Be abreast with government's development programmes

Mr. Thomas Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, Central Regional Minister, has urged Christians to be abreast with the government’s development programmes, and ensure their action plans ran in consonance with those of the government, in order to help achieve the Better Ghana Agenda as one people with a common destiny.

Mr. Quansah made the call in a speech delivered on his behalf at the 59th/4th Biennial meeting of the Connexional Lay Movement of the Methodist Church Ghana at Winneba.

The meeting was under the theme: “Witnessing to Christ in Holistic Spirituality: The Role of the Lay”.

It was to take stock of members' stewardship, both introspectively and retrospectively and to make projections into the future that would not only make the Church materially rich, but would influence their lives as upright Christians.

He commended the Methodist Church as an Institution for its development-oriented agenda.

Mr. Quansah, quoting from the Holy Bible said, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me, for whoever wishes to save his live will lost it but who so ever loses his life for my sake will find it”.

“The Holy Bible demands the Christian and more importantly the Clergy to demonstrate certain Christ-like qualities such as self-denial, tolerance, fairness, honesty, love and humility”.

He said it was therefore not enough to use only the pulpit to propagate the gospel, but also to lead exemplary lives which would kindle the desire in others who want to follow Christ.

The Regional Minister urged participants of the meeting to take full advantage of the conference and share their experience with others to strategically position themselves for the success of individual members of the church, which culminate into collective success of the church and the state in general.

According to him, the Methodist Church, apart from training priests to propagate the word of God to improve the moral and spiritual lives of the people, also provides school infrastructure, hospitals and other social service in its operating communities.

The Regional Minister said the social responsibilities of the Church resonated with the government’s policy of forming effective partnership with private Institutions, such as religious bodies genuinely share their development aspirations to help move the deployment of the country forward.

Mr. Aquinas Quansah said the government welcomed and appreciated the complementary role that religious bodies were playing to help improve the lot of the people.