Nation should embrace new opportunities - Moderator

Accra, July 31, GNA - The Rt. Rev. Dr. Livingston Komla Buama, Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, Ghana, on Saturday said the nation needs to embrace new challenges and opportunities, instead of reviving problems of the past.

"If we keep building mountains of difficulties instead of bridges of possibilities, we cannot break new grounds."

The Rt. Rev Dr. Buama said this at a sermon under the theme, "Breaking New Grounds," at the dedication of a Manse for the District Pastor of the Dansoman District of the EP Church-Ghana, the inauguration of the district, as well as the official swearing in of the Pastor of the district.

The one story Manse consisting of a hall and six bedrooms and located within the premises of the church, is to serve as the living quarters of the District Pastor.

The Moderator of the EP Church , Ghana, said from the Biblical perspective, God was creative and "we as His co-workers had to be the same. He said in the light of the challenges of the moment, we had to stop doing things the old way and venture into new challenges." The Rt Rev Dr Buama, said this was the key to tackling crucial areas of national development such as poverty, education, job creation, parenting as well as effectively dealing with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. He said as Ghanaians, we needed to be united and organized, noting that it was very difficult to achieve progress without unity and good organization.

The District Pastor, Rev Wisdom Selom Alovi, said although he was young, he believed that spiritually he was well built for the calling. "I believe the Lord who has sent me would strengthen me in times of trial and difficulty."

He said as a new district, the church needed to be focused and indulge in self-sustaining projects, adding that with discipline and the right attitude towards duty, the Church would grow from strength to strength.

Rev. James Afele, Presbytery Chairman, inaugurated the Dansoman District and advised the church to emulate the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and spread the word of God instead of keeping it to themselves.

He also urged members of the district to ensure its growth by keeping united and avoiding tendencies that breed divisions. Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education who was the guest speaker for the occasion, commended the church for the building and observed that due to lack of confidence, many failed to achieve great things in life.

She said it was important for people to get rid of the kind of fear that prevented them from making great strides of success in life. The Minister urged members of the church to endeavour to open up and welcome into its fold new people who might want to do fellowship with them.

Moneys realized at an appeal for funds to mark the occasion, amounted up to 1o8,480,000.

Three members of the Church, Theodore Yaw Foli, John Mensah and Wollanyo Foli were awarded for their relentless efforts at helping with church activities and especially with the building of the Manse. The newly created Dansoman District of the E.P.Church, Ghana, comprises the Dansoman E.P.Church which was previously part of the Lartebiokorshie District of the church and the Divine E.P.Church, Galilea, which was also moved from Russia District of the Church.

The Dansoman District was among eight other districts approved by the leadership of the E.P. Church Ghana.