On Sunday, the 6th of June, 2021, my life forever changed. It was an early Sunday morning, and I preached my first sermon on bare land under a canopy, with about 20 members mostly from our main branch and a few people I had invited during the week. I had been commissioned in May 2021 to start the church’s first branch in Pantang, behind the hospital, in a gated new community called Jeleel City (formerly Pine City).
That morning, I remember there was news circulating about a prominent Nigerian Prophet who had passed on that morning. Fast forward it’s been 4 years, and we just celebrated our branch’s fourth anniversary. I want to share 4 key lessons I have learned in the past four years as a Pastor and also an entrepreneur.
1. God Calls Men Because the Harvest Is Plentiful: Be Patient as a Vessel
Matthew 9:37 – Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” It may seem like there is an influx of churches, but the truth is that true laborers are few. We are currently in the final hours of the end times, and many have fallen away from the faith. People are given to crime, vile sexuality, and all kinds of immorality. So God raises and sends men to territories to make an impact in the lives of people.
The process for a person to be convicted and to change their ways is one that takes God and a willing vessel who will not give up. God loves the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son. He wants everyone to have more than one chance at salvation, so He sends men to take territories and raise a godly generation. The first lesson I’ve learned is patience. The journey of transformation varies from person to person some take 3 months, some 2 years, and others even longer. I’ve seen people who, after two years, come to the knowledge of the excellent ways of Jesus Christ. Others come into the light but eventually backslide. Some pick up the things of God but at a very slow pace. What’s critical is to understand that there is only one narrow way, and whether you walk fast or slow, what matters is that you strive to enter. The calling to be a Pastor teaches you patience especially with people. People have needs, people need someone to listen to their problems, people need prayers, people need someone they can trust and people need the Word of God. People need a patient shepherd.
2.
a)Be Ready to Give God Your All: Sacrifice
Most often, when sacrifice is mentioned, people think of giving large sums of money. But one of the most important sacrifices is recorded in: Romans 12:1 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service”.
I am an entrepreneur running my own businesses, mainly in technology. When you work for yourself, you become the main income generator. You must ensure salaries are paid and bills are settled, which makes your schedule extremely busy. Entrepreneurship requires diligence, working with the right people, and staying alert for opportunities especially in a society like ours in Ghana. You need to give your business 100% attention.
Blending entrepreneurship with pastoral work is very interesting. Pastoral work also involves evangelism, following up with your flock, praying consistently to discern God’s will, interceding, and preparing sermons for both our Friday power services and Sunday services. Both ministry and business demand full attention.
Let’s go back to 2021 when I started pastoring the church. I went to God in prayer, believing He would call me into full-time ministry because I didn’t know how both could work together. I didn’t hear a word when I prayed, but instead, I had more dreams about my work which included new ideas and opportunities. It was as if God did not know I wanted to focus mainly on His work. Till date I receive more prophecies about my business than my ministry. I believe about 85% of the prophecies I have received in my life thus far are always focused on business and entrepreneurship. I also spoke to my senior pastor, who commissioned me, but he did not believe God had called me into full-time ministry so he asked I do both ministry and business and desire the wisdom of God in order to fulfil both assignments.
I decided not to quit and instead trusted God for wisdom to manage both. Today, I cannot say I have figured it all out, however, I have managed to keep both ministry and business running by trying my best to delegate work(under my supervision) and for ministry, to focus on discipleship to raise more passionate lovers of Jesus Christ like myself. I am grateful I didn’t quit my day job, as I continue to employ young people and earn enough to support ministry work without becoming a burden to the church.
The sacrifice I am talking about involves time, money, effort, ideas, and more. I believe I devote more energy to God’s work than to my business, because while business pays the bills, God’s work brings eternal rewards. I’ve missed important work meetings for church duties, but I’m gradually finding a better balance. If you want to do both, your life must be sacrificial, but always prioritise God, as stated in: Matthew 6:33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
You only truly understand sacrifice when you are on the front lines of ministry, being used by God to solve people’s problems.
2b. Present Your Body as Holy
Righteousness and holiness are essential in pastoring a church. The vessel must be holy. God will send all kinds of sheep your way, which includes the good and bad but what will ensure you remain standing is your consistent fellowship with God and holiness.
1 Peter 1:16 – “because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
2 Peter 1:21 – “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit”.
Being disciplined is key to walking in holiness. This is why it is good to be married, in order that you do not burn with passion, as written in 1 Corinthians 7:8–9 – “But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion”.
As a pastor, people hold you to higher moral standards. Many will learn more from your actions than from your sermons. You must walk in self-control, especially regarding the opposite sex, and be intentional about what you listen to, watch, and admire.
It’s vital to remain accountable to a God-ordained authority. If you discern the slightest form of trouble, seek godly counsel. Many men of God fell because they had no one to be accountable to. Vigilance and physical safeguards help your righteous walk. For example, if someone is known to struggle with lust, avoid counselling them alone in your office. Instead, choose a more open and visible setting such as near the altar after service or outside the church; ensuring you’re out of earshot to preserve their privacy. Also avoid holding private counselling sessions alone on non-service days.
To Be Continued…
I will end here and share the remaining two lessons in Part Two of this blog. I will be touching on leaning on God and walking in obedience with emphasis on the role of consistent prayer and dependence on God’s word as core pillars in my life as both a Pastor and entrepreneur.
