The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has criticised the public announcement of death prophecies about some prominent Ghanaians by self-styled prophets.
The Council, an umbrella organisation of over 200 Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches in Ghana, said in a statement Thursday, that persons who go public with doom prophecies are flouting the biblical doctrine.
“The Council wishes to admonish all those who claim to be speaking in the name of the Lord God Almighty through prophetic declarations to abide by the tenets of the Bible in making such declarations.
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“It is the Council’s considered opinion that prophecies that concern individuals must be given to such individuals personally and privately, such as in the case of the prophet Isaiah and King Hezekiah, in order not to create fear and panic in the entire nation. It must be noted that whatever affects national figures, such as those whose deaths have been predicted has the potential to affect the stability of the entire nation,” the Council said in the release.
Agitated youths stormed and attacked Rev Isaac Owusu-Bempah’s church on Wednesday for predicting the death of the National Chief Imam, Usmanu Nuhu Sharabutu, in 2019.
Rev Owusu-Bempah, who is affiliated to the presidency, is popular for this New Year Eve prophecies that stoke controversy. Many Ghanaians have condemned some of his predictions as causing fear and panic.
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The angry youth who stormed Rev Owusu-Bempah’s church destroyed glass windows, chairs and some musical instruments at The Glorious Word Power Chapel in Dansoman, a suburb of Accra.
The Council said it condemned “in no uncertain terms the attack on the premises of The Glorious Word Power Chapel by certain people suspected to be Muslim Youth reacting to certain prophetic pronouncements by the leader of that Church during the 31st December Watchnight service.
The Council appealed to persons or groups who may have been offended the prophetic declarations not to take the law into their own hands but to use legitimate means to seek redress.
“As a Council led by prominent but very humble Apostolic fathers of our days, we also declare that those predictions shall not come to pass. We call upon our over 200 member Churches to fast and pray to avert any such disaster,” the Council added.
Below is the statement
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has noted with grave concern certain developments in the nation in the last few days. First of all, the Council condemns in no uncertain terms the attack on the premises of The Glorious Word Power Chapel by certain people suspected to be Muslim Youth reacting to certain prophetic pronouncements by the leader of that Church during the 31st December Watchnight service.
We appeal to all who may have been offended by any prophetic declarations, not to take the law into their own hands but to use legitimate means to seek redress for their concerns so as not to disturb the peace in the nation.
Secondly and in the same vein, the Council wishes to admonish all those who claim to be speaking in the name of the Lord God Almighty through prophetic declarations to abide by the tenets of the Bible in making such declarations. It is the Council’s considered opinion that prophecies that concern individuals must be given to such individuals personally and privately, such as in the case of the prophet Isaiah and King Hezekiah, in order not to create fear and panic in the entire nation. It must be noted that whatever affects national figures, such as those whose deaths have been predicted has the potential to affect the stability of the entire nation.
Finally, as a Council led by prominent but very humble Apostolic fathers of our days, we also declare that those predictions shall not come to pass. We call upon our over two hundred (200) member Churches to fast and pray to avert any such disaster.
Issued by:
Rev. Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso
(Assemblies of God)
PRESIDENT