History was made when a crowd of participants, comprising of ministers and wives, Children’s Ministry workers, and children, assembled at the Burma Camp Worship Centre (BCWC) of The Church of Pentecost, on Sunday, June 26, 2022, for the Children’s Ministry 50th Anniversary Lecture.
The anniversary lecture, a programme supported by the Women’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, was chaired by the wife of the Chairman of the church, Mrs. Mary Nyamekye.
The special guest speaker was Mrs. Rose Kumi-Larbi, wife of the General Secretary.
The event was under the theme, “The Children’s Ministry: Successes, Challenges, And the Way Forward.”
According to the Children’s Ministry Director, Pastor Prof. William Otoo Ellis, the anniversary lecture is the first in a series of two golden jubilee anniversary lectures held as the first activity after the launch of the anniversary of the Ministry.
“50 years in the life of an institution is a no mean feat in the ministry of the church,” he said.
He said that currently, the Children’s Ministry is one of the vibrant ministries of the church, adding, “even though in the beginning things were not formal, it has grown to be a well-organised ministry of the church.”
Delivering a presentation on the theme, Mrs. Rose Kumi-Larbi said that in the formative stages of the church, there were no formalized children’s ministry or services. She noted that it was common to find parents coming for Sunday morning and weekday evening services with their children.
“As the numerical strength of the church grew, new members joined with their children, and this intensified the need and calls for a separate children’s service,” Mrs. Kumi-Larbi revealed.
She explained that children responded quickly to the gospel, and in some cases, they facilitated the conversion of their parents. This, she noted increased the desire to introduce Christ to the children at such tender ages.
The wife of the General Secretary iterated that in the 70s, the late Mrs. Margaret Mills (wife of late Pastor David Mills, who was then the Principal of the church’s Bible Training School), started organising children’s services in their residence in Asokwa.
She reiterated that some Elders and Pastors got interested and involved in ministry to the children in their respective jurisdictions.
Mrs. Kumi-Larbi outlined that the Children’s Ministry has undergone several transitions, accompanied by changes in name and leadership from 1972 to date.
The first leadership led the ministry till 1983; they were the late Apostle Appau Asante (General Leader), the late Mrs. Margaret Mills (Deputy General Leader), and the late Mrs. Esme Siriboe (Secretary), she stated.
She further stated that apart from producing champions, the Ministry has also blessed many families in the church and society, saying that, “it is therefore not surprising that we find products of the Ministry in various spheres of society and professions.”
She then urged parents to ensure that their children attend children’s service until they reach adolescence when they graduate to the Youth Ministry of the church.
Again, she charged Children’s Ministry workers to prepare diligently before their classes. She urged them to stay relevant by using modern technology in teaching the children.
In her closing remarks, the Chairperson of the occasion, Mrs. Mary Nyamekye thanked the leadership of the ministry and the participants present.
“It is my prayer that this anniversary lecture will set the tone for a great 50th anniversary of the Children’s Ministry,” she mentioned.
Present were Prophet David Kankam Beditor (Patron, Children’s Ministry & Ashaiman Area Head), Apostle (Lt. Col.) Benjamin Kumi-Woode (Resident Minister, Burma Camp Worship Centre), Prophet Benjamin Adobah (Rtd) (Former Children’s Ministry Director), Mrs Deborah Agyemang Bekoe (wife of the International Missions Director) and Mrs Philomina Mireku (Women’s Ministry Director).
Others were wives of some Area Heads of the church, National and Area Executive Members of the Children’s and Women’s ministries, Children’s Ministry workers and children of the ministry.
The Children’s Ministry anniversary lecture is one of the activities outlined by the ministry to celebrate 50 years of raising and touching the lives of children in the church.
PENTECOST NEWS.
