Churches must not disturb public peace - Apostle Opoku Onyinah

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah, has advised churches in the country to ensure that their activities do not disturb public peace in order to avoid conflicts with the law.

For instance, he said, it is important that during all-night services, churches lower their sound levels so as not to disturb public peace while during the day, the sound levels must also be minimized to acceptable standards.

“Everyone has a right to worship, but not at the expense of disturbing public peace as some churches do,” he said.

Apostle Oyinah was speaking to The Ghanaian Times on the sidelines of the 14th extraordinary council meeting of The Church of Pentecost at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region on Wednesday.

Speaking on the theme, “Fanning The Pentecostal Fire to impact generations, he said he had asked all Area Heads of The Church of Pentecost to ensure that noise-making at their various branches were reduced to a level that would not disturb the peace of others.”

He said the leadership of the church had encouraged the Area Heads to ensure that amplifiers were not opened during all-night services to disturb the surrounding communities.

“We have not prescribed sanctions but encouraged them to reduce noise levels during church activities,” he stressed.

Of late some churches across the country have been creating excessive noise while claiming to be worshiping, disturbing households near such churches. Complaints by neighbourhoods to such churches often result in confrontations and hurling of insults from people who profess to be worshiping God.

Apostle Dr. Onyinah, however, said the recovery of the economy does not just depend upon praying over the cedi, but good governance and commitment from all leaders and the Christian body, in particular, to save the economy from collapse.

“The sort of commitment will come as a practical example for others to emulate in their workplaces. We trust that if all leaders be it political, civil or sacred will think of the future and set good examples by putting Christian principles into practice, the economy of Ghana will change,” he added.

He said fanning the ‘Pentecostal fire’ would require that leaders impact positively into the incoming generations through sacrifice and love, to ensure that the future of Ghana could be guaranteed.

According to him, The Church of Pentecost would continue to strengthen its relationship with other churches and the para-church ministries to contribute their quota to social services in the country.