Pastor Otabil Urges Christians to Study Sound Doctrine to Stay Grounded in the Faith

Kumasi, Ghana – Pastor Mensa Otabil, General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), has called on Christians to diligently study sound doctrine to remain firmly rooted in their faith and to discern truth from deception. 

Speaking at the Start Well Conference 2025 at Calvary Charismatic Centre (CCC) in Kumasi Ayigya, he emphasized the urgent need for believers to understand the core tenets of Christianity.

“It’s important to study doctrine…,” Pastor Otabil stressed. “Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit? What is the Bible? How does the Bible speak to us? How did the Bible come to us? What is sin? What is the nature of sin? How does sin affect us? How is sin gotten rid of? What is salvation?”

He cautioned that many people in the pulpit today use fear and manipulation to silence those who recognize false teachings but feel powerless to challenge them. “We have to fully understand [doctrine] so that when we hear error and deception, we can easily point out to it that this is error and deception,” he said.

Pastor Otabil also lamented the increasing prevalence of unbiblical practices in churches across Africa, particularly in Ghana and Nigeria. “In Ghana and Nigeria, I can’t speak for all Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, South Africa, all of these places, there’s a lot going on that is not Christian. And we have to return to Christianity, amen.”

His message serves as a clarion call for Christians to deepen their biblical knowledge, ensuring they are not swayed by misleading teachings. By studying sound doctrine, believers can uphold the integrity of the faith and resist the spread of deception in the church.