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(Acts 11:22-26; Acts 9:1-9; Colossians 1:28. Matthew 28:18-20 Galatians 4:19)

INTRODUCTION

The mandate of the Great Commission is not a singular event, but an ongoing process. It involves preaching the Gospel, winning souls, and discipling individuals to become fully committed followers of Christ within a local church, as emphasised in Matthew 28:18-20. This verse underscores the significance of building disciples who adhere to all of Christ’s teachings, making it a crucial priority for Christian leaders. While The Church of Pentecost has excelled in aggressive evangelism, soul-winning, and water baptism, there remains a lack of intentional follow-up and assimilation of new converts.

WHAT IS EFFECTIVE FOLLOW-UP

The idea of ‘Follow-Up’ generally is a management term for addressing matters arising out of a meeting’s agenda or aftermath actions for intended decisions. In Christian work principles, it is the process of gaining an audience with those we have already witnessed to, discipling and bringing them to a place of mature fellowship with Christ and service in the church. It is the conservation, maturation, and multiplication of the fruit of evangelism.

WHY FOLLOW-UP IS IMPORTANT

• of souls won retained if visited in 24 hours
• of souls won retained if visited in 72 hours
• of souls won retained if visited in 7 days

PRACTICAL STEPS TO BE TAKEN DURING FOLLOW-UP

PREPARATIONS AND RULES OF CONDUCT DURING FOLLOW-UP

• If they need escort, make appointment and take them to church accordingly.

WHO QUALIFIES TO UNDERTAKE FOLLOW-UP

Follow-up should be undertaken as a very vital and important spiritual practice and exercise. The person endeavoring to take it up must be serious and committed to it. He / she should  

CONCLUSION

Effective follow-up is a crucial element in establishing a church capable of impacting nations. It is an integral part of the Great Commission commanded by Christ, which we are entrusted to fulfill.

Christian leaders are, therefore, encouraged to exhibit a passion for follow-up, actively engage in the process, and diligently nurture new converts to enhance the Church’s discipleship and assimilation rates.

Let us ignite our passion for Christ and for souls. Let us deepen our love for the unsaved and tirelessly seek the lost. In the Great Commission, Christ Jesus implores us to make disciples, not mere “church-goers’ (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Peter 1:23).

Written by Pastor Frank Awuah Fordjour

From then on, Pilate tried to free Jesus, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” [John 19:12]

Who Was Caesar?

Caesar was a Roman family name that gained fame through Caesar Augustus, who introduced a new era in Roman affairs in 27 BC. He established what is now known as the Roman Empire [Luke 2:1]. Later rulers adopted ‘Caesar’ as their title [Luke 3:1]. 

In the New Testament, it was common to refer to the Emperor as Caesar [Mark 12:14, Luke 20:22, Acts 17:7, John 19:15]. At that time, Caesar was the Emperor of the Roman Empire and had appointed Pilate as governor of Judea. Caesar was regarded as a god due to his achievements and authority, earning the loyalty of all the people in the Roman Empire and its provinces during his reign. Calling oneself a king was seen as a rebellion against Caesar. Those appointed governors by Caesar were expected to remain loyal and promote Caesar’s interests to retain their positions and benefits.

The Caesars Of Our Time

The Caesars of our time are the benefactors who assist and support us in various ways. They provide financial and material aid, help connect us with others, and act as our destiny helpers. These modern-day Caesars can be our spouses, siblings, friends, or children who offer significant support. They can also be employers, supervisors, or individuals whose influence and recommendations can make a difference in our lives. 

Unfortunately, some modern Caesars engage in illegal activities, such as financing illegal mining and defrauding others. They may also be leaders who exploit unemployed female graduates by demanding sexual favours in exchange for employment; teachers and lecturers who take advantage of students for sexual favours in return for good grades are also part of these Caesars. Additionally, they can be wealthy individuals, particularly older women and widows, who provide financial assistance to young men with ulterior motives. 

