best, award-winning female singing group, The Clark Sisters.

It depicts the lives of 5 sisters who have all been gifted with angelic voices, and their strict and goal-oriented mother who will stop at nothing to see that the vision about her daughters which she received from God MAY/ JUN 2020

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in a dream become a reality.

In the process, the girls and their mother encounter a lot of hardships, trials, and difficult situations which test their faith and love for God. This movie is a must-watch because it teaches about keeping your faith and pressing on even in the the midst storms, when everything seem to be falling apart. It also has several lessons pertaining to almost every sphere of life; family, marriage, relationships, ministry (especially the music ministry), among others.

“Denise, you can sing or run from Detroit to DC, but that’s not your anointing. Your anointing is the life you live. What you do when you’re not on stage, what you do when people ain’t clapping, what you do when nobody ain’t looking but God.” These were the words of encouragement of Dr. Clark to one of her daughters in the movie.

The movie features Kierra Sheard, a renowned Gospel musician, and Raven Godwin, former Good Luck Charlie costar.

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2.

3.

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BACK TO THE BOOK

PEOPLE

Todd Dulaney’s album EP released this year intends to lead people ‘Back to the Book’, that is the Bible, through David’s rich psalms.

There are three songs in this EP which were taken directly from biblical scriptures.

Mcreynolds new album seeks to give people an approach to seek to live a better life as Christians. The album focuses on the promise of God and the role of self-control in achieving eternal life. This album features Mali Music, Pastor Mike Todd and The Walls Group.

Todd Dulaney

Jonathan Mcreynolds

The track list is as follows: 1. Proverbs 3 (Tablet of Your Heart) 2. Psalm 18 (I will call on The Name) 3. Psalm 23 (He’s a strong tower)

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The track list is as follows: 1. Best Thing 2. People 3. Church People 4. Cathedral 5. Movin’ On 6. Situation

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7. He knows 8. Grace

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BUT GOD

MAVERICK CITY VOL.3 PART 1

Trinity Music Crew

Maverick City

The But God album released in 2019 by Trinity Music Crew, a contemporary gospel music group contains songs that lifts up our spirit and draws us closer to God. The central theme of this album is that we may go through various troubles and situations but God is there to deliver us. This album features Nana Amoah, K.B. Asante and other gospel musicians. The most ministered song on this album is “Woye ma me� and opens our eyes to the goodness of God. The track list is as follows: 1. God like no other 10.

2. Love Anthem 11.

3. Lord I worship You 12.

4. Emmanuel 13.

5. You are great 14.

6. Eben Dofo 7. Appellations 8. Worship moment 1 9. Worship moment 2

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This album by Maverick City which was released this year generally highlights trusting God and His love, giving your entire being to God as Romans 12 makes us understand, and having the desire to be intimate with Him. The track list is as follows: 1. Fill the Room 2. Love is a Miracle 3. Man of your word 4. Lean Back 5. Promises 6. Holy Ghost 7. Thank You 8. Such an Awesome God 9. Have my heart 10. Closer 11. My heart Your home

Ogya Kronkron Hen Woye ma me Suo me mu Praise medley

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LAST WORD

W “ note from yin

Dear Cherished Readers,

We have enjoyed every bit of putting this magazine together for you. We do hope it has been a great learning experience for you, an eye opener and an epiphany. I am quite sure by this time we have all been amped up to stand with boldness and seize the day now. The world truly awaits our manifestation.

I leave us to mull on the words of the poem, “our deepest fear”, by Marianne Williamson, once quoted by visionary leader, President Nelson Mandela and in the “Akeelah and the Bee” movie.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.

There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking So that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we’re liberated from our own fear our presence automatically liberates others.

We would love to hear your feedback.

Follow us on Instagram @gnomic_magazine.

Feature in our next issue by writing for us.

Until our next issue, Be bold. Stay relevant. Pursue excellence

Yatongo YINLOGRE ATONGO EIC, Cape-Coast

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The best of all is that God is with us.

- JOHN WESLEY

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