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The unveiling of the Vision 2028 document of The Church of Pentecost came with nine new special initiatives. One of the special initiatives introduced in the five-year working document is the Ministry to Celebrities. A celebrity is a person who has achieved a high level of fame, recognition, and popularity in a particular field, such as entertainment, sports, politics, or other areas of public interest. Celebrities often attract attention and admiration from the public due to their accomplishments, talents, or contributions to society. The word “celebrity” is a broad term and can encompass individuals known for their positive achievements as well as those who gain fame through controversy or scandal. A ‘Slaybrity’, on the other hand, refers to individuals known for their stylish appearance and influence on social media. In this article, I will walk you through the rationale behind the vision, scan through some celebrities in the Bible, celebrity by choice or chance, and how the church should prepare to receive these people in the church.

RATIONALE OF THE VISION

The Church aims to reach out to celebrities with the gospel and disciple and mentor them for societal transformation. Most celebrities and ‘slaybrities’ have thousands and millions of followers whose lives are being influenced by the content posted on social media handles. Reaching out to celebrities with the power of the gospel to transform their lives, and they, in turn, can also reach out and transform the lives of their followers through social media handles.

CELEBRITIES IN THE BIBLE

The Bible contains accounts of many prominent people who could be termed as celebrities due to the number of times their names were mentioned in the Bible and the continuous lessons drawn from their lives in our contemporary times. A few of these people include Adam, Eve, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Esther, Daniel, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul, Peter, Mary, Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist, and many more. However, the greatest celebrity the world has ever seen is Jesus Christ. From over two thousand years ago till now, all generations have known about Jesus Christ; millions of books have been written about Him, and countless songs have been composed and sung about Him. His name is always mentioned in sermons; we pray in His name, talk about Him, cast out devils and heal the sick through His name. His name and fame never die and fade from generation to generation. For all other celebrities and slaybrities, you are only relevant and acknowledged while still alive, and you keep on influencing society to keep you as a celebrity, but the celebrity status of Jesus Christ is everlasting.

BECOMING A CELEBRITY – BY CHOICE VS CHANCE

In our world driven by social media and the power of the internet, anyone at all at any moment in time could become a celebrity. While some people make deliberate and conscious efforts to become celebrities and ‘slaybrities’, others meet fame by chance and become popular through the unsolicited efforts of individuals that made them trend for something worthy of public attention. Until the body of Christ arises to the task of making efforts to reach out to celebrities, a lot may need spiritual nourishment and growth in Christ but may not be attended to because they have been cut off from religious gatherings.

HOW SHOULD THE CHURCH PREPARE?

• Avoid discriminatory and unguarded comments: Sometimes, a lot of efforts are made to win souls, but we lose them through the backdoor of discriminatory and unguarded comments. The very things we say about people, the ‘holier than thou’ attitudes we put up, and the comments made about people and celebrities can signal a friendly and welcoming spiritual atmosphere or a hostile one. Let your tongue draw all men to Christ but not drive them away.

• Teach to prepare the minds of the church: As pastors and church leaders, we have a lot of work to do. It takes time for people to understand and fully embrace new directives and offer maximum support. A lot of teaching and orientations need to be done to ensure that the ministry to celebrities and ‘slaybrities’ will serve its purpose.

• Who handles the new members and new converts classes? As we aim for excellence in ministry, it is important to have a critical look at those assigned to handle new converts and new members’ classes. The caliber of people that handle these classes, as well as the level of their knowledge and expertise, is very critical. First impressions and the quality of knowledge given to people to ground them in Christ are very important. New and better ways of receiving new converts and first-time visitors should be explored and improved.

• All-Inclusive Gospel Agenda:Over the years, The Church of Pentecost has earnestly pursued an All-Inclusive Gospel Agenda to reach out to all people without discrimination, regardless of their background, race, social status, and past experiences. The Church of Pentecost operates with the belief that the message of the cross that brings salvation, love, and redemption is meant for all people. This concept promotes inclusivity and the understanding that the transformative power of the Gospel is available to all people. In Christ, everyone’s soul counts and matters in the Kingdom of God.

• Embrace the City Church Concept: Celebrities and ‘slaybrities’ may not feel comfortable worshiping with churches that meet in the classroom and churches without standard modern facilities and technological advancements. They will not be able to ‘slay’ and take quality pictures in beautiful environments for their social media handles. The City Church concept, when embraced, will not only pursue an aggressive evangelism agenda but can also sieve and cut off the excesses witnessed in local church settings, which could put off celebrities and expatriates. Most expatriates and celebrities have traveled widely and expect a certain standard of infrastructure and quality service to meet their needs and expectations. In the city churches, time management, standard church services, and ‘quality sermons’ from the pulpit will be the icing on the cake.

