The 40th anniversary celebration of the Anglican Diocese in the Western Region was held at the St. Andrews Cathedral, Sekondi on Sunday.
It was to give thanks to the good God for the supports and grace granted the diocese over the past four decades.
The Pontifical Mass was on the theme “Repositioning the church for growth and development in this time of ours.”
Leading the clergy at the mass was the Archbishop, Internal Province of Ghana, Most Rev. Dr Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, with co- celebrants, Bishop of Secondi, Rt Rev. Alexander Kobina Asmah, Bishop of Accra, Rt Rev. Daniel Sylvanus Mensa Torto and Rt Rev. Col. John Kwamina Otoo (rtd), immediate Bishop of Sekondi.
Former Speaker of Parliament, Ebenezar Sekyi-Hughes; the Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi, Tetrete Okuamoa Sekyim II; Divisional Chief of Prestea-Himan, Nana Nteboah Prah IV and queenmother of Essikado, Nana Akua Kodu II graced the occasion as special guests.
In his anniversary sermon, Archbishop Ben-Smith paid tribute to forbearers both clergy and laity, especially first Bishop, late Rt Rev. T. S. A. Annobil, for their pioneering work during the 40 years of evangelism.
He prayed that in the next 40 years, the Second Diocese would continue to receive favour from God to grow from “strength to strength and from grace to grace.”
“I pray that God will do great things for you, but, you need to be the vessel for the next 40 years. The clergy, the laity, and the youth, all of you need to work hard for the evangelism of Christ”, he said.
He, however, outlined that for the next 40 years, the faithful in the Anglican Diocese of Sekondi, need to be the ‘salt’ of the world as they embarked on journeys to evangelise and spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
He said that Christians needed to be salty and tasty so that they could bear witness to what they had heard and seen, but, if they lose their saltiness, then they had failed in the ministry.
Archbishop Ben-Smith argued that, if Christians lose their saltiness, they could not be a blessing to others and glorify God, saying that “one of the challenges is that we do not have peace within ourselves.”
The Bishop of Asante-Mampong believed that the laity must also be encouraged to take up the work of evangelism “because sometimes, the clergy is overburdened,”
“John Wesley said the world is my parish. It’s your responsibility, if we see the world as a parish, then we all need to be serious. Emulate Christ the way he served and sacrificed, that is, for service. His words and even washing the feet of his disciples.”
The Bishop of Sekondi Diocese, Rt Rev. Alexander Asmah, reminded the congregation about the blessings God had showered on them, despite the upheavals from 2016 and that “you should glorify God every day.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, SEKONDI