Many of these benefactors expect loyalty and support, even if their actions are morally wrong, as they have helped their beneficiaries. This situation leaves many young people unable to complain about the abuse they face from their benefactors, as their jobs and livelihoods depend on them. Sadly, the disloyalty of these beneficiaries could result in the loss of benefits, such as termination of employment, financial assistance cessation, or demotion. Even some pastors fall into this trap, unable to rebuke or suspend their supporters due to the economic and material support they receive. 

Numerous Caesars in churches buy off pastors and church workers with money and gifts. In various sectors, including media, entertainment, education, healthcare, and politics, these Caesars perpetuate high levels of corruption without facing confrontation because they employ or promote those who could expose their evil deeds. Some individuals in security agencies also maintain friendships with top officials through gifts, money, or other forms of support, which prevents their pursuit of perpetrators of evil acts. 

God seeks unselfish Caesars who will not cover up their wicked deeds and abuse or exploit the vulnerable. God desires Caesars who will allow their Pilates to rebuke and correct them when they go wrong. Be the Caesar whom Pilate can fearlessly tell the truth while still maintaining his position as governor. Do not take God’s glory by allowing yourself to be worshipped as a god. What kind of benefactor are you to your beneficiaries?

Who Was Pilate?

Pilate was a man appointed by Caesar as the governor of Judea and Samaria from AD 26 to 37. Some notable things about Pilate are worth mentioning:

Firstly, Pilate was a friend of Caesar. In John 19:16, it is mentioned that Pilate tried to set Jesus free but was pressured by the Jews, who claimed that releasing Jesus would make him an enemy of Caesar. Despite knowing Jesus was innocent, Pilate handed him over to be crucified to maintain his friendship with Caesar.

Secondly, Pilate’s primary concern was for himself. He feared getting into trouble with the Emperor if a riot broke out under his watch. To protect his interests and satisfy the Jews, he chose to crucify Jesus, an innocent man, while releasing a known murderer.

Thirdly, Pilate feared men more than God. His fear of Caesar, who appointed him governor, and his fear of losing his position clouded his judgment.

Furthermore, Pilate was a man who tried to uncover the truth in every matter but failed to defend it. He stated three times that he found no basis for charging Jesus (John 19:6), yet he couldn’t muster the courage to protect the truth.

Pilate possessed the power to free or crucify, making him responsible for protecting the vulnerable and punishing wrongdoers. Unfortunately, he failed to fulfil this duty.

In addition, Pilate was a man of influence.

The Pilates of Our Time

The Pilates of our time can be likened to those who have the opportunity to promote or champion God’s agenda but refuse due to fear or pressure. These modern-day Pilates are the people in positions of power who should defend the truth and stand up for the innocent but choose not to due to the fear of losing their jobs or popularity. 

They are responsible for administering justice but withhold it because their actions may affect the ones who appointed or promoted them. The Pilates of our time is the lawyers who could defend innocent people in jail but choose not to while allowing criminals and murderers to roam freely. They are the ones who compromise the truth to please influential individuals, similar to how Pilate chose to support evil to maintain his position and relationships.

God is searching for modern-day Pilates who won’t trade the truth for personal gain, will make good use of the positions they receive through their connections, and will choose to hand over the guilty rather than the innocent, regardless of pressure.

God seeks people who won’t compromise their principles for fame, position, or material gain. He desires Pilates, whom money, gifts, promotions, or jobs cannot sway.

Questions for Reflection

As you reflect on this topic, consider the following questions:

• Who is your friend, and what is the foundation of your friendship?
• Where does your loyalty lie: with God or with man?
• Have you allowed yourself to be swayed by gifts, positions, sex, or money?
• To whom have you pledged your allegiance?
• Have you traded the truth for material gain or position?
• Are you easily intimidated by the pressure exerted by those around you?
• What motivates your actions and decisions?
• Whom do you seek to please: God or influential individuals?
• Are you a Pilate, a friend of Caesar?

Conclusion

In response to the apostles’ actions, Peter and his companions declared, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). While Christians are called to respect earthly authorities, their ultimate loyalty and obedience should be directed towards Christ Jesus. We are called to prioritise obedience to God over compliance to man.

