The Reverend George Opare Kwapong, Akuapem Presbytery Chairperson of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, has called on Ghanaians to use this year’s Christmas celebration to preach peace, reconciliation and unity.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Akropong after the Boxing Day Church service on Wednesday, Rev. Kwapong urged Ghanaians to allow the peaceful nature of Jesus Christ to bear on all their lives in order to promote peace.
He said the birth of Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace, should motivate Ghanaians to use the Christmas season to embrace peace, unity and reconciliation.
The Akuapem Presbytery Chairperson appealed to the Christian community to be focused in all that they do for Christ and sow the seed of love, understanding, peace and harmony in the country.
He also urged them to use the celebration to reflect on their past, identify new directions and most importantly wake up to the challenges facing the Church and the nation today.
He called on Christians to also seek Christ as the solution to all problems and not look elsewhere when trouble reared its ugly head.
The Presbytery Chairperson urged Christians to remember to do good to all manner of people, especially the less privileged, strangers, the poor, the needy, the afflicted and those who were victims of societal evils.
"Indeed it is at a time like this that we are often showered with gifts and best wishes but in the midst of all the commercialism, we should not forget the real spirit of Christmas", he maintained.
Rev. Kwapong explained that, the focus of Christmas must not be on fun and gifts, but on genuine love and unconditional generosity.
He said God took the lead in showing love and his generosity to humanity, adding "we must therefore exhibit the same characteristics in our dealings with each other".
He urged Ghanaians to be inspired by the blessings of the season to render better Christ-like services to their families, institutions, fellowships, unions, organizations, communities, churches and the nation Ghana.