By Edward Dankwah
Accra, Sept. 28, GNA – The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church in Ghana has concluded a five-day Stewardship and Wealth Creation Summit with a call on members to embrace responsible stewardship as a pathway to sustainable wealth creation.
The summit, held at the Valley View University, Techiman Campus, was organised by the General Conference of the SDA Church and the West-Central Africa Division (WAD) for the four Union territories in Ghana and hosted by the North-Central Ghana Union Mission (NCGUM).
Held on the theme: “Ambassadors of the Kingdom: Glorifying God with Our Finances,” the summit brought together 529 pastors and lay members from the four SDA Unions in Ghana.
A statement issued to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said the programme provided a platform for participants to explore biblical stewardship, responsible financial management, strategic planning and sustainable wealth creation.
It said presentations covered church budgeting and welfare systems, biblical stewardship, God First Commitment, wealth creation and financial management, strategic planning, real estate and land economy, church finance management, planned giving and trust services, as well as stewardship, identity, calling and mission.
The statement said participants were reminded that Christian stewardship extended beyond financial giving to include the responsible management of time, talents, health, finances, property and opportunities entrusted to believers.
They were also encouraged to prioritise God in their financial decisions, practise accountability and financial discipline, engage in strategic planning and explore legitimate avenues for sustainable wealth creation.
The statement said a major practical outcome of the summit was the adoption of cashew farming as a model for sustainable wealth creation.
In support of the initiative, ADRA Ghana, in partnership with the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), donated 80 cashew seedlings to the NCGUM to establish a two-acre demonstration farm at the Valley View University, Techiman Campus.
Participants were encouraged to return to their respective Unions, churches and communities to establish demonstration farms and other income-generating ventures to translate the knowledge acquired into practical action.
The summit also called on Adventists across Ghana to embrace their identity as “Ambassadors of the Kingdom” by faithfully managing God’s resources, creating wealth responsibly, strengthening families and communities and supporting the mission of the Church.
The four SDA Unions in Ghana are led by Pastor Col. (Rtd) Peter Kwabena Nyarko Duodu, President of the South East Ghana Union Mission; Pastor Adeefe Kwakye Yaw, President of the South West Ghana Union Conference; Pastor Jonathan Owusu, President of the Mid-Ghana Union Conference; and Pastor Dr Edward Nyarko, President of the North-Central Ghana Union Mission.
The organisers expressed gratitude to the General Conference, the four Unions, local presenters, ADRA Ghana, TCDA, Valley View University and the 529 participants for their contributions to the success of the summit.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah