A three-day workshop is being held for members of the newly-constituted Persons With Disability (PWD) committee of The Church of Pentecost from August 12 to 14, 2019.
The event, which is taking place at the Pentecost Pension House at Gbawe in Accra, is under the theme: “Equipping To Do Works Of Excellence: Disability In Part Is Not Total Inability” (Philippians 4:13).
Exhorting the members on the opening day of the training workshop, the General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, underscored the need for the church to reach out to Persons With Disability in society.
According to him, over a billion people in the world are said to be affected by a disability of some sort and therefore called on church leaders to recognize the urgent need for the church to begin to reach out and minister to disabled persons in society.
He further explained that, in Ghana, for instance, about 2.2 million people are said to be physically deformed yet little or nothing is being done by the church to reach out to these souls who are also in need of a Saviour.
Speaking on the topic: “The Composition Of The Church Of Christ”, the General Secretary explained that the Parable of Jesus Christ in Luke 14:1-24 gives believers an idea of God’s concern for Persons With Disability, who are usually the deprived, vulnerable and neglected in society.
He noted that, just as Jesus reached out to the vulnerable in society, the church, which is God’s kingdom on earth must be a “total church” that accommodates all people including the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind.
“As a church, it is easy to become complacent and careless when we talk about issues of Persons With Disability. But strangely, the parable Jesus told at the Pharisee’s table has a way of infusing us with God’s heart and perspective,” he said.
He indicated that it is in the light of these that The Church of Pentecost, in line with Vision 2023, aims at offering equal opportunities to Persons With Disability. He noted that the institution of the Persons With Disability Committee underlines the church’s resolve to reach out to the disabled in society.
He admitted that Persons With Disability ministry is a new area the church is seeking to explore in its “Possessing the Nations” agenda. He said that leadership hopes that through the PWD Committee, the church will become more informed about issues affecting PWDs and how to effectively minister to such persons.
During an interactive session after the exhortation, Deaconess Dr. Tina Naami, a member of the PWD Committee, expressed gratitude to the leadership of the church for making the inclusion of Persons with Disability a top priority in the church. She narrated the ordeal she had to go through growing up in the church as a disabled person. She noted that God has deposited PWDs with talent and potential and it is important the church provides them with equal opportunities and the platform to use them in the church.
Adding, the Chairman of the committee, Apostle ADP James Tetteh, said that through the PWD ministry, the church is helping to give a better understanding of what constitutes a society, because PWDs also form part of society.
Other members of the PWD Committee taking part in the workshop are P/Overseer Alexander Nyame, Pastor Rueben Peter Wuni, Elder Francis Agyapong, Elder John Lartey, Deacon Ebenezer Awuku, Deacon Lawrence Dartey and Elder Jacob Tobo.
PENTECOST NEWS