The command of Christ in Luke 19:13, “Occupy till I come,” is both a charge and a challenge to every believer and every Christian organisation. It calls us to faithful service, active stewardship, and consistent witness until the return of our Lord.
Jesus
gives a clear instruction in the parable of the pounds: “Occupy till I come.”
The word “occupy” in this context means “to do business, trade, engage
faithfully, and remain productive” until the Master returns. It is a call to
responsibility, stewardship, and readiness.
For
us in the Association of Methodist Brigades Ghana (AMB), this command is more
than words; it is our marching order. We are called to occupy faithfully in the
training of children and youth, in discipline, in service, and in witness to
Christ until He comes again. The question is, how do we occupy faithfully in
today’s world?
In
the spirit of discussing the state of Brigade work in the Connexion, related
opportunities and responsibilities, I seek to direct our attention to five
major issues, and highlight areas where the call to occupy must be visible in
Brigade service. They are:
Ø The challenges
of the current environment for the young people;
Ø The character
and calling of Brigade Officers;
Ø The
responsibility of the Church to resource and support the Brigade;
Ø The posture of
unity among Brigade Officers and structures; and
Ø The call to
intentional mentorship.
Impact of the Current Environment
Many
of our young people are growing up in a society burdened with moral decay, peer
pressure, substance abuse, internet fraud, gambling, including betting and
broken family systems. These vices continue to trap our young people, leaving
them vulnerable to destruction. We must understand that, every stage of growth
in the life of a person comes with some key challenges. As a Christian youth organization,
the Brigade has the corporate task of helping to shape the lives of the many
young people under its charge.
The
allure of quick wealth through internet fraud, gambling, or "Sakawa,"
is a significant menace to the youth. The Ghana Police Service's Cybercrime
Unit reports that cyber fraud accounts for a staggering 45% of all cybercrime
cases in the country, painting a sobering picture of a growing problem among
the youth. This moral decline is often linked to underlying socio-economic
pressures associated with the high rate of youth unemployment in the country.
Substance
abuse is another major crisis. Statistics from the Narcotics Control Board are
alarming, revealing that out of 50,000 drug users in Ghana, a staggering 35,000
are students between the ages of 12 and 35. A study on adolescents in the
Northern Region highlighted the role of peer pressure, sexual activity, and
social media use as key factors influencing substance abuse. Compounding these
issues is the increasing prevalence of broken family systems, which often leave
children without the stable adult supervision and emotional support they need.
Children from broken homes are more likely to experience stress, anxiety, and
emotional distress, which can negatively impact their well-being and academic
performance.
The
Character and Calling of Officers
The
role of the Brigade Officer in this generation has become even more critical.
Officers are not just supervisors of drills, parades, and badges; they are
shepherds for the young people placed under their care. Today's Brigade Officer
is called to be a spiritual parent, a faithful mentor, and an authentic example
of Christlikeness. They must not only teach the word but live it out daily,
setting an example for the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and
purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
This
generation of young people is sophisticated, socially aware, and facing a
myriad of challenges that were non-existent just a few decades ago. An officer
must be more than a trainer; they must be a discipling force, equipped with the
biblical wisdom and pastoral compassion to navigate complex issues. This
requires an intentional commitment to personal spiritual growth, continuous
training, and an open, relational approach to ministry. The most impactful
officers are those who build genuine relationships with their members, moving
from the rank of “authority figure” to “trusted guide” and “confidant,” just as
Paul was to Timothy. Just as Paul admonished Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 to pass
on the faith to “faithful men who shall be able to teach others also,” Brigade
officers today must see themselves as stewards of the next generation’s faith.
In discussing the faith of the next generation, Officers must tune themselves
to become generational thinkers burning with passion to attend to the many
formation crisis faced by our young people.
As generational thinkers, we have a yoke of ensuring we can identify
ourselves with these requirements: integrity,
dedication, and the willingness to model Christ before the eyes of the boys and
girls. If officers only wear the uniform but fail to exhibit Christlike
character, the mission of the Brigade is compromised. Let us be mindful of the
fact that, these are currencies we need to buy the young lives for Christ. If
our state today as an organisation must be in a better shape tomorrow, then we
must strive to end it all in impact.
