By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi
Accra, June 9, GNA – Newly ordained pastors into the Gospel Ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) Accra City Conference have been urged to live by their calling and allow the Holy Spirit to lead them.
The nine pastors, who have been associate pastors for about six years, are now fully-fledged pastors with vested ecclesiastical authority to serve the church and lead God’s people.
They were honoured on the Sabbath at the Garrison SDA Church, Burma Camp, and were charged to lead as servants, exhibit a high sense of responsibility and spend time with Jesus Christ.
Pastor Kwabena Twum, Projects Director, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Southern Ghana Union Conference, in a sermon, said the pastors ought to be steadfast in the Lord, be vessels of God and prepare for adversaries since such honours would come with challenges.
“It is a fact in the Bible that after a every revival, there’s a fall, so I pray that it doesn’t happen to you. Beloved, Elijah, after all he did on Mount Camel by showing God’s power, fled when a woman threatened his life. Be resolute in your service to God. Let the Holy Spirit speak in your endeavour,” he said.
Pastor Twum urged them not to celebrate triumphs over the devil and temptations but should rejoice in working and winning souls for Christ, adding: “The most important thing everyone needs to do is to maintain their name in the heavens.”
“You just don’t become a pastor if the Holy Spirit has not chosen you. So being here is not a right but a privilege and you have to prove to the heavens that for God to choose you, He has made the right choice.”
The nine pastors are Robert Bortey Ahia, Alex Baah, Isaac Asare Anim, Benjamin Brew, Emmanuel Nikoi Kotey, Emmanuel Danyame Quaicoo, Samuel Nyarko, Emmanuel Sarkodie Agyapong and Phestus Benjamin Tawiah Boafo.
Their ordination now paves the way for them to head a church in a district nor head the district, perform marriages and burials as officiating ministers.
The pastors are all married with children and have gone through their academic and theological educational requirements and training.
They are expected to help grow the church by winning souls for Jesus Christ and planting churches.
Pastor Dr Thomas Techie Ocran, President, Southern Ghana Union Conference, SDA, urged the ordained pastors to live as Jesus Christ, their Master, and work for the sake of the congregation and not for monetary gains.
“I charge you to minister as a watchman… I charge you to minister as a teacher, teach pastorally by training your members to be leaders. Preach the word, do the work of an evangelist and fulfill your ministry. Never lose sight of our mission of having everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue and people,” he said
The church auditorium was filled as the pastors and their families, church members, and well-wishers danced in appreciation of God’s honour bestowed on them.
GNA
Edited Agnes Boye-Doe
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
