The Agona Swedru Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Derek Kwaning Mireku, concluded his 38 years of dedicated service in the full-time ministry of the church on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
His retirement service, held at the Area Revival Centre in Nkubem, Swedru, was officiated by the International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe. The event was attended by people from all walks of life, including active and retired ministers of the church, members, traditional rulers, and politicians. Notable attendees included the immediate past Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah (Rtd.), and Apostle Dr Dieudonne Komla Nuekpe (Executive Council Member/La Area Head).
Sermon
Delivering the sermon on the topic, ‘The Ministry of the Pillar of Cloud and Fire,’ based on Exodus 13:21-22, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe related how God protected and preserved the people of Israel during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, drawing parallels to present-day ministry.
He explained that God led the Israelites by a pillar of cloud during the day and by fire at night, symbolising God’s presence among His people. This dual theophany, he said, represents the manifestation of God. Further referencing Numbers 9:15-18, he noted that the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire were the same.
Apostle Bekoe indicated that like the pillars of cloud and fire which provided guidance and light, ministry should be directed towards offering direction and illumination to humanity. He added that ministry involves both encampment (staying) and embarkment (going), likening it to a military service. He stressed that ministry is about obeying God’s commands, urging believers to follow the Master in obedience, saying, ‘If you cannot follow, you cannot lead.’
He encouraged Christians to make an impact in their respective spheres by providing direction and light to those around them, as ministry encompasses all aspects of a believer’s life.
Profile of Apostle Derek Kwaning Mireku
Born on June 21, 1959, Apostle Mireku began his education at Begoro Presbyterian Primary School ‘A’ in 1965 and continued at Begoro Presbyterian Boys Middle School, completing in 1975. He furthered his studies at Begoro Secondary Commercial, where he read Accounting and Economics, earning his ‘O’ and ‘A’ level certificates, respectively. He worked with the Ghana Education Service, serving as headteacher at Ahumahumaso L/A Middle School and later at Akroa Darko L/A Primary School. Six years later, in 1986, he was called into the full-time ministry at Begoro. He studied at the then Pentecost Bible College, now Pentecost University, whiles in ministry.
Apostle Mireku served in various districts, namely Daboase (1986-1991), Asankare (1991-1996), Tepa (1996-2002), Bompata (2002-2008), and Merry Villas in Accra (2008-2013). As an area head, he served at Essam-Debiso Area (2013-2019) and Agona Swedru Area (2019-2024).
He held several positions, including Estate Chairman, Goaso Area (1997-2002), Executive Committee Member, Goaso Area and Asokwa Areas (1997-2002) and (2005-2008), respectively. He was also elected as an Area Executive Committee Member at La Area (2010-2013). In para-church organisations, he served as the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) Ashanti Regional Technical Committee Chairman (2005-2008), Deputy GPCC Zonal Chairman at Essam-Debiso (2015-2018), Chairman of Local Council of Churches at Essam-Debiso (2015-2018), and Ghana Evangelism Committee Chairman for Agona Swedru (2019-2024), among others.
Testimonies
The immediate past Chairman, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah (Rtd.), congratulated Apostle Mireku and his wife, Mama Elizabeth, for their diligent service. He praised Apostle Mireku as a calm and excellent pastor to work with. He recalled that Apostle Mireku, then a young pastor, was the first minister of The Church of Pentecost to be appointed into government as an Assembly Member at Daboase by the Rawlings regime in the late 1980s.
The General Council extolled his passion for soul-winning and discipleship, his ability to mentor, and his ease in connecting with everyone. They described him as a man of the Word whose teachings and sermons inspire and soothe the soul, saying, ‘His prayer life has been the secret of his ministerial success and has helped many to break through in life.’
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