General News of Thursday, 1 January 2004
Source: GNA
Accra, Jan. 1, GNA - Many churches in Accra were filled with regular and occasional worshippers to usher in the New Year. At the Ghana Police Church at the Akuafo Intercession, the service took the form of intercessory prayers, singing and dancing. Prayers were offered for President John Agyekum Kufuor; Vice President Aliu Mahama; the Cabinet; Parliament; Judiciary; Police and the entire nation.
Preaching the sermon the Very Reverend J.M.Y. Edusu-Eyison, an Associate Minister of the church, urged Christians to have faith in God as they entered the New Year.
He said the New Year would bring challenges but these should not make Christians to lose hope and cited the case of Joshua, who had to take up the mantle of leadership after the death of Moses to lead the Israelites to cross the Jordan.
The Chaplain General of the Church, the Very Reverend Benjamin Dennis Quansah asked Christians to leave all the negative things behind and move into the New Year with positive things only.
He said Christians should do the right things so that they could benefit from the blessings of God, adding: "We do not get the required blessings because we do not do the right things".
The Chaplain General said the security agencies were ever ready for anybody, who would attempt to destabilise the country and urged the people to report people with dubious intentions. He urged Christians to stand up against evil forces to prove that " we are over comers".
At the Royal House Chapel, The General Overseer, the Reverend Sam Korankye Ankrah asked churches not to offer politicians platforms for their electioneering campaigns as the country prepared for the 2004 General Election.
He said the church harboured people from different ethnic groups with varied political views and that if churches became partisan it was likely to cause division within the congregation and create unnecessary tension.
Reverend Korankye Ankrah noted that as had been the practice, politicians were likely to whip up ethnic sentiments in their bid to canvass support in the elections.
He said it was, however, important for the church to play a neutral role and display high sense of maturity so that it could offer the politicians the needed advice and support.
"Let us warmly receive the party that emerge winner in the 2004 Elections and admonish the loser to accept defeat."
Reverend Korankye Ankrah advised any political party that might lose the election to accept defeat to ensure the sustainability of the democratic process in the country.
He urged the church to pray fervently for peace to prevail before, during and after the elections, saying if the churches did not seek divine intervention in the forthcoming election it could not escape from the consequences.
President Kufuor joined the congregation at the Christ the King Catholic Church to usher in the New Year.
In a sermon the Right Reverend Stephen Adu Kwaning, Parish Priest, called on Christians to rededicate their lives to Christ and to live by his example of humility and selflessness.
He said the New Year should be a year of stocktaking and reflection for Christians on what they should have done better and what they could do to help others and the nation.
Father Kwaning urged Christians to be law abiding, especially as the electioneering period approached, to sustain the peace in the country, adding that they should use their time profitably and to work hard to justify what they earned.
He exhorted Ghanaians to look forward to the New Year with optimism, trust and faith that things would be better for them.
He advised Christians in particular to open up a new lease in their lives so as to ensure that the good things they expect were achieved. Bishop Thomas Leke, Founder and Leader of the Holy Ghost Fire Church, advised Christians to desist from circumventing rules and regulations made to ensure sanity in society.
He said God was able to create the world because He did not deviate from His plans of doing and that Christ accomplished his Father's goal of cleansing mankind of his sins, though the process was painful. Similar messages were delivered at other Churches visited by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Thursday.
Rev. Quansah was preaching the sermon on New Year's day service at the Cape Coast Castle, in remembrance of Reverend Joseph Dunwell, the first British missionary who helped establish the Church in Cape Coast, in the then Gold Coast on January 1, 1835.
Rev. Dunwell, who died in June the same year at the age of 28, was also instrumental in the establishment of the first schools within the Cape Coast castle.
Reverend Quansah said even though the early missionaries knew that "death awaited them in a strange country", they did not relent in their efforts and desire to spread the good news, which culminated in the establishment of the church.
