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Kindness, the nature of Heaven
FEW years ago when I was called to lead a unit of my church, I had a desire to visit those who were less active in the church and see if there was anything we could do to bring the blessings of the gospel into their lives. One day we visited a brother who told me the last time he had been to church was many years back and he did’t even remember the last time he went to church. Something had happened that day. A fellow member said some unkind words to him that he walked out of chapel and never returned. It was remarkable to me that an unkind word spoken many years back could have had such a profound effect. But it had. And, as a consequence, this man had never returned to church. Neither had his wife nor children. I apologised to him and expressed my sorrow that he had been treated that way. I told him how unfortunate it was that one word spoken in haste, and so long ago, could have the effect of excluding his family from the blessings that come from church activity. “After many years,” I told him, “it’s time the church made things right.” I did my best to do so. I reassured him that he was welcome and needed. I rejoiced when this man and his family eventually returned to church and became strong and faithful members. Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known. Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and moulds relationships that can last lifetimes. Kind words not only lift our spirits in the moment they are given, but they can linger with us over the years. Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes. Jesus, our Saviour, was the epitome of kindness and compassion. He healed the sick. He spent much of His time ministering to the one or many. He spoke compassionately to the Samaritan woman who was looked down upon by many. He instructed His disciples to allow the little children to come unto Him. He was kind to all who had sinned, condemning only the sin, not the sinner. Yet His greatest act of kindness was found in His
atoning sacrifice, thus freeing all from the effects of death, and all from the effects of sin, on conditions of repentance.
The things you say, the tone of your voice, the anger or calm of your words; these things are noticed by your children and by others. They see and learn both the kind and the unkind things we say or do. Nothing exposes our true selves more than how we treat one another in the home. I often wonder why some feel they must be critical of others. It gets in their blood, I suppose, and it becomes
so natural they often don’t even think about it. They seem to criticise everyone—the way Ama sings in church, the way Brother Kofi teaches a lesson or plants his garden. Even when we think we are doing no harm by our critical remarks, consequences often follow. I am reminded of a boy who committed suicide and left a note saying his mother kept telling him that her life started down spiral when she gave birth to him. His husband left her and she became a single mother and always reminded her son about what he has brought into her life. One morning on his mother birthday this boy took his own life and left a note telling the mother that he’s gone so that she can have the life she wanted. As parents we need to be careful about what we say to our children. “Oh the kind words we give shall in memory live.” A church is not a place where perfect people gather to say perfect
things, or have perfect thoughts, or have perfect feelings. The church is a place where imperfect people gather to provide encouragement, support, and service to one another as we press on in our journey to return to our Heavenly Father. Each one of us will travel a different road during this life. Each progresses at a different rate. Temptations that trouble your brother may not challenge you at all. Strengths that you possess may seem impossible to another. Never look down on those who are less perfect than you. Don’t be upset because someone can’t sew as well as you, can’t throw as well as you, can’t row or hoe as well as you. We are all children of our Heavenly Father. And we are here with the same purpose: to learn to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves.
One way you can measure your value in the kingdom of God is to ask, “How well am I doing in helping others reach their potential? Do I support others in our communities and family, or do I criticise them?” If you are criticising others, you are weakening the community. If you are building others, you are building the community. As Heavenly Father is kind, we also should be kind to others. James E. Talmage, a man who is remembered for his doctrinal teachings, showed great kindness to a neighbour family in distress. They were complete strangers to him. Before he was an Apostle, as a young father, he became aware of great suffering at a neighbour’s home whose large family was stricken with the dreaded diphtheria. He did not care that they were not members of the church; his kindness and charity moved him to act. The Relief Society was desperately trying to find people
to help, but no one would because of the contagious nature of the disease. When he arrived, James found one toddler already dead and two others who were in agony from the disease. He immediately went to work, cleaning the untidy house, preparing the young body for burial, cleaning and providing for the other sick children, spending the entire day doing so. He came back the next morning to find that one more of the children had died during the night. A third child was still suffering terribly. He wrote in his journal: “She clung to my neck, ofttimes coughing [germs] on my face and clothing, … yet I could not pull her from me. During the half hour immediately preceding her death, I walked the floor with the little creature in my arms. She died in agony at 10 a.m.” The three children had all departed within the space of 24 hours. He then assisted the family with the burial arrangements and spoke at their graveside services.This he did all for a family of strangers. What a great example of Christlike kindness! When we are filled with kindness, we are not judgemental. The Saviour taught, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” He also taught that “with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” “But,” you ask, “what if people are rude?” Love them. “If they are obnoxious?” Love them. “But what if they offend? Surely I must do something then?”Love them. “Wayward?”The answer is the same. Be kind. Love them. Why? In the scriptures Jude taught, “And of some have compassion, making a difference.”Who can tell what far-reaching impact we can have if we are only kind? The gospel of Jesus Christ transcends mortality. Our work here is but a shadow of greater and unimaginable things to come. May we be models of kindness. May we ever live up to the words of the Saviour: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
“Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known. Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and moulds relationships that can last lifetimes.”
By Samuel Enos Eghan
Chief Superintendent of Prisons (CSP), Catherine Mawunya Gagakuma, is a career prison officer whose dedication to discipline, service, and rehabilitation has defined her professional journey in the Ghana Prisons Service.
Since joining the service in 2012, CSP Gagakuma has steadily risen through the ranks, earning respect for her firm yet empathetic leadership style and her commitment to transforming correctional management in Ghana.
Her journey into the Ghana Prisons Service began with a desire to serve her country meaningfully. “I wanted to contribute to a system that not only enforces the law but also transforms lives,” she reflects. Over the years, this choice has shaped both her professional and personal growth, guiding her to a position that few women have attained.
