Former Clerk of General Assembly, Rev. Prof. Samuel Ayete‑Nyampong, has urged newly commissioned ministerial probationers to treat their words with utmost seriousness, reminding them that speech before God carries spiritual weight and lasting consequences.
Preaching at the commissioning service for Ramseyer Training Centre (RTC), Abetifi – Batch 1, on Sunday at Ramseyer Congregation, Abetifi, Rev. Prof. Ayete‑Nyampong drew from Ecclesiastes 5:1–2, describing it as “a sober warning on how we approach God in our speech.” He told the probationers that “words matter because God listens,” adding that repeated words can shape one’s future, destiny, and even the structure of the brain.
He cautioned that worship is not a place for empty vows or careless speech. Quoting Matthew 12:36–37, he reminded the congregation that spoken words—good or bad—reveal the state of the heart. “We must check the words of our mouths,” he said, noting that true worship is not merely bodily movement or dancing, but the alignment of heart, life, and speech.
Referencing John 4:23, he stressed that God seeks worshippers who honour Him “in spirit and in truth,” insisting that integrity is central to worship. “What we say and what our hearts conceive must be consistent,” he said. He warned that it is dangerous to say before God what one does not intend to practice.
Rev. Prof. Ayete‑Nyampong reminded the probationers that vows—whether ordination, commissioning, wedding, or covenant vows—are sacred commitments. “Vows before God are not decorative words; they are solemn acts of surrender,” he said. He urged them to remember the promises they make today, especially in moments of loneliness or difficulty in their future ministry postings.
He urged the probationers to be “stewards of words,” noting that the minister’s primary tool is speech. “The tongue that blesses can also wound,” he warned, adding that ministers must guard their lips and depend on the Holy Spirit for strength. “Without the Holy Spirit, words become mere talk,” he said. “Let us worship God in spirit and in truth.”
By Jerome Otchere
