Ejura (Ash), Aug 17, GNA - Mrs. Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries, has called on the church to change model and efforts of evangelisation and missions for more fruitful results. She noted that the normal church growth phenomenon has not made significant impact on the non-Christian communities as Christ's Great Commission charges the church to do.

Mrs. Asmah was addressing the opening ceremony of the 43rd annual national session of the Ghana Baptist Convention at the Baptist Women's Resource/Training and Retreat Centre at Ejura in Ashanti on Thursday. The three-day convention being attended by over 600 delegates comprising Reverend Ministers and non-Ministers from all the churches forming the Convention is under the theme, "Mobilising Our Resources for Evangelism and Missions".

She said there was the need for the church to have a paradigm shift for the sake of the great commission, even if it may mean breaking with some of the sacred traditions of doing evangelism. Mrs Asmah said, "A cursory observation of events happening in the country today indicates that we need moral regeneration. There is violence, armed robbery, drug abuse and trafficking, rape of even nine-month old babies and many more. The moral decadence is obvious as we witness events daily".

She hoped that the church would complement government's efforts by living up to its social responsibilities while the government also implemented policies and programmes through its poverty reduction strategy.

The Reverend Dr Kojo Osei-Wusu, President of the Convention, announced that the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) General Council Meeting which over 200 Baptist Conventions and Unions from 170 countries worldwide would be held in Accra from July 2 to 7 next year. He also hinted that the leadership has decided to implement the resolution calling for the establishment of a Baptist University College in Kumasi by the end of the year.

Rev Dr Osei-Wusu called for the establishment of a research committee within the Convention to always study a new ministry idea or policy and inform the convention upfront as to its affects to avoid the confusion and difficulties some new practices have generated in the work of the Convention.

Dr Joshua Ayarkwa, the Ejura-Sekyedumase District Chief Executive, called on the church to lead the struggle against corruption and other negative practices militating against the socio-economic and political development of the country.

"Fighting these cankers in the country calls for a lot of resources and a time when the church is facing serious competitions for scarce resources, it is only courageous, long-sighted and spiritually discerned churches that will mobilise all available resources to evangelise", he said.

Deacon Francis Osei, National Director of the Christian Broadcasting Network, a Non-Governmental Organisation, said the role of the church was not only to evangelise but should also consider the welfare of its members.