Kumasi, July 19, GNA - Pastors and Reverend Ministers, especially the young ones, have been told not to allow the acquisition of material wealth distract their attention from preaching the gospel to save perishing souls.

The Reverend Dr Darko Boateng of the Ezra Baptist Church in Kumasi, who stated this, said the love for money was so strong these days that it had driven many pastors into pursuing personal wealth instead of propagating the word of God.

He was speaking at the fourth graduation ceremony of the African Mission Training Centre in Kumasi at the weekend. Rev Dr Boateng, who spoke on the theme, "The Man of God In Times Like This", said materialism had become the order of the day, to the extent that most pastors were deviating from their real responsibilities for which they were called to the ministry. He also bemoaned the rate at which false prophets were mushrooming in every corner of the country and said prophecies are guided by the word of God.

Rev Dr Boateng charged the graduands to be abreast with the times by acquiring knowledge in information technology in order to live up to their call.