• Avoid and Manage Embarrassing Situations: It is important to note that the name and fame of some celebrities and ‘slaybrities’ are not commensurate with their wealth and financial status as projected on social media. Living a fake life got many people into the limelight, but one cannot fake when reality stares you in the face. Some of these people may not be as rich as they present themselves. The leadership of the church should be careful and led by the Holy Spirit to not put celebrities in embarrassing situations during fundraising. This could prevent them from coming to church so that they will not be exposed and become an object of mockery.

• Formation of Celebrity and Professionals Guild: In life, people love to flow and mingle with people of their kind. Forming celebrity and professional guilds will enhance a sense of belonging, foster proper networking, offer support to one another, deploy the skills of professionals when needed, plan for celebrity outreach programs and enhance spiritual growth and development among like-minded people. It may be an awkward feeling to visit any church, and you may not be able to find anyone of your status and level of education. ‘Big Boys’ love to be in the company of ‘Big Boys’ and Celebrities, and ‘Slaybrities’ also love to fellowship with their very own, for they easily understand themselves.

CONCLUSION

Vision 2028 is an all-inclusive vision and cuts across all spheres of life. As a church, let us extend our arms open to all people and keep our doors open to welcome and receive all who seek spiritual nourishment, guidance, and a sense of belonging within the body of Christ. It is our core mandate to reach out to everyone with the power of the gospel, disciple and mentor, and then unleash them to transform their world.

Written by Overseer Ernest K. Akorli (Kpasenkpe District)

It goes without an iota of equivocation that the 2024 Global All Ministers and Wives Conference, which was held from Monday, January 22 to Saturday, January 27, 2024, at the Pentecost Convention Center, has been one of a kind, unapparelled and unconventional. The conference was historic because it was a “servant to two masters”. It was to unravel the mysteries within the church’s Vision 2023 document and prepare it for Vision 2028, the church’s five–year working document. These two assignments were discharged with dexterity and finesse.

One cannot easily forget the ministrations that dripped stupendously from the throne room down the throat of the evergreen Voice of Pentecost and through to the itching ears of all and sundry. To say that the presentations from the various speakers were cutting-edge is to understate what went on throughout the sessions. All our fathers and speakers executed their assigned roles to the admiration of all.

As it was to be, our dear Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, took his turn to present to the Lord’s flock all that the Lord had laid on his heart for the church in the coming year. Participants agreed session after session that our chairman’s is a gift to global Christianity. One of his presentations on the “City Church Concept” cannot easily go unnoticed. Reminiscing all the slides from the presentation, one thing struck my heart, which is the focal point of this article. I realised that if the church really would stay relevant in the cities, especially in Ghana, then we cannot keep doing things the old way, something which our dearest chairman addressed throughout his presentation.

Akin to the New Wine and the Old Wineskin metaphor, as found in Luke 5:27 – 39, Matthew 9:14 – 17 and Mark 2: 18 – 22, we cannot keep applying what works in less endowed towns to ministry in the city. Jesus’ parable of the new wine and the old wineskin reveals an age-old challenge of how each generation attempts to preserve old traditions for posterity. One of the challenges Jesus dealt with during his earthly ministry was confronting archaic traditions and old Jewish ceremonial forms and practices, which were incompatible with His message about the Kingdom of God (Shenk 2005). Consequently, Jesus’ parable meant that new generations must have fresh reflections on their theological formulations and traditions. I think our dear chairman is making an equal appeal as far as the city ministry is concerned.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, 2022 represents a peak in Ghana’s share of Urbanization with a significant percentage increase to 58.62%. A population may be defined as urban, depending on the size (population or area) or population density of the town or city coupled with available social amenities and other infrastructural developments. Looking at the rate of increase, it is expected that Ghana will have not less than 85% of its population in the cities in the next ten years, barring any change in rural life.

THE WAY FORWARD

Coupled with the thoughts above and the fact that much of the church’s strength in all indicators is urban–driven, ministry in the urban centres must be given a second look. Among many things the revered man of God postulated, the under-listed could guide urban ministry to achieve its intended purposes:

