The Calvary Methodist Church, Adabraka, has climaxed its 100th anniversary celebration with a call on members to remain a true temple of the Spirit, that serves as a place of encounter, restoration and prayer.
The celebration, which marked a century of faithful witness to the gospel, highlighted the church’s role in shaping spiritual, denominational, and national life.
It also renewed its commitment to carrying the mission of the church with fresh vision and zeal for the next hundred years.
Faithfulness
At the anniversary service last Sunday, the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Prof. Kwabena Ansah Gyedu, extended warm felicitations to the congregation.
He described the centenary as not merely a commemoration of years gone by, but “a testimony to God’s unfailing faithfulness, and to the perseverance of a people who have held fast to the faith once delivered to the saints.”
He said the theme: “Faith in the Triune God Impacting the World,” spoke to the very heart of the Christian mission.
Most Rev. Prof. Gyedu explained that faith in God was not a private possession to be guarded for oneself, but a transformative force that empowered believers to live as salt and light in society.
He added that the church’s presence had been a constant reminder that the Gospel still had the power to change lives and transform communities.
Most Rev. Prof. Gyedu further underscored the unique significance of Calvary Methodist Church within both the Christian faith and the Methodist denomination.
He said the church bore a name that defined the essence of Christianity itself, “Calvary”.
“The Christian faith is defined by what happened at Calvary,” he said, stressing that this made the congregation religiously significant in a very profound way.
Most Rev. Prof. Gyedu added that Calvary had played a critical role in the history and growth of the Methodist Church Ghana.
He explained that the church had produced high-quality members who had served in key leadership positions, including treasurers, lay presidents and ministers, thereby strengthening the fabric of the denomination.
He added that Calvary Methodist had produced eminent personalities whose impact extended beyond the church to the governance and leadership of the country.
“The history of this church is tied not only to the Methodist Church of Ghana, but to Ghana as a whole,” he added.
The Spirit
Most Rev. Prof. Gyedu urged members of Calvary Methodist to ensure that their church continued to live as a temple of the Spirit.
He explained that this was not about the physical beauty of the chapel, important as it is, but about the people who formed the body of Christ.
Most Rev. Prof. Gyedu added that the church must be a place where the broken and disappointed could find hope and encounter God, where those rejected by society could experience love, where sinners could find forgiveness, and where the nation could unite in prayer for divine guidance.
“May Calvary be a place where people encounter God, find restoration in His presence, and join together in prayer that transforms lives and society,” he added.
Implications
The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, speaking on behalf of the President, John Dramani Mahama, congratulated the church on its centenary milestone and commended it for its long-standing contributions to education, moral guidance, and nation-building.
Mr Debrah drew attention to the rapid growth of Ghana’s population and its implications for development.
He said the country’s population, which was about six million during independence, had grown to 16 million in 1992, and has now exceeded 33 million.
Mr Debrah said projections suggested that by 2050, the country’s population could rise to about 52.4 million.
He explained that this trend required bold measures to expand productivity, which was why the President had proposed a 24-hour Economy as a way of boosting production and creating more opportunities for citizens.
He, therefore, appealed to the clergy to support this vision by encouraging Ghanaians to embrace the initiative, stressing that such cooperation was essential for the country’s sustainable development.
