The Koforidua District Central church auditorium popularly known as “The Central Tabernacle” was dedicated by the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, on Saturday, March 3, 2018, after 16 years of construction.
The dedication service coincided with the Chairman’s 3-day working visit to the Koforidua Area. He was assisted by the Koforidua Area Head and Executive Council Member of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, as well as the pastorate of the Area and their wives.
Present at the event were: Apostle Anthony Kingsley Miah (Berekum Area Head and immediate-past Koforidua Area Head), Apostle Daniel Yeboah Nsaful (Effiduase Area Head), Pastor Ebenezer Amartey Ahuakese (Resident Minister, Evangel Worship Centre in the Teshie-Nungua Area), Mrs. Grace Opoku Onyinah (Wife of the Chairman), Mrs. Mary Nyamekye (Wife of the Koforidua Area Head) and Mrs. Rebecca Ahuakese (Wife of Pastor Ahuakese) as well as some representatives of the New Juaben Traditional Area and the New Juaben Municipal Assembly.
Delivering the sermon titled, “The Church In Smyrna” at the service, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah highlighted some of the lessons that could be learned from the Smyrna Church in Revelations 2:7-11
He explained that the Smyrna Church was one of the six churches (Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea) in the Book of Revelations that the Lord wrote to. He explained that the pattern of the letters was such that it began with commendation of the church, condemnation of their wrongs, and then ended with words of encouragement.
He, however, noted the Smyrna Church was the only church that did not receive any condemnation. This, according to Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, showed that the church was one of very high standing before the Lord.
The Chairman further explained that the message God sent the Smyrna Church, was full of lessons for contemporary Christians. He noted that although God highly regarded the Smyrna church, they suffered persecution, which even resulted in the death of their leader Polycarp. In addition to this, they were poor.
He said this is an indication that the Christian journey is not trouble-free but one that comes with afflictions.
The Chairman, however, advised Christians not to be afraid when being persecuted but to hold fast to the hope of resurrection which has been promised them by the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Jesus Christ, our leader, died and rose from the dead, so as His followers when we die we are assured that we will rise again. Therefore, live in truth and uphold your faith and integrity even to death for we have the hope of resurrection,” he said.
Touching on another lesson in the letter to the Smyrna Church, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah said God is interested in dwelling in the hearts of men and not in magnificent church buildings.
He said that in the letter to the Smyrna Church, God describes the gathering of people who are not true followers of Christ as a “synagogue of Satan.” This, according to him, indicates that it is not the magnificence of a building that makes it a church, but the lifestyle of the believers in the building that makes it a church – the dwelling place of the Most High God.
He, therefore, urged Christians to heed the word of God and apply them to their lives at all times.
The decision to put up a permanent place of worship for the Koforidua District Central Assembly was envisioned by Apostle Opoku Onyinah as far back as 1989 with the late Pastor Sintim Koree as the District Minister, but due to the exigency at the time, coupled with the dire need to get a bigger place to accommodate the ever-growing assembly, a decision was taken to construct a wooden structure instead, so that work on it could be expedited to ensure an early completion to house the church temporarily until a permanent building was built. On completion, it was christened “The Central Tabernacle” by Apostle Opoku Onyinah. The Central Tabernacle hosted some General Council Meetings of the Church including the 1998 General Council Meeting which saw Apostle Dr Michael Kwabena Ntumy elected as the 3rd Chairman of the Church.
In 2002, the then Area Head, the late Apostle Onyame Tsease, assisted by Pastor George Yaw Asiedu cut the sod for the commencement of the permanent place of worship.
Since then, successive Area Heads and Pastors including Prophet Ebenezer Appiah Agyekum, Apostle Anthony Kingsley Miah and Pastors Samuel Tetteh Doku, Edmond Yorke Sackey and Akwasi Amo Afropong played very roles till its successful completion 16 years later under the leadership of Apostle Eric Nyamekye as Area Head and Pastor Akwasi Amo Afropong as District Minister.
The Central Tabernacle was constructed at a total cost of GH¢1,480,120.73
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