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Religion of Monday, 4 March 2013

Source: GNA

Chapels must remain open to the public at all times

Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has called on churches to keep their doors opened to all in need of spiritual, emotional and educational nourishment.

Pastors, Catechists and Presbyters must arrange to retain volunteers on the church premises to attend to the needs of those who would call seeking help and direction.

Rev. Prof. Martey said this during a sermon to mark the “Junior Youth Sunday” of the Church.

The event was under the theme, “educating the child,” which coincided with the elevation of the Ho sub-district of the Church to a district headquarters.

Other sub-districts forming the new District are, Krachi, Nkwanta and Dambai which were hitherto under the Anum District of the Church.

Rev. Prof. Martey said many young people were thirsty for spiritual insight and nourishment which the Church must provide so that young people become spiritually, emotionally, physically and intellectually balanced for their own good and the benefit of the society.

He said Churches must also teach illiterates and young people to read the Bible in their local languages.

Rev. Prof. Martey said the passover story also portrayed the importance of the family unit in the training and spiritual development of children, adding that the conduct of Mary and Joseph in the story showed that they were up to their duties as parents who brought up Jesus Christ in the fear and reverence of God.

He said because young Jesus Christ was brought up to crave after the knowledge of God, he found his way back to the temple to hold discourses with the leaders after Passover was over.

He advised children and young people to take advantage of opportunities to discover and develop their talents towards a secure future for themselves and the society.

Six children between the ages of 12-18 years who excelled in essay competitions testing their knowledge in the scriptures were awarded deserving prizes.