Accra, Jan. 1, GNA - Christians have been encouraged to be more courageous in their faith in God as the years advances and the times become= s more difficult and tough. Pastor Eric Nyamekye, Resident Pastor of the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) at Atomic, in a sermon at the watch night service on Friday, said though the Bible had predicted perilous times before the secon= d coming of Christ Jesus, there was also great hope for all who truly believe and trust in God. He read Jeremiah 29:11, which tells of God's plans for all who belie= ve in Him and noted that God's plans for man were good and to prosper His children and not to harm them. Pastor Nyamekye said there was no need for believers to panic and be hopeless in the future, but to rely on God's word that promises better ye= ars ahead than the years gone by.

He encouraged all Christians to renew their trust in God in the year 2011 in order to reap the benefit of God's love through Jesus Christ. He stated that the current global crisis including financial difficulties, diseases, wars and climate changes, were all manifestations o= f the Biblical prophecies, but urged Christians to consider the fulfillment o= f these prophecies as the beginning of the entrance into a new future of hope that was spoken about in Jeremiah. Pastor Nyamekye declared the year 2011 as a year of great breakthrough and said the year had much prospects for both individuals, who would put their trust in God, and also for the entire nation. He challenged believers not to be too content with their spiritual statuses and what more they could get from God, but to press on and be more concerned about what they could also do for God through Christ Jesus so as to attain the hopeful future being offered by God.

He prayed that Ghana would prosper with its oil find because the revenue would be judiciously utilized to enhance the welfare of the people. The usual 93noisy" prayers normally seen at watch-nights to usher i= n the New Year were absent at the service as the entire service became solemn wit= h intermittent silent prayers. The New Year was finally herald by shouts of hallelujah praises amidst dancing and exchange of greetings among the congregation.