Pastors urged to check lifestyle, The Mirror

The lifestyle of some ministers of the Gospel who live extravagantly while their members wallow in poverty has attracted verbal lashes from Rev. Dr Samuel Ayete-Nyampong, the Head Pastor of the Shalom Presbyterian Church at Haatso in Accra.

“Unfortunately, the church, like the general society, is becoming corrupt with leaders who are power-drunk and operating under the pretence of being empowered by the Holy Spirit,” he said.

Rev. Ayete-Nyampong, who was speaking at the inaugural service of the church last Sunday, observed that such leaders had become “the central reference point of the church, displaying and projecting themselves as if they are the Christ, without whom nothing can go on”.

“They display extravagance while many of the flock wallow in poverty and are denied their share of the wealth being amassed in the name of ‘offering to God” he said.

The occasion was also used to cut sod for the construction of an ultra modern church complex and the induction of 13 officers for the church.

According to Rev. Ayete-Nyampong , the image and personality of Christ scarcely feature on the huge billboards and in the church’s life, adding that using the name of the Holy Spirit, many unimaginable abominations were being committed against the innocent and unsuspecting members of the flock.

“Peace cannot prevail in the church if this state of affairs continues unabated. For fear of being demonised, many concerned Christians are silent. But for how long can these states of affairs continue?” he asked.

On the need to promote peace in Ghana, he stated that it was a prerequisite for development and advancement and explained that “It is our God-given responsibility to protect the peace of this nation and to live peaceably with all people irrespective of social status, class, tribe or political affiliation”.

He, therefore, called on politicians to be mindful of their utterances and put the interest of the nation above their personal ambitions.

“The peace of a nation can be guaranteed if politicians would be fair and transparent in their dealings with the people, and eschew all forms of corruption which deprive the people equal access to the wealth of the nation,” he explained.

“ If few people become fabulously rich through corrupt practices, and the masses live under the poverty line, we cannot guarantee that peace would prevail all the time.

The time has come for politicians not to take the masses for granted. The experiences in Cote d' Ivoire, Uganda, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and other places around the world should serve as warning signs that cannot be ignored,” he said.

According to the Rev. minister, “We cannot continue to oppressed their rights and privileges and expect them to be perpetually submissive, adding that peace required that leadership respect the rights of all people and become sensitive to their needs, and not take advantage of their depravity to deny them a share of the nation’s wealth”.

Rev. Ayete-Nyampong urged churches to go back to their first love and be the light and salt of this world as they prepare for the second coming of Christ.

The Madina District Minister of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Opare Kwakye, in a sermon on the theme: “Do not be afraid. Just believe” bemoaned the increasing rate of indiscipline in the Ghanaian society.

“As Christians, we must be concerned with the development of our country and indiscipline is definitely not the right catalyst for development,” he pointed out.

He said “when we are disciplined, corruption and all ill mannered behaviours in our society will reduce”.

He, therefore, urged Christians to champion the crusade against all forms of indiscipline.