The 2026 Residential Retreat of the Ga West Presbytery Ministers’ Fellowship of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana opened on a spiritually uplifting note as ministers were challenged to prioritise their personal walk with God and return to the “secret place” of prayer, communion, and dependence on Christ.
Delivering the opening morning devotion on Tuesday, June 16, at the Presbyterian Women’s Centre, Abokobi, Rev. Eugene Apea Owiredu, District Minister of Abeka, cautioned ministers against one of the greatest dangers in Christian ministry—becoming so occupied with the work of God that they neglect the God of the work.
Speaking on the theme “The Minister and the Secret Place,” and drawing from John 15:1–8 and Luke 10:38–42, he reminded his colleagues that effective ministry is not sustained by activity, experience, position, or gifting, but by a living and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. “The health of our public ministry will always be determined by the depth of our private communion with God,” he stressed.
Rev. Owiredu described the secret place as the minister’s altar of prayer, fasting, worship, meditation, Scripture study, and intimate fellowship with God. It is in this sacred space, he said, that spiritual strength is renewed, divine direction is received, character is shaped, and the fire of God is rekindled.
He emphasised that the secret place is not merely a physical location but a lifestyle of consistent dependence on God. “Without communion, ministry becomes mechanical. Without intimacy, ministry becomes performance. Without abiding, ministry loses its spiritual power,” he noted.
Pointing to the earthly ministry of Jesus, he explained that even the Son of God consistently withdrew to solitary places to pray and commune with the Father. Quoting John 5:19 and John 8:28, he observed that Christ’s ministry flowed directly from His relationship with the Father. “If the Son of God needed the secret place, how much more do we?” he asked.
Reflecting on the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10, Rev. Owiredu explained that Jesus was not condemning service but correcting misplaced priorities. While Martha became distracted by the demands of serving, Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His word. “Jesus expects us to serve, but He is against any service that takes us away from His feet,” he said.
He warned ministers against becoming consumed by the numerous responsibilities of ministry—preaching, counselling, administration, funerals, weddings, meetings, and programmes—at the expense of personal fellowship with Christ. Turning to John 15, he highlighted Jesus’ teaching on the Vine and the Branches, stressing that fruitfulness in ministry can only be achieved through abiding in Christ.
Quoting John 15:5, he reminded participants: “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” He explained that spiritual fruitfulness—transformed lives, growing congregations, effective discipleship, vibrant church life, and impactful ministry—is not the product of human effort alone but the result of remaining connected to Christ.
Rev. Owiredu also warned against the temptation of self‑sufficiency that can come with years of ministerial experience. “The secret place reminds us daily that we need God’s wisdom, God’s power, God’s guidance, and God’s presence,” he said. Genuine ministry effectiveness, he added, flows not from credentials or experience but from a heart continually dependent on Christ.
In his concluding remarks, he called on ministers to return to the fundamentals of Christian ministry by cultivating a deeper relationship with God. “When the secret place is neglected, ministry becomes burdensome and barren. When the secret place is cultivated, ministry becomes fruitful and life‑giving,” he declared. He urged participants to choose communion before activity, listening before speaking, and abiding before serving.
By: Rev. Immanuel Wiafe
