The Chaplaincy Committee of the Schools Outreach Ministry (SOM) of The Church of Pentecost, in conjunction with the Pentecost Educational Workers’ Guild (PEWG), has organised a Virtual Seminar for Volunteer Teacher Chaplains and all Educational Workers.
The day’s event which took place on Saturday, October 29, 2022, drew over 280 participants from all parts of the country. It was held under the theme, “Possessing the Schools for Christ as an Educator” – Psalm 2:8, Proverbs 22:6.
Addressing the participants, the Chairman of the Chaplaincy Committee of SOM, Elder William K. Takyi, stressed that the focus of the seminar was to create awareness of the mandate and scope of the Schools’ Outreach Ministry under the church’s vision of ‘Possessing the Nations’ and to equip all chaplains with fundamental skills and tools needed to function.
The resource persons were the Chaplain of the Ghana Armed Forces, Apostle Lt. Col. B. G. Kumi-Woode, and the Deputy Director of the Youth Ministry, Elder Prof. Eric Apau-Asante.
Speaking on the topic, ”The Chaplain as a Spiritual and Moral Caregiver” and taking references from Hebrews 5:1-2 and Matthew 14:16, Apostle Lt. Col. Kumi-Woode emphasized that the chaplain is called to be a shepherd, priest, and personal and institutional advocate.
He stressed that this multifaceted office calls for a high level of Christian maturity on the part of the volunteer chaplains.
Leading the second plenary session on the topic, “The Chaplain and Contemporary Issues,” Elder Prof. Eric Apau-Asante mentioned that the contemporary chaplain in the face of prevailing issues like drug abuse, addiction, sexual perversion, etc. among students should exhibit certain key traits to succeed.
These traits or characteristics, he said, include good psychological health, a genuine interest in the young adults and students, empathy, self-awareness, awareness of values, among others.
The National Secretary of the Youth Ministry, Pastor Gordon Ansah, led the participants to pray fervently for divine strength and grace in their new roles.
Also participating in the seminar were the National Co-ordinator of the Schools Outreach Ministry, Elder Desmond Addison, and the President of the Pentecost Educational Workers’ Guild, Elder Frank Danso-Abeam.
Report by Mavis Osafo Adu (Secretary, Chaplaincy Committee, SOM)