US College confers doctorate degree on local Church founder

Accra, Nov. 30, GNA - Grace Baptist College and Seminary in the United States of America (USA), on Sunday conferred a doctorate degree on Reverend Dr Sammy Ampo, Founder and General Overseer of the Praise Palace International, a locally-based church at a ceremony in Accra. The College conferred on him, the doctorate degree in Biblical studies and Theology. As the doctrine of theological studies demands, Rev. Dr Ampo's wife, Mrs Philomena Ampo also received Honorary Bachelor's degree in Biblical studies and Theology. The ceremony coincided with his (Rev. Dr Ampo's) 50th birthday. Dr Ampo successful completed the course during the 2007/2008 academic year of the college.

Receiving the honour, elated Rev. Dr Ampo told the large congregation of his church members that the conferment marked a new beginning of reaching out to the downtrodden in the society. In a sermon titled "Life in the valley" Rev. Dr Ampo urged Christians not to run away from problems because it was when they were surmounted that life would crown them with success. He said problems were inevitable adding that while it was left for mankind to adequately design ways of addressing them, God had already designed solutions to them.

Dwelling on the story of Ezekiel where God told him to prophesy into lifeless dry bones which received life again, Rev. Dr Ampo told the members that with faith in God everything was possible. He called for peace on December 7, Election Day and urged Ghanaians to rally around whichever government would come into power to transform the country's economy.

The Praise Palace International Church, which has a branch in the USA, was established in Ghana three years ago and it currently has 11 branches scattered in the country.

Meanwhile, the Grace Baptist College and Seminary is planning to establish a Bible college in Ghana and other African countries to train men and women for God to complement efforts of governments and other established Christian institutions. Dr Kwadwo Adom Tufuor, a Practicing Theologian of the college made this known in a speech read for him at the conferment ceremony.