Increased membership not reflecting in church maturity

PAGE 30
March 3, 2009

The Special Assistant to the President of the Central University College, Rev Dr Kwasi Sampong, says despite the astronomical increase of the membership of the church in Africa such an increase does not reflect in christian maturity.
“Growth seems to be only in numbers but not in the type of nurturing that leads to christian maturity. The spirit of the world has entered the church. Today, success in ministry is determined by the size of the pastor’s vehicle, the size of his church building and the size of his congregation,” he said, adding that some pastors would do anything to own such things.
Rev Dr Sampong made this known last Saturday at the eighth graduation of the Living Word School of Ministry at the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) in Accra.
In all 100 students, 40 of whom pursued diploma programmes and the remaining 60 offering certificate programmes passed out.
Rev Dr Sampong said false prophets were on the prowl teaching all kinds of falsehood, adding that those prophets would sell all manner of items such as anointing oil, koko, salt and canes, among other things to their gullible patrons.
Rev Dr Sampong said apart from that another problem confronting the 21st Century church was the issue of globalisation and all the burdens to the third world.
He cited the problem of pornography being sold openly on the streets, plurality of lifestyles with gay becoming bolder and bolder.
“However, all is not lost yet. Jesus said I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” he said, and indicated that it was training that would make the pastor relevant, competent and effective in today’s world.
Rev Dr Sampong urged the graduands not to let anyone despised them because “if they do, they would by implication despise your master”.
The President of the Living Word School of Ministry, Rev Dr Mensa Otabil, admonished ministers of the gospel to impact positively the lives of their flock.
In addition, he said, they should impact their communities and wherever they found themselves in the course of their work.
Rev Dr Otabil gave the advice last Saturday at the eighth graduation of the Living Word School of Ministry at the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) in Accra.
He told the graduands that they had no idea where God was taking them to, and so they should prepare themselves to be used in the propagation of the gospel.
He challenged the graduands to be selfless and be committed to their calling, and prayed for God’s support in their ministries.