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Religion of Monday, 27 April 2009

Source: Antwi Boasiako John, Classic fm Techiman

Pastors urged to desist from worldly amusements

Classic fm Techiman, B/A; The president of the Pentecostal Fellowship in Nigeria, Dr. Emmanuel Etim has warned Ghanaian pastors to desist from worldly amusements, and rather seek the spiritual development of the flock entrusted to them since worldly gains are not requirements to heaven.

According to him, many pastors have stopped preaching the truth and righteousness to their flock because of the fear of losing worldly gains, even though gain is not the key to catapult the flock to heaven.

Speaking at the 6th Graduation, Ordination and Matriculation ceremony of the Ambassadors Faith Mission Institute in the Techiman Municipality, Dr. Emmanuel Etim expressed his concern about some pastors and Christians making a mockery of the Lord because of their life-styles.

He said it would rather be good for people to stay away from the Church, than to claim that they were devoted Christians only to turn round to commit grave sins that need not be mentioned in the house of God.

Dr. Etim said if pastors and Christians would brood over accountability on Judgment day, people would stop misbehaving and live a decent life for peace to prevail in society. Adding that said some people have rushed into the work of God for personal gains without taking into account the responsibilities that God expects from them.

The Rector for the Institute Apostle Jerry Otoyo announced that the School currently runs both certificate and Diploma programmes with Lifestyle Academy in UK as their affiliate. The grandaunts made up of 7 certificates and 22 Diplomats. He said the institute has so far trained over three hundred ministers of the Gospel nationwide in nine years.

Apostle Jerry Otoyo appealed to politicians to desist from reckless pronouncements that have the tendency to inflame passions and chaos in the country. He commended the Ghana’s EC for their splendid performance in the just ended general elections.

He exhorted the grandaunts to help each other to alleviate the suffering of the poor. Apostle Jerry Otoyo denounced wealth aggrandizement and inordinate materialism, saying, if these could not be redirected towards ameliorating the suffering of the underprivileged in the society, then they were useless.

On his part, the outgoing prefect for the institute Rev. Solomon Manu appealed to the benevolent and civil societies to assist the school for the provision of the class room blacks.

The over all best student awards went to Rev. Thomas Kru Mensah who is the head pastor of the Blood of Jesus Reformed Church in Techiman.