• To improve quality pastoral care, we must downsize the number of Assemblies under a minister’s care. The bigger the district, the less the supervision
• City churches must be time–conscious. Many things could be done in a succinct yet Spirit–filled way. For example, we must control the number of announcements which flood every Sunday service. Hitherto, announcements alone could take a whooping one hour. One way to achieve this is to write the announcements in the announcements’ book and not give them extempore
• The citing of churches is also very necessary. Churches should not be situated too far from accessible roads and pedestrian visibility
• We must pay attention to the quality of our services and ensure that we put much training and rehearsals into each session. We must also give contextual relevance to whatever we do during church services
• The Music department must be well-resourced. They must also have time to pray so that they do not only come to the stage to “perform” but to “minister’ to specific needs as well
• The Media Ministry of the churches must be well–empowered to improve the visibility of our churches. As much as possible, messages should be projected on screens as well, and all digital platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and others should be explored for the church
• The district minister must, as a matter of urgency, visit these churches regularly and impact them positively
• Sermons preached on Sundays must be apt, sharp and straight from the throne room in order to have a lasting impact on the members, some of whom come to church only on Sundays for obvious reasons
• Leaders must pay attention to the protocol and hospitality department in our bid to keep old members as well as “Church – shoppers”. The age-old practice where New Comers are made to stand up to tell their mission of attending services is gradually becoming obsolete
• We must endeavour to livestream most of our services to enhance visibility
• Bible study and Home Cell leaders, as well as preachers for Sundays, must appear prepared for each session in order not to spark mistrust from the members, especially those visiting as first–timers
• Owing to the vast area of the city, we must keep proper records of members and newcomers in order to enhance pastoral care. In the city, the principle for owning a member is that “He who has the member on Sunday owns the member”. Many nominal members have only their names or ‘shadows’ in churches but owe allegiance to other churches
• The appointment of leaders to these churches must be well thought through, especially officers who will oversee the day-to-day administration of the church
• The principle of “The Discipleship” mantra should be relooked. Members could be divided into groups and given shepherds to supervise their movements in the pen. This would ensure that the “backdoor” is tightly shut
• The pastor and the laity must be all things to all people. The city is cosmopolitan in nature. Hence, leaders must, like Apostle Paul, become “all things to all people”. When necessary, they must be dynamic in nature and ministry. They should operate in all the five–fold ministry as the case may call for. They must become disciplinarians when needed and shepherds when duty calls. The needs of the members vary vastly, and a slight negligence would be catastrophic

CONCLUSION

Our dear chairman, through the instrumentation of the Holy Spirit, has intimated for the umpteenth time that the city holds a chunk of our strength. In view of this, the Pareto principle comes in very handy. This principle opines that, for many outcomes, roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes. In other words, a small percentage of causes have an outsized effect. Such is the case of the City Churches and, hence, a clarion call to give these churches a second look.

Written by Pastor Bright Amankwah (Dawhenya District, Tema Area)

In a world increasingly woven with digital threads, The Church of Pentecost, under the visionary leadership of Chairman Apostle Nyamekye, is boldly stepping into the realm of the E-Church. In a recent message, the chairman laid out a ground-breaking vision for transforming the church’s online presence—not just into a passive platform but into a vibrant, interactive, and faith-igniting extension of the physical church.

Chairman Nyamekye, recognizing the exponential growth of digital engagement, painted a picture of an E-Church that transcends geographical boundaries and time zones. He envisioned online sermons radiating beyond church walls, reaching those physically distant or yearning for deeper connection. Imagine the potential to touch lives in remote villages, hospital beds, and bustling city apartments, all at the touch of a screen.

But the E-Church is not merely about replicating traditional services online. It’s about harnessing the unique potential of the digital world to create a dynamic tapestry of faith experiences. Let us be encouraged to explore interactive Bible studies, engage in live Q&A sessions with pastors, and foster virtual prayer groups that bridge continents and cultures.

The E-Church, as emphasized, should also be a platform for nurturing community and spiritual growth. With this in mind, we can champion the creation of online mentorship programs, vibrant youth forums, and support groups for specific needs. Imagine a church where members find solace and fellowship not just on Sundays but throughout the week, woven together by the invisible threads of the digital church.

Furthermore, we can use the E-Church as a powerful tool for evangelism. We can leverage online platforms with pulsating engaging testimonies, thought-provoking discussions, and captivating multimedia content. This digital outreach, I believe, could ignite the spark of faith in hearts far beyond the traditional reach of the church.

Of course, embracing the E-Church concept comes with challenges. Ensuring inclusivity for those with limited digital access, safeguarding online security and privacy, and fostering meaningful connections in a virtual space are all concerns requiring careful consideration. Yet, these challenges shouldn’t deter us but rather motivate us to find innovative solutions.

The message from the Chairman is clear: the E-Church is not a fad but a necessary evolution for The Church of Pentecost in the digital age. It’s a bold invitation to step out of the comfort zone of traditional brick-and-mortar structures and embrace the boundless possibilities of the digital realm. It’s an opportunity to reimagine what it means to be a church—a vibrant, inclusive, and ever-present community of faith, connected not just by physical walls but by the invisible threads of shared belief and digital connection.

The E-Church is not the distant future; it’s the present calling. As Chairman Nyamekye has challenged us, let us open our hearts and minds to this exciting chapter in the journey of The Church of Pentecost and, together, build an E-Church that shines the light of faith onto the world, pixel by pixel and soul by soul, to possess the nations.

Possessing the nations, I am an agent of transformation.

Possessing the nations, transforming my world.

