The Ghana Baptist Convention (GBC) has urged Ghanaians to take precautions to protect the environment and natural resources as it celebrates its 60th anniversary.
The Anniversary Launch
Environmental issues should be of considerable concern to everyone in the nation, according to Rev. Enoch Nii Narh Thompson, the Executive President of the GBC, who made the plea on Sunday, February 5, 2023. This is because the high rates of degradation could affect all.
He said that because creations are gifts from God, people have a responsibility to use resources wisely by intentionally protecting and conserving natural resources, both locally and globally, for the benefit of future generations.
The First Baptist Church in Tema hosted the 60th anniversary celebration, which had the theme “Fulfilling God’s purpose, increasing God’s church-60 years on.”
Among the events planned for the year-long anniversary commemoration are lectures and a tree-planting exercise. On November 26, 2023, a national thanksgiving service would cap off the event at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
Degradation
Rev. Thompson voiced his concern for the quickening rate of environmental deterioration and regretfully brought up the activities of illicit mining, saying they might have detrimental consequences on the environment, in remarks to journalists on the sidelines of the anniversary launch.
He remarked, “We should preserve our environment clean and prevent degradation if we Christians, who most people in this country claim to be, should have the consciousness of God’s concern for the environment.”
He asked Christians working in galamsey to reconsider the impact of their mining operations and take precautions to prevent resource depletion.
According to Rev. Thompson, as bearers of God’s image, all Christians not only have the duty to seek God’s forgiveness but also have the honor of protecting God’s creation.
Commemorative launch
The GBC, which began as a little mustard seed, has expanded to become one of Ghana’s major denominations, with more than 1,300 local congregations.
Rev. Enoch Nii Narh Thompson thanked God for guiding the GBC during its time operating in the nation.
The occasion, he claimed, was noteworthy because it brought to light the GBC’s various contributions to the nation throughout all walks of life.
He pointed out that the church has been vital in the areas of education, providing high-quality healthcare, and enhancing the physical and spiritual well-being of citizens in the nation.
The GBC, which began as a little mustard seed, has expanded to become one of Ghana’s major denominations, with more than 1,300 local congregations.
Rev. Enoch Nii Narh Thompson thanked God for guiding the GBC during its time operating in the nation.
The occasion, he claimed, was noteworthy because it brought to light the GBC’s various contributions to the nation throughout all walks of life.
He pointed out that the church has been vital in the areas of education, providing high-quality healthcare, and enhancing the physical and spiritual well-being of citizens in the nation.
“As we stand at the summit of 60 years, we gaze farther into the distance and see that there are still many mountains to be scaled, valleys to be traversed, and rivers to be crossed. We want to make progress in evangelism, financial stability, human resource development, and the provision of comfortable places of worship for congregations in the future.
A quick history
The Nigerian Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention of the USA were involved in the early days of the modern Ghana Baptist Convention.
In the early 1900s, the Baptist brothers and sisters from Nigeria traveled to the Gold Coast to trade.
Later on, these Yoruba Baptist traders banded together to create Baptist churches in Ghana.
The Nigerian Baptist Convention granted independence to the conference in 1963. In January 1964, the convention adopted the name Ghana Baptist Convention.