Pastor of Ghana Wesley United Methodist Church (GWUMC) the Rev. Dr. Angel Anthony Abakah has appealed to the youths in Brooklyn to stay focused on The Creator.
“In Ecclesiastes 2, God says, remember now your creator’”, said Dr. Abakah, who was born in Ghana, West Africa, in delivering the sermon on Christ the King Sunday, Youth Sunday, on Nov. 26, at Fenimore Street United Methodist Church in Brooklyn. “Don’t make the excitement of your youth cause you to forget your creator.
“Some of us have forgotten our creator because of the pleasures of this world,” added Rev. Abakah, preaching on the topic, “Sold Out.” “Sometimes, we forget God because of the excitement of this world. Don’t try to be like them. If you try to be them, nobody will be you (laughter).
“We allow the things on social media to forget God,” he continued. “Social media is good, but it has its downside. We can use the same things to add value to our lives.
“Sometimes, we go to college, and we feel the church is not relevant anymore,” said Rev. Abakah, who describes himself as “a man of fervent prayer, who preaches, teaches, counsels and inspires”. “So, when we go to colleges, remember our church. Our church says the word ‘remember’ means ‘fellowship’ – a word of relationship. Now, get yourself in fellowship with God.”
Rev. Abakah, also a certified professional motivational speaker, urged the youth to “get connected to Christ,” stating that, “while Christ is within, we’re guaranteed for a revival.
“When we get connected with Jesus, we can do all things,” he said, urging the youth to set goals with their gifts. “Do not go without the gifts God has given you. Don’t hide your gifts; do not be shy. If you can sing, sing to the Glory of God. Whatever you do, do it to the Glory of God.
“God loves young people,” Pastor Abakah added. “Jesus said, ‘allow the children to come to me’. Young people, don’t make anybody judge you. God loves you.
“Young people, no matter where you have gone, don’t stay there; come back to Jesus,” he continued. “So, let’s be like our Father in the story and accept them; so they will come back to you.”
In spelling out YOUTH, Rev. Abakah said “Y” stands for “young, fresh, active, alive,” adding that “at this stage, you have to make the best of life”; “O” means “original”; “U” means “whether people like you or not, you’re unique”; “T” means “tenacious” – “means to be determined – that you want to be somebody in life”; and “H” means “humble”.
“Whoever humbles him or herself, God lifts that person up,” continued Pastor Abakah, who is married to Angelina. They have four beautiful children: Miracle, Heaven, Holy, and Godbless.
“No matter how you rise, I have to be humble,” said Rev. Abakah, who is a product of the University of Science and Technology, Ghana, where he read a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Design before traveling to the United States to pursue his Master of Divinity Degree at Drew University, Madison, NJ.
At Drew Theological Seminary, he received the Most Outstanding Student Award in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and the Most Outstanding Student in Homiletics (Preaching). Pastor Abakah currently holds his doctorate degree in Ministry (D. Min).
Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Pastor Abakah said he has transformed many lives – both young and old – in Ghana and the United States.
He believes that God loves everyone and welcomes all to the Savior Jesus Christ.
Rev. Abakah said his ministry is defined in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. God has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed. And announce that the time for the Lord’s favor has come.”
During the Youth Sunday Worship, the youth participated in most segments, including reading the announcements, delivering the opening prayer, conducting Praise and Worship, and reading the Scriptures.