He charged members of the church, especially nominal Christians, to rededicate themselves to quality service, especially in the context of evangelism to win more souls. Mr. William Thompson, an administrator of the church who gave a brief history on the establishment of the church in the country, said two other missionaries who followed Rev. Dunwell, in 1836 and 1837, both of them also very young, died within four and three months respectively, on arrival, because they could not withstand the weather conditions by then.
He said a fourth missionary, Rev. Freeman, who arrived a year later, however stayed in the country for 52 years. Mr. Thompson also urged members of the church to move out of the church and spread the gospel.
Some other churches in the township, also held services to mark New Year's day.
He reminded Ghanaians to seek the welfare of this land and that they would experience same in their lives. The General Overseer noted that some Ghanaians were adamant to change, adding that without change there would never be progress and development.
He, therefore, asked Ghanaians to change their attitude towards one another and accept changes that were currently taking place in the country.
He advised the government to continue to recognize the presence of the church in nation building saying many developed countries achieved total development through the efforts of churches.
Rev. Armah stressed the need for Ghanaians to live in unity and harmony to ensure peace.
"With the recent development in some parts of the country, we need to do away with violence and live with one another as brothers and sisters."
He also appealed to Ghanaians to show love and compassion to people living with HIV/AIDS and the weak in the society.
Rev Armah criticized religious leaders who duped people through "miracles" and under the pretext of praying for church members to enable them to acquire visas and other fortunes. He advised political leaders especially the minority parties to continue to offer the government advice and play its part as "a responsible minority" in the country's governance.
Rev. Armah called on both the minority and the Party in power to be tolerant to their "critical views and opinions" so that together they could confront the challenges that faced the nation in the collective effort towards socio-economic development.
He said it was the Christians belief that Ghana would continue to live in peace and chart the course of national development.
"We do believe that the coming year will see deepening of ties between the electorate and political groupings to ensure genuine democratic culture.
"May the blessings of God be on us as we enter into a New Year to continue our nation-building and crown our efforts in 2004 and beyond", he said.
Reverend Joseph K. Gyimah, Leader of the True Light of Christ Church who gave the advice, said the use of provocative language and attacks on political opponents did not only undermine the beauty of the country's democracy.
Rev. Gyimah was preaching the sermon on at the Watch Night at the True Light of Christ Church, Abrepo, Kumasi.
He made it clear that for any party to win an election, that party must address national issues and convince people about its manifesto.
Rev. Gyimah said Ghana's democracy had witnessed significant growth and stability over the years "and it will be morally and divinely wrong, for any one to destroy the gains achieved".
At the Trinity Foundation Ministry at Anwomaso, Reverend Samuel Odarnor, in-charge of the Ministry, called on pastors to do away with fear and be bold to present the true teachings of the gospel. He observed that the inability of most pastors to muster courage to preach the true word of God was making it difficult for Christianity to make the desired impact on society.
"Preaching only what the congregation want to hear and not what actually pertains in the bible is wrong and unacceptable, since it misleads the people. ", he added.
Rev. Odarnor reminded churches and pastors that it was more rewarding to speak the truth and have a few quality members that stray from the gospel to satisfy the whims and caprices of people, in order to have a large following in the church.
In a new year message at the Gospel Revival Church of Christ, Sofoline, Kumasi, Bishop J.N.K. Boateng, Founder of the church, urged Ghanaians to disabuse their minds that the country could be developed solely on foreign aid, grants and support.
He made it clear that no country had ever developed on foreign assistance, "since such foreign aid only come in to supplement what had already been initiated by the citizens themselves". Bishop Boateng, therefore, entreated Ghanaians to resolve to dedicate themselves more to hard work, to develop the country themselves.
Delivering his New Year message at the Lord Brotherhood Church at South Suntreso, Kumasi, Primate S.K. Adofo, Spiritual Head of the church, called on leadership of the country to pledge what they could achieve.
Primate Adofo stressed, "it's frustrating and demoralising when pledges and resolutions are made anyhow and eventually fail".
