Pastor Anthony Kessie, the Head Pastor of the Djamang Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, has urged religious institutions and their leadership to prioritise investing in their members.
Speaking to the media during the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Djamang branch in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, the clergyman noted that his branch has already taken proactive steps to invest in its congregation.
He encouraged other churches to follow suit, positing that religious bodies have a fundamental responsibility to extend a helping hand to those in need of assistance.
He argued that since church members consistently support their congregations through tithes, offerings, and other financial contributions, it is only fitting that the church supports them during difficult times.
To demonstrate this commitment, he disclosed that the church recently placed GH₵10 million into an investment account, with the intention of using the accrued interest to empower members. He noted that the church has already assisted two members in managing and growing their businesses, a move he explained forms part of their Founder’s Day celebrations.
“The church has members, with several of them who need support. The members are the ones who support our activities financially, and when they also need help, it is our responsibility to help. So, as part of our founders’ celebration, we allocated GH₵10 million for an investment. The investment has accrued returns, and through that, we have assisted two members who are operating businesses,” he stated.
Pastor Kessie further emphasised that the church’s impact should not be limited to its internal membership but should extend to the wider community.
He added that the church financed the construction of a local bridge to improve commuting for residents.
“The church also has a responsibility in supporting the community it operates in. We financed a bridge in the community. The bridge serves as a walkway for not only the church but also the community. We look forward to supporting the construction of a gutter in the community. It is also our desire that going forward, we will increase the investment or double it so that we can assist more members,” he added.
Hon. Jerry Ahmed, the Member of Parliament for the Weija-Gbawe constituency, also graced the occasion and expressed his support for the pastor’s initiative.
The lawmaker noted that while serving the Lord is paramount, the church must also be mindful of supporting members in expanding their livelihoods.
He concluded by advising the church leadership to implement robust mechanisms to ensure their investments continue to yield strong returns for the benefit of the people.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
