Presbyterian Church Of Ghana Commissions 42 Ministerial Probationers

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) on Sunday commissioned 42 Ministerial Probationers trained at the Ramseyer Training Centre, Abetifi Kwahu into the Holy Ministry of the Church.

This was after they had gone through three year intensive theological education at the Centre.

Preaching the sermon Rev Dr Kofi Effah-Ababio, immediate past Chairperson of the West Brong Presbytery challenged the ministers to intensify evangelistic activities in obedience to the Great Commission and win more souls for the Kingdom of God.

He cautioned the new ministers to preach unadulterated word of God. Rev Dr Effah-Ababio expressed concern about what he termed false prophesies and teachings which had become the order of the day by some ministers of the gospel and cautioned the congregants to be wary of such people whiles waiting for the second coming of the Messiah.

He also mentioned that some ministers of the gospel had constructed doctrines to suit themselves and their followers and only preached what people wanted to hear.

Rev Dr Effa-Ababio admonished the new ministers to rely on the one who had called them and not do anything that could bring the name of the Lord into disrepute.

He said many ministers of the Gospel who decided to go their way instead of looking up to the one who called them ended up miserably.

Rev Dr Effah-Ababio said such people lost the anointing from God and urged them not to allow themselves to be influenced by the pleasures of this world but be courageous in their ministry to enhance their personal spiritual growth and that of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.

He said it took only the invitation of the Holy Spirit to gain liberty and peace to pursue the task ahead, observing that the anointing of the Holy Spirit would set one apart as righteous and sacred and also confer on one spiritual authority .

Rev Dr Effah-Ababio said there were socio-economic and spiritual challenges that were confronting Ghanaians, and that their call to the ministry must be to provide solutions to them, especially in a world that knew no peace and lacked hope.

The Rt. Rev Prof. Emmanuel Martey, Moderator of the General Assembly of PCG, who administered the ministerial vows, urged the probationers to adhere to the principles of Christ to enable them stand as His true ambassadors.

The Moderator reminded the newly commissioned ministers to speak the truth always, irrespective of what happened to them, and that was the only way society could distinguish between the true messages of God and the false messages.

He cautioned the new ministers to draw lessons from what had happened to some ministers of the gospel who entered the ministry with different motives.

In a brief address before the commissioning, Noah Ferguson who represented the probationers, expressed his appreciation to the hierarchy of the church for their ministerial training and promised that they would do their best in their ministerial journey to lift the banner of Jesus.

“As we take our commissioning vows, we are not unaware of the prevailing social dynamics. Society is fraught with so many vices; bribery and corruption, envy, homosexuality, prostitution, greed, unhealthy crave for political power, armed robbery, cyber fraud to mention but a few. These vices have gradually crept into the church” he said.

He said that notwithstanding they humbly accepted the challenge to go and serve as light of the world so as to brighten the corner in which they shall serve and to widen the frontiers if Christendom.

“We are encouraged by the work of many ministers in this church who have laid down their lives for many for the sake of the Gospel of Christ. This indeed gives us a beckon of hope. We are hopeful that with determination, tenacity of purpose and prodding of the Holy Spirit we shall succeed” he maintained.