SARS Cripple Ghanaian Chruches In Toronto

Ghanaians churches in Toronto will soon file bankruptcies if a tenuous grip isn't made on the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in the city.

Many Christians in the Ghanaian community are scared to go to their churches nowadays. I was at Ghana Church of Pentecost on Arrow Road today to worship GOD with my brethrens. To be frank, all the chairs in the church were almost empty with the pastor wearing mask and gloves of SARS.

Recently, there have been a quarantine involving 600 people including members of the BLD Covenant community, a Toronto Catholic group that gathers weekly for prayer meetings. More than thirty members of the group have been diagnosed with SARS.

These guys were exposed to the disease during a funeral of an 82 year-old man who died from it early this month from a contact with one of his sons during a religious retreat.

Meanwhile, the elders and pastors in Ghanaian churches have advised their members to refrain from shaking hands, singing, clapping hands and hugging.

In a sign that Ghanaian Catholic leaders are worried about the spread of the disease, extraordinary steps have been taken to alter Catholic rituals, including kissing the crucifix on Easter exchanging the salutation of peace and sharing a Communion cup in their church on Kipling Avenue.

Born-Again Christians like the members of Ghana Pentecost, All Nations, Osofo Anto Church, Rev. Mantey Reform Church, Kofi Ansong Revival Church, Kwame Gyaame Bible Church, Nii Sly Holy Ghost Church, Makola Methodist Church, Ghana Methodist Church and Liberty Church have strongly advised their brethrens to desist from using personal items, such as the Bible (the book of knowledge), hymn books, pens, pencils, folders, towels, drinking cups, cutlery and telephone receivers.