Minister deplores social vices among church leaders

Koforidua, April 24, GNA - The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Barimah, has decried the growing tendency of some church leaders to drag the name of God in the mud by indulging in social vices. He noted that the tendency was leading some of the faithful to lose confidence in the church.

The concern was contained in a speech read on his behalf at the ordination service for 30 new ministers of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, at Koforidua on Sunday. The ministers made up of eight pastors including two women, 10 Licensed Ministers and 12 Exhorters.

The Pastors were Ivan Hendrix Pee Yankson, Gideon Angmortey Ahuno, Paul Peter Asamoah, Jacob Adjekum and Lawrence Boateng Apartey. The others were Joseph Kwadwo Baidoo, Ms Comfort Ofori and Mrs Agnes Awinbord Awinzon.

Mr Barimah who expressed concern about the high level of indiscipline in the Ghanaian society, called for a united front between the Church and state to deal with the situation to pave way for national development.

He called on the Church to support the government towards the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to replace the cash-and-carry system to bring quality health delivery to the doorstep of the people.

The Minister commended the Assemblies of God Church for constituting HIV/AIDS response teams and urged it to intensify its public education on behavioural change and the care for those afflicted by the pandemic.

In a sermon preceding the ordination, the General Superintendent of the Church, Rev. William W. Dontoh, stressed the need for both churches and political leaders to lead morally upright lives since their immoral lives could create problems for the people.

He advised the new ministers to emulate Jesus Christ by not wasting their time on arguing with non-believers but concentrate on spreading the gospel to the people.

Rev. Dontoh reminded them that they would be held accountable for their stewardship, so they should live above reproach at all times. He asked them to continue educating themselves both formally and informally, especially through the media, to enable them to succeed in their vocation.

Rev. Dontoh later inaugurated a seven-member Education Committee of the Church and launched yoghurt being manufactured by the Church in Koforidua from cocoa by-products and fruits as employment generation for members.

Earlier in a welcoming address, the Eastern Regional Superintendent of the Church, Rev. Alex O. Amankwah, said the Church had helped its members to establish their own businesses and had acquired a piece of land at Abodom for a pilot sericulture for silk production.