Dr. Mensa Otabil, the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), outlined his visionary plan for the church’s enduring success. Speaking at the Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, March 3, 2024, themed “Building a Trans-generational Church,” Dr. Otabil articulated a dream that reaches far beyond the current leadership and congregation.
Dr. Otabil passionately expressed his desire for ICGC to remain on the cutting edge, not just for the next few decades but for generations to come. “We say that 40 years from now, our church should still be on the cutting edge. Another 40 years after that, it should be on the cutting edge. Another 40 years later, it should still be on the cutting edge. When we’re all gone, the church should still be there,” he proclaimed.
To materialize this vision, the General Overseer highlighted the importance of becoming a trans-generational church both in time and across time. Dr. Otabil explained the concept of being trans-generational in time by focusing on the ability of the church to touch people across various age groups simultaneously.
“In most temples, there are many generations in the church—people in their 90s, 60s, 50s, 40s, 30s, teens, and children—all of them are members of the church,” he illuminated. This approach ensures that the church pastors people with wide age gaps during its services.
Dr. Otabil underlined the critical responsibility of pastors in understanding and meeting the needs of various generations within the church. He emphasized the necessity of communicating themes that resonate with people in their 90s as well as those in their teens.
Thereby establishing an inclusive and relevant atmosphere for all members.
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“A pastor must always be careful to notice the generations within the church, speak to each one of them, and be relevant to each one of them. That is being trans-generational in time,” he noted.
As ICGC celebrates its 40th anniversary, Dr. Mensa Otabil’s vision charts a course for a lasting legacy that values diversity. The church’s commitment to being trans-generational not only ensures its continuous relevance but also emphasizes the necessity of inclusivity and relevance in the ever-changing landscape of faith.
