Camp Meeting of the Euro-Ghanaian Seventh-day Adventist

The 14th annual Camp Meeting of the Euro-Ghanaian Seventh-day Adventist Church has ended in Naples, Italy, with a call on Ghanaians to work hard towards peaceful elections in December. Highlight of the five-day event, which was used to provide spiritual revival for the campers, was a special prayer session for the leaders and people of Ghana as well as for peaceful election. Participants were taken through series of lectures and workshops on marriage, parenting, child delinquency, health, and womens’ role in developing contemporary society as well as spiritual growth.

Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy, Mr. Charles Agyei-Amoama, urged Christians not only to pray fervently for peaceful election, but more importantly to work towards what they pray for. ‘This you can do by being peaceful yourselves and urging friends and relations, especially those back home to be peaceful and tolerant to one another.’

He observed that God has been good to the people of Ghana by listening to the prayers of the people.

This according to him has created peaceful atmosphere and sound economy in the country. He expressed the hope that the forth coming election like all the previous ones would be peaceful and called on all who have any problems regarding the conduct of the election to use peaceful and amicable systems to resolve them.

He praised Ghanaians living abroad, especially those in Italy for their hard work which has seen many relatives back home having decent living. He, however, lamented on the upsurge of prostitution among some Ghanaian women in Italy. He said he had received reports that some elderly Ghanaian women are trafficking in young Ghanaian girls to engage in sex trade in Italy. Mr. Agyei-Amoama recounted that he recently personally intervened to provide assistance to a young lady who had been stranded in the country because she had repudiated to work in the demeaning trade for her ‘sponsor’.

He therefore called on young women in Ghana to be extremely cautious regarding people who would want to woo them to travel abroad, especially to Italy. The Executive Secretary of the world-wide Adventist Church, who is the second in command of the church world wide, Dr. Matthew Bediako, who was the guest of honour, asked Christians to be actively involved in the socio-economic development of the country.

He said ‘Christianity is primarily about meeting the needs of the people we minister to.’ He noted that Christians can not only to preach the gospel without meeting the social and other civic needs of society. He explained- ‘that is why our church has provided many health, educational and other facilities to help improve the lives of the people in Ghana and other parts of the world.

The Chairman of the Union of Ghanaian Adventist Churches in Europe, Pastor A.L Ewoo, noted that there is no spoilt child in the world. ‘It is only their behaviors that are not good and by divine direction, good guidance and support we can make our children what God wants them to be’. He added. He therefore called on parents to exhibit genuine love to their children by making them their friends and provide their needs to help reduce child delinquencies in society.

The Executive Secretary of the European Union Division of the Church, Pr Gabriel Maurer praised Ghanaian Adventists for coming together to spread the gospel in Europe, adding that such a move is worthy of emulation by other nationals.

A former President of the Adventists church in the Brong Ahafo region, who was also one time Ministerial Director of the Ghana Union of the Church, Pastor Kumanin Ohene Ameyaw was honored as part of the group’s annual award scheme to honour one retired and dedicated member of the church who has distinguished himself or herself in areas of gospel ministry, education, health as well as social services.

Executives of the union (EGAPCOM) were inaugurated to steer its affairs for the next three years. The next meeting of the sister churches would be held form the 10th to 16th August 2009 at Düsseldorf in Germany.