Beware of brutal enemy - Mary Ghansah tells gospel artistes
Whether joyfully jumping around and waving handkerchiefs as they sing praises or caught up in a mellow worship mood, gospel artistes must be constantly aware of the wrath they incur from opposing forces in the spiritual realm.
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That’s the view of well-known gospel singer, Rev. Mary Ghansah, who also says the enemy can be brutal and must be held in check through genuine commitment to Jesus Christ.
“The enemy can hit you so hard. You may do one album and not be able to come out again,” states Mary who is celebrating 40 years of being in music ministration and evangelism this month.
“You may record an album and think you can be a blessing to many people but everybody else sees it differently and the album never sells.”
The well-spoken Mary Ghansah has blessed the world with over 20 albums and travelled widely inside and outside of this country to spread the message of Jesus Christ through music.
Some of her best-known songs include Enka Ekyir, Sweet Sweet Jesus, Agyenkwah Jesus, Ye Hyira Wo, Woho Ye Ho , Oguamma Wo Fata, Wo Ye Onyame, and Onyame Nnae.
“The enemy bombards you with all sorts of thoughts and you sometimes ask yourself why you sing gospel and whether you would not have been better off doing something else.
“This singing thing is a spiritual exercise. Apart from the physical resources you require to move on, it takes your whole being and real commitment to do what God has asked you to do,” says Mary Ghansah who is widely referred to in gospel music circles as Queen of Worship.
Having performed in places such as United States, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Nigeria, France, Holland, Belgium and England, she says gospel artistes must always pray for travelling mercies.
There have been instances, the singer points out, of powerful gospel artistes who completely lose their voices just before getting on stage for a performance.
For her, surviving for four decades as a gospel artiste has been possible only by God’s grace and that’s why she has made herself available to impart some of her experiences to younger artistes.
The experiences she refers to started in 1974 in Tema when she joined the singing group of the Powerhouse Evangelistic Ministry.
Over the years, she was in the public eye and some of her songs became extremely popular. She at some point, however, slowed down a bit and went back to school to study for a Bachelor’s degree in Theology.
“A deeper understanding of God’s word helps the gospel musician to reach out better,” she says.
Her key advice to upcoming gospel artistes is that they must not pay much attention to the negative vibes around them but must be prayerful and listen always to what the spirit of God tells them.
Mary Ghansah will hold a concert on September 28 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra as part of her 40th year in music ministration celebration.
Scheduled to support her at the show which is free to the public are Tagoe Sisters, Daughters of Glorious Jesus, Rev Yawson, Stella Seal, Rev YABS and Elder Mireku.
She says anniversary concerts will also be held in Kumasi, Takoradi and Sunyani at later dates.