A Catechist of the Lighthouse Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Tanoso in the Ashanti Region, Mr Peter Nuamah, has urged church leaders to prioritise winning and nurturing souls for Christ over the interest to just fill the pews.

According to him, “heaven is not about counting of heads. It is more about the number of souls won for the Lord.”

His comment came against the backdrop of the several ambitious plans by churches, including the Tanoso Lighthouse Presbyterian Church to reach two million members by 2028.

Speaking to The Spectator after last Sunday’s church service, Mr Nuamah insisted that aiming to increase membership was not wrong but was important to focus on soul winning and converting them for Christ.

Mr Nuamah noted that numerical growth without genuine conversion and repentance risks hollowing out the church’s mission.

In this regard, he urged leaders to shift their gaze from membership targets to the deeper work of winning and nurturing souls for Christ.

“The church should not nurture members; it must nurture souls,” he declared, adding that, “We should desire two million souls rather than two million members. This should be our aim and target”

The Catechist lamented what he described as a growing obsession with attendance figures, cautioning that Jesus Christ was more concerned with transformed lives than crowded sanctuaries.

“It appears we are counting numbers and assuming that if the church is full, then we have achieved our mission. Jesus is not looking for numbers; He is looking for repentant souls who believe in Him and live for Him,” he explained.

He argued that one million genuine believers would be far more valuable than two million nominal members who lack a personal relationship with Christ.

The Catechist challenged pastors, teachers, and elders to intensify gospel teaching, anchoring their work in salvation and the second coming of Christ.

He reminded the church that salvation was not secured by titles, denominational identity, or inclusion in membership records.

“When Christ returns, He will take those who have believed in Him, not merely those whose names are found in church membership books,” he noted.

Mr Nuamah cautioned Christians against placing their assurance of salvation in church positions or labels.

“My salvation should not be based on being a Presbyterian, a pastor, or a catechist. It should be based on Christ’s evaluation of my personal relationship with Him,” he underlined.

From Shirley P. Yalley, Kumasi