General News of Saturday, 25 December 2010

Source: GNA

Use the festivity to reflect on "Christ of Christmas" - Rev Odonkor

Accra, Dec. 25, GNA - The Reverend Fitzgerald Odonkor, Head Pastor o= f Harvest Chapel International, on Saturday, called on Ghanaians to use the festivity to reflect on 93Christ of Christmas", which stands for good ti= dings to mankind. "Our challenge this Christmas must be to actualize the good news to our world that continues to be filled with bad news. Good news for the poor means meeting his material needs; for the sick, healing to his body; for th= e lonely, being visited and experiencing genuine love. "Good news for the broken families means reconciliation and reunion; for the fainthearted, a word of hope and encouragement; for the lost, finding complete salvation in Christ," Rev Odonkor stated, at a Christmas service, in Accra.

He said: 93it is my prayer that this Christmas, each of us will by ou= r deeds carry good news to our families, friends, communities and nation, let us lead our world through service this Christmas and then we will have reason to rejoice with the shepherds for the greatest gift God ever gave to mankind". Rev Odonkor said Jesus Christ introduced a new standard of leadership of humility, which symbolizes goodness; sensitive to the needs of others; kindness and reconciliatory; service to mankind irrespective of status or qualifications.

He said Jesus Christ's humb le beginning should encourage all that, "irrespective of where you were born, God's purpose for your life must be pursued and God would lift you up". "It does not also matter your position or status one needs to be hum= ble to serve mankind," Rev Odonkor stated. Rev Odonkor also encourage Ghanaians to share with the under privilege= d in society, the widows, saying, 93We must out a smile on somebody's face= =85that is the meaning of Christmas". He said: 93we have been privilege to witness another Christmas season= , when we remember the miraculous birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today several thousands of years since that epic event took place countless lives have and continued to be transformed because of that baby whose birth we recollect this season. "Nothing should therefore be too low or humbling for us to do this season to enhance the lives of others, let's share the festive season wit= h thousand people who are burdened," he said.

The Harvest Chapel International Christmas Service was dedicated to th= e Sunday Children from toddlers to early teens who recited memory verses; sun= g choral music; chorographic dance and poetry recital.