Accra, Oct. 8, GNA - Mrs Cynthia Yeboah-Mintah, a Presbyter at the Asylum Down Presbyterian Church, on Sunday said God hated divorce because divorce was not in his creation plans.

Mrs Yeboah-Mintah, who was speaking on the theme: "Positive Family Life, a Reality," at the first every family service held, blamed the increasing number of street children on divorce.

The Family Service was instituted to create a platform for parents and children in the church to discuss family issues while sharing concerns that affected adults and children.

Mrs Yeboah-Mintah said God created marriage and family to reflect his image and the family was the basis of every society hence the need for the church to help create a positive family life. "As a family you need to pray together every morning, share and learn the word of God and have time for the children." Expressing concerns about the ascendancy of divorce, she urged Christians to strive to create a Christ centred family where the children would be trained in the fear of God, morality and discipline even before they attain age four.

Reverend Patrick Ntim Manteaw, host pastor, said the children and the youth in the church were essentially the lifeblood of every church and were the key to building a good society if they were trained well. "Parents are directly responsible to God for the life of their children and the church owes the nation an obligation to train responsible teachers to handle the children when they attend Sunday service."

Miss Susan Nti, who represented the Junior Youth and the Children Service, pleaded on behalf of the children and said parents should motivate and advice their children when they went wrong instead of cursing.

"Although we are young, parents should try and understand our views and contributions during family discussions instead of just shutting us up."

Miss Nti appealed to parents to give birth to the number of children they could conveniently take care of.

"Fathers frown and shout too much that makes us afraid of them so they should make themselves approachable," she said.

Mrs Veronica Manteaw, Midwife at Nabitha Clinic, educated the congregation on pregnancy and pregnancy related problems and urged pregnant women to take antenatal care seriously.