Redeem sinking image of Christianity — Rev. Stephen Agyen
The Head Pastor of the Bantama branch of the Harvesters Evangelism Ministry, Rev. Stephen Agyen, has appealed to Christendom in the country to rise up and redeem the sinking image of Christianity.
Advertisement
He attributed the sinking image of Christianity in the country to the turning of churches into money- making machines by some church leaders in the country, instead of winning souls for Jesus Christ.
“It has now become necessary to wake up, pray and put in place prudent measures to redeem the sinking image of Christianity because of the behaviour of some pastors who hide behind the bible to cheat innocent people in dire need of help,” the head pastor said.
Pastor Agyen made the appeal through the Daily Graphic at a ceremony to rename the Bantama branch of the Harvesters Evangelism Ministry in Kumasi.
The Bantama branch, which used to be called the Harvesters Cathedral, is now called Ola Akin Temple.
Renaming
The church, established 27 years ago, was renamed after the founder and first chairman of the church, Rev. Gregory Ola Akin, who died on November 20, 2013.
Rev. Ola Akin, a Nigerian born to Muslim parents on October 28, 1944, at Bibiani in the Western Region of Ghana, was converted to Christianity in 1961 through the untiring efforts of one Evangelist Moses, a Baptist Seminarian.
After worshiping with the Saint Peter’s Catholic Church and Christ Apostolic Church in Kumasi, he started evangelising and on November 27, 1987, he began his first Sunday service at the Perpetual International School at Bantama in Kumasi.
Other Trending Stories
Through his tireless efforts, he managed to open branches of the church in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Western, Greater Accra and Upper East regions of Ghana.
Honour
The head pastor said the renaming of the headquarters of the Bantama church after Rev. Akin was due to his exemplary life, dedication to the work of God, his selflessness, truthfulness and his commitment to the work of God.
Mr Agyen recalled an outstanding achievement of Rev Akin, which was the role he played in organising various crusades in Kumasi and the rest of Ghana to set Kumasi and Ghana ‘on fire’ for Christ Jesus.
Unacceptable sales
The head pastor found unacceptable the collection of money by some pastors during counselling and the sale of ‘blessed mantels’ to the congregation, which he said was not only wrong but also not biblical.
He stated that the freedom of worship which was enshrined in the 1992 Constitution was partly to blame for “opening the floodgates for all these excesses being perpetrated by some of these pastors, which had led to public bashing and bringing the name of the church into disrepute.”
Touching on the upcoming general election in Ghana, he appealed to the youth to desist from allowing themselves to be influenced by self-seeking politicians to cause trouble.
The ceremony brought many renowned pastors and gospel musicians from across the country to honour God.