A call to prayer for Ghana

When you hear of a call to prayer, the people you will least expect to find on the list will be pastors.  Surprisingly, these are the group which currently need prayers the most due to recent actions and behaviours associated with them. 

I keep saying that when a cart pusher or a carpenter or the ordinary guy on the street, goes to ‘Ashawo’ line at say Circle and is noticed, coming out of that ghetto, it is no news.  In fact no reporter worth his sort, will write about it. 

However, if one of these known men of God was to be noticed coming out of such ghettos, it is certainly news worthy because he is not supposed to be associated with such behaviour.

 In similar manner, the lens through which the actions of a carpenter’s son and I am not demeaning the profession, will be viewed, will not be the same as the lens through which a son of a member parliament, or a son of a public figure will be viewed. 

There is a saying that, to whom much is given, much is required and so people in leadership positions must understand this and therefore should take steps to protect their hard won reputation.

Recently, an incident involving the crashing of an over speeding car resulting in the death of two people has become the topic for discussion across the media landscape. 

People have expressed diverse opinions, some harsh criticisms, some condemnations and some sympathetic ones.  Those who have condemned the pastor for the wrongs of his son has to do with a certain video showing him make certain declarations. 

It is alleged that he declared that He drives without any policeman stopping him in Ghana due to his fame or the influence he has. 

When such declarations are attributed to you then you can be sure that heavy criticism will come your way, when your son acts in a manner that seems to reflect this re-emphasise this reckless living perception that people have of you. 

Then to add salt into injury, church members of the pastor attacks some journalists and the criticisms flies through the roof.  The manner, videos apparently showing a pattern of reckless driving by his son started surfacing also infuriated people.

Parenting has become a serious business and people should really consider it as such and seek all the assistance they need to make it a success.  The children of this dispensation are exposed to a lot of crazy ideas through television and easy access to the internet. 

What they watch is difficult to regulate and that is the danger confronting parents now.  There is an urgent need for prayers for the youth of Ghana, so their behaviour will reflect the culture and values of this dear country. 

When pastors who should be examples of good parents are woefully failing, then it is time indeed for a call to prayer.

Lessons learnt for all of us has to do with being a bit more curious about the activities of our children when we are not around.  We should maintain a certain cordial relations with our neighbours such that they can report to us certain actions or behaviours of our children they feel must be brought to our attention. 

A lady shared a story on social media as to why she was being sympathetic to wards the pastor whose son has created this whole buzz.  She said she was at her shop, when she had from one of her tenants that her son has taken her vehicle out of the house. 

She informed her to quickly organise a taxi and chase after them to stop them.  When they were stopped and she asked her son as to why he took the vehicle, he confessed that his friend was going to teach him how to drive. 

She said something quite remarkable that, if something terrible had happened, guess what people would have said, given her pedigree in society.