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The story of the Lion King
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A picture of a Lion King with his ribs all showing was a very sad spectacle.
This was a Lion who held sway over all he surveyed in that particular park and his power was unmatched but as the saying goes, everything that has a beginning has an end, now was approaching the end of his life, and there he was walking slowly to rest in the shade of a nearby tree to await his inevitable end.
This true story I read was told by a photographer and according to him as he stood at about five feet away from this once feared King of the jungle, he saw him breathing and with a sudden twitch of its ear, became lifeless.
This set me thinking about life in general and how it begins and ends. Life’s journey can be an interesting one full of twists and turns.
Some people in fact most people, seem to think that death is something very far from them. It is not something that people really factor into their plans and that is why the passing of close relations becomes so emotionally unbearable.
Like the Lion King, the reality of life will catch up with us one day, whether we are prepared for it or not.
When people are conscious of this fact that we shall one day leave this world and that as we grow, our strength will gradually diminish and we may need some assistance to go through life on a daily basis, our attitude to life will change and negative attitudes like selfishness, greed, backbiting, betrayal etc. will be done away with.
Human beings are one of the most vulnerable species on earth. A few years ago, our world was turned upside down by a pandemic called Covid-19. The devastation it brought in its wake is something every person would like to quickly forget, even for those who were not affected by it.
It disrupted our normal way of life, not to mention the fear it brought on the whole world. Medical practitioners were at some point at a loss as to how to deal with it.
Suddenly, people all over the world realised that the most important thing in the world was not money but good health. Suddenly, there was cooperation between nations like US and China with the heated rivalry in military and economic spheres completely relegated to the background.
It ought to have taught us a lesson that caring for one another, unity of purpose, being each other’s keeper was much more important than anything else. However, as soon as we somehow found an antidote to it, our vile human nature took over and the world returned to the status quo.
We all find ourselves in a world of competition and human nature being what it is, has made self- centeredness much more profound. People are now looking out for their own interest instead of the interest of the collective.
Siblings are becoming enemies of each other and it is shocking the lengths they are willing to go to destroy their own close relations all in the pursuit of success which will be left behind, the moment we give up the ghost.
We have to leave a good name and therefore a good legacy because that is what can benefit our world and our descendants. Vehicles will be replaced by new models, buildings will become outmoded as time passes, and our strength will wane just like that of the Lion King.
The only thing that we can carry out of this world with us is the good legacy and therefore the good name we established during our lifetime. May God help us to realise this before it is too late.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
On Sunday, August 13, 2026, the Church of Pentecost (COP) International, Finland, held an impressive church service in Helsinki in honour of and to welcome Prophet Benjamin Arthur as the new National Head.
The well-attended service formally ushered in Prophet Arthur who takes over from Apostle Francis Owusu Kwaah, who has been the National Head since November 2020 and whose tenure as the National Head ended last month.
Prophet Arthur arrived in Finland from the UK where he has held many positions in the church to replace Apostle Owusu Kwaah who moves back to the UK.
A touching welcome and powerful ministration
The church service was officiated by Apostle Seth Samuel Asante, the National Head of the Church of Pentecost, USA.
It was a touching welcome church service and ministration at a well-attended event. In attendance were many religious leaders from other churches or missions, as well as dignitaries.
Apostle Asante had the honour to introduce Prophet Arthur to the whole congregation as the new National Head in Finland. He was joined by other church leaders and officers from UK, USA, and Finland to pray for Prophet Arthur and handed him over to COP Finland as their new National Head to a huge applause.
Earlier, Apostle Asante delivered a powerful and touching sermon that highlighted a message of salvation and the importance of knowing, loving and serving God with one’s whole heart. He entreated the audience to love God and do His work to glorify his name.
Stirring up understandings from the hymns: “My faith has found a resting place…” and “Guide me O Thou great Jehovah…,” as well as a number of quotations from the Bible, the Apostle gave a powerful preaching on the need to build one’s faith in God.
Response from the new National Head
In response, Prophet Benjamin Arthur preached the power of prophecies and God’s plan for redemption. He entreated all to believe in God’s power especially through prophecies to save mankind. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, he noted and add: “The blood of Jesus is not shed in vain”.
Surrounded by his beloved wife, Mrs Eugenia Arthur, and their three children, Prophet Arthur expressed gratitude to the members of the church for the resounding welcome they have accorded him as he starts to embark on his role and duty as the National Head.
He recognised the exploits and excellent leadership roles of his predecessors, Apostle Edmund Appiah (who was the first National Head) and Apostle Francis Owusu Kwaah.
COP’s future and growth in Finland
The Church of Pentecost in Finland was established over 25 years ago. It started in September 2000 as a prayer group with a small number of devoted persons in Helsinki (see www.copfinland.fi).
The group grew fast and there was the need to secure a new place of worship in the Helsinki area. The Church has grown and spread to other towns and cities in Finland.
Today, in Helsinki alone there are two branches of the Church. There is the Akan Assembly where worship is done mostly in the Twi language. The other branch is the English Assembly (or the PIWC) which is attended by other nationalities and African immigrants aside Ghanaian immigrants.
The COP Finland has become very formidable in the religious space in the Ghanaian community in Finland.
It has thus played a prominent role in the religious or spiritual existence of its members, as well as in people’s social lives as a key aspect of integration into the Finnish society.
The church continues to grow and, for example, it has been one of the major channels through which the Ghana Union Finland (GUF), an association for Ghanaian immigrants in Finland, has made more contacts with members of the Ghanaian immigrant community.
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
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Features
Responding to religious insults with faith, wisdom and restraint …The Prophetic Model for Muslim–Christian Peace and Coexistence(Part 1)
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and seek refuge in Him from the evil within ourselves and from our evil deeds.
May His Peace and Blessings be Upon the Noble Prophet Mohammed, his household, companions and all righteous people till the Last Day. Ameen
GHANA, WE MUST NOT ALLOW A MOMENT OF ANGER TO DESTROY DECADES OF PEACE
My dear brothers and sisters in Ghana.
Today I speak about something that should concern every Muslim, every Christian and every responsible Ghanaian.
Recent events involving controversial statements about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the arrest of an Islamic cleric accused of making statements advocating violence, and the arrest of a Christian preacher over alleged derogatory comments concerning the Prophet (pbuh) have generated considerable national concern. The Ghana Police Service has said the matters are under investigation and that due process will apply.
And now, reports of an alleged assault on a detained pastor have added another troubling dimension to the matter.
Let us be very clear:
Ghana is not at war.
Muslims are not at war with Christians.
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Christians are not at war with Muslims.
For generations, we have lived together, traded together, worked together, attended the same schools, built communities together and, in many Ghanaian families, even married across religious lines.
Therefore, we must not allow the reckless words or actions of a few individuals to destroy the peace built by generations.
WHEN SOMEONE INSULTS THE PROPHET (PBUH), WHAT DOES ISLAM EXPECT
FROM ME?
This is the question we must answer.
Not: “How angry am I?”
But: “What does Allah require from me?”
Not: “What can I do to my enemy?”
But: “What did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) do when his enemies hurt him?”
This distinction is crucial.
Islam does not teach us to abandon our faith when we are provoked.
Islam teaches us how to behave because we have faith.
Allah says:
“Do not let the hatred of a people cause you to depart from justice. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.” (Qur’an 5:8).
Notice the greatness of Islam.
Allah does not say, “Be just when people respect you.”
He says, be just even when you hate what they have done.
Therefore: An insult does not give me permission to become unjust.
The author is the Chief Imam of Katamanso Municipal and Certified Counsellor and Governance Expert
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