He was preaching at the Watch Night service at the Takoradi Trinity Presbyterian Church to usher in the New Year. Preaching on the theme, " You have never been this way before", Rev.
Asiama-Koranteng said, for Ghanaians to continue to enjoy peace, especially during the forthcoming general elections, they must obey the tenets of Christianity.
He said the people must also endeavour to be law abiding, foster unity and seek the welfare of their families. Reverend Asiama-Koranteng urged Christians to "unconditionally show love to non-Christians".
At the Takoradi Bethel Methodist Church, The Very Rev. John Harvey-Ewusie, Superintendent Minister of the Church, preaching on "Let us run the race that lies ahead of us with determination", said Ghanaians needed to start the New Year with the Lord. He said the successes and failures and of last year should serve as a motivation for all.
Rev. Harvey-Ewusie stressed that Ghanaians could overcome their problems only if they looked up to the Lord, adding that with Him, there is nothing like defeat or failure".
He advised Ghanaians to leave behind all their negative thoughts, repent and forgive each other and face the coming years with hope. He urged workers to work hard to increase productivity and said the welfare of the country, should be their priority.
He advised parents who have neglected their responsibilities towards their children, spouse and their parents, to re-assess their position and change for the better.
Rev. Harvey-Ewusie advised politicians and supporters of the various political parties not to engage in any form of confrontation during the 2004 general elections.
At the Flames of Glory Ministry International Church, the General Overseer, Rev. George Boachie-Darquah said Ghanaians should be grateful to God for seeing them through another difficult year.
He urged Ghanaians to continue to work hard and look up to God in whose hands lies the destiny of the country.
"Look up to God, for He will once again do exceedingly more than what we expect from Him", he said.
Preaching the sermon "the blessing of God", Rev. Ocloo said the blessing of God should encompass all activities, especially the 2004, adding that through God's blessings, we should have peace during the political campaign this year, adding that 2004 elections should be peaceful.
Rev Ocloo noted that God keeps his children to make them safe, so that they would have eternal security in their own lives. He called on Christians to worship God in sincerity, become obedient to him, so that all would enjoy peace.
In a sermon to usher in the new year, Rev. Atieku said God's grace and love had never diminished but man had rather corrupted the role assigned to him by God for the realisation of the prosperity that flows from him (God).
He said dishonesty in all spheres in the country has presented the people to enjoy the abundance of God's blessing.
Rev Atieku said the message in Luke chapter 3: verses 10-14 was a call for honesty, kindness, contentment, fellow feeling and incorruptibility as necessary conditions for happiness.
He said: "If we carry on in the new year as we did in the previous year things would be more difficult for us as God does not create hardship" adding God required humankind to work sincerely for prosperity.
Rev. Nobel J. Tulasi, Pastor in charge of Jubilee International Churches and Ministries, Ho Branch, preaching on "Making the Most Of Every Opportunity", said prayers alone did not solve problems and that people must work and persevere to succeed in life. He said the world was a dynamic place and that people must change to suit changing situations since no matter ones pedigree and skills if one did not move along with time one was bound to fail. He advised politicians to be focused, plan for the people they lead and not waste time with empty promises. People trooped to the Churches and all the sermons were focused on attainment of peace in the country, goodwill and the prevalence of the spirit of forgiveness and prayers for peaceful elections.
He said as the nation enters a new year, Ghanaians especially Christians should do away with laziness, back-biting, hatred, lies, selfishness and other negative practices that retard progress. Preaching the sermon at the Sanctuary at Nkukua-Buoho in the Kwabre district to usher in the New Year, Rev. Amoakohene-Tawiah asked Christians to let success and progress be their guiding principles.
"If we don't know where we are going this year, let God be our guide and he will lead us to his glory", the parish priest said. Speaking on the theme: "Mary Is Our Model", Rev. Amoakohene-Tawiah advised politicians to address issues and not personalities towards the general elections this year.
"We all need to unite to ensure peaceful elections devoid of rancour, mudslinging and insults", he said.