Accra, Oct. 6, GNA - The Reverend Christian F.W. Gbekor, Accra Presbytery Chairman of the Global Evangelical Church, has called on sessions of the mission to plan programmes to equip their congregation to evangelize to win more souls for Christ. He said church growth could only take place when evangelism was given a planned priority to be executed through the concerted efforts of all believers.

Rev. Gbekor made the call when reading a communiqu=E9 at the end of a two-day 'Healthy Church Growth' Conference in Accra on Sunday. The conference, the first of its kind to be organised by the Presbytery, was on the theme: "Give Ministry to the Saints." It was aimed at equipping participants spiritually and mentally to help them to contribute meaningfully to the growth and the development of the church.

Rev. Gbekor said targeted prayer, fasting and waiting on the Lord were indispensable instruments for effective church growth. The Presbytery Chairman urged the congregation to pursue vigorously the principle of bringing the church closer to the people by supporting efforts to plant a church in every community. Rev. Gbekor also asked the Global Theological Seminary to consider introducing programmes to train people to reach out to Muslim communities in their curriculum.

He expressed the hope that the conference would be held annually as a forum for discussing church growth. Rev. Gbekor advised drivers to desist from driving under the influence of alcohol, to save lives and property. 6 Oct. 09