Sharna Welty in a group photograph with the graduands
FORMER PUBLIC Relations Officer (PRO) of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PSG) and media consultant, Mr GBK Owusu has urged pastors to be bold enough to criticize governments that err and infringe on the rights of the people.
“Don’t fear the rulers but tell them the truth as prophets Amos, Ezekial, Hosea, Habakkuk, Daniel did to the wicked rulers,” he said.
He made the call in an address at the first graduation ceremony of the Bethesda Centre of Evangelism and Bible School at Anomawabi in the Central Region.
This, he said was because the church was made up of people with diverse political ideologies and should therefore endeavour at all times offer constructive criticisms and tell the truth to leaders who engaged in corruption, injustice and graft.
He however urged men of God to be submissive to governing authorities and should be non-partisan in the discharge of their duties in order not to divide the church.
Mr Owusu also tasked the graduands to desist from being armchair pastors and extend the gospel to the marginalized in society and pray for the nation, rulers and persons placed in responsible positions.
The graduands who completed a six-month course in pastoral ministry were further encouraged to make good use of the internet and extend knowledge to their congregation and preach about the negative impacts of the internet to the youth.
In a sermon, Reverend S.T. Ankrah of the Historic Adventist Church called on Christians to be wary of the so-called prosperity gospel being preached in the country.
He advised them to seek eternal salvation from the Bible and obey all the commands and precepts.
“In his words, Jesus Christ is the only redeemer and in him is our salvation. The miracles that are taking place are nothing but magic,” he emphasized.
Pastor Ankrah also urged the graduands to intensify the preaching of the gospel to every part of the country.
On her part, the Director of the Bethesda Bible Training Centre, Sharna Welty also admonished the graduands not to be discouraged when they do not see immediate positive results from their efforts.
Instead, she said “please contemplate the amazing sacrifice that has been made for you. Let us try to appreciate the labour and energy that heaven is expending to reclaim the lost”.
“As you go out each and every day, never allow the enemy to sow seeds of discouragement in you just because you may not see immediate positive results from your efforts,” she noted.
By Ernest Nutsugah & Jennifer Mireku