The Bible Society Ghana (BSG) has held its golden jubilee thanksgiving service in Accra on the theme: “God’s Transforming Word: Life for All”.
Delivering the sermon, Reverend Dr Benhardt Y. Quarshie, Rector, Akrofi Christaller Institute, called on Christians to be agents of transformation by living transformed lives.
He said the Word, which is life and light that shines in darkness, is being propagated extensively in the country but people are still experiencing darkness.
“The time has come for Christians in this country to rise up and be counted for Christ.
“Repentance ,confession and asking for forgiveness of sins should be the Christian thing to be done by all Christians in this country for the darkness around us to see light as the Word has become flesh and dwelling amongst us,” Rev Dr Quarshie advised.
Bishop Charles Agyin-Asare, Presiding Bishop, Perez Chapel International, observed that that country needs the light of the Word of God to protect citizens from the world
“We live in a world of darkness now where standards have been turned upside down and until we give room for the Word, we will never know who we really are.
“As the Word of God shows us who we really are by helping to correct who we are,” he said.
He lauded BSG for translating the Word in various languages and called on them to continue to engage in the translation work for all to experience God.
The Most Rev Professor Emmanuel K. Asante, President, BSG, commenting on the theme, said studying the Word of God and being obedient to the Word would result in positive change in the lives of citizens.
Prof Asante congratulated members of the council, management and staff of BSG for their achievements over the years that had sustained the works of society.
He noted that churches, in particular, had been immense and solid pillars of strength.
Recounting the history of BSG, Rev Erasmus Odonkor, General Secretary, BSG, said the BSG which has the core mandate of translating the Bible into the major local languages of Ghana and to this end, has translated the Bible into nine local languages from the original Greek and Hebrew text in fulfillment of their mission of making God’s Word available and affordable.
He said the BSG was inaugurated on February 19, 1967 after all formal preparations have been concluded.
Rev Odonkor explained that there were three levels of membership in the BSG, all of which aimed to offer interested persons an opportunity to contribute to and benefit from the work of BSG.
He noted that BSG have surely paid its dues to the churches in Ghana as well as to the Ghanaian community.
“Fifty years of service has seen BSG bearing the enormous responsibility of being entrusted with the Word of God in Ghana.
“There is no doubt that the best years of BSG are still in the future and that this future has already begun with our generation,” Rev Odonkor said.
Awards were presented to past officers of BSG, including Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, Chief Justice of Ghana, Dr Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive Officer, Salt and Light Ministries and Mr Sam Okudzeto.
