Ho, April 27, GNA - Mrs Vida Dzobo, a leading member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church Pastors' Spouses Association on Sunday called on her colleagues to be fair but firm in fulfilling their responsibilities in the church. She urged them to be confident and do away with the fear of failure and inadequacy so that they could support their spouses meaningfully for the growth of the Church.

Mrs Dzobo made the call at a thanksgiving service to climax a five-day retreat by the Association at Ho in the Volta Region. It was on the theme: "Called to serve." She observed that many pastors' spouses were reluctant to involve themselves in church activities for fear of criticism from the congregation and urged them to ignore such criticisms. "Rendering service to God is the core duty of man and we as pastors' spouses must play our parts diligently to the admiration of all," she added. Mrs Dzobo advised pastors' spouses to be prayerful and be productive.

She urged the congregation to accord them necessary respect and recognition in order to encourage them to serve. "Respect pastors' spouses just as you respect pastors because the two are one," Mrs Dzobo said. Mrs Bernice Senaya-Topper, president of the Association, noted that the responsibilities of pastors' spouses were enormous and called for support from all stakeholders. She said the Association had set up a fund to assist members who have lost their spouses and appealed to well-meaning individuals to contribute to it. The Association has also acquired several acres of land in Ho for the construction of a conference centre and a hostel, she said.