As I sat through the 2026 Ordination Service – Batch 3 on Wednesday at the Ascension Congregation, Akyem Oda, observing the proceedings and taking notes for the church’s website and other platforms, this settled deeply in my heart: that the call to ministry is divine. It is God who calls, God who shapes, and God who sustains, and who we ultimately serve.
Not that I did not know but this conviction grew stronger as Rev. Frank Oguase Adu, Accra New Town District Minister, delivered an inspiring sermon on the theme “Divine Call.” Preaching from 1 Kings 19:19–21, the former Volta Presbytery Chairperson, centred his message on the reality that authentic ministry begins with God’s initiative.
“Being called is not human desire,” he said, reminding us that the divine call is God’s sovereign invitation, extended not because of human qualification but because of God’s gracious purpose. Listening to him, I felt the weight of that truth: ministry is not something we choose; it is something God chooses for us.
He explained that God calls people first to salvation, then to discipleship, and ultimately to leadership. “You are not called just like that,” he said. “You are called for a purpose. And that purpose is that through you, many more people will come to the saving knowledge of Christ.” His words taught that ministry is not a career path, but a divine assignment entrusted to us for the sake of others.
Rev. Adu stated that Elijah did not choose Elisha; God orchestrated the encounter. That reminder struck me. It taught me that every true ministry begins with God’s initiative, not human ambition. “When God calls you, see it as Him calling you for some specific purpose,” he said.
He added that the call carries both privileges and responsibilities, urging the newly ordained: “You need to answer the responsibilities you have been given.” As I listened, I saw that accepting the call means accepting the weight of responsibility that comes with it.
Using the story of Elijah passing the mantle to Elisha, Rev. Adu stated the importance of mentorship and succession. He urged the ministers to delegate, nurture others, and prepare future leaders. “Allow people to operate in their God‑given gift,” he said. “Do not do it alone. Prepare others to take over from you.” He stressed that ministry is not a solitary endeavour but a communal calling: “We are one in the body of Christ.”
His words reminded me that ministry thrives when we empower others and recognise that the work belongs to God, not to us alone. He cautioned against ministers who resist mentoring and discipline, noting that such attitudes weaken the Church’s mission. “Take your time and learn,” he advised.
As a minister‑in‑training, those words felt directed at me. They reminded me that humility is the soil in which true ministry grows, and that learning is not a phase but a lifelong posture.
There is also the need for deep spiritual intimacy. “Ministry draws out of a relationship with Christ,” he said. “Without intimacy and relationship with God, you will become dry,” he warned. That moment reminded me that ministry cannot be sustained by skill or effort alone; it must flow from a heart anchored in Christ.
As I watched the 12 ministers kneel to receive their vows, I felt both inspired and sobered. The sermon taught me that ministry is God’s initiative, that purpose defines the call, that mentorship is essential, and that intimacy with Christ is non‑negotiable.
Above all, it reminded me that we are called by God, not by humans, and our service must always acknowledge that sacred truth.
By Jerome Otchere
