Accra, Oct. 01, GNA - Reverend Asante Marfo-Ahenkora, Head Pastor of Narrow Gate Branch of International Charismatic Church, has called for the institution of a National Family Day to promote positive values, responsible parenting, ethical and moral standards towards the country's development.

"We cannot hope to succeed if we fail to realise the role of the family in providing spiritual, moral, ethical and emotional support to the individual," he said.

"If our society is to be free from social vices and members contribute meaningfully to nation building we should place the well-being of the family at the centre of our efforts," Rev. Marfo-Ahenkora said.

He was speaking to Ghana News Agency on Sunday after the church had held its "Friends and Family Convention 2007" to seek the spiritual, financial, physical and emotional well-being of their families and friends.

The Friends and Family Convention is an annual event on the church's calendar to invite loved ones, friends and family members to the church to worship and take part in the church's activities, share the love, joy, peace and acceptance they have received through Jesus Christ.

This year's convention was under the theme: "Blessed is the Man unto Whom the Lord Will Not Impute Sin." Rev. Marfo-Ahenkora said after the fall of the first family, the devil had continued to plague families with diseases, fear, oppression, poverty, squalor, death and other forms of bandages. He said a critical look at the family's characteristics and behavioural patterns might reveal that individuals within them shared common characteristics and might suffer curses or blessings based on their good or bad lineages.

Rev. Marfo-Ahenkora therefore appealed to government, political activists, chiefs, religious and opinion leaders to place the family's well-being at the centre of spiritual and developmental efforts by creating awareness and develop strategies that would strengthen and support them to play their roles effectively. Rev. Mrs Elizabeth Dowouna Hammond, of International Central Gospel Church, said salvation did not come to people through their own efforts but through faith in Jesus Christ.

She advised the public not to let their positions in life, family backgrounds and wealth become hindrances to their salvation, which was their only way to make it to Heaven. 01 Oct. 07