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Christmas here again: Cherish moments with loved ones, support needy …Clergy urges Christians
Rev Adaletey
The clergy has urged Christians to use the period of Christmas to treasure the moments spent with family and loved ones and also show love to the needy and underprivileged in the society.
According to them, it was important to spread the joy that comes with the birth of Jesus Christ, a very significant milestone in the life of Christians and use the period to preach about what He stood for.
In separate interviews, they told The Spectator that the love of Christ was supposed to be for all and not for a selected privileged few, hence the need to also show love and kindness to people in need.
The Head Pastor of Gateway Temple Assemblies of God (A/G), Sowutuom VRA, in Accra, Rev Benjamin I. K Adaletey said it was necessary for Christians to cherish the moments with their loved ones, especially during this festive season, Reports Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu.
He said that would foster family bonding and ensure peaceful co-existence and promote brotherliness.
According to the Head Pastor of Gateway Temple A/G, “ it will also foster strong bonds, provide emotional support and create lasting memories that contributes to the overall well-being.”
He said spending time with loved ones during the festive season strengthens relationships, promote happiness and offers a sense of belonging and connection within the family.
Rev Adaletey who is also a renowned actor in the Ghanaian movie industry said Christmas was a period where one reflects on the blessings of the past year and makes resolution for the coming year.
“Christmas is also a period to spread kindness to each other and embrace the spirit of giving and find joy in the simple pleasures,” he said.
Rev Adaletey described christmas as an annual festival aimed at commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, and it was observed on December 25 each year and celebrated by billions of people worldwide.
He stated that Christmas was celebrated to honour the birth of Jesus and it was often seen as a time for the family to share joy and goodwill to people around them especially the less privileged.
Rev Adaletey said it brings people together, foster a sense of love, generosity, and community spirit.
“I am wishing all Ghanaians a season of warmth, joy, and love. May the spirit of Christmas fill your heart with peace and goodwill. Merry Christmas,” he said.
From the International Victory Praise Chapel (I.V.P.C), Dome, Elizabeth Agyeibea Ackon reported that Christmas to many, was a season to spend time with friends, families and loved loves, amidst fun and appreciate God for his protection throughout the year.
Speaking to Rev. Humphrey Odei Addo-Yobo of the International Victory Praise Chapel (I. V.P.C), Dome, he said Christmas was a period to reflect on ‘the cost’ associated with the celebration.
Explaining that, he said, children were sacrificed by King Herod with mothers tortured and asked to vacate their places of residence including Mary who was made to relocate to Egypt.
“When King Herod heard God was intervening in the affairs of men and his star shown, he consulted Theologians, religious people and courted them diplomatically, a kind of forced marriage between church and religion and politics. He wiped every single baby under two years, causing pains and sorrows among mothers whose children were killed,” he explained.
“The innocent virgin lady who was engaged, yet to be married but got pregnant was made to go through humiliation,” he added.
These sufferings and humiliations, he said, were the cost that Jesus Christ had to pay, hence the essence of Christmas which everyone must reflect on.
Rev. Addo-Yobo stated that the incarnation of Jesus Christ was also costly as he was made to pay a price by lowering himself to become man in the form of flesh in order to bring us back to righteousness.
He said it was important to value God’s plan to restore Christians into the perfect Adam, redeem and to give them the power to conquer death and sickness inflicted by the devil.
“We must remember it comes with a cost and therefore be ready to also make a loving, living and worthy sacrifices knowing it is our turn to honourably and dutifully give out,” he stressed.
“Remember to light your house, the city and your workplace and put smiles on those who had not smiled throughout the eleven months of the year,” he added.
Essentially, Rev Addo-Yobo said, Christmas was a season for visiting the orphanage, hospitals and communities to spread love and kindness to all.
According to the General Overseer of the Precious Stone International Ministry, Prophetess Mrs Comfort Agyei, Christmas was a period that Christians to be positive about the promises of God, reports Linda Abrefi Wadie.
Sharing her Christmas message with The Spectator, she said Christians have the tendency to give up in times of difficulty but according to her, it was such moments that they must hold on firmly to God’s promises.
“We are tempted to think our grass is withering, while those of others grew greener; but that is not enough reason to give up,” she stated.
“In 2 Samuel 5, David waited upon the Lord despite the challenges Saul put him through. He later became the king of Israel and the Lord blessed him abundantly,” she added.
Prophetess Adjei said it was important for Christians to continue in prayer and wait for the right time for the promises of God to manifest.
“It is not proper to use the current economic condition in the country to undermine the things God could do. Children believe their parents are capable of providing all their needs, how much more the creator of the universe,” she questioned.
Touching on the LGBTQ+ Bill currently in Parliament, Mrs Agyei said, allowing that practice to go on in Ghana was against the will of God.
“Romans 1:28 tells us that we must stand against the practice and any law that permits it to avoid curses and destructions. Ghana is God’s country and we need to do away with negative laws that will ruin the blessings of the country,” she stressed.
“Let us continue to stay in peace and love one another because Christmas is the remembrance of the beginning of salvation,” she added.
