Pastors’ Pearls – Rosemond Anaba (Part 4)

Gayla:  I’ve heard that you have a wonderful 3,000-seat facility. How often do you have services in this large building?

RA:  We have two services every Sunday. We have one in the native dialect (the gurune) and we also have a second service in English. We also have other satellite churches throughout Bolgatanga and even the world.

SHINE:  What do you think are the biggest differences between the culture in Ghana and the United States?

RA:  Socially, I find that in America, almost everybody I meet is so enlightened. Americans seem knowledgeable. They are outgoing. I have yet to meet an American who is not eloquent. That was the impression I got the first time I came here. Americans are very much involved in politics. In Ghana, we have different ethnic groups and languages. Since the population of the literate is a little over 60 percent, it makes communication difficult.

SHINE:  In Ghana, what role do women play within the ministry?

RA:  In our church, anybody who has a gift is allowed to express it. I preach in the church. There are other lady pastors and evangelists. There are ministries where women are the founders. In recent times, more women are being empowered; they are becoming more visible and vocal. Many are taking up leadership positions in the spiritual, social, and political arenas. There was a time when the pastor’s wife’s role was relegated to the background; it was obscure. But these days, that role is changing; the skills and gifting of the pastor’s wife adds a lot to the Church.

In every church, there’s a uniqueness that the pastor’s wife contributes, depending on her inclinations, and it is really fascinating to see God move in diverse ways. Psalms 68:11-12 says that the Lord gives His Word, and great are the company of women that publish it. Then it adds that armies of kings flee, and that she who remains or tarries at home divides the spoil. That means that for whatever ability or gift the Lord gives you – whether it is a public ministry or in the home raising children or as an intercessor – God sees and appreciates every one of them as important, as long as you operate in your gift and in the Spirit.

SHINE:  What do you feel is the message that God has placed on your heart for women today?

RA:  I believe that God is calling women to combine modern living with ancient virtues, meaning that we know how to take the situations we’re given in today’s society and apply wisdom and godly principles in order to become powerful women of God. Queen Esther is a great example of a “modern ancient woman.” She was that rare woman who combined modern living with ancient virtues in order to produce results that glorified God and uplifted humanity.

Being the queen of 127 provinces of Persia did not make her lose those ancient virtues of fasting and praying and submission to her Uncle Mordecai. In the face of adversity, when her people, the Jews, were going to be annihilated, she combined these virtues with modern principles of wisdom, timing, and knowledge of her husband in order to win the battle. 

In these times of materialism, God is calling on women to combine two eras. It is time to combine the past with the present, the old with the new, and history with prophecy in order to create a “modern ancient woman” – one who is anointed but not arrogant, forceful but not filthy, beautiful but not brutish, creative but not careless, prosperous but not proud, and industrious but not intimidated.