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GOD’S   NEW  TRIBE

God is about a great work in the earth which encompasses all the tribes and nations of the world.  But just what is the nature of this work and what is God’s goal?  What should be the relationship between us and our tribes after we have been joined to God’s people through the cross of Christ?   What is the relationship between us and people from other tribes and races who have also become joined to God’s people?  And what about the cherished customs and traditions of the tribes we come from?  Do we continue with them?  Do we select some and drop others?  In this book, John Kpikpi grapples with these questions which he believes are foundational issues for the planting and building of local churches all over the world.  There is a prophetic call to God’s ‘called out’ ones to discover their true identity in Christ, and in Christ alone, and to live out the full implications of their new life to the glory of God and of the one and only Son of God who loved them and gave himself for them.

New Streams from the City

It was around November 2004 when a few of us in the music team at City of God Church started talking about producing an album with the plethora of new songs that had been pouring in though our own songwriters. At the time, talk of an album seemed like a joke; at best, it could possibly happen, but only in the distant future!

A year later, with an increasing number of inspired new songs in tow, our pastor, John Kpikpi, ‘commissioned’ us to go for an album. Our elders had faith for the project, and that faith was contagious. We were immediately launched into new horizons - this was the beginning of a remarkable four-month journey.

A census of the ‘City’ songs revealed not five, not ten, but 26 songs! We prayed and selected 14 for our first album: these are songs that are rich in spiritual truths, and they are songs that we as a body have come to love and cherish. Some date back to the early years of City of God Church, like John’s ‘Come, Worship the Lord’ and ‘Lord we come before Your Throne’, and some are more recent, like ‘Wonderful’, which was written just before we embarked on the album project.

From the beginning, we recognised that our project was quite unique. Ours was a church-wide project: most albums in our part of the world promote an individual or a small group. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but there is something special about showcasing what the local body has to offer. Carrying fresh worship songs to the nations, we hope that our album will become a worship resource for local churches in Ghana, West Africa and beyond.

Producing an album has been a wonderful experience, but it has not been without its challenges! Firstly, as a church, our worship has always been very ‘raw’ and spontaneous, a trait which has endeared us to many visitors, but ‘packaging’ such worship is another thing altogether. We did not want our listeners to listen once to our music, exclaim, ‘O, how quaint and authentic!’, and then put the CD back on the shelf to gather dust. We wanted an excellent sound that would be appealing to the discerning listener. But how do you do this without vocal training, harmonies or adequate instruments? Our Church keyboard is currently held together by masking tape and the grace of God!

We also had a limited amount of time, since we wanted to launch the album in February 2006, during our international Power Camp conference. So for some of us, there was no Christmas break, as we were heavily involved in studio work and rehearsals.

God initiated this project, and He kept us above water. From the onset He declared Himself the captain of our boat: He was at the helm and we were His crew. There was a promise for our ‘untamed’ selves – God spoke to us through Joel 2:22, “Be not afraid, O wild animals, for the open pastures are becoming green, the trees are bearing their fruit...”.

God also gave us a manifesto in Isaiah 61, which incidentally, is captured in one of the album’s songs, ‘To the Nations’:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me

because He has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion –

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness

A planting of the Lord for the display of his splendour.”

(Isaiah 61:1-3)

With this anointing came great provision: financial and logistic support from the Church for the initial stages of the project; skilled and inspired technicians and vocal coaches, a great rehearsal venue…. and many nice surprises, like 12-year old Esther’s extraordinary vocal talent (previously limited to the shower, we’re told!); busy Vincent making the time for conga drumming; a handpicked, ‘perfect’ whistle given to Waidi by a stranger; and the new Jembe (Senegalese drum) Assih bought just for the project! Such dedication!

Difficulties came, and not only to us, but also to our allies. Untold technical problems at the studio; health problems among our team and resource persons… But 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 encouraged us: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed.”

Another word reminded us that it’s not by power, nor by might, but by the Holy Spirit. The elders told us that the burden of the work was not on us; God Himself would do an excellent work through us.

In answer to prayer, songs that were bland were given new vocal parts and new instrumentation. All of the songs had initially been written in English, and suddenly, for the album, we needed translations in local languages. God blessed our translation team, and now it’s difficult to believe that the songs weren’t originally composed with their translations!

After a long search for a title, John was increasingly convinced that the album’s title must capture what God is doing among us as a body: we’re currently in a remarkable Ezekiel 47 river flowing from the Temple of God - of which we are a part - and everywhere the water goes, it brings forth abundant life. With these new things that God is doing with us and in us, ‘New Streams’ seemed highly appropriate. There’s certainly something new and precious flowing from us to the nations! 

Happy Listening!           

The City Praise Team