Baptist Convention inducts new executives

Rev. Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi (second left) receiving a Bible as a symbol of assuming office

GHANA BAPTIST Convention (GBC) has inducted Reverend Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi and Reverend Enoch Nii Naa Thompson as Executive President and Vice President in charge of Ministries respectively for the second term.

The GBC also inducted an 11-member Denominational Board, an advisory body to advise the Executive President on his mandate.

The GBC elects leaders on a four-year term to steer the administration of the Convention.

Delivering a sermon at the ceremony, Rev Dr Nii Amoo-Darku, former Vice President of the Convention, said it was important for the new executives to “walk in the direction of God.”

He said: “Christianity is not about following the crowd but rather doing the will of God and being focused on one’s mandate”.

Rev Amoo-Darku, who was speaking on the theme: “Serving to Please the Master”, said God had chosen to partner human beings to achieve his purpose on earth, and that it was necessary to please God as partners in his work, adding that “you need to find God’s intent and purpose in order to keep pace in His ways.”

He said churches were deviating from their core mandates of championing discipline and evangelism and were being occupied by establishing businesses, schools, hospitals, and building flamboyant church buildings.

According to him, it was the responsibility of the Church to teach its members how to know and accept Christ and do His will, since it is only through righteousness that a nation can progress.

He asserted that although he would not support the government to put in place legislation that would streamline the organisation and establishment of churches, he charged the various Christian bodies to set regulatory mechanisms to check members.

Rev Dr Amoo-Darku urged Christians not to only rely on the scriptures, but also to use their God-given conscience to ascertain whether the supposed church they attend is a true church of God.

In his acceptance speech, Rev Dr Adu-Gyamfi dismissed the perception that churches were exploiting their members to enrich themselves at the expense of driving development.

“For some time now, churches in Ghana have been accused of only collecting tithes and offerings from members but have not done anything for society,” he pointed out.

He said the perception is false as the church, from time immemorial, had played its role as an agent of development with the provision of schools, hospitals, orphanages, water projects, programmes for street children, and many others.

“As part of measures to let the people of Ghana and the world know what the church has been doing in terms of development, the GCB will launch Shalom Broadcasting Network to tell the story of the church”.

Rev Adu-Gyamfi said it was sad that such accusations were raised against the Church and blamed ministers of God who bring shame and disgrace to Christendom by using the gospel for their personal gains.

He reiterated the intention of the Convention to give attention to the next generation of leaders to take over from the current generation of leaders.

“I would like to encourage those between the ages of 25 and 40 to make themselves available for training, mentorship and coaching to prepare them for the leadership of the church.”

The Executive President said the church in January next year, would introduce the Emerging Leaders Training Institute, as well as an online academic programme with the United States-based Success Training Institute to provide professional training for members of the church.

He thanked the church for the support and urged members to continue to support his administration for the next four years.