Accra, June 6, GNA - The Reverend Fitzgerald Odonkor, Head Pastor of Harvest Chapel International, on Sunday called on religious organisations to educate members on sound environmental practices and join the crusade for preventing environmental degradation.
He expressed concern about poor sanitary conditions as well as land and environmental degradation throughout the country and urged religious institutions to join environmental crusaders to remedy the situation. Rev Odonkor was speaking at a special "Charisma and Communion Service," of Harvest Chapel International in Accra, which coincided with the World Environment Day celebrations.
Ghana marked the day with coconut tree planting programmes at Sakumono beach area. The exercise was led by Boxing legend Barima Azumah Nelson under the theme, "Wanted! Seas and Oceans - Dead of Alive?" Rev. Odonkor deplored the unfortunate environmental situation "despite all the awareness creation that preceded this year's World Environment Day celebrations".
He called on Churches and environmental NGOs to work with the ministry as partners in the national programme for promoting good environmental stewardship.
Preaching on "Substance of Faith," Rev. Odonkor concentrated on three aggradations of faith - faith that leads to salvation/born again, empowering faith, which helps the believer to live through the challenges of the time, and faith as a supernatural gift of God. Based on Hebrews Chapter 11, he held that "faith in God empowers the Christian to walk by faith, which enables him victory both physically and spiritually."
Rev. Odonkor also challenged Christians with three ingredients of faith - vision, affirmation and opportunity, stressing that faith transcends sight, as sight belongs to the senses, while vision belongs to the spiritual realm.
He therefore urged Christians to lean on the everlasting arms of God, hold on to words of faith and encouragement and not to be deterred by the social-economic conditions.
Harvest Chapel is an evangelism-oriented ministry that places emphasis on providing pastoral cover and teaching Christians to become effective in their specific vocations, as well as build leaders to influence their generation for Jesus Christ.
