Welcome, dear reader!

For this tale, we will be following this young man who really loves God and finds himself in a new and interesting church community. How will he be faring? Let’s find out!!

He could still remember it like it was yesterday.

The very first day he stepped through those glass doors into the auditorium of The House of Mekadesh.

He had heard many things about this church: how it was a ‘haven of spiritual solace and worship’ and how you could not possibly enter this temple of the Lord without a mind blowing encounter. Going through a dry, stale period of life where nothing seemed to be working for him as far as his spiritual life was concerned, he decided to visit this church.

So that fateful Sunday, he picked himself up, put on a simple white kaftan, and made his way there.

He was wowed at what he saw, from the moment he drove his car through the gate, to the moment the friendly protocol minister opened the door for him. There could be no doubts about it: the House of Mekadesh was glorious.

The spacious interior was bathed in warm, natural light that poured in through large stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the polished wooden floors. The walls were adorned with intricate artwork, depicting biblical scenes and symbols that invited deep contemplation and reflection.

The focal point of the auditorium was a grand stage, adorned with sleek and minimalist design elements. The stage was equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, allowing for immersive worship experiences and dynamic presentations. A vibrant LED screen hung above the stage, providing a captivating backdrop for multimedia displays and sermons.

As he was led to his seat, though, it wasn’t just the magnificent look of the auditorium that he was impressed by. He could feel it in the atmosphere: the Spirit of the Lord truly was in the place, and He was having his way as worship went on. The lead chorister was in tune with the Spirit, as she sang out songs of intense worship, her focus solely on the One she was singing to. The choristers were in sync with her as they lifted their voices unto the Lord.

It didn’t take long for him to get caught up in the wave of worship. For the first time in a while, he could feel his heart soaring with delight at being in such a place. He sang along with his hands lifted, as the next twenty minutes of songs of worship followed.

Then songs of praise followed, and along with the choristers and other congregants, he danced his head off to the joyful songs sang, as another twenty minutes brought with it music giving praise to the Lord.

A few announcements followed after the music came to an end, and he was pretty impressed by the level of organization and co-ordination shown. Looks like they put a lot of effort into every service, that’s a good thing, he said to himself.

Then the choir returned, for the ministration before the sermon.

Ten minutes of pure bliss and adoration followed as they ministered a magnificent rendition of ‘Take My Life’ by Micah Stampley. He was one of many who was on their feet as the song progressed, singing his heart out with everything in him.

“Take my heart and mould it/take my mind, transform it/take my will, conform it/to Yours, to Yours, Oh Lord,” he passionately sang along with the lead singer of the choir.

Oh yes, how desperately he wanted the Lord to take full control of his life and lead him in the way he ought to go! This song was exactly what his heart needed.

Once the ministration was over, it was time for the word.

And there was none other to deliver it but the Bishop of the church.

Bishop Ario Wells.

The African-American man had been born into a life of poverty and struggle somewhere in New York. After an encounter with Jesus at the age of fifteen, he got born again and started preaching all around town, carrying a message of hope and redemption in Christ. Eventually, he was picked up by an Assemblies of God church in the city, where he stayed for over fifteen years before, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, he left the United States to come and dwell in Ghana and set up a church there.

That church was the House of Mekadesh.

Three decades on, and it was one of the biggest Charismatic churches in the country, with not less than a hundred and sixty branches all over, and hundreds of pastors serving in all those different branches.  The man, now in his sixties, had established the House of Mekadesh as one of the most popular places of worship in Ghana.

Happily married to a Ghanaian woman, bearing five children with her, Bishop Ario was a highly respected figure in the nation. His voice carried an authority that demanded all listen to him, and he was undeniably one man of God who carried a fire in him.

As he took over the podium that morning, that fire was burning in him, as he began to preach a message he titled ‘Accepted In The Beloved’.

With his anchor scripture coming from the book of Ephesians, the major focus being on verses 1 to 3 of the first chapter, Bishop Ario spoke to the congregation on the need for them as believers to understand that in spite of their flaws and all, they were a people who had been accepted by God, thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary.