Written by Elder Joseph Otsibah (New Town District, Kasoa Area)

INTRODUCTION

In the tapestry of faith, one of the most profound callings for believers is to be soul winners. Rooted in the teachings of the Bible, the concept of winning souls transcends mere evangelism; it embodies a heartfelt commitment to sharing the transformative message of salvation with others. This article delves into the biblical foundations of being a soul winner and explores the significance of this calling for Christians.

THE GREAT COMMISSION

At the heart of the Christian faith lies the Great Commission, a charge given by Jesus Christ to His disciples. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

This commission is not just a directive to spread the Gospel but a profound invitation to participate in the salvation of souls. As believers, the call to be soul winners is intricately woven into our identity as followers of Christ.

COMPASSION AND LOVE

Being a soul winner is not a mechanical task but a manifestation of compassion and love. The Bible teaches in Proverbs 11:30, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.” This verse emphasizes the wisdom of leading others to the source of eternal life.

In 1 Peter 4:8, believers are encouraged to “above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” Love becomes the driving force behind the desire to see others find redemption in Christ.

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP

Jesus beautifully illustrates the heart of a soul winner in the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7). In this narrative, a shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep to find the one that is lost. The joy upon finding the lost sheep mirrors the heavenly celebration over one sinner who repents.

This parable underscores the profound value God places on each individual soul. It challenges believers to adopt a similar attitude of relentless pursuit and joy in leading others to the Shepherd.

RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

The biblical concept of being a soul winner carries a weight of responsibility. In Ezekiel 3:18, God declares, “If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.”

This passage emphasizes the accountability of believers in warning others about the consequences of a life separated from God. Being a soul winner is not merely an option but a sacred duty.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, being a soul winner is a central theme in the Christian journey, grounded in the teachings of the Bible. The Great Commission, fueled by love and compassion, calls believers to actively engage in the salvation of souls. The Parable of the Lost Sheep exemplifies the joy in leading others to the Shepherd, while passages like Ezekiel 3:18 highlight the responsibility and accountability associated with this calling. As Christians, embracing the role of a soul winner is not only an expression of obedience but a powerful demonstration of the transformative love of Christ.

Written by Pastor Prince Duvorn Daniels-Hortsoe (Gomoa Eshiem, Winneba Area)

When we critically examine the parable of the great banquet as told by our Lord Jesus in the scripture above, it points to people who are invited for a feast. Christians have been granted the privilege through the finished works of Christ to partake in all the Lord’s goodness, including times in His presence, the opportunity to study the Word of God, and communion with God and the brethren, among many others. However, this great opportunity to feast with the Lord is ill-attended because the guests (here, Christians) give many excuses and do not show up.

God, through His leaders (of the church), puts up wonderful programs: prayer sessions, Bible studies, conferences, watch nights, etc. Sometimes, good publicity campaigns are put in place to ensure that the announcement goes on properly. Yet, after this invitation and “everything is now ready,” some Christians begin to give excuses to exempt themselves from attending these programs – great banquets. Many Christians do not even want to go to church anymore!

The variety of excuses given for not attending the feast of the Lord are summarised in the three given in the passage according to Luke 14:18-20:

A “field” here may represent all forms of properties that people crave. We toil day and night, indulge in businesses, embark on diligent labor, and one of the things we look forward to achieving through this work is to acquire properties. The net worth of a man in the physical, is a measure of the worth of his properties. We work tirelessly to acquire plots, build or purchase mansions, get huge bank accounts, etc. These are good, but let us not forget about this vital life question asked by our Lord Jesus, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36, ESV)

Another said, “I have bought five yokes of oxen, and I go to examine them.” The next category of excuses we give is about our jobs or work. We are always punctual at work because we understand fully that we need to work to make a living. Sadly, the seriousness Christians attach to their work is far greater than that which we give to the invitations of God.

Though we are not watering down how important the diligence of work and labor to earn ends meet and to cater for both ourselves, our dependents and even give to the Lord through the Church and the needy is. But we are saying that God has made a great feast for us and this invitation should be given utmost precedence because they have implications on the salvation and nourishment of our souls. Our walk with God and our success in life come through how we respond to God and attend to His invitations, be it our devotions, Bible studies, personal and corporate prayers, church programs, among others. We should not compromise. We should not give excuses, because these are lifeline issues.

And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come (Vs 20) This represents the excuses we give that proceed from our relationships. “My wife or husband said I shouldn’t go”, “my children’s school meeting”, “my friends invited me over”, “there was a family funeral”, etc. These are some of the unending excuses we give in this aspect. We mostly forfeit personal time with God or church meetings for the sake of these reasons.

Let us know that it is part of the disciplines and the cost of discipleship to count everything as null for the attainment of the rich relationship with Christ (Luke 14:26). When we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all these that we seek through these three forms of excuses we give daily, shall be duly catered for by the Lord Himself!

“Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25, ESV)

Let the present-day Christian prioritise the invitations of the Lord, and let us give God the first place in our lives, no matter what! Excuses excuse you from the Lord’s great banquet! Selah. Shalom!

Written by Elder Samuel Adjei (Member, PENSA Ghana Secretariat Committee, Abuakwa Area, Atwima Koforidua District)

Peter employs an odd—and rather humorous—image when instructing his readers, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).

What the ESV translates as “preparing your minds for action” is in Greek, “girding the loins of your mind.” The verb (Anazonnumi), “to gird or bind up,” is used only here in the New Testament. What does it mean to “gird your loins,” and, more specifically, the “loins of your mind”?

The style of dress in Israel, and generally in the Middle East, was long robes. But what if you needed to work or run or fight? A long robe would hamper your movements. To address this issue, a man would pull up his robe to shorten it, then bind it around his waist. Voilà, a long robe is thereby transformed into a pair of shorts!

Okay, you say, but what about loins and mind? Our minds don’t have loins, obviously. This is simply a figure of speech. Just as a man literally “girded his loins” to get ready for action, so Peter says metaphorically to “gird the loins of your mind,” that is, “get your minds ready for action.” Peter is likely alluding to the original departure when the Israelites were told to eat the Passover meal “with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand” (Exod. 12:11). That phrase, “your belt fastened” in Hebrew is “your loins girded.” In this same context, the likelihood to this in the context is when Peter makes reference to Christ as the “lamb without blemish or spot,” that is, the true Passover Lamb (1 Pet. 1:19).

Peter would thus be saying, “As those redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ, stay awake and alert, with the loins of your mind girded, exhibiting strong mental fortitude and a disposition of swift but excellent commitment, ready at any moment for action to fulfill your God-given purpose, fixing your focus upon the grace of Christ in this present age as your source of strength.

The second tangent of this piece of writing is to admonish us to assume a disposition of readiness to serve the Lord when he calls. In our respective local churches, there are unique responsibilities one can be assigned to, such as a Youth Executive, presbyter, hospitality department member, etc. Our state of mind should reflect readiness for action and an awareness of the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ shall return.

LUKE 12:35– BE DRESSED, READY FOR SERVICE, AND KEEP YOUR LAMPS BURNING

From the literal interpretational view of this text, it posits that preparation for transformational impact is the key to actualising the aforementioned. “Keep your lamps burning” signifies a state of spiritual fervency, as the testimony of Jesus Christ about John the Baptist says, “He was a burning and a shining light,” and so must our lives be.

Additionally, our Lord, having recommended to his disciples disengagement of affection from the things of this world and a due moderation regarding their esteem for and cares about earthly possessions, proceeds to exhort them to be in constant readiness for the proper discharge of their duty, for their final remove from earth, and for the awful solemnities of death, judgment, and eternity. That this is the purport of this paragraph. The difference between men that succeed and men that fail in ordinary pursuits is by no means so much intellectual as moral, and there is nothing that more certainly commands any kind of success than giving yourselves with your whole concentrated power to the task at hand. If we can succeed in anything, we must focus all our power on it. Only by doing so, like a burning glass does to the sun’s rays, shall we set anything on fire.

The message of this writing is to urge the readers to subscribe to excellent knowledge that conquers humanistic and religious worldviews that are subpar, and to unapologetically become transformers of indelible impact in this society and the world at large.

God bless you.

Written by Elder Goodwill Kodua (PIWC-Swedru, Assistant District Youth Leader)

One prominent feature on the calendar of activities of The Church of Pentecost (CoP) is its annual retreat held for ministers and wives within the church globally. The year 2024 is no exception, as the church marshalled all its frontier militants to a five-day retreat at the Pentecost Convention Center, Gomoa Fetteh, and other satellite centres across the globe.

A significant aspect of this year’s conference was the unveiling of the second phase of the “Possessing the Nations” agenda dubbed Vision 2028, anchored on the overarching theme “Unleashing the Whole Church to Transform Their World with Values and Principles of the Kingdom of God.”

The vision bearer and Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, carefully outlined the rationale behind Vision 2028 and challenged ministers and wives to own it and propagate the same to the church populace in all local assemblies across the globe. Notable among other key issues highlighted was the release of the tremendous potent power of the church members to transform their world, thereby making Jesus popular again in their communities.

Setting the right impetus for the successful implementation of Vision 2028, some ministry interventions were introduced. Notable among them were the ministry to celebrities, the ministry to Muslims, and the e-church. For me, these ministry interventions will not only aid in the execution of Vision 2028 but will also cause a shift in the ecclesiastical framework of worship in the contemporary generation. Undoubtedly, its impact will be a huge blessing not only to the COP but to the community of faith globally.

