The Cape Coast District of The Church of Pentecost, under the leadership of Pastor Samuel Kofi Aidoo, has organised a three-day Officers Retreat to equip them for the work of ministry.
Held under the theme, “Reposition yourself as an officer in contemporary times,” the event occurred at the Adisadel Central Assembly from Wednesday, 1st to Friday, 3rd November 2023.
Speaking on the first day of the retreat on the topic, “The officer and his knowledge of CoP ministry,” the wife of the Cape Coast Area Head of the church, Mrs Margaret Serwaa Antwi, stated the need for officers to love one another, particularly as leaders of the church.
Using John 13:1, 1 Corinthians 1:3 and 2 Kings 12:7 as Bible references, Mrs Antwi reiterated the call for officers to have compassion for the members and be ready to suffer for them.
Speaking on the second day on the topic, “Repositioning ourselves in our commitment as officers in the church” based on Colossians 3:25, Ruth 1:16, and 2 Samuel 11:6, the Area Head, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, asked officers to deem it a great honour for God to call them as leaders because it is a wealthy calling.
Quoting from Genesis 24:5-7, Apostle Antwi highlighted four things that officers must be committed to. He entreated officers to be committed to God’s providence, God’s principle, God’s performance (Genesis 24:54-56 & 2 Corinthians 6:18), and God’s people because leadership is not a business.
He stressed the need for leaders to be polite to the people (Act 20:27) while charging them to seek the best interest of all the church members.
Speaking on the last day of the retreat, Mrs Margaret Antwi (wife of the Area Head) spoke on the topic: “Mobilising the entire church to keep the fire burning.”
She called on leaders to pray in and out of season, saying that as leaders, they must be prayerful. Using 1 Peter 2:9, she said that a leader must never stop their devotions so that the fire of the Holy Spirit will continue to burn in them and set them ablaze.
She appealed to officers to mobilise the members, lit the Pentecostal fire in them, and involved them in church activities.
To keep the fire burning, Mrs Antwi urged leaders to stay with Jesus Christ throughout their life journey, be constant in their zeal for the Lord, and have their personal devotion every day. She also advised them not to dwell in the past things but to move in the glory of the Lord.
Report by Bernard Apprey.