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Regional News of Sunday, 29 August 2004

Source: GNA

Don't allow past to retard your future - Aboagye-Mensah

Takoradi, Aug. 29, GNA - The Most Reverend Doctor Robert Aboagye-Mensah, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church has urged Christians not to allow their past failures to retard their progress. "Rather, Christians must constantly remind themselves that God loves them and would create opportunities for them to be victorious," he said. Rev. Aboagye-Mensah said these in a sermon to climax the third Biennial and 41st conference of the Methodist Church at Takoradi on Sunday. The five-day Conference, which was on the theme "Faith Working Through Love" was attended by 135 ministers including 17 Bishops and 152 laypersons.

Sixty-two ministers who had completed their three-year probation were ordained and presented with cassocks, stoles, bibles and certificates during the service.

He said several Christians easily became overweighed with problems, fear and uncertainty and doubted God's power, grace, guidance and protection.

Rev. Aboagye-Mensah advised them to be sensitive to God and the Holy Spirit and ensure that God controlled all their activities.

He advised ministers of the gospel not to lord it over their congregations but rather learn to be submissive and willing to serve. "These is dignity in service and anyone who is not prepared to serve his church, family, community and the nation is not qualified to be a leader," he added.

Rev. Aboagye-Mensah challenged Christians not to see service as demeaning but rather serve with diligence, zeal and without murmuring.