Post Date: Tuesday, January 22, 2013

By Alicia Austin

Pain, process, and promise.

At a time when things seem challenging for most people, these small but dynamic words was what us New Testament Church of God members needed to hear.

As the first quarter of the New Testament Church of God annual convention was powerfully ushered in on Sunday, these words certainly emitted waves of comfort to Christians and sinners alike in the beautiful and pristine auditorium at MERC, Fairchild Street, Bridgetown, St Michael.

Even though the sun held back its rays and the outside was gloomy allowing the clouds to occasionally send drizzles of rain for the majority of the morning, the presence of God illuminated the organisation’s headquarters, as shout of “Glory to God”, “Hallelujah”, and “Praise the Lord” sounded throughout the impactful sermon brought dramatically but seriously by our new Caribbean Field Director, Bishop Ishmael Charles.

He linked the three words with Exodus chapter 2 verses 23 to 25, and therefore reassuring those gathered that in order for God’s promise to be fulfilled in their life He (God) must take them through a process whereby they would experience pain. “How do you get to the promise? You have to go through a process. The problem with us is that we don’t like to go through the process,” he said and further added that God always remembers His promise.

The man of God who was appointed to office last August charged the congregation that God was looking for a Moses to lead His people. He brought to their recollection the story of Moses while asking how can God be so strategic. He declared that God allowed Moses to be fully grown in Pharaoh’s palace after being rescued by his (Pharaoh) daughter to lead God’s people – the Israelites – out of Egypt. He then pointed out that there is a Moses in every generation.

Throughout the prophetic message, Charles encouraged the packed auditorium including 17 new converts who were given a hearty welcome into the New Testament of God family with this phrase: “I have seen, I have heard, and I am coming down to deliver,” meaning that God have seen their affliction and will deliver them. This statement of pure consolation unquestionably brought out the highest praise and smiles of satisfaction from the lips of the believers. He also preached that God does not listen to pain but faith.

As the Vincentian native spoke of some of his experiences where God delivered him he assured us that this year God will release His people from bondage and warned pastors and church leaders to be careful that they do not lead God’s people into bondage. “The Word of God is to rebuke, bless, and exalt to righteousness,” he admonished.

Before an altar call was given, members and visitors to the Christian organisation was encouraged to live holy all week long. He said if we live right God’s church will flourish. “You see I live for God. If you follow man you would lose your way,” he said. “It is time that we see God in action again… I’m calling on all Caribbean overseers; let’s find a true doctrine of biblical integrity.”

Not only did God’s Word festered in the congregation, especially those who rushed up to the altar for prayer, but so did the songs sung during the worship session and the soulful renditions by the National New Testament Church of God Mass Choir. They were I Want Jesus to Walk With Me featuring Barbados Music Award winner Sister Margrita Marshall and All In His Hands.

God’s presence was so evident that everything in the entire service synced together. Ancient hymns such as It is Truly Wonderful What the Lord Has Done and I Would Not Be Denied sung during the worship session testified of some of the blessing bishop Charles gave in his message. The atmosphere was so charged with the Holy Spirit that the latter song was sung with much energy and zest and continuously during the offertory and the alter call.

During the service, two new members were added to the National Executive Council. They were Bishop Mark Clement and Pastor Winston Carter. As the bishop dedicated the council to God for the new year he told them that the church is missing an important ingredient – doctrine. He cautioned them that the church is not a political agenda and “the Lord has instructed you to carry out His work but you must endure and stand.” He then instructed the entire congregation to follow their leader and the leaders to follow God.