Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) provides affordable healthcare. By law (Act 852, 2012), every Ghanaian resident must belong to the NHIS by registering. Once registered, a family gains access to a wide range of medical services. From an Islamic perspective, having health coverage is part of fulfilling one’s social responsibility: the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) taught that

one who provides for a sick or needy person is like one who worships in solitude (in reward). An Imam might cite the hadith “Whoever relieves a believer’s distress of the distressful aspects of this world, Allah will rescue him from a difficulty of the difficulties of the Hereafter” (Muslim).

Encouraging congregants to obtain NHIS cards ensures children can get vaccines and families can afford clinic visits, fulfilling the Quranic ideal of community care. Imams can organise special registration drives after Jumu‘ah, so the poor and elderly receive help signing up, noting that Act 852 even allows community agents to assist citizens.

Introduction

We started last week with a series on “The Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Churches” and ended on the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet – “The Alpha and Omega.”  Enjoy part two of the article this week and share it with others!

Pentecost

Pentecost is ultimately a story of redemption.

As the tongues of fire rested upon the disciples, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in languages they had never learned.

Since people from many nations were present in Jerusalem, everyone heard the message of God proclaimed in their own language. The barriers that often divide humanity were overcome through the power of the Spirit.

The crowd was astonished. Some were amazed. Others were confused.

A few even accused the disciples of being drunk because the sounds they heard seemed incomprehensible to them.

At that moment, Peter stood up and delivered the first sermon of the New Testament Church.

Peter’s Pentecost sermon

Peter explained that what the people were witnessing was the fulfillment of the prophecy spoken centuries earlier by the prophet Joel:

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”

Peter declared that Jesus of Nazareth, whom many had rejected and crucified, was indeed the promised Messiah. Though He was put to death, God raised Him from the dead because death could not hold Him.

Peter further proclaimed that the risen Christ had been exalted to the right hand of God and had poured out the promised Holy Spirit upon His followers.

His sermon culminated in this powerful declaration:

“Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” (Acts 2:36)

The message pierced the hearts of the listeners.

The call to repentance

Convicted by Peter’s message, the people asked: “What shall we do?”

Peter responded: “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

This invitation was not limited to those standing before Peter that day.

The promise extended to:

• Their children.
• Future generations.
• People far away.
• Everyone whom God would call.

The gift of the Holy Spirit remains available today to all who place their faith in Jesus Christ.

The birth of the church

The Bible records that about three thousand people responded to Peter’s message and were added to the community of believers that day.

This remarkable harvest marked the birth of the Church.

For the first time, a Spirit-filled community emerged, united around the risen Christ and empowered to continue His mission.

These early believers were not creating a new religion. They understood Jesus to be the fulfillment of God’s promises and the long-awaited Messiah foretold by the prophets.

The Church began as a movement of people transformed by the Holy Spirit and committed to proclaiming the good news of salvation.