This principle should guide us as believers in Christ when we encounter conflicts between God’s commands and human orders. In such situations, we should obey God rather than men, regardless of the individuals involved.

Every devoted follower of Christ must be prepared to face persecution and rejection in defence of the truth found in Christ. It is essential to remember that those who have contributed to our lives or provided for our needs are not our gods but channels through whom God has blessed us. We should refrain from worshipping them as gods and avoid becoming enslaved to them. We have one master who reigns in heaven.

If you find yourself in a position of authority akin to the Caesars of our time, it is crucial to recognise that God establishes and removes kings. Therefore, it is essential not to abuse this privilege but to utilise it for the glory of God.

To those who resemble Pilate, I implore you to take a stand for God because He stands with anyone who stands for Him. Let us never exploit our influence or position to pervert justice or perpetuate evil.

Written by Probationary Overseer Godsway Benny Torgbegah

The Pentecost experience is a significant moment in Christian history that occurred after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a moment marked by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and followers of Jesus Christ before Christ’s ascension into heaven. Pentecost marks the beginning of the Christian Church, a movement empowered and energised by the Holy Spirit. This essay explores the historical context, theological significance, and contemporary relevance of the Pentecost experience.

The Pentecost experience occurred fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was during the Jewish festival of Shavuot (Pentecost in Greek), also known as the Feast of Weeks. This was when Jews from all over the Mediterranean region would gather in Jerusalem to celebrate the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. On this particular day, the apostles and other followers were gathered together in a room when suddenly, a sound like a rushing wind filled the room, and tongues of fire appeared above the heads of each of them. They began speaking in different languages as the Holy Spirit empowered them to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to everyone gathered in Jerusalem.

Theologically speaking, the Pentecost experience is significant in several ways. First and foremost, it affirmed the promise of Jesus Christ in Acts 1:5, where he promised his disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in the Pentecost experience unified the diverse followers of Jesus Christ and empowered them to carry out the work of Christ in various parts of the world. It was this experience that gave the Church the boldness to proclaim the good news of Christ, even in the face of opposition, persecution, and even martyrdom.

The Pentecost experience also emphasises the importance of diversity in the Church. The Holy Spirit enabled the apostles to speak in different languages, allowing them to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ to people from different cultures and parts of the world. This is an important reminder for us today; the Church must continue to embrace diversity and welcome people of all cultures and ethnicities, just as the Holy Spirit did at Pentecost.

Additionally, the Pentecost experience is also significant because it was a fulfilment of prophecy. In Acts 2:17, Peter quotes Joel 2:28-29, where it is prophesied that God would pour out his Spirit on all people. This prophecy was fulfilled during Pentecost, as the Holy Spirit came upon everyone present, regardless of ethnicity or social standing. The Pentecost experience also reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not exclusive to certain groups of people; it is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ.

Another theological significance of the Pentecost experience is the way it transformed the apostles’ lives. Before Pentecost, the apostles were fearful, insecure, and unsure about the future. But after they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they became bold, confident, and empowered to carry out the work of Christ. This transformation is a powerful reminder that the Holy Spirit can transform us as well. The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to overcome our fears, insecurities, doubts, and inadequacies and become the people God has called us to be.

Moreover, the Pentecost experience also highlights the importance of community in the Christian faith. The Holy Spirit brought the apostles and other followers of Christ together, and they were able to support, encourage, and hold each other accountable. This is an important reminder for us today; as Christians, we are not meant to walk alone but are called to intentionally engage in community with one another.

In modern times, the Pentecost experience continues to have relevance for the Church. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is a reminder of the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. The Holy Spirit is not limited by time, culture, or geography but is active and present today. The Pentecost experience also reminds us of the importance of evangelism, that the message of salvation through Jesus Christ is for all people, regardless of their background or culture. The Pentecost experience also challenges us to continue to embrace diversity and welcome people of all cultures and ethnicities into the Church.

