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Perez Chapel International founder Charles Agyinasare (Archbishop) has shared with his congregation and the world how Muslims have been a great blessing to him and his tremendous love and respect for them.
In church on Sunday, 15 December 2024, at the Perez Dome, Dzorwulu, Accra, Archbishop Agyinasare dispelled an uninformed impression created about him that he is anti-Muslim.
“Some have suggested that I don’t like Muslims, but they don’t even know me,” the Archbishop said.
Archbishop Agyinasare narrated how God used Muslims to help him in his ministerial journey, giving a history of his several decades-old relationship and fraternity with Muslims.
Archbishop Agyinasare mentioned that even before he started his ministry, which Muslims supported, he had had the opportunity to enjoy the largesse of some Muslims who were in his life as a young man.
In 1979, he recalled, “I had the privilege of staying with a Muslim family in Zorgbeli, Tamale—Alhaji Iddrisu Fusieni and his household—for one and a half years. I didn’t pay rent during my stay. Instead, Alhaji Fuseini generously gave me a place in his home, sharing a room with his son, Fuseini, whom we affectionately called Foley. I never had to worry about food, as I was fed three square meals a day, every day, for that entire period. That level of kindness and hospitality left a lasting impression on my heart.”
Later, when God called him to start a church in Tamale in 1987, Agyinasare said, the Lord, “Once again used Muslims to support His work.”
He narrated: “A Muslim couple, Mr. Goodman and his wife, Madam Bugapeh, faithfully supported me financially every month as I laboured in the Lord’s vineyard. That partnership demonstrated to me that God can use anyone, regardless of their faith or background, to accomplish His purposes.”
Illustrating his long fraternity with Muslims through the decades, Archbishop Agyinasare noted: “My relationships with Muslims have always been strong and meaningful,” adding: “In Tamale, I shared a close friendship with the late Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who was my neighbour in Vittin Estates. He and I shared many conversations and moments of mutual respect. Today, I also enjoy a good relationship with our current Vice President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia.”
He said: “These friendships are a testament to the fact that love and respect can transcend differences in faith when we approach one another with humility and sincerity.”
Agyinasare said: “Once you’ve lived in Tamale, people always see you as one of their own. And because of my experiences, I’ve been warmly received in Muslim-dominated areas throughout my ministry.”
He declared: “I am the only Ghanaian evangelist (as far as I know) who has been allowed to hold healing campaigns in places like Maiduguri and Kano in Nigeria—areas that are predominantly Muslim. By God’s grace, I’ve had the rare privilege of ministering in Pakistan multiple times, where Muslim Imams themselves have publicly praised the work God is doing through me.”
He pointed out: “These moments were not just about ministry but about building bridges of mutual respect and understanding. In addition, I’ve been granted access to hold church meetings in countries like Egypt, Bangladesh, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, where preaching the gospel is not always welcomed.”
Beyond his preaching and campaigns, Agyinasare said: “My personal commitment to Muslims extends to education,” explaining: “I’ve personally sponsored many Muslims to pursue higher education, including at Perez University College, which God has graciously entrusted to our ministry, as well as other universities. Education is a powerful tool for empowerment, and I believe that showing love through practical means speaks louder than any words we can say.”
The reality, Agyinasare noted, contrasts with the anti-Islam image being suggested about him.
“So, when some people accuse me of disliking Muslims, it’s clear they don’t know my story. My life and ministry have been filled with countless examples of God using Muslims to bless me, and of God using me to show His love to Muslims,” he declared.
The gospel of Jesus Christ, the Archbishop stressed, “is a message of love, and that love knows no boundaries,” and, so: “Whether someone identifies as a Christian, a Muslim, or something else entirely, they are all made in the image of God, and they are all worthy of our love and respect.”
He underscored: “This is why I’ve always made it my mission to extend the love of God to all people, regardless of their background. And let me add this: the very places where others might not expect the gospel to flourish—places dominated by Islam—are the very places where God has opened unusual doors for me to preach and minister. These opportunities remind me of Romans 12:18, which says, ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.’”
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