“People of God, listen to me. If there’s one thing I’ve come to understand in this life, it’s that the human heart desires to be loved and accepted, and if a person has to change in a way to get that love and acceptance, they’ll do it. And nothing hurts more than knowing you’re thought of lowly and despised by people. That’s why many will do whatever they can just to get acceptance. In the school where the boys love voluptuous curves, there’s a girl being mocked for lacking such assets who will probably try to get plastic surgery done just to be accepted. There’s a guy driving himself into insane levels of indebtedness just to fit in with the ‘cool crowd’. The most heartbreaking aspect of it all is how many a time, these acts of bending over backward don’t solve the issue, and how the ones they seek approval from still reject them.

“It doesn’t have to be that way! Dear child of God, look at the scripture. It says you were chosen by God even before the foundation of the earth was laid. It was his intention that you would be His child, even with all your flaws and shortcomings. You being imperfect did not refrain God from loving you and sending His Son to die in your place. And as a result of Calvary’s sacrifice, you have new worth. You’re the child of the Most High! You have infinite access to His throne! You have an eternal inheritance that’s absolutely mind-blowing! You are not defined by your flaws or anything that the world and the enemy will use to tag you as ‘not good enough’. In Christ, you are completely accepted by the only One whose final opinion of you at the end of time will matter! Shout hallelujah, somebody!”

Oh, how those words brought joy to his heart! Along with many others, he rose to his feet and roared ‘Hallelujah’ in response.

“Oh, thank You, Lord Jesus! This truly is a word in season!” he exclaimed to himself as he took his seat. “There’s a reason why I’m here. This is it.”

For the next one hour, Bishop Ario continued to encourage the congregation to reflect on the depth of those words, urging them to seek joy in being accepted by God.

“Dear people of God, there’s joy in accepting who you are, knowing that God holds nothing against you, and that if He, who had every right to reject you due to your sinful state, has accepted you, then that is all that matters. Some people may reject you, but that shouldn’t be your worry. In any case, once you’re secured in the Father’s love, you can trust that He will bring people your way who will love and appreciate you as you are. Those who expect you to kowtow to their standards and be who you aren’t are not worth the pleasing. It’s as simple as that!”

Everything he had heard about the great man of God, he experienced for himself in that service.

And yes, including the point where the man of God ended his sermon with a series of Twi worship songs. Having lived in Ghana for so long, he had learned the Twi and Ga languages quite well, and it showed in how flawlessly he sang Cindy Thompson’s ‘Awanwa Do’ and Tagoe Sisters’ ‘Osombo’. The atmosphere was beyond goosebump-inducing; everyone joined in to sing to the Lord.

By the time the bishop returned to his seat, many were on their feet, praising God for the truth that had been imbibed in them. And he was one of them.

Tears running down his cheeks, he whispered, “Lord, thank You so much for this word. In the midst of my dryness, my frustration, my unhappiness, You came through with a word to lift my spirits and remind me what I have in You. Thank You, Lord.”

The rest of the service carried on, with tithes and offerings being given, and other announcements given. First-timers were called to the front, so obviously he joined in and stood with other visitors before the altar.

Then Bishop Ario came forward to pray over them, encourage them and ask them to wait, so they could be attended to by the protocol officers. Then he called to the choir to give one last song before the benediction.

And I will run to You/To Your words of truth/Not by might, not by power/But by the Spirit of God…

The choir’s heavenly rendition of Hillsong’s ‘I Will Run To You’ had him reaching for the heavens, singing with everything in him. This service had definitely left a special mark on him.

And so as Bishop Ario passionately prayed over them to bring the service to an end, only one thought ran through his mind.

I’m definitely staying here.

And since then, Sylvester Addo-Fynn, who was better known among everyone else as Sly, had become a member of the House of Mekadesh. It had been one and a half years since that beautiful Sunday morning, and he had gone from being a starry-eyed newcomer to a pastor-in-training at the Youth Church.

From the moment he said to himself that he would be staying, he had been so enthusiastic and super giddy about becoming a pastor in the House of Mekadesh. What an honour it would be to actually serve under a giant of the faith like him! And especially to serve in that capacity in the Youth Church, where he could have the opportunity to make an impact on so many young, impressionable minds! He really couldn’t wait for that dream to come true.

But now…

… he wasn’t so sure.

Hmmm… what could be the reason for this hesitation? Coz it sure looks like a good church, with a solid bishop and all. Well, let’s see…