Regional News of Wednesday, 2 July 2014

Source: Christian Council of Ghana

Opuni-Frimpong calls for non-violent change

The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong has asked Ghanaians to pursue the change they yearn for without violent or any act that has the tendency to destroy lives and properties.

According to him, the quest for change should be done on the principle of dialogue, consensus building and the very Constitution which governs us as either an institution or a people.

“Most of us want to see change and transformation in our country, churches, marriages, oragnisations and communities. In pursuing these changes, especially when things are not going the way we expect, we must do it peacefully with the interest of the bigger picture or body at heart” he emphasized.

Rev. Opuni-Frimpong made these statements in his sermon at the 30th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of the Nantoma Memorial Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Kanda in Accra, last Sunday.

He stated that, change is needed in most of our churches, institutions and the current governance system of Ghana, adding that, we must work to bring the change we want to see through dialogue, and consensus building.

“We need change in every sector of our national life. Ghana is in dire need of change, but we must pursue this through dialogue and be guided by the Constitution of this country. We must not give up when pursuing change, no matter how long it takes, we must work for it peacefully until it happens” he reiterated.

For him, when change is characterized with violence, it does not last and always leads to the destruction of lives and properties, adding that, violent change creates more problems than the solution it intended to solve. He continued that, “there is no glory in a change that is gotten through violence.”

Touching on the title of his sermon, ‘Chosen To Bear Fruits’, he noted that, Christians are called into possession and performance. He said, among the two, most Christians are very active about possessing the things of God for themselves, and very few are into performing for Christ and the society.

According to him, in as much as Christians must possess what God has destined for them, it is equally important for them to perform the task God wants them to do by bearing fruits for Him. He said, Christians must give priority in serving God by making impact in their church, communities and nation.

“As Christians, we must make ourselves available to the kingdom of God and bear fruits that will abide. Christian leaders must embrace the responsibility of leading their people to focus on social transformation as we bear fruits. We are called to be agents of change and transformation.”

He commended members of the Congregation and its leadership for the feat they have chalked for the past 30 years and urged them to focus on things that spiritually edify the church and continue to make impact in God’s kingdom and the community in which they find themselves.

“The church must not compromise on the values and efforts that guarantees sound spiritual life,” he admonished.