The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, has emphasised the need for all stakeholders to actively contribute to maintaining peace and demonstrating God’s love ahead of the 2024 general elections in Ghana.
In a Christmas message to Ghanaians, Rev. Dr. Opare Kwakye called on the Electoral Commission, political parties, civil society organisations, and the entire citizenry to collaborate in fostering a peaceful environment during the upcoming elections.
He stressed that true peace could be found in Christ and urged everyone to seek solace in Him.
The Moderator extended warm wishes on behalf of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, hoping for a peaceful, meaningful, joyful, and Merry Christmas for the entire world.
Looking ahead to 2024, he hoped for a year filled with peace, prosperity, and fruitfulness, emphasizing the importance of hard work in achieving these goals.
Rev Dr. Opare Kwakye offered a heartfelt prayer, seeking divine guidance for all to become sons and daughters of the Prince of Peace.
Essence of Xmas
Rev. Dr. Opare Kwakye also underscored that Christmas serves as a global celebration marking the birth of Jesus Christ, emphasizing its role in retelling the story of His birth and the profound lessons derived from His incarnation.
Central to this narrative is the theme of God’s love, echoed through the songs of angels, the joy of shepherds, and the worship of the Wise Men.
The Moderator acknowledged the prevalence of conflict and suffering, including the Israel-Hamas War, the Russia-Ukraine War, and localized conflicts within Ghana.
Despite the troubled times, he urged a focus on the core message of Christmas—peace on earth and goodwill toward all.
Quoting the Prophet Isaiah’s vision of a harmonious world, Rev. Dr. Opare Kwakye called for a collective effort to accept the transformative power of the Child born to bring peace.
He emphasized that embracing the love exemplified by God’s sacrifice should guide thoughts, words, and actions during the festive season.
Jesus fashion
The Moderator urged a shift toward rebuilding and repairing relationships in true “Jesus fashion,” not only with God but also among fellow human beings.
He declared that the true essence of Christmas lies in the story of God becoming human in Jesus Christ, symbolizing Christ’s presence in communities, towns, and villages.
Below is full statement
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM
THE RT. REV. DR ABRAHAM NANA OPARE KWAKYE
MODERATOR OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GHANA
The year has come round and Christmas is with us again. I bring you greeting from the General Assembly Office of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. We thank the Almighty God for having led us this far. Christmas is celebrated the world over to mark the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is an occasion to re-tell the story of the birth of Jesus as well as to remind us of the lessons that emerge from the whole story of His incarnation. For Christmas is the story of God’s love as we share in the songs of the Angels, the joy of the Shepherds and the worship of the Wise Men.
Our Lord Jesus Christ was born that we might have life. He is our peace. His name is the Prince of Peace. The Prophet Isaiah spoke to the people of Israel long ago and prophesied of a time when…
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6)
Yet, we are celebrating Christmas at a time when many people are troubled and are without peace. The people of Jesus’ homeland are in wartime and many children and vulnerable adults are losing their lives in the Israel-Hamas War. The Russia-Ukraine War is almost two years old with hundreds of thousands of people dead. In our own country, there are pockets of war in some communities and economic hardship threatens the livelihood of many. There is no peace. As we consider the “dog eat dog” world in which we now live, one cannot help but wonder when Isaiah’s prophecy will come to pass. Christmas is a reminder of the song of the angelic multitude “Peace on earth. goodwill toward men.”
To usher in that time when the leopard will lie down with the goat and the calf and the lion will also be together, we will have to accept this “Child that has been born, this Son that is given to us” (Isaiah 9:6) and let Him take over our lives. The love that compelled God to send His Son to die for us must be the love that directs our thoughts, words and actions. That incredible love is the true essence of Christmas. It is a time to demonstrate love towards all people, including those who have offended us.
The real Christmas story is, therefore, the story of God becoming a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ; it is that of Christ, as it were, moving into our communities, towns and villages! Let us all, in true “Jesus fashion”, concentrate on rebuilding and repairing relationships between us and God, but also between us and our fellow human beings; for these are central to the celebration of Christmas.
As our nation prepares to enter another election year, let us endeavour to demonstrate the peace and love of God. All stakeholders must work for the peace of the nation. The Electoral Commission, Political Parties, Civil Society and the general citizenry must work towards peace. It is only in Christ that Ghana would find peace. Let us go to Him and find peace.
On behalf of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, I wish the entire world a peaceful, meaningful, joyful and Merry Christmas. May the year 2024 bring us Peace, Prosperity, and Fruitfulness through hard work. I pray that the Lord will guide all of us to be sons and daughters of the Prince of Peace.
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