For a groundbreaking takeoff, the 2024 theme that initiates Vision 2028 was introduced. The Chairman and other seasoned ministers of the church made presentations on the various thematic areas of the operational theme for the year 2024. Topics treated included the characteristics of the church unleashed, the church as a people of God, tithes and offerings, etc. Their in-depth ministration ignited fresh inspiration, illumination, and empowerment as ministers globally sat to drink and assimilate from the well of our fathers. For me, the apex of all the ministrations in the 2024 Ministers and Wives Conference was the presentation on “Winning the Cities” by the Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye. My admiration for our dear Chairman deepened as he outlined a systematic approach to building a glorifying and attractive church in the contemporary era, especially in the cities and urban areas.

The various sessions of prayer and worship during the conference were so refreshing. It afforded participants the space for spiritual deepening, realignments, times of reflections, and spiritual fortification. One can simply behold a changed and charged atmosphere of believers whose spiritual antennas have activated and are ready to be unleashed to the frontiers of the battlefield. I cannot hide my affection for our dear General Secretary, Aps. Samuel Gyau Obuobi, who constantly offered space for prayerful reflective moments after the Lord had spoken to his church through prophecies.

Furthermore, such an impactful conference couldn’t be complete without good music ministrations. The Voice of Pentecost was simply a delight to behold. Music in all forms of genres was well served, triggering massive revival sessions, especially on Wednesday night. When the Chairman and our fathers stepped out with a Davidic dance, one could ultimately conclude that something spectacular had happened. Indisputably, the Voice of Pentecost has become a household name in CoP as they keep blessing the Christian community with inspirational theme songs and other “Pentecocharismatic” music renditions.

Also, through the great work of the media ministry, the CoP fraternity across the globe enjoyed up-to-date daily newsletters and updates on all CoP media handles with great aesthetic views. The entire media team was simply phenomenal in their delivery.

The 2024 Global Ministers and Wives’ Conference has really released a “fierce wind” to combat any form of opposing inclination, and as I reflect on the totality of the conference, I am certain in my spirit that the Lord will surely accomplish mighty things in the coming years. Without any form of ambiguity, the 2024 conference will be remembered in the historical narrative of The Church of Pentecost.

I cannot conclude without acknowledging the huge investment made by the executive council and the sterling work done by the organising committee chaired by the General Secretary. In conclusion, though Vision 2028 appears humongous, I believe the Lord has given us all the accoutrements needed to effectively advance the kingdom on the battlefield. Surely, he will surmount the insurmountable and make every crooked path straight, granting his church victory. The mantle has now fallen on us, the ministers, to appropriate the physical and spiritual tools garnered at the conference to make Jesus famous in our dispensation.

Possessing the nation, I am an agent of transformation.

Possessing the nations, Transforming my world.

Written by Pastor Samuel Yankey, Tepa Anyinasuso

INTRODUCTION

The Church of Pentecost, like many classical Pentecostal institutions, places a premium on many activities and practices. These practices are documented and captured in our core values underpinning and undergirding her activities.

Predominant in her liturgy is the importance the Church places on prayer. Historical narrative notes that the founder of the Church, Rev. James Mckeown, retorted, “The work is prayer, and prayer is the work”, to wit that the role that prayer plays in the church cannot be overemphasised and belaboured.

Following the unveiling of Vision 2028, the Chairman has made a strong appeal through an exhortation from James 3:4 for the vision to be pushed by fierce winds.

As I reflect on the many factors for pushing the implementation of the vision, the Virtual Prayer Night (VPN), a global intercession army called by our revered Chairman some two years ago, comes to mind strongly.

In this article, attempts will be made to make a case for the impact of this highest form of Christian service as one of the fierce winds powering Vision 2028

THE ROLE OF THE CHAIRMAN ON THE VPN PLATFORM

To begin with, let me briefly touch on the Chairman’s general disposition toward the VPN platform – what I will describe as Chairman Nyamekye’s admirable response.

Being part of the backend production team facilitating the Tuesday Virtual Prayer Night, one cannot help but watch with endearing admiration how our revered Chairman responds to this call.

Bearing his office – THE VIRTUAL PRAYER NIGHT WITH THE CHAIRMAN, it is clear that the spirit and soul of the programme rest on his loins and the Chairman has provided the right kind of leadership to sustain this prayer venture all through the years.

Clearly, the Chairman’s eyes and ears are on the ground, seeing the nitty-gritty details of the programme layout without leaving anything to chance. From those scheduled to lead to those mobilised in-person team members, the technical architecture, and set up even to the aggregated statistics of participants, the Chairman is into every aspect.

Another significant observation is his consistency and frequent participation in the intercessory service. Driven by the axiom that leadership is the cause and everything else is the effect, the Chairman is seen almost always online every Tuesday with his video turned on, fully engaged and into the service praying and exuding positive energy as a participant.

With his numerous schedules, one would understand if genuinely he would not be able to participate frequently, but that is not the case with our revered Chairman, whose actions perfectly describe the terminology – Leadership by example.

My reflections for powering Vision 2028 with fierce winds through the VPN would hover around four thematic areas of Burden Sharing, Boarding, Building, Bidding, & Blossoming.

BURDEN SHARING

T. A. Webb has noted that a shared burden is halved, which means that the load one carries is lessened, provided avenues are created for others to bear aspects of the load. This is vividly revealed in the Virtual Prayer Night as the intercessory platform so created has allowed the burden of leadership, including Vision 2028, to be shared broadly by the church populace. One day, God chose to share the burden of Moses with seventy elders of Israel so the man of God would be eased of the weight of leading such a vast mass of people (Num. 11:16-30). The same can be gleaned from the VPN, which allows ministers, officers and the rank and file of the church to feel the heartbeat of leadership, interpret the dreams and visions in the mind of leadership and bear the spiritual load of gestation to delivery.

BOARDING

Another key reflection on the Virtual Prayer Night is what I call BOARDING. The term “boarding,” as used in this context, relates to the mobilisation of efforts and the rallying round approaches that have been put in place and are continually reviewed and enhanced over the period. The VPN is one of the fierce winds for advancing Vision 2028 because this platform has become a unique spiritual hub that has drawn the majority of the church family to awaken awareness of intercession, cry day and night, and continue steadfastly in prayer. Today, through the VPN, we cannot excuse ourselves that people are too busy to pray because of the numerous church-based activities; no wonder there is a strong clarion call to raise a million intercessors – a seed which is flourishing to become an endearing oak tree.

BUILDING

The Virtual Prayer Night has also become a bedrock for the building up and spiritual edification of the global church. With a consistent time set coupled with a well-structured programme schedule, patrons in person and virtually can look forward to an intense spiritual experience that allows their humanity to interact with divinity for an outpouring of divine grace. Moreover, the nature of the topics dealt with at the VPN demonstrates a deliberate intention of raising a certain calibre of transformed believers who are to be salt and light to their world. This is the spirit and soul of Vision 2028; a people unleashed to transform their world with the values and principles of the kingdom of God.

BIDDING & BLOSSOMING

A closer examination of the many successes chalked by the church over the last few years provides a clear understanding that fierce winds are powering the success equation. This is what I describe as the BIDDING and BLOSSOMING praxis of the VPN. The bidding is the process, and the BLOSSOMING is the outcome. Even without the backing of empirical data, the writings are clear on the wall that through the VPN platform, various bids have been made to the divine auctioneer, who has responded positively by providing strong winds to power the achievement of Vision 2023, the expansion of the missions enterprise, the forging of stronger fronts through church nation dialogues, massive soul winning and church planting and an unprecedented financial growth not forgetting the testimonies of healing, divine intervention and mind-boggling breakthroughs. With the understanding that we do not change a winning working formula, there is a much stronger call for a fiercer wind to push the new vision, and I believe the role of the VPN is strategic.

CONCLUSION

The purpose of this article is to shed light on the Virtual Prayer Night with the Chairman as a strategic tool for pushing Vision 2028 and its contribution to advancing the cause of The Church of Pentecost and her prophetic mandate within the global ministry space. With the understanding that through intercession, the impotence of man meets the omnipotence of God, there is a need to continue to rally more intercessors to push for the execution of Vision 2028. The army of the Lord, the Church, must tactfully and aggressively intercede to ensure that God’s power prevails over the evil threatening to overrun our world. So, it will be a joy to have you enlisted as part of this global conscripts into the army of intercessors every Tuesday….welcome aboard!

Written by Pastor Kwasi Asante Annor (General Manager, PENT TV)

I became a mother for the first time a few years ago. It is such a blessing to be handed God’s gift to take care of. Before I conceived, I saw myself as a mother-in-waiting, and I strongly believe that every woman who desires to have a child shall soon carry it in her womb and in her arms. No one shall be left behind; we are all going to experience motherhood no matter how long it takes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I realised during my pregnancy, which I believe has been under-discussed, if at all, and I pray for the Lord’s help as I seek to address it through this post.

I’m able to write this because I have been pregnant, have had conversations with pregnant women, and read other people’s stories. I think I have enough to share with an expectant mother in the same situation.

I heard many strange stories from mothers during my first pregnancy a few years ago. I heard so many scary stories over such a short period that, at a point, I thought I was going to lose my baby. The fear I felt was indescribable. My fear was exacerbated by the inexplicable similarities between the stories told to me by women from completely different circles of my life.

The most common of these was the maternal mortality stories. Almost everyone knew someone who had died during childbirth. It didn’t help that social media was always awash with pictures announcing the “Painful Exit” of one woman or another while they were pregnant or giving birth.

