By Bernice Bessey.
The Royal House Chapel International has held its 2nd graduation for ex-convicts, drug addicts and peddlers, prostitutes and armed robbers and some individuals considered as outcast in the society.
The Royal House Chapel, through its School of Restoration, on Sunday, February 23, 2014, paraded before the church congregation 12 individuals, whose lives have been totally transformed for the better.
The Head of School of Restoration, Rev. Rita Kurankye-Ankrah, said the school was established with the idea to welcome, train and educate ex-convicts, especially to adopt right behaviours that enable them integrate into the society positively.
She said the church was acting in line with Matthew 25 of the Holy Bible, which mandates every Christian to show sincere kindness to destitutes, the sick and prisoners in the society.
The 12 persons were taken through counseling and behavioral and attitudinal change lessons.
She called on families to accept and welcome relatives who have been released from prison custody, saying that “it is not the fault of theirs to be found in unpleasant situations. Anybody else could easily be found in the same situation.”
Mama Rita, as she is passionately called by church members, added that the ex-convicts were given motorbikes and rented apartments. So far 29 persons have graduated from the School of Restoration.
“It is not easy to transform someone who has been in armed robbery, prison, prostitution and drugs for 20 years, but with God it is possible,” she added.
Each of the 12 persons narrated their stories to the congregation, about how they got themselves involved in bad company, which led to their imprisonment.
Kwame Amentor, once a drug addict, told the congregation that he was introduced into the bad habit by his elder brother.
He said 24 years of his life was spent on cocaine and heroin, saying “I joined bad groups to rob people to enable me buy the drugs.”