“Gird on your armour, be prepared”. These were the opening remarks of Apostle George Sam of the Takoradi Apostle Working Area as he made his first visit of the year to the Beposo District on 16th February 2020 and celebrated two separate Divine Services with the Shama Krobo and Shama Beach congregations.

Love for God through Faith and Perseverance
At Shama Krobo Congregation the sermon was based on Genesis 9:12-13, ‘And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.”’  

Apostle Sam shared with the congregation Noah’s story and period of mockery by the world. He encouraged the congregation not to despise God during their trials and challenges but rather, take it as an opportunity given by God to prove our love and faith in Him. He added that Noah loved God and did as he was told despite the world mocking him. In the end, he and his family were saved. God was pleased, and avowed His love and faithfulness to Noah’s family in a covenant.

“God will not bring untold hardship or trials in which we cannot stand” he said, citing another example of Job to further elaborate this point. He never lost faith in God, and his endurance in his trials through his fervent prayers to God resulted in a very happy and glorious ending”.

Apostle Sam was assisted by District Rector Nkansah and Priest Matthew Wilson.

The Apostle later,assigned Sister Lucy Arkoh as Sunday School teacher, urging the congregation to support her in improving the current state of the Sunday School and eventually raising the standard.

Love Your Neighbour as Yourself
At the Shama Beach Congregation, the text word was taken from Galatians 5: 14, ‘For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”’

Dwelling on the text word, the Apostle explained that Moses was given the Ten Commandments to be given to the Israelites. However, Jesus Christ, on the advent of the era of grace, did not come to discard the laws but rather fulfill and summarized them into two; ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’.

Apostle Sam added that love is the summit of all our faith and belief. He asked the Shama Beach Congregation to remember these laws and abide by them.

Apostle Sam was assisted by Deputy District Rector Dogbatsey and Priest Matthew Wilson.