'The Church must be committed to welfare of members'

The Catechist in charge of the South Baatsona congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Elizabeth Ashong, has urged the church to see the provision of the social and welfare needs of its members as an integral part of its existence.

According to her, the time has come for the church to show greater commitment to helping members to meet their material needs, especially in view of the fact that the state appears not to be offering effective social support system for the less-privileged in society.

Catechist Elizabeth Ashong told the New Statesman yesterday, after a special communion and baptism service, that looking at the present situation in the country, it would not be enough for the church to concentrate on the spiritual needs of the congregation to the neglect of their material needs.

“The two should go side by side,” she stressed. The communion and baptism service was officiated by Rev Dr Daniel Anum, minister in charge of the Calvary congregation at Buade, Nungua.

“The fact that we believe that man does not live by bread alone simply means man also needs bread to live apart from the spiritual needs. The church must, therefore, be committed to the welfare needs of its members,” she said.

Catechist Ashong said as part of the strategic plan of her congregation, developed for 2014 to 2017, conscious efforts were being made to identify the social and welfare problems confronting the members for the required action to be employed to help meet them.

“In fact, the Bible gives us a charge to support the needy, the widows, orphans and others. We must accept that charge to be each other’s keeper and by so doing, God will bless the entire congregation and the individual members,” she added.

She said the major challenge confronting her congregation is getting land to build a chapel for a permanent place of worship.

“We are making the effort as a small congregation, and our prayer is that God will touch the hearts of some well-to-do people, both inside and outside the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, to come to our aid. But I know with God on our side, we will do it to the glory of God because the vision of the congregation is big and we will do it to the glory of God who planted the Church,” the Catechist added.

Preaching the sermon under the theme: “The True Way of Life,” Rev Dr Daniel Anum, minister in charge of the Calvary congregation at Nungua-Buade, urged Christians to be inspired by the life of Jesus Christ to lead exemplary lives worthy of their calling.

“The true way of life is where we place Christ at the centre of everything we do and if we are able to do that it will be well with us as individuals, as a congregation, as a church and as a nation,” he told the congregation.