[NOTE: Below is (i) a statement released by Dr. Pipim on the occasion of his baptism (ii) a brief report, highlighting his home-coming celebration on June 20 & 21 2014, and (iii) his “thank you” letter to the Ann Arbor church.]
Thank You, Columbus Church
The journey has been long and painful, But the Lord has been faithful! Today’s baptism announces publicly that, through God’s grace and mercy, this prodigal son has been received back home by his Father—never more to roam. I thank you all for your prayers and encouragement in making this day a reality
As you rejoice with me on my baptism, I use this occasion to once again tender an unreserved apology to all who have been adversely affected by my sin.
Undeserving though I am, I have experienced God's pardon and forgiveness. As a result of this, I cannot withhold from others that which I was given freely. I therefore also, this day, offer my forgiveness freely to those who, on account of my sin, have hurt me and my family—deliberately...
[This short article was prompted by responses to one of my weekly thought-nuggets titled “The Value of Rags.” I pray that it will be a source of encouragement to those who are paralyzed by their past failures.—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, PhD.]
Introduction
It’s easy to talk about our successes and accomplishments. But it takes real courage—and faith—to talk about our past failures.
I’m not saying we should dwell upon our failures. Rather, I’m suggesting that if the Lord has given us victory in a particular area of life, we owe it to others to share our experiences and the lessons we’ve learned.
People fail every day—and so do companies,institutions, and organizations. And yet, because of the loss, shame, pain,humiliation, and sometimes rejection, we seldom talk about our failures. Nay, we’re often prevented from talking about our failures.
In the aftermath of my own personal experience almost four years ago, I became painfully aware of the tremendous pressure that is often exerted—even...
Described by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation as “the first of its kind in Zimbabwe,” our “African Must Think” public lectures was held in Harare, the nation’s capital,on December 3 - 6, 2013. The event was jointly hosted by our EAGLESonline team and the Catalytic Concepts Group of Zimbabwe--a group consisting of some ten young professionals. Here are some highlights and a background on how the meetings came into being.— Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, PhD
HIGHLIGHTS
1. The “Africa MustThink” public lecture series was conducted in the prestigious Harare International Convention Center (HICC), which is located right next to theRainbow Towers Hotel. Divine providence enabled us to use the facilities at no cost! (It would normally have cost us over $60,000 for the 4-day event).
2. During the period of the lecture series—Tuesday, December 3 to Friday, December 6—four major presentations were made (and one additional lecture during a morning prayer-breakfast targeted to business leaders). An...
[NOTE: Our EAGLESonline team was in Zimbabwe for an "Africa Must Think" public lecture series when Nelson Mandela died on the night of December 5, 2013. The statement below was issued on December 6, 2013 during a media reception held in our honor by the Zimbabwe Minister of Tourism & Hospitality. --Samuel Koranteng-Pipim].
Thursday night, December 5, 2013, was supposed to have marked the conclusion of our “Africa Must Think” public lecture series at the prestigious Harare International Conference Center in Zimbabwe. The message that night, titled “The African Chicken,” was prefaced by spotlighting the courageous leadership of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah which was not appreciated until after his death and which stands in bold contrast to the “chicken” leadership that is all too common today. The presentation challenged Africans that, much more than ever before, failure is not an option, and it ought not be final.
The night’s presentation, “The African Chicken,” followed earlier ones on “The...
(Dr. Pipim's Funeral Tribute To the Late Mother Josephine, June 6, 2013)
Though I’m a Ghanaian living in the USA, and though she was a Nigerian, the late Madam Josephine was my mother. This is why I deem it a privilege to be asked by the immediate family to represent all the people to whom Madam Josephine was a mother.
Before I share my tribute, I’ll briefly explain (i) why Mother Josephine was my mother and (ii) how I got to know her. Then I’ll proceed to share (iii) lessons I’ve learned from her sickness and death.
1. WHY SHE WAS MY MOTHER
Giving birth doesn’t necessarily make a person a mother. Nor does loving and caring alone (as does a step-mother, adoptive mother, guardian, grandmother, aunt, nurse, teacher, or social worker). Motherhood is more than biology (nature) and sociology (nurture); it’s also theology (Scripture). Jesus explains: “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My … mother” (Matthew 12:50).
Correctly understood, a true mother is any woman who caringly...
WHERE ARE THE WOMEN?
Clad in designer fig leaves to hide their failures, shame, and fears, and chewing on a mouthful of excuses, women are in the exact same spot God found men when He called out, “Adam, where are you?” (Genesis 3:6-13). The issue of excellence—whether spiritual or professional—is not about gender, but mindset. Sadly, many women have the mindset that their self-worth hinges just on their looks; their primary purpose in life is to have boyfriends, husbands, or children; and their greatest success is to leverage their sex or gender. But excellence cannot be genderized, for success is not sexually-transmitted. Excellence begins when we—male & female—acknowledge our failures and seek Divine help to live victoriously.—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim
DR. PIPIM'S TWO NEW BOOK RELEASES
These latest works are stimulating and inspirational. Hope Through the Dark (subtitled: "Inspirational Nuggets on Failure, Betrayal, and Hurt") and Africa Must Think (subtitled "Thought Nuggets on Africa") are nugget-style books that will challenge and warm your heart. (Click HERE). Here’s a brief description:
HOPE THROUGH THE DARK
“Without the dark, we cannot clearly see the stars. Similarly, the dark moments of adversity often reveal some of life’s most valuable gifts or blessings.” That’s the central message of this newly-released book. Arguing that “hope begins in the night, and sees light at the end of the dark tunnel,” this inspirational book seeks to encourage those who are dealing with the bitter pain of personal failure, hurt inflicted by others, or both. It shows how to turn those bitter lemons into sweet lemonades of life. Grounded in the Word of God, Hope Through the Dark is for those who have felt the sharp, stinging blows of doubts and...
A Tribute to Iyeling Miller
By Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, PhD
[NOTE:Iyeling Miller was an Australian, a Christian businesswoman, humanitarian, and an active contributor to many missionary projects around the world. She died suddenly of heart attack on March 9, 2013, and her funeral service took place in Sydney, Australia, on March 18 at 11:00 AM.[1]The following is the tribute I paid publicly to her, in my capacity as one who had been closely acquainted with her in her spiritual walk and in her life of service to humanity and to the cause of God. Iyeling was also a Board member of EAGLESonline organization (www.EAGLESonline.org). The title of the tribute, is the subject line of a text message Iyeling had sent me three years before her death. If you want to LISTEN to the audio highlights of the funeral service, you can click on this link: http://eaglesonline.org/resource/conduct-my-funeral/ or https://soundcloud.com/samuel-pipim/conduct-my-funeral-a-tribute.]
I. INTRODUCTION
...
WHEN...
A NEWBORN YEARIf we’re willing, this newborn year can be better than its predecessor. For the new year challenges us to dream, to dare, to do, and to attain. Whatever hasn’t been tried beckons with allure, and past...