Kumasi, Jan 29, GNA - Reverend Dr Kojo Osei-Wusu, President of the Ghana Baptist Convention, has expressed concern about the increasing immorality, such as drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, armed robbery, indiscipline and others, as some of the factors militating against the development of the country.

He has therefore, appealed to the religious leaders to be deeply involved in their evangelisation duties to help change the lives and attitudes of people engaged in such practices. Rev Dr Osei-Wusu was preaching a sermon at the Grace Baptist Church at Amakom in Kumasi at the second graduation of 77 church leaders of the Denominational Track Ministry (DTM) at the Abuakwa seminary of the church on Saturday.

The DTM is a part-time Bible training institute under the informal Theological Council of the Ghana Baptist Convention, reserved for Christians engaged in secular professional enterprises in various fields.

In addition to their secular work, they serve as church leaders in diverse ministries of the church life, with wide experience in church-related matters and often assist the Reverend Ministers in the discharge of their duties.

Rev Dr Osei-Wusu said, as church leaders, the courses they have pursued put a great responsibility on them to work harder to ensure the development of the church.

He urged the graduates not to use their positions to amass wealth at the expense of the development of the church. The President advised the graduates to impart positively whatever knowledge they have acquired to help change the attitudes and behaviour of people to win more souls for Christ. The Rev Father Bernard Sakyi of the Anglican Diocese of Kumasi, in a fraternal message congratulated the new leaders and wished them well in the task ahead.

Church leaders, who pursued courses in audit, basic and advanced certificates in Christian ministry, were later presented with certificates.