Funding
and Support
Again,
the question of funding cannot be overlooked. Financing Brigade activities has
always been a challenge. This challenges ranges from Uniforms, training,
logistics, and outreach among others. Yet, too often, funding is left as the
burden of some officers. In as much as
we expect the Church to continue to maximize efforts of ensuring the Brigades
are resourced, I will admonish all Officers not to always be dependent on the
Church but “go laboring on, spending and being spent”. To all stakeholders, if we truly believe in
the mission of the Brigades, then our respective Societies, Circuits, and even
individuals must invest intentionally in the work. Scripture reminds us in
Philippians 4:19 that “My God will supply all your needs according to his
riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” God also calls us to be the vessels through
which provision flows. The sustainability of Brigade work demands strategic
partnerships, stronger financial planning, and increased ownership by the
Methodist Church at all levels.
The
Posture of Unity
There
is the question of posture among some officers regarding AMB Ghana and the
Ghana Councils of Brigades. Unfortunately, divisions sometimes arise, where
officers identify more with one council than the other, creating unnecessary
contention. We must remember the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:4-9, where he
rebuked the church for saying, “I follow Paul” or “I follow Apollos.” Paul
reminded them that both were merely servants of God working toward the same
purpose. In the same way, AMB Ghana and the Ghana Councils are not competing
entities, but complementary tools for the growth of young people in Christ. Our
posture should be one of unity, collaboration, and a shared mission of building
disciplined, Christlike leaders.
Call to intentional mentorship and
formation
With
my exposure and experience in service as a servant in this field, may I once
again remind and suggest that we can address the abovementioned vices through
structured and intentional programmes for meetings and mentorship. The Brigades
can help shield our youth from the snares of the enemy while equipping them
with the tools to stand firm in faith. If we truly desire to IMPACT the
lives of the young people we lead, we must take the task of mentorship with
holy seriousness. To “occupy till the return of the Master” demands that we
groom, guide, and guard the next generation deliberately.
It
is important to emphasize that, the participation and engagement of the boys
and girls of the Brigade is at the heart of this ministry. They are not merely
to be entertained with activities, but to be discipled into maturity in Christ.
1 Timothy 4:12 exhorts the youth: “Let no one despise your youth, but set the
believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” When
young people are given platforms to serve, opportunities to lead, and
encouragement to grow in their faith, the Brigade becomes not just a movement,
but a transformative community. The success of Brigade work will not be
measured merely by numbers or parades, but by the testimonies of young men and
women who rise to become true ambassadors of Christ.
Using
myself as an example, I stand refined and still undergoing formation as a
result of mentorship. I am confident and grateful to a man I encountered over a
decade ago, who simply said to me: “I want to be your friend.” Little
did I know that Rev. Paul Appiah (a Methodist Minister) was divinely
positioning himself as my mentor. He ensured I was refocused on the Word of
God; he cared about my dressing, my education, and even the smallest details of
my social life. Brethren, Paul in the Scripture gives us such a model: “Follow
me as I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Let
us therefore rise to this task with passion, knowing that every boy and girl
entrusted to us is a soul with eternal value. If we will multiply our impact,
then every officer must reproduce themselves in at least one young person. For
when the Master returns, may He find that we have not only occupied our posts
but have also reproduced leaders after the likeness of Christ.
Conclusion
As
we reflect on these realities, the words of Jesus echo once again: “Occupy till I come.” Occupying does not
mean sitting idly, but faithfully working, stewarding, and multiplying what has
been entrusted to us. The Brigades are a sacred trust entrusted to the
Methodist Church, to its officers, and to its members.
The
challenge before us is clear:
Are
we, as officers, truly modelling Christ for the youth under our care?
Are
we equipping our young people to withstand the moral storms of today’s world?
Are
we as a Church taking ownership of the Brigade ministry through prayer,
funding, and support?
Are
we walking in unity, or are we divided by unnecessary rivalries?
And
finally, are we empowering the boys and girls themselves to rise as leaders,
witnesses, and servants of Christ?
May
God grant us the grace to truly “occupy till He comes,” so that when the Master
returns, He will find us faithful in the work of raising disciplined,
God-fearing, and Christ-centered generations through the Brigades.
By:
Bro. Enoch Opare Ntow
Connexional Secretary,
Association of Methodist Brigades Ghana