From next academic year, The Methodist Presbyterian Union (MPU), University of Ghana, would cease to exist as a union of the University of Ghana Chapters of the Ghana Methodist Students’ Union (GHAMSU) and the National Union of Presbyterian Students, Ghana (NUPS-G).
This otherwise ‘sad’ news, had already been communicated to members of both traditions, yet the various expressions and murmuring witnessed at the MPU handing over service, is indicative of the fact that members wished the union had continued to exist.
There is no doubt that over the past 40 years, the two traditions under the umbrella of MPU have had a very unique form of worship, blending the various aspects of Orthodox Church service with contemporary dimensions. 40 years of togetherness has virtually merged the two traditions, and the Dynamic MPU Choir is a testimony of the successes their unity has chalked. Separation is so distasteful to man, and you can understand why many hearts have been saddened by this announcement, including myself. “Is it the will of God?” I have been asking myself.
At the 22nd April MPU Handover service (which is the last of it), it was a beautiful sight when the Old and New Executives all dressed in the MPU cloth, maybe for the last too. As I sat in my seat, I couldn’t help but to wonder what really caused this break-up. As I hope it’s your prayer too, this split must not cause any rift between the two traditions on campus.
The preacher at the handing over service, Rev. Ofosu Mensah did express concern too – “I don’t understand the cause of this split”. Then the murmuring began, with many loud voices calling for the withdrawal of the decision. What we do about it as it looks too late to change now? Relating with similar instances in the Bible, Rev. Ofosu Mensah is admonishing all stakeholders to live with the split and still unite to serve God’s purposes.
The Reverend Minister made mention of the experience of Abraham and thinking about it is no different from ours if it’s compared to men of faith like Isaac and Joshua. “Abraham, would have been described by many of today as being strange or even crazy”, he stated. “A married man wakes up one morning and decides to travel to a place he has no idea of, during a time when there was no prophesies of the coming of Christ”. Even so, he was not swayed by what people were going to say but he had a conviction that God had spoken to Him, and eventually what was his reward? Rev. Ofosu quizzed.
Now he continued to say that Isaac was a very young boy when his father told him he was going to be sacrificed to a God he had no knowledge of, he could have chosen to run away or disobey his father but he didn’t and we are know his reward too.
Jacob was no different from the ones already mentioned, Rev. Mensah added. It had been prophesied that he was going to be a greater nation than his brother, and this was not going to change even if he was the younger brother. Making reference to Proverbs 20:24, Rev. Mensah who serves in the Methodist Church, opined that God has already our paths of life, and we must follow His leading at all times. “Most of the time, we want to understand everything that happens to us, but it cannot be so, because His word says ‘my ways are far from your ways’ (Isaiah 55:8)”, remarked the Rev. Minister. Rev. Mensah admonished members of the two traditions to receive God’s word and see this split as divine, because God’s predestination for His people is even before conception (Jer. 1:5).
So it’s not anything new as far as the Bible is concerned right? I write to address believers who are afraid and despaired about the future of the church. For our work and labour is for the Lord and not for man, hence whether MPU or GHAMSU or NUPS-G our work is to the Lord and provided we work around the cross we are all united in one body with Christ, in Christ and for Christ. Amen.