Pastors urged not to parade themselves with titles

Agona Swedru, Dec 20, GNA - Clergymen and women should desist from parading themselves with self-imposed titles. They should rather work to project the Kingdom of God, Apostle Moses Afful Snr, Chairman of the Apostolic Reform Church International, cautioned on Sunday.

He was speaking at the 5th graduation of the Grace Theological Institute (GTI), at Agona Swedru.

Apostle Afful, who is also Africa Co-ordinator of the Bible Way Fellowship International, said it was necessary that clergymen and women allowed the Holy Spirit to lead them to avoid falling into temptation. He said in order to fulfil the demands of their pastoral calling they should commit themselves to the study of the Bible and other religious tracts related to the culture and background of the Gospel of Christ.

Apostle Afful noted that, "God never speaks to entertain us all the time but rather clergymen and women must avail themselves in the direction of the Holy Spirit".

He cautioned the new Clergymen and woman not to allow monetary gain to over ride God who was the subject of worship and to eschew hatred and parochial interest.

Rev James Nii Hammond, Principal of the Institute, said the School had trained 66 Clergymen and women since its establishment in 1998. He said they had either gone into Church planting or joined other fellowship to preach the Gospel.

Rev Hammond said it was the desire of the GTI to focus on evangelism leading to Church planting and appealed to the people for support to train more clergymen and women.

He pointed out that it was also the aim of the Institute to support depressed Christians in times of trouble. The Principal asked the new Ministers of Religion desist from self-centredness and help others to resist corruption that was getting hold of the World