Saltpond, May 03, GNA - Rev J.A. Obodai, the Chairman of the Western Presbytery Church, has condemned lazy Christians who did not want to do hard work but wanted to use dubious means such as armed robbery and drug trafficking to make money.

Delivering a sermon to mark the 40th anniversary of the Saltpond branch of the church on Sunday, Rev Obodai said Jesus was a hard worker therefore any true follower of Christ must work hard to earn a decent living.

He said Christ was truthful and those who condoned with others to cheat their fellows and the state should mend their ways. Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur, the District Chief Executive for Mfantseman, expressed joy about collaboration between the church and the state and said this should be used to sustain the peace and stability of the nation.

Mr Quainoo-Arthur appealed to Christians to cultivate the spirit of forgiveness, saying it was only through that that they could coexist peacefully with their neighbours. He advised them to educate their members on the importance of the national health insurance scheme to enable them to embrace it. Speaking to the GNA on the theme for the celebration that is "the spiritual challenges facing the church today" Rev Kingsford Kusi-Kyere, the resident minister, said pastors who preached prosperity instead of salvation were leading the flock astray.

"The practice today is Christians are ready to go anywhere they are told they can get prosperity but not where they can go and find salvation."

A bakery to support the church's income was dedicated.