Sacrifice to make development possible — Presby Minister
A clergyman of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has asked Ghanaians to cultivate and live sacrificial lives to ensure rapid development of the country.
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Reverend Charles Adom Darkwa of the Emmanuel Congregation of the Presbyterian Church at North Darkuman in Accra said most of the challenges bedevilling the country were the result of the lack of selflessness on the part of leaders at all levels of society and their inability and failure to make sacrifices in life.
Thanksgiving service
Rev. Darkwa was preaching the sermon yesterday at the North Darkuman Emmanuel congregation when the newly installed Dzasetse of Asofan in Accra, Nii Shamo Boi Gbalo I, attended a thanksgiving service to climax his installation last week.
Rev. Darkwa chastised chiefs who were involved in fraud and corruption to the extent that they sold one plot of land to many buyers, but expressed confidence in the Dzasetse, saying that “I hope and trust that with your Christian principles and knowledge you are not going to toe that line.”
Essence of sacrifice
In his sermon on the theme: The sacrificial life, premised on Genesis 22:2-18, he said “the source of Abraham’s blessing was his obedience to sacrifice his son, Isaac, when God asked him to do so; even though he loved the son very much,” adding that Abraham’s preparedness to forgo what he loved most for the sake of another should be a lesson for all.
To buttress the message of sacrificial life, Rev. Darkwa recounted the history of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, adding that the establishment of the church became possible through the sacrifices of young missionaries.
He explained that the first batch of missionaries that were sent to the country all died from malaria but that did not deter others from still spreading the gospel, which led to other volunteers coming down to win souls to establish the church.
He mentioned bad practices such as “throwing rubbish indiscriminately in the street, getting to work late in both public and private organisations” as some of the things that resulted from a life not motivated by sacrifice.
“We live in an era that leaders rather think more of themselves than the people they are supposed to lead, but I hope our new chief will be an example,” he said.
He charged the new Dzasetse to “ensure peace, unity, development and progress during your reign.”
“As you take office, in your own small way endeavour to bring transformation to the chieftaincy institution,” Rev. Darkwa admonished.
Rev. Darkwa also entreated the new chief to treat all men equal and encouraged the church to always intercede for the chief in order for his reign to be successful.
He told Nii Gbalo that as a former senior presbyter of the church he should exhibit the character of Presbyterianism, which were discipline, godliness, inward piety, among others.
Prayers
The congregation, led by Rev. Darkwa, prayed and anointed the new Dzasetse with oil
In his remarks, Nii Gbalor, known in private life as Mr Seth Shamo Abbey, a businessman, thanked God for the opportunity to serve his people, and the congregation for their prayers and support.
He entreated his subjects to be his counsel so he would succeed in his new assignment.
Present at the service were the minister in charge of the Kwashiebu congregation of the PCG, Rev. Mrs Patience Okine; the Cathechist of Emmanuel Congregation, Mrs Florence Ohene; a past Cathechist of the church; Mr William Boadu; the Okyeame of Asofan, Emmanuel Tetteh; Nii Anetey Kofi Wekunukpa, Asere Abetsewe of Asofan; Naa Abetia, Asofan Manye; Nii Ayaa Ayitey, Asofan Shipi; Naa Densuah, Asofan Asafoanye; Nii Abbey, Asofan Asafo Oblahinamantse, Nii Lartey Kobla I, Abehenease Shipi, and Nii Anertey, Asafoatse.