Christmas she said, was a time for reconciliation and forgiveness.
Meanwhile, the Overseer of the Glorious Temple Worship Centre at Nungua-Barrier in Accra, Rev. David Dadzie says Christians, especially the youth must utilise the festive period to reconcile and reflect on their righteousness in Christ, reports Michael D. Abayateye.
That, he said, would be beneficial to their development as humans instead of engaging in vices including drinking and smoking.
Speaking to The Spectator ahead of the Yuletide, he said “we need to appreciate the opportunity that we have considering the difficulties throughout the year but remember that the festive period was all about thanking God for his mercies.”
“It is also a time to reconcile and forgive one another. It is not about eating and dinning alone but a time for reconciliation and turning from our wicked ways,” he stated.
Making reference to Psalm 119:105,”Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path,” he said it was important to turn to Jesus for salvation.
“Do not let the celebrations destruct you but rather remain focus ed and appreciate God. It is unto the saviour and let us keep it as such,” he added.
The material things, he said, were not essential but one’s righteousness was what the Lord would demand.
“Watch over yourself and turn from your wicked ways. Search through your life and become a better person,” he advised.
He quoted Lamentations 3:40 saying, “Search and examine yourself to see where you have fallen short and turn to Jesus this festive season and he would bless, change and turn things around for good.”
He urged members of the church and residents within Nungua and its environs to be measured in their celebrations and seek the face of the Lord in all their dealings.
He also asked Christians to remain steadfast in the Lord as there were greater things that would happen in their lives in all aspects.
He was optimistic that next year would be better despite economic challenges adding that “the Lord would take care of his people.”
Rev. Dadzie took the opportunity to invite the public to worship with the church during the Christmas to the New Year as they seek for God’s guidance and protection under a programme dubbed “Hold Your Mantle”.
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Swedru All Blacks back to winning ways, Roshan humble King Faisal
Sekondi Rospak FC made it eight wins in eight successive home games after three second-half goals from John Amoah, Joseph Ntow and Stephen Anthony Kofi. John Amoah opened the scoring in the 55th minute after a barren first half. Joseph Ntow added to the tally in the 56th minute before Stephen Anthony Kofi rounded things up in the 74th minute to give Rospak a 3-0 win over former Premier League side King Faisal.
Elsewhere at Swedru – leaders Swedru All Blacks humbled PAC Academy in an emphatic 2-0 win. Zayat Bubakari scored first for Swedru All Blacks in the 27th minute before Rudolf Junior Nana Kwasi Mensah made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. Swedru All Blacks are top of the table with 36 points – 4 points ahead of second placed Rospak FC.
Meanwhile, Former Premier League side Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs recorded their fourth successive home victory after beaten New Edubiase United 2-1 at the Robert Mensah Park. Enoch Odoom struck first for Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs in the 19th minute but Steven Asante equalized for New Edubiase United before halftime. After the interval, Godfred Eshun scored from distance in the 65th minute to help Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs secure all the points.
Here are the results in Zone Two
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Cervical Cancer alert: Avoid sex at early age
The Programmes Manager of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Mary Efua Commeh, has advised young girls to avoid sex at an early age.
This, she explained, will give the cervix the opportunity to mature before they become sexually active.
“You need to delay what we call the first sexual intercourse as much as possible to give the cervix the opportunity to mature before the person becomes sexually active,” she said.
Dr Commeh stated this in an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Tuesday as a part of the Cervical Cancer awareness month.
According to her, cervical cancer was the second leading female cancer in Ghana with a total of about 3,072 cases annually, and out of that, 1,815 deaths are recorded, representing more than 50 per cent.
She indicated that “If young girls are going to be sexually active, then you need to talk to your parents about being vaccinated.”
She explained that vaccinating young girls against human papillomavirus (HPV) has been found to be a very effective way of preventing cervical cancer.
“There are countries that started HPV vaccination years ago and they are not seeing any cervical cancers now because they would have eliminated most of the high-risk HPVs in their women. So if the high-risk HPV is not there, then obviously the results on cervical cancers are going to go down,” she added.
Dr Commmey said the HPV vaccination is recommended for young girls aged nine to 14 years, adding that it had been found to be highly effective, not just for cervical cancers but for other HPV-related cancers, such as anal cancers, cancers of the vagina, genital warts, amongst others.
She further elaborated that the idea is to put up a barrier before the HPV comes in and that once a young female encounters it, she is already protected.
She also mentioned that for cervical cancers, the main cause is called HPV infection, saying generally, all sexually active women acquire HPV at some point in their lives.
However, the Programmes Manager of NCDs at the GHS mentioned that the body has a way of clearing the HPV, explaining that it is a natural mechanism that goes on, unfortunately, there are a few women whose HPV persists.
Moreover, she noted that the numbers for Cervical Cancer tend to be much higher because at times, clients would wait, and try all sorts of medications before they finally report to the health facility saying “we actually lose some women before they get to the hospitals with over 75 per cent of the cases coming in its third and fourth stages.”
Dr Commey, therefore, called for public awareness while ensuring the availability of information for prevention and control.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
