Sunyani (B/A) April 16, GNA - The Ghana Association of Methodist Men's Fellowship on Friday held its 20th Anniversary and Third Biennial National delegates' conference in Sunyani.

The three-day Conference, attended by about 1,500 members is under the theme: "Launching into the deep, (Luke 5:4)."

Among personalities at the opening ceremony were Mr. Yaw Adjei-Duffour,

Brong-Ahafo Deputy Regional Minister, Major Daniel Ablorh-Quarcoo (rtd), national chairman of the association, Most Reverend Dr. Robert Aboagye-Mensah, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Conference and Right Reverend Kwame Omane-Achamfour, Bishop of Sunyani Methodist Diocese. Rev. Dr. Aboagye-Mensah explained that the first priority of the church was to bring women, men, young people and children to experience the love of the living God.

The objective of the church is to double its membership in the next five years, he said, adding that "this would mean that we have to intensify as well as find new ways of doing evangelism and discipleship".

He noted that another area of enhancing evangelism and discipleship was organising literacy programmes that would promote development, since there could not be sustainable development in the midst of illiteracy. The Presiding Bishop said it was the responsibility of the church to eradicate all that made it difficult for the Lord's desire to be fulfilled.

He stressed the need for the church to find new areas of collaborating with government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other organisations committed to the alleviation of poverty.

"It will be important that our church partners with such institutions to provide life in abundance for all", he added.

Major Ablorh-Quarcoo expressed the need for the Conference to critically examine its performances, acknowledge shortcomings and failures with a view to resolving and adopting new strategies and plans that would propel the association to achieve better results.

He noted that the Association, formed 20 years ago with three members now has 12,000 members with 430 branches throughout the country. Major Ablorh-Quarcoo urged members to pay their dues to enhance the growth of the Association.

In a keynote address, Mr. Adjei-Duffour expressed the hope that the Association would get involved in direct evangelism to win more souls for Christ.

"Though you are contributing financially for such activities, in my opinion that is not enough", he added. Mr. Adjei-Duffour however commended the Association for its various charitable activities and implored members to rally behind the Government in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS. The Deputy Regional Minister urged members of the Association to extend love and charitable services to all persons living with the pandemic by giving them the necessary support that could help prolong their lives.