Spiritual Leadership
Officers, spiritual responsibility, Pentecostal periods and the Leader’s Office.
BETHEL LEADER’S REPRESENTATIVE:
(a) These officers, a brother and a sister are always nominated by members of the bethel for ratification by the Holy Father through voting by the brethren in a general meeting of the bethel.
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(b) They are to keep the Zonal Leader’s representative fully informed on the activities within their bethels.
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(c) They should endeavour to attend all meetings , functions, morning and evening prayers so as to keep abreast with all activities within their bethels. They are answerable to the Zonal Leader’s Representative.
AREA LEADER’S REPRESENTATIVE:
The officer is elected by members of the area and ratified by the State L/R. His duties is to co-ordinate the activities of the Bethels within his area through the Zonal L/R’s. He reports to and answerable to the State Leader’s Representative.
STATE LEADER’S REPRESENTATIVE:
This officer is appointed by the Holy Father. He receives reports from Area Leader’s Representatives and co-ordinates the activities of areas within the State. He convenes regular meetings of the State for effective and smooth running of Areas and fellowship within his supervision.
MOTHER: As the name implies, a mother is expected to behave as a mother to all members. She is expected to adopt a motherly approach in all matters. Including the preparation and distribution of feasts, taking care of the welfare of visitors to Bethels. She is to carry out her functions through the full support of C.N.T.M, Bethel/Area or State authorities as the case may be.
C.N.T.M/ CHRIST WITNESSES
These are trained, missionaries and posted by the Holy Father to take charge of the bethels. When the Father designates anybody a C.N.T.M. He gives him/her a letter signed stating his/her duties.
Anybody who claims to be a C.N.T.M without a letter of authority from the Holy Father should not be accepted in any Bethel.
PREACHING FROM THE PULPIT:
No conductor should at anytime raise his/her hands in the pulpits during singing of introits or silent prayers like the Holy Father does. In Brotherhood, there is no man or woman, therefore all are authorized by the HOLY SPIRIT to preach.
Knowing that the Holy Spirit does everything. Gal. 5:18 “But if ye be led of the spirit, ye are not Under the law” 1st Thess. 5:19 ‘Quench not the Spirit.”
GOING ON BLESSING:
We go on blessing orderly with everybody as in procession in step with both hands clasped together, finger-to-finger, as is done while praying.
Blessing should be done pew by pew and with total humility. One has to concentrate and focus his/her whole mind on the blessing he/she is receiving while on procession.
THE LEADER’S NAME:
No one should use the holy Father’s name in writing to the Government , Company, Corporation, Societies, or Individuals for your business transactions. Also, when going on your business trips do not hide under the soutane or use Brotherhood name under the pretence of going on missionary work.
PENTECOSTAL PERIODS:
Pentecostal periods serve as periods of revision of lessons taught, during the preceding terms. They are also periods of spiritual re-awakening when the Father uses His Holy words to cleanse us. In all areas where there are designated Pentecostal Centres, brethren should take full part in Pentecostal Assemblies and meetings.
There are three Pentecostal periods observed in Brotherhood namely:
(1) APRIL(EASTER) PENTECOSTAL (2) AUGUSTPENTECOSTAL
(3) DECEMBER PENTECOSTAL
These Pentecostals are always preceded by three days dry fasting which helps to prepare us for the Pentecostal Assembly;
(1) The April Pentecostal serves to remind us of the death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We remember and honour him because He was crucified for our sins and through the shedding of His precious, Blood and death.
He redeemed the whole world. The three days dry fasting we do signify His three days and three nights in the grave. We normally observe this fasting one week before each Pentecostal Assembly begins in order to prepare and sanctify our selves and make our bodies pure and acceptable to God for His service.
(2) AUGUST PENTECOSTAL: It was on 8th August, 1958 that members of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star first put on white apparel and march from 8 Eton Street to 26 Mbukpa Road. That marked the beginning of the Pentecostal Assembly for Brotherhood and that was the day Christ was revealed to the whole world. Before then Brotherhood of the Cross and Star was neither publicly heard or known.
(3) The December Pentecostal Assembly is kept in commemoration of the physical birth of God in human form, in the person of His son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is celebrated to remind all Christians that the Lord and Saviour, who was the Word in the beginning actually became flesh on earth. His birth was to inaugurate the earth into the deepest secred of heaven, His birth was the expression of God’s love for mankind.
LEADER’S OFFICE:
The Leader’s office is more or less the control tower of the whole system in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. It is the only official source; where authentic information are obtained.
Reports and requests from countries, States, and Areas, are received and treated in the Leader’s Office. Remittance ofcollections from tithe box and Pentecostal Proceeds, registration of new bethels, Healing homes, Spiritual hospitals, are also done in the same office.
DEPARTMENTS OFTHE LEADER’S OFFICE:
1) Administration
2) The Treasury
3) The Printing Press
4) The Everlasting Gospel Centre
5) The Sure Foundation Compilation Office
6) The Brotherhood Bookshop
(7) The Brotherhood Guest House.