President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has urged the leadership of the Assemblies of God Church and all churches to invest in their members, especially with jobs and their personal development, during this time of hardship in the country.
He said although the Church has done a lot in the country and beyond, giving support to the youth will also help in national development.
“Let us also see how the church can invest in their members. We all know that we are in hard times, we are in very difficult times, and in this part of our world, it is during this difficult time that we demand more from members but I believe in the other way round. The church should be seen investing in members, and it is a way of contributing to national development or their personal growth because we are in challenging moments and the current economic crisis has created a lot of job losses and other challenges, and I believe that the church do well to invest in their members,” he said.
Mr. Dwumfour made the call when the General Council of the Assemblies of God, led by it’s General Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Stephen Wengam paid a courtesy call on the GJA at its headquarters, the International Press Centre in Accra, on Tuesday, December 20, 2022.
The meeting was to re-introduce themselves to the GJA, Make Association aware of the history and activities of the Church and as well call for a collaboration between the two institutions towards national development.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Wengam commended the GJA for its work towards national development, especially the fight for the interest of journalists in the country and contribution to press freedom.
He said the General Council was not just concerned about building the church but was also committed to national development, adding that the church will do whatever it can, aside from prayers, to ensure national development.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Wengam said the church was embarking on a transformational agenda, dubbed REACH, which the church seeks to reach out not only to win souls but to also collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, therefore calling on the GJA to collaborate in all areas as a key partner with the church in this regard.
“Our duty is to propagate the gospel and we cannot do that without the wheels of the media so we are here to re-introduce ourselves and commend GJA for its work, especially the fight for the interest of journalists in the country and contribution to press freedom,” he said.
He added that, “We are saying kudos to the media fraternity and to let you know that we are praying for you, and it is our desire to partner with the media to send the gospel to every corner of the world,” he said.
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Response
In response, Mr. Dwumfour said the need to transform or reposition the church has become very necessary this time around to meet the current emerging world because the world is changing fast and therefore things cannot be done in the same old ways.
He said the Church’s transformation and or repositioning agenda was in line with the GJA’s vision, and the current or digital world we find ourselves in.
He continued that, “Again, your Christianity and transformation agenda I believe that is apt and as a body or as an institution, we can assure you that we will always make our platform available, we are always ready to partner you in achieving this agenda.”
He called on the Council to speak on national issues when the need arises.
“We believe that as a church, you have a larger constituency, you have about one million members and it means that you influence a larger population, we need the church to also speak on issues of national interest when the need be, especially when we prepare ourselves towards the 2024 elections,” he said.
He added that, “We will do our part as the media or the fourth estate of the realm, as the watchdogs of the people’s right. We will travel the needed information, we will engage, we will inform but when it gets to a time the church needs to speak up, in order to guard the peace we are already enjoying, we believe that the Assemblies of God Leadership will do that. This is the only country we have and we have to do everything we can to protect the territorial borders of this country, to protect the peace we are enjoying in this country, it is very important.”
Mr Dwumfour also thanked the Church for commending the GJA, saying that with their partnership and support, the current GJA will be able to leave a remarkable legacy.
The council also presented the Church’s 2023 to the GJA Executives.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
