Worshippers gathered at ICGC Christ Temple East on the night of December 31 for the church’s 2025 Crossover Service, ushering in the new year in an atmosphere of thanksgiving, worship, prayer, and spiritual consecration.
Delivering the New Year Message, Pastor Mensa Otabil reminded congregants that God’s presence remains constant in every season of life, assuring them of divine protection, guidance, and hope as they stepped into 2026, which he declared the Kingdom Year.
Declaring 2026 as the Kingdom Year, Pastor Otabil called on believers to align their lives with God’s rule, authority, and purpose. He urged congregants to make God’s Kingdom central in every area of life—personal decisions, family, work, and relationships—assuring them that when God’s reign is prioritized, His will, provision, and order are manifested.
The service opened with a call to thanksgiving drawn from Psalm 136:1–9, which Pastor Otabil described as a biblical pattern for expressing gratitude to God. Leading the congregation through the passage, he highlighted its repeated refrain—“for His mercy endures forever”—and encouraged worshippers to offer their own heartfelt thanksgiving in recognition of God’s goodness and faithfulness.
Expounding on the declaration “God Is With Us,” Pastor Otabil addressed the realities of life’s changing seasons, noting that while God’s presence is often easily recognized in moments of joy, progress, and abundance, it remains just as real during times of difficulty, uncertainty, and challenge.
He explained that God’s assurance to His people is revealed in two key ways: God holds His people, and God leads them. According to him, God’s “holding” represents a firm and protective grip that keeps believers safe even in the most difficult situations, while God’s “leading” involves granting wisdom, direction, and insight to navigate out of adversity.
Referencing Psalm 46:1, Pastor Otabil reminded the congregation that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” urging worshippers to enter the new year without fear and with confidence in God’s unfailing care.
He further encouraged congregants not to interpret hardship as abandonment, emphasizing that God often guides His people through challenges by ordering their steps and providing wisdom, strategy, and timely ideas rather than instant deliverance.
Drawing on the message of Christmas, Pastor Otabil reminded worshippers that Jesus Christ, Emmanuel—God with us—is the ultimate expression of God’s nearness, assuring believers that God’s presence is personal, active, and enduring.
The service climaxed with intense worship, Holy Communion, and an Anointing Service, as individuals and families consecrated their lives, plans, and aspirations to God for the year ahead.
Crossover 2025 at ICGC Christ Temple East was more than a transition into a new calendar year; it was a powerful declaration of faith, gratitude, and confidence in God as a refuge, a guide, and an ever-present help for His people throughout 2026 and beyond.
