Apostle General Sam Korankye Ankrah, founder of Royal House Chapel International, has urged Christians to treat Easter as a lived spiritual experience reflected in daily conduct, not merely a historical event.
Preaching at a Resurrection Service in Accra on Sunday, he said the essence of Easter lay in the transformative power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as demonstrated by the early apostles.
Quoting from the Acts of the Apostles, Rev. Ankrah emphasised that the apostles boldly declared, “of which we are witnesses,” indicating that their message was grounded in personal encounter rather than hearsay.
“The resurrection of Jesus is not just historical; it is an experience,” he said, explaining that true Christian witness goes beyond knowledge to include what one has seen, understood and experienced spiritually.
Rev. Ankrah recounted how apostles such as Peter, James, John and Paul endured persecution and death because they could not deny their encounter with the risen Christ.
He said their willingness to suffer and die for their faith underscores the authenticity of the resurrection message and its enduring relevance.
“Their lives became evidence. They spoke about what they saw, what was revealed to them and what they experienced,” he said, urging Christians to demonstrate their faith through their conduct in homes, workplaces and communities.
Rev. Ankrah noted that the resurrection provided hope beyond death and assured believers of eternal life, stressing that, “if Christ had not risen, then the Christian faith would be empty.”
In a related interview with the Ghana News Agency, Paapa Korankye Ankrah, Executive Pastor of Royal House Chapel, said the relevance of Easter in the 21st century lay in how believers lived out the message of Christ.
He explained that the transformation of Peter the Apostle from denial to bold proclamation after the resurrection demonstrated the power of encountering Christ.
“Peter, who once denied Jesus, later stood to declare that they were witnesses, not of fables but of what they had seen and experienced,” he noted.
Pastor Ankrah urged Christians to become “living witnesses” by showing love, compassion and integrity in their daily interactions.
“If you have experienced the resurrection, it must be evident in your life – in how you treat your family, neighbours and society,” he stated.
Pastor Ankrah said that the early apostles, including Thomas, despite persecution, carried the gospel to India because of their conviction in Christ’s resurrection.
Easter commemorates the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, events that form the foundation of the Christian faith.
Christians worldwide observe the period with church services, reflection and acts of charity, emphasising love, sacrifice and redemption.