It is a painful thing to see, but when you witness such while pregnant, you begin to feel like that is more the rule than the exception, and if you are truly not strong in faith and fortified by the Word of God, you might even assume that yours will not be any different.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, talks about “a force in fear that can make a person paralysed”. I believe these stories are meant to do one thing only: grip your heart with FEAR and consume your mind, even leading to unnecessary and unpleasant dreams. Fear awakes, fear asleep. Fear that everybody wants to harm you or your unborn baby, especially the unfortunate person who dares ask when you are due. Mercy Lord! That is the paralysis of which the Chairman speaks.

The fear of losing your life or your child or both your life and your child is a product of the toothless bulldog called the devil. And all our years in Christianity have told us nothing fights the devil better than the earnest prayer of a committed man or woman.

My dear pregnant woman, take your place in prayer. Being pregnant as a Christian is, in some ways, a spiritual warfare because we hold the key to delivering godly seeds to populate the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. The devil will make sure you do not have a smooth journey. You need to consistently pray, renew your minds and speeches with the word of God daily and make positive, godly declarations about your babies and yourself.

Fear can make you lose anything and everything, including your precious life. Job 3:25 says, “What I’m afraid of is what has come upon me”. Do not give in to fear, lest what you are afraid comes upon you. With a serious tone, I charge you to take your place in Prayer. Study the word and claim the blessings of pregnancy.

Declare with aggressive faith, saying:

• “I’m seated with Christ in Heavenly place where miscarriages and death do not occur.”
• “My womb is not a grave to carry dead babies.”
• “I shall deliver my baby in perfect health and condition.”
• “I shall not die, neither will I lose my baby.”
• “I’m coming out of the delivery room with my baby or babies in my arms.”
• “I shall attend my children’s graduation. “
• “I shall attend their weddings, not their funeral”.

Keep declaring every day, even after birth. Remember, you are the product of your words. Battles are won in the mind before they are won physically. David in the Bible killed Goliath in his mind before he died in his hands. The state of your mind affects the conditions of your life. Feed your faith with the word, and your fear will vanish!

Please share this post to save a pregnant woman. God bless you.

Written by Mrs. Priscilla Baah Kumi (Kanjarga District, Bolga Area)

During the closing session of this year’s PENSA Ghana Conference, aptly named the “Transformers Conference,” Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, delivered a thought-provoking message titled “Amnon Had A Friend.” The impact of his words resonated not only within my heart but also among the thousands of youth members gathered across the country for this significant event.

Apostle Nyamekye’s message delved into the friendship between Amnon and Jonadab, as recounted in 2 Samuel 13:1-3.

Amnon, consumed by an uncontrolled amorous affection for his half-sister Tamar, sought counsel from his closest friend, Jonadab, on how to satisfy his wicked desire. Jonadab, described as shrewd and subtle, provided his friend with counsel that led to Amnon raping his sister Tamar.

The repercussions of this reprehensible act were severe: Amnon lost the opportunity to become the next king; enmity arose within the family; and, tragically, Amnon met an early grave—all due to the influence of his friend.

In essence, Amnon’s abominable act was a direct result of the friend he chose. Much like the crab that lost its head due to a bad companion, many young individuals have unwittingly squandered the gifts bestowed upon them by God on the altar of negative company.

A concealed truth about bad friends is that they will lead you into danger and then disappear into thin air, leaving you to face the consequences alone.

CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS:

• Where was Jonadab when Amnon faced the consequences of his actions?
• Where did Ahithophel go when Absalom suffered due to his wicked counsel?
• Delilah was nowhere to be found when Samson endured his pains.

Conversely, we have witnessed friendships that have had a positive impact on individuals. The camaraderie between David and Jonathan is a prime example worth emulating. Their connection strengthened when David slew Goliath, and their friendship endured despite their differences.

David, a shepherd, and Jonathan, a prince, grew up in distinct environments, yet they became one in spirit. Their friendship was characterised by keeping promises. Jonathan made a covenant with David, saying, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord” (1 Samuel 20:42).

True friends uphold their words, and this covenant prompted Jonathan to save David’s life when Saul sought to kill him. In return, David fulfilled his promise years later by showing kindness to Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, in accordance with their covenant (2 Samuel 9:1).

CONCLUSION

As we are empowered through the impactful impartation by our spiritual leaders to be unleashed and transform our world, one critical factor hindering our progress is associating with the wrong people. Let Jesus Christ be your friend and a perfect example in your relationships.

Chairman Nyamekye aptly stated, “Don’t just be interested in looking for good friends; be one yourself.” Walk with the wise, for a companion of a fool suffers harm (Proverbs 13:20).

A word to the wise is enough.

Written by Richard Mbelembote (Ntankoro District, Kintampo Area)