On 16th February 2020, three congregations in the Afram Plains South district were with joy as the united for a divine service with the Lead Apostle Benjamin Ohene-Saffo for the very first time.

Prior to the divine service, the Sunday School children performed a role play on the lesson of the Prodigal Son.

The text word for the service was based on Galatians 5:14, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

Many laws summed up in one word. The Lead Apostle explained that the coming of Jesus Christ moved us from the rule of law to the era of grace. However, the laws were never abolished by Jesus. “Jesus Christ came to fulfill the laws. He summed up all the laws into 2; ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’ and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.’”

In summing up the laws, based on our relationship to God and to our neighbours, Jesus Christ perfected the law. He added: “All laws depend on these 2, and when fulfilled we meet all the laws.”

Worshipping God by loving our neighbour. “God gives us an opportunity to share in His grace by loving our neighbour” explained the Lead Apostle. Our love and understanding of the law, exemplified in our lives, constitutes our worship to God. Through our worship, we are also offered grace for our eternal salvation.

Our neighbour includes everyone around us be it family, friends or strangers. We must share in the joys of our neighbours, offer support and strength in their hardships and sorrow as well as protect their integrity and personhood.

Offering as part of our love. The expression of our love also constitutes offering to God as a sign of gratitude. Furthermore, our heartfelt thankfulness to God also gives us more blessings. The Lead Apostle said: “Everyone who offers from the heart receives more blessings from God. He opens ways for them.”

We must love God and neighbour through our offerings and sacrifices to the church. Lead Apostle Ohene-Saffo concluded: “Let us show our love in our offerings to God. Without love the church is nothing.”

The divine service was assisted by Apostle Boakye and District Elder Arhin (Accra West district).