The Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG), Rt Rev. Dr Col Bliss Divine K Agbeko (retd), has condemned what he describes as “get rich quick” pastors.
He said there was nothing wrong with a pastor becoming rich, and that God would continue to bless his servants, but stressed that “a pastor who cuts corners or uses his position to dupe people in order to become rich” was not a true servant of God.
“The craze of get rich quick in ministry is not of God. It is worldliness. Start simple, and let God uplift and bless you. You can only do this through genuine ministry, and not through fraudulent ministry, such as giving false prophecies,” he admonished.
New pastors
Rt Rev. Dr Col. Agbeko was delivering a sermon during the commissioning of 17 new pastors of the EPCG at the church’s Trinity Parish, Madina, Accra, yesterday.
The new pastors, trained at the Trinity Theological Seminary in Accra, and the EPCG Seminary, Peki, comprised 13 males and four females.
They included Eric Kobla Edem Miz, David Eli Kwame Alonu, Precious Mawuse Boafo, Courage Paemka, Cephas Jones Anyomi, Philip K. Avudoahor, Michael Kwame Akortia, Patience Hottor, Sally Seyram Osei-Abotsi, Noah Akpagana Brown and Samuel Folikumah.
The rest were Emmanuel Kodzo Gbadegbe, Francis Adjei, Frank Kwasi Azorlibu, Olivia Mawusi Soglo, Raphael Kwabla Kpormegbey, and Smith Vancyril Freemann.
Word of God
The Moderator said many people had abandoned the true tenets of Christianity, and were rather following things which were not of God.
He said instead of seeking for their salvation and the blessings of God as prescribed by the Bible, people were following all sorts of things, which had made them prey to some unscrupulous people who called themselves men of God.
He called on pastors to sow the seed of faith and be steadfast in God, and not indulge in things which were not of God.
“Pastors do not sell prayers, and Christians must also not buy prayers. That is not what is written in the Bible,” he said.
According to him, people mostly falsely believed in anointing oils, water and other things as representing the anointing from God.
“The most powerful anointing is the word of God. Yield your mind in serving God, and demonstrate deeper devotion to God,” he said.
Advice
The EPCG Moderator advised the newly commissioned pastors to live exemplary lives by depicting the life of Jesus Christ in order to effectively shepherd their congregations.
For instance, he said, the pastors must be punctual, and obey rules and regulations to encourage the congregants to also follow suite.
“You must lead by example. Work for God and also see to the welfare of your congregants. Do not be known as someone who only takes from them,” he added.
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