The Very Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey, a Former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), has urged fathers to be good examples of God to their children.

Very Rev. Prof. Martey indicated that fathers were the representatives of God and therefore must ensure that their character and actions depicted that of God.

He gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) when he visited the PCG, Redemption Congregation in Tema Community Nine, on Father’s Day.

The day was used to climax the Men’s Fellowship week celebration on the theme: “Celebrating Our Heritage: Persisting in Mission – Men, Go Labour On.”

“In fact, the symbol of a father, that metaphor, is that which we use to introduce God to the children,” he said. He explained that because the first Christian prayers start with “Our Father,” children and the world see God in their fathers.

“If our children and the world will give their lives to God, it’s the character of the fathers that they see that will encourage them to go to God,” he added.

He emphasized that due to some fathers’ character of irresponsibility and wickedness, some people refuse to be Christians, as they see God the Father as the same as their earthly father.

Mr Elvis Panford, Clerk of Session, PCG Redemption, in a sermon, urged fathers to be active instead of passive in the lives of their children.

Mr Panford said: “You are a father because of the children you have. Just as doctors are there because of the patients and teachers are there because of learners, the same applies to fathers. You must be active in the lives of your children.”

He stressed that if parents, especially fathers, do not train their children well, they would grow to become a burden to the nation.

“The call of fatherhood is not optional; it is mandatory. Treat this call with urgency. Lead the children spiritually, and don’t shirk your responsibility because you have an issue with their mother,” he said.