CSP Gagakuma was drawn to corrections because it sits at the intersection of justice, humanity, and responsibility. “The Prisons Service is not only about custody; it is about correction, reform, and giving people the opportunity to return to society better than they left,” she explains. This vision has underpinned her career, from her early assignments to her current role as Officer in Charge of Awutu Camp Prison.
A defining moment in her professional growth came when she was posted to Awutu Camp Prison as the first female senior officer at the station and appointed local president of the Prison’s Ladies Association (PRILAS). “Being entrusted with this responsibility was both humbling and motivating,” she recalls. Leadership roles in inmate welfare and rehabilitation allowed her to develop a nuanced understanding of human behaviour, sharpen her decision-making skills, and strengthen her conviction that humane correction is the most effective form of correction.
As Officer in Charge of Awutu Camp Prison, Catherine shoulders immense responsibility, overseeing both staff and inmates while ensuring that the institution operates as a centre for rehabilitation rather than mere confinement. She emphasises that combining discipline with empathy is critical to maintaining order, fostering trust, and promoting rehabilitation among inmates.
Under CSP Gagakuma’s leadership, Awutu Camp Prison stands out for its focus on agricultural programmes, skill development, and rehabilitation. Inmates are given opportunities to learn responsibility, teamwork, and self-worth, creating an environment that prepares them for reintegration into society. “Many inmates respond positively when given responsibility and a genuine second chance,” she observes, emphasising that imprisonment need not hinder personal growth.
Being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated environment has presented its own challenges, but CSP Gagakuma views these as opportunities to strengthen resilience, confidence, and clarity of purpose. She credits her experiences with helping her cultivate emotional intelligence alongside firmness, a balance essential for managing both staff and inmates.
Her leadership style is described as “firm, fair, and affable.” She believes in leading by example, holding both herself and her team accountable while remaining approachable. “I listen carefully, but I also make decisive choices when required,” she notes. Supporting and motivating her officers is central to her philosophy. She fosters a culture of mentorship, open communication, recognition, and encouragement. “Motivated officers are the backbone of every institution,” she asserts. Recognising hard work and providing opportunities for professional development ensures that her team performs effectively while maintaining high ethical standards.
CSP Gagakuma’s work has also shaped her understanding of justice and rehabilitation. She believes that true justice must extend beyond punishment, preparing individuals to return to society better than when they entered the system. This philosophy is central to her approach at Awutu Camp, where the emphasis is on skill acquisition, behavioural change, and humane treatment.
Outside the prison walls, CSP Gagakuma stays grounded through faith, personal reflection, and strong connections with family, friends, and colleagues. These practices sustain her in a demanding career and inform her leadership with balance and perspective.
Looking ahead, she hopes her legacy will be one of discipline, empowerment, and humane correction. “I want to be remembered as a leader who strengthened discipline, promoted rehabilitation, empowered officers, and positively impacted the lives of inmates,” she says. Through her vision, Awutu Camp Prison is not just a facility for custody, but a beacon of ethical leadership, professional development, and transformative correction in Ghana.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
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Archbishop Dr Charles Agyinasare, Founder of the Perez Chapel International, has urged Ghanaians to be wary of prophets that prophesy to create confusion, fear, and destroy families and nations.
According to the renowned Bishop, prophetic pathways must align with destinies and not destroy homes and marriages as well as nations. To this end, he urged the Christian faithful to subject prophecies to biblical test, saying, “Prophecies must be tested and understood.”
Bishop Dr Agyinasare said this in his sermon on Sunday on the theme: ‘Prophets and Prophecy, Are They Important.’
It came in the wake of the numerous prophecies that have engulfed the media space with pastors predicting diverse outcomes on the same event. That has raised integrity concerns about some of these prophets and their prophecies.
It became a matter of concern for government after the unfortunate air disaster that claimed the lives of government officials and members of the security services. That led to the establishment of an agency chaired by Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah to receive prophecies of national interest.
It took a different dimension with the New Patriotic Party Presidential Primaries, held last week, with several pastors claiming to have received prophecies but divided on which candidate emerges the winner.
But according to Bishop Agyinasare, although prophecies were important, they ought to be grounded in scripture, governed by accountability, motivated by love, and centred on Christ.
He said the importance of prophets and prophecy have been questioned in recent times not because it disappeared but because it has appeared with intensity; sometimes with beauty and sometimes with abuse. “We live in times when prophetic activities have become widespread, yet discernment is scarce. As a result, some have been blessed and others have been bruised. The answers in scripture is clear and unambiguous but the prophecies must be understood, tested, and rightly handled.”
According to him, prophecies were divine plans of God and not from imagination or cultural trends or ecclesiastical experimentation, saying that “it is not a modern innovation or charismatic novelty.”
“Prophecies are God’s ideas according to scripture, initiated and sustained by him for guidance for the edification of the church,” he emphasised.
He explained that God uses the prophetic word to affirm what he has already said through scripture. “True prophecy applies scripture; it does not replace it. It never competes with scripture. It complements it. We are to test all prophecies,” he indicated.
Furthermore, he noted that prophecy is to glorify Jesus, but when men of God appear to take the glory and are carried by their members for their prophecies, then it is no longer about Jesus, and that is when all goes wrong.
Sadly, he mentioned that some of the prophets have become full of themselves. He said false prophecies usually instill fear among people, create situations of hopelessness, and urged people to beware of such prophecies.
Referencing a scripture in Matthew 7:15-20, Bishop Agyinasare reminded Christians to beware of false prophets, explaining that such people could be recognised by the fruits they bear, believing that some of the prophecies appear to humiliate leaders and cause fear.
By Andrew Nortey
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