Sunyani (B/A) Aug. 5, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday called on churches to be re-direct their energies to the provision of divine and strong leadership for society.

He said the increased rate in crime, corruption, indiscipline as well as wars and conflicts in the northern parts of the country were all indications that something more needed to be done to make life a little bit fairer.

Vice President Mahama said this in a speech read for him on Wednesday at the opening of the 25th biennial General Council Meeting of the Assemblies of God Church in Sunyani.

The conference will elect new officers for national and departmental levels of the church during the five-day meeting, which is under the theme: "Seeking a double portion of the spirit for kingdom service".

The Vice President emphasized that "the mere proliferation of churches alone is not enough to guarantee either spiritual or economic development; for our spirituality should be geared towards national development".

He said the Assemblies of God must be a spirit filled church manifesting the glory and presence of God everywhere adding, "as the body of Christ, we must partner with the government to bring about peace and development to the people of Ghana".

He explained that every Ghanaian had a part to play "to ensure the safety and security of our country, wives, mothers, fathers, husbands and little ones at this time in our nation's history".

Vice President Mahama underscored the importance for churches to continue to partner with the government and contribute their part in the fight against poverty, illiteracy and diseases.

"What can you do for Ghana at this time in our history so that the nation under God's great mercies and guidance could strive rather for good governance and development so that our discovery of oil in commercial quantities by the mercies of God can make a quantum leap in our struggle against underdevelopment?" he asked.

Vice President Mahama commended the church for its social action programmes such as the Lifeline street children rehabilitation programme, HIV/AIDS response projects, running of hospitals and schools, establishment of the Prime Insurance Company.

"Such interventions from the church are lasting and effective owing to the divine backing of God's power; the double portion of the spirit", he added.

He charged church leaders to teach people to be discerning and reject treachery and violence.

Reverend Moses Seidu Sumaila, Acting Superintendent of the Church, said Assemblies of God was the first Pentecostal church in Ghana to propagate the Good News of Jesus Christ alongside the delivery of organised social and compassionate services in the form of primary healthcare in deprived communities.

"We are also reputed to be the first Pentecostal church to start formal training of pastors by establishing a Bible School", he added.

Rev. Sumaila stated that the Assemblies of God Relief and Development Services (AGREDS) continued to play a leading role in augmenting government's efforts at mitigating poverty levels, providing relief to the distressed and meeting the healthcare needs of deprived communities in the north.

He disclosed that the Out Patient Departments (OPDs) of the church's hospitals in Saboba and Nakpanduri together registered more than 40,935 cases or attendance in 2009 as against 21,345 in 2008.

Rev. Sumaila appealed to the government to support these clinics with infrastructure to improve on the rural health delivery.