Good morning Sir,
My name is Godwin Martey, but many people popularly call me "biggodwin", and I have endorsed it by faith, after all I am a big product of a big God. I am a Christian, I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Personal Savior. I am an addict of the Word of God, this is likely something I inherited from my upbringing - my Dad is a Pastor, and whilst growing up, I was likely not to be allowed to eat my food if I had not quoted a Scripture, and sometimes explained it with examples. Yes sir, it was a tough and uncomfortable training, but today it has paid off for me.

Sir, my letter is concerning a publication I stumbled upon where you were said to have commented on radio about Pastor Chris' visit for his epic and life-changing programme which has been famously chronicled as the largest congregated Christian programme in the history of Ghana - Night of Bliss.

Naturally, I wouldn't have had to write this letter about it, because no news stays relevant for long in Ghana, everyone is so busy fighting to win in life that no matter how ground-breaking a headline is, it will stir a storm in a tea cup but in just a short time, it is forgotten. Take for example sir, not many people talk about Castro’s disappearance anymore, most people have moved on to other trending issues - the Ghanaian is busy.

I was however compelled to write about this because of the subtle, unsuspicious internal division and gradual build-up of factions that the publication is beginning to create in the Ghanaian Christian circles.
You were said to have commented that Pastor Chris disrespected Ghanaian Pastors by not consulting the fathers of the land but rather used Politicians.

I respectfully disagree with you sir, in fact on many counts. First of all, permit me to quickly add that I am a proud member of Christ Embassy and a loyal Son of Pastor Chris, another ministry that I connect with inseparably is ICGC and Dr Otabil.
Reverend, Pastor Chris is a Man of God who has global attention with a compelling presence of God's unusual grace, he is a seasoned teacher of the Word, and sincerely, it is not just because I belong to his Ministry, I have also practically experienced his humility and respect for all and sundry. Pastor Chris is NOT DISRESPECTFUL.

On that great day, when he mounted the Pulpit, he first of all acknowledged all Pastors in Ghana (who are not members of Christ Embassy) who have contributed to the course of the Gospel in Ghana, he asked that they indicated by standing up, and he wore them cassocks of gratitude and praise, he was indeed solemn and with such a soft, admirable voice, he humbly admitted that they have done a good job, prayed for them, and also thanked the government for their support in helping the programme become a success.

Also, one of the points you made that I sincerely do not understand, neither do I agree with you is that he should have consulted the "fathers of the land". Sir, may I respectfully ask who these fathers are and who made them fathers? And what sort of consultancy will he have needed from those fathers?

Going by that submission, will it also be justified if we said that the Christ Embassy as a church should have consulted these "fathers of the land" before they even established their church in Ghana?

Is there a laid down principle either biblical or in our constitution that suggests that he needed to look for the fathers of a nation and consult them before he enters a nation to win souls for Jesus? I think that he meant no disrespect to you and the "fathers" sir. Night of Bliss is a global evangelical programme he does in Canada, United Kingdom, USA, South Africa etc and EVERYONE WAS SPECIALLY INVITED as Kingdom citizens to come and have a glorious time. Sir, many Men of God from other ministries were there and I can bet they were blessed. Maybe Pastor Chris didn't know that it is a different ball game in Ghana that he had to meet with other Pastors first before he organises a programme - but my point has been quite explained; he wasn't being disrespectful, at least not intentionally.

Whilst I was whirling the concept through my mind, I found the concept confusing and impractical, for example sir, if you were to organise a programme in Lagos where their largest venue was filled up even before the time stated for the programme and you used their main stadium as your overflow, who will you have had to consult as fathers of Nigeria before the programme? Bishop Oyedepo, Pastor Ashimolowo, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, Pastor E.A Adeboye, Bishop M. Okwonkwo, W.F Kumuyi, the PFN, the CAN or the Nigerian Head of Catholic Diocese?

If you tried that approach in Nigeria, some others who also feel qualified as fathers will take you on and feel you didn't include them, do you know why sir? It is likely because they will have loved to feel important and recognised also and will have loved to rub-off in the shine and the glory God used you to bring into Nigeria - especially when it becomes largely successful, canvassing thousands of souls into the Kingdom of God. And quite paradoxically, the fathers you consulted may also opine that the others who are criticising you for not including them are just being envious, then the cycle goes on.

Pastor Chris has a solid church presence in Ghana already, his Head Pastor here is doing exceedingly well, his network of over 200 churches in Ghana alone can fill that Black Star square, so I guess maybe he thought enough ground work has been done for almost 10 years of being in Ghana as a ministry, to ensure the programme was held peacefully and in order.

The publication also said you made a comment that he used Politicians, sir I didn't understand the import of that statement, in what way did he use politicians? The ministry wrote to the State for permission to use the venue, they got the approval just as any other Pastor who chooses to use the venue for programmes like AGLOW will do. If the state supports the course of the Gospel how is that political Sir?

Granting you were right he used politicians, are Christian politicians not part of us in the body of Christ? I believe every mega church has some people of influence in the church as members and actually every serious Pastor is excited when they have such influential congregation, because then it becomes even much easier to push the gospel, how does this become an issue? I believe every Pastor will love to have the Josephs of Arimathea who can enter the "White Houses" and plead a cause for Jesus.

Lastly sir, I have once been to your church by an invitation from a friend, it was a good service that day, you were full of unction, your apostolic dimension and prophetic was on point, when we finished and I sat in my car, I said to myself that your church was reeking awesome. No doubt you are doing well, many of my friends are in your church and they conduct themselves well everywhere, which means you train them well; you are a great positive influence on the Body of Christ!

It is on this basis I was gravely concerned about your comments on Star FM, I am sure you meant no harm, I am sure you were just being honest about your views. But sir, may you kindly permit me to make a suggestion for your consideration? I humbly think that, if you had such concerns, you could have easily by a single phone dial reached the Church privately and expressed your concerns, trust me, Christ Embassy will have listened to you and made necessary redress next time.

But because you are a person of influence, when you say it on air the way you did, it further causes internal division and strife amongst we the younger ones who are following you - our leaders. A Royal House loyalist sends me a text and asks “why did we disrespect them,” and then the person goes on to take it personal, why, because you are influential! And the taste of his text seemed to subtly suggest he thinks we are in factions, but do I blame him?

We should not allow anything whatsoever to divide us as one Body in Christ. Even if what you were saying was the truth, for the sake of the many younger Christians who are not yet matured and will take your words and run with it without discretion, I will suggest you should have humbly declined to comment on it when the host asked you about it.

Yesterday I stumbled on your sermon on Sweet Melodies FM, where you were explaining how some people born in certain dates and months should be careful about certain attacks of evil on certain dates you gave. That was a deep one there, I had never thought of dates of birth in such a revelatory way. God bless you our general apostle sir, (or is it Apostle General?) keep on the ministry work and may the Lord continue to increase your Grace and influence in Jesus Name.

I am a young man who could pass as your son, please kindly forgive me if I had said anything that wasn't put in the most noble way sir; I admit I am fallible and prone to errors, and I continue to learn and improve.

Yours in the Vineyard

Big Godwin

 

 

 

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