Methodist Bishop asks churches to address needs youth

May 11, 2011
Takoradi, May 11, GNA - The Bishop of the Sekondi Diocese of the Methodist Church of Ghana, the Right Reverend Edward Ofori Donkor, has advised church leaders to address the needs of the youth for them to feel appreciated.

“The greater challenge facing the local churches is the recognition of the youth's importance and their place in the total structure of the church,”he observed.

The Bishop made the call at the end of the 50th Annual Synod of the Sekondi Diocese under the theme: 'Connexionalism - the Church as a Living Fellowship', at the Bethel Methodist Society at Takoradi.

Rt. Rev. Ofori Donkor said it is the duty of the Church to recognize and meet the needs of its members.

“There is no greater challenge today than to pastor a congregation to become aware of its responsibility and accountability to God and to motivate members to be each other's keeper as a living fellowship,” he stated.

He said the Church, and the society at large, must help young people to adjust meaningfully to their four-fold needs, namely; physical, social, mental and spiritual to give them a life with direction and purpose.

The Bishop, therefore, challenged the Church to give support in the form of scholarships and others to the needy in society and set up standard and workable programmes that would compel them to realize their potentials.

They should also be given the knowledge about Christ for them to support and contribute positively to the progress of the Church and society.

On the relationship between the Church and the State, he challenged Christians to play their civic roles well to change this era where love for money, pleasure and status have captured the minds of people.

“The Church may not be able to eradicate poverty and corruption in the country but we can serve poor families in our communities and Christians can work within the political parties and chieftaincy institutions as people of integrity and exert influence,” he indicated.

GNA