After four decades of dedicated, sacrificial and fruitful service to God and The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Ousmane Patinde Zabre has retired from active full-time ministry.
His 40-year ministerial journey was celebrated at a colourful retirement service held on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at the Salle de Conférence de Ouaga 2000 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 1986, Apostle Zabre served the Lord and the Church in various leadership capacities across different jurisdictions. His assignments included service as a District Pastor, Regional Head and Area Head, including a period as Area Head for Bolgatanga in Ghana.
His ministry later took an international dimension when he served as National Head of The Church of Pentecost in Togo. In 2019, he was appointed National Head of the Church in Burkina Faso, a position he faithfully held until his retirement in 2026.
Apostle Zabre also had the distinction of serving for 15 years on the Executive Council of The Church of Pentecost, where he contributed his experience, wisdom and leadership to the highest decision-making body of the Church.
The retirement service brought together politicians, business leaders, ministers of the Gospel, church leaders, family members, friends and delegations from some of the nations, areas and districts where Apostle Zabre and his family served throughout his ministry.
The service was officiated by the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, who delivered a message titled “Moses, My Servant, Is Dead.”
Drawing lessons from the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua, Apostle Nyamekye encouraged the Church in Burkina Faso to embrace the new phase of its journey with faith and confidence in God.
He explained that although Apostle Zabre’s retirement marked the conclusion of an important chapter in the history of the Church in Burkina Faso, the work of God must continue.
Just as God remained with Joshua and the Israelites following Moses’ death, the Chairman assured the succeeding leadership that God would remain with them and empower them to advance His work.
“God is with you. All you have to do is stay with Him, and He will work amazingly through you. Just as He used Joshua after Moses, so will He use you after Apostle Zabre,” Apostle Nyamekye charged.
He therefore urged the leadership and membership of the Church in Burkina Faso not to be overwhelmed by the transition but to remain courageous, united and committed to the mandate entrusted to them by God.
The Chairman emphasised that while individual leaders serve for particular seasons, God’s work transcends generations. He encouraged each generation to faithfully build upon the foundation laid by those who came before them and advance the work entrusted to their care.
The occasion was also attended by several serving and retired ministers of The Church of Pentecost, including the immediate past Chairman of the Church, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah (Rtd.); immediate past International Missions Director, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo (Rtd.); Apostle Dr Dieudonné Komla Nuekpe, La Area Head; Apostle Lare Babimpo, National Head of Togo; Apostle Yaw Agyei Kwarteng, Kwadaso Area Head; Apostle Isaac Nii Kotei Djani, Tema Area Head; Apostle David Amankwah, Bolgatanga Area Head; and Prophet James Osei Amaniampong (Rtd.), a former Executive Council Member, among other ministers and dignitaries.
The service provided an opportunity for the Church, family, friends and associates to celebrate Apostle Zabre and thank God for sustaining him throughout his 40 years of active ministry.
PENT NEWS.
