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Vice-president Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has asked faith-based organisations to support the government with prayers as it strives to overcome the economic difficulties confronting the nation.

He said what the government required from the citizenry were prayers and encouragement to enable it to do the best it could for the growth and development of the country.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 18th annual synod of the Tema Diocese of the Methodist Church at New Ningo in the Ningo-Prampram District in the Greater Accra Region yesterday, Mr Amissah-Arthur said Ghana had a great future and that required all to be encouraged to participate in its forward match.

The synod is on the theme: “Holistic Spirituality: the Power of Prayer and Revival in the Qualitative and Quantitative Growth of the Church”.

It brought together Christians from the Methodist faith within the Greater Accra Region and other parts of the country.

“Your prayers will encourage those of us in charge of managing the country to do what is right in the sight of God and in the interest of our people,” the Vice-President told the gathering.

Describing the synod as very important in the life of the Methodist Church, he said that the event allowed the church to review its past and plan for the future, adding that the church provided the best influence for moral training and civil responsibility for the people.

Church’s contribution 

Mr Amissah-Arthur said the involvement of the Methodist Church in the educational and health sectors of the country was phenomenal and necessitated a closer relationship between the church and the state.

Quoting from 1 Thessalonians to buttress his point of encouraging one another, he asked all to contribute in paying off the debt the Methodist Church currently owed to enable it to continue providing the services it rendered to the citizenry.

The Vice-President expressed concern over the spate of immorality in the system and highlighted the need to admonish the “disorderly”, quoting 1 Thessalonians 5:14, which he said “requires us to admonish the disorderly and support the weak”.

He urged the Methodist Church to continue rendering services in the educational and health sectors to complement the government’s efforts.

Bishop of Tema

The Methodist Bishop of Tema, The Rt Rev. Thomas B. Forson, had earlier, in his address, catalogued a number of projects the church was undertaking in some parts of the Greater Accra Region.

He advised the church members on the theme for the occasion and said the church grew qualitatively when its members matured spiritually in their worship, service, fellowship and other commitments.

His address touched on a wide range of issues, including the need for revival.

The clergyman called on the membership of the church to pray with one accord for results.

The Chief of New Ningo, Nene Tei Djangmah, commended the Methodist Church for its philanthropic activities,  particularly in deprived communities.