First day for church services after a long while in Kumasi saw the orthodox churches like the Methodist, Roman, and the Pentecost Church not holding church services.

Others like Family House Chapel are still holding virtual church services online.

Others like the Calvary Charismatic Centre (CCC) held 11 services this weekend; two on Saturday and nine on Sunday.

Leadership of the Calvary Charismatic Church (CCC) reiterated the need for the church to adapt to the new changes as government continue to relax the restrictions on social gathering.

Head Pastor, Ransford Obeng, has revealed it could add more services the coming weeks if need be to ensure the directives are complied.

“We are happy with turnout because we planned for it but i think the media has created the impression that the virus is in the church and when you come here you will get it.

But if we go to the market and engage in other activities, i dont see why we cant have confidence in the church. See how we have done everything right to comply with all the directives".

Safety protocols

All the churches visited had veronica buckets and other sanitation items including sanitisers installed at vantage points.

One must wash hands thoroughly and temperature checked before entry.

Bread of Life Evangelistic Ministry, Prophet Joshua Agyei, says the status quo is very challenging though they are complying with the directives.

He called on government to allow preachers to deliver their sermons without wearing of nosemask.

“ preaching whiles wearing the nosemasks is difficult. I think we are complying but government could allow us preach without it because we keep the distance while on the pulpit", he said.

Some of the churches meanwhile have employed the services of health personnel who are assisting the church in educating the congregation.

For CCC, ushers continuously sanitise and disinfect the church premises after each of the nine services it held on Sunday.

Numbered seats

Some of the churches as part of measures to comply with the directive have numbered the seats in their auditoriums.

 Precious Believers Prayer and Revival Centre, for instance,  with help of health professionals  have arranged sitting arrangement  according to the level of temperature ascertained from the said individual.

Head Pastor, Mama Joyce Donkor, says this will help them trace the members in the event of the unexpected.

Leadership of the Calvary Charismatic Centre (CCC) in a similar style have placed numbers on every seat in the auditorium. This is coupled with a special card that require everyone to put down their details.

Head Pastor, Pastor Ransford Obeng, says this will facilitate health professions in the event of contact tracing.

After each service, Ushers had to sanitise the chairs and other equipment in the auditorium.

The usual dancing and euphoria was also missing in the church.

“ i am a Sunday school teacher and today i missed my children class but that is the change now so we must embrace it till things get better”, one said..

Coronavirus prayers

Associate pastor, Joshua Obeng, who preached on Sunday admonished the congregation to see the coronavirus as the Goliath in our lives and the need for Christians to confront it spiritually as well.

The pastor also led the church to pray for state leaders , the frontliners, scientists and other researchers to find solutions to the current corona virus.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the few churches that held services on Sunday, say they will adjust as the weeks’ progress.