Overseer Ebenezer Kwabena Vebu (Tongor Lakeside District (Ho Area)

1. The Father’s Promise and its Fulfilment on the Day of Pentecost

In one of Jesus’ last moments with His disciples before the crucifixion, He told them about His ascension to the Father. On hearing that, they became very sad as they wondered how they were going to cope without their Master. Seeing their grief, Jesus exhorted them, saying, ‘…very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you’ (John 16:5-7; 14:16-17).

Before Jesus ascended to Heaven after His death and resurrection, He met again with the disciples on Mount Olives where He reminded them of the Father’s promise of baptising them with the Holy Spirit, and encouraged them to wait in Jerusalem for it (Acts 1:4-5). They returned after Christ’s ascension as they had been admonished.

In the upper room where they were staying, the disciples all joined together in constant prayers, with a heart of oneness, waiting for the promise. On the tenth day which was the day of Pentecost (a Jewish festival also known as the Feast of Weeds), while they prayed, ‘Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting…. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them’ (Acts 2:1-4).

• The Promise is for all

When the crowd that had gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost heard the loud voices of the disciples, they were bewildered at their utterances, because each one heard their own language being spoken. There were some who however thought the disciples were drunk and hence made mockery of them (Acts 2:5-6, 12-13). At that instance, Peter stood with the other eleven and addressed the crowd, giving clarity to the phenomenon and referring them to the Old Testament prophecy of Joel which declared that in the last days, God would pour out His Spirit on all people; that young men and women shall prophesy and see visions, while the old dream dreams (Acts 2:17, Joel 2:28). Peter further indicated that this promise of the Father is for all – both young and old, male and female, white and black, rich and poor (cf. Acts 2:38-39). The only requirement was for them to repent of their sins, and believe in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. This truth stands today and forever.

• Who is the Holy Spirit?

Jesus is now gone (in body) to heaven, but the Holy Spirit He promised to send is with us here on earth. He is here to have fellowship with us, and to help us experience victorious Christian living. To enjoy fellowship with the Spirit, it is imperative that we seek to know Him, having had an experience of Him. And, to know Him, we must seek to learn more about Him. Thus, we shall attempt to discuss His personality and deity as revealed in the Bible, and proceed to consider His service to the Christian believer and how to experience His outpouring and daily infilling.

• The Personality of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is NOT some wind, cloud, light or smoke that floats around. It is biblically wrong to think and teach that way about the Spirit of God. He is a complete Person, like Jesus Christ. The difference, however, is that He has no bodily form as Jesus had while on earth.

It must be realised that what makes someone a person is not the human body, but the fact that that one has an intellect, emotions and a will. We find in the Bible, several characteristics of the Holy Spirit that affirm that He is a Person who can be related to or communed with. Examples include the following:

1. He has a mind or an intellect that searches and reasons (1 Cor. 2:10-11, Rom. 8:27). As a Person with intellect, He can instruct as well (Neh. 9:20)

2. He has emotions and can therefore be grieved (Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30).
3. He has a will, and therefore decides for Himself (1 Cor. 12:11, Acts 16:6-7).
4. He has the capacity to love (Romans 15:30).
5. He speaks (John 16:13, Acts 8:29; 10:2, 19).
6. The masculine pronoun ‘He’ is used in reference to Him throughout the Scriptures (John 15:26; 16:7-15).

• The Deity of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is not only a Person; He is God. We find proof of this in several passages of the Bible. For example in Acts 5:1-4, we read: “But there was a man named Ananias, who with his wife Sapphira, sold some property that belonged to them. But with his wife’s agreement, he kept part of the money for himself and handed the rest over to the apostles. Peter said to him, ‘Ananias, , why did you let Satan take control of you and make you lie to the Holy Spirit by keeping part of the money you received for the property? Before you sold that property, it belonged to you; and after you sold it the money was yours. Why then did you decide to do such a thing? You have not lied to human beings – you have lied to God?’”

From the passage, we learn that a lie to the Holy Spirit is a lie to God, affirming the deity of the Spirit.

In Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14, the Holy Spirit is revealed as the third Person in the Trinity or Godhead. He is third not because He is the least, but because He is the last among the Trinity to be known by us. The Father was made known first to us, then the Son, and now the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures provide several attributes of the Holy Spirit that confirm His deity. The following are some of them:

1. He is omniscient, which means He knows all things – including the past, present and future. He knows what is hidden in our minds and hearts. He knows what goes on in the dark or secret places (1 Cor. 2:10-12, John 14:26; 16:13, Psalm 139:2-4, 6). The Spirit teaches us all things because He knows all things.

2. He is omnipresent, which means He is everywhere at the same time (Psalm 139:5, 7-10).
3. He is omnipotent, meaning He has all power and authority – in heaven, on earth and under the earth. The Holy Spirit is the power of the Godhead, and has authority over all things – human beings, angels, Satan, demons, all diseases, death, etc. As God the Father and Son have power to create and give life, so does the Holy Spirit has power to create and give life (Job 33:4, Rom. 15:18-19, John 6:23).
4. He is eternal or immortal, which means He never dies. The Holy Spirit has no beginning nor end; He has been in existence prior to creation, and will forever exist. Thus, in Hebrews 9:14, He is called the Eternal Spirit.

• Understanding the Nature and Work of the Holy Spirit through His Emblems

The Emblems of the Holy Spirit are those physical or natural things used in Scripture to represent the Holy Spirit; they are only symbols or representations, and NOT what or how He actually looks like. They only help us to understand certain qualities of the Spirit. For example, if we say a person runs like a horse, it does not necessarily mean he or she is a horse. Instead, it helps us understand the speed at which he/she runs.

Briefly discussed below are five of the emblems used for the Holy Spirit.

• Dove (Matt. 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32)

At the baptism of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist saw the Holy Spirit descend like a dove on Him. The Holy Spirit is NOT a dove; John saw Him descend IN BODILY FORM LIKE a dove. The dove is a symbol of purity, peace and gentleness. Hence it emphasizes the purity of the Spirit and the peace He produces in the heart of the believer after conversion. Again, doves are noted to be always devoted and faithful to their partners – the male to its female partner, and vice versa. Similarly, the Holy Spirit, as He seeks fellowship with us, requires that we stay faithful to Him as He remains faithful to us.

• Wind (Acts 2:1-4)

On the day of Pentecost, while the disciples were gathered together at one place praying to receive the Father’s promise, a mighty wind suddenly came and filled the entire house where they were. This marked the outpouring of the Spirit. The representation of the Holy Spirit by that heavy wind emphasizes His might and strength, and His infilling work. Just as the wind filled the entire room, so does the Spirit fill the entire being of the believer. Also, wind is independent of humankind and hence cannot be controlled by us. In like manner, we cannot control or manipulate the Holy Spirit. He is the Boss, not us. Again, as wind can be found everywhere, so is the Spirit present everywhere.

• Fire (Acts 2:1-4)

Following the mighty wind was the appearance of ‘tongues of fire’ on the head of each of the disciples, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, fire depicted ‘the Presence of God’ (Ex. 3:2), ‘the Approval of God’ (Lev. 9:24, 1 Kgs 18:38-39), and ‘the Judgement of God’ (Lev. 10:2). The Holy Spirit is the One who conveys God’s presence to us. Wherever He is, the presence of the Godhead is fully there. When we allow Him to lead us in everything we do, we earn the Father’s approval because He becomes pleased with what we do. The Spirit judges the heart of humankind, convicting us of sin, of the righteousness of God, and of judgement (John 16:7-8).

Fire also represents purification and revival (1 Pet. 1:7). When the Holy Spirit indwells us, He continually purifies or refines us by burning every chaff in us. He also quickens and keeps us spiritually active (Rom. 8:11, 1 Pet. 3:18).  As fire provides light on our paths, so does the Spirit provide illumination in the journey of life.

• Water (John 7:37-39)

The ‘rivers of living water’ mentioned in verse 38 of the Scripture reference given is clearly explained in verse 39 as a reference to the Holy Spirit. Water symbolises eternal life (John 4:14). It is by the Spirit that we secure the life we receive through faith in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:13). His leading brings life.

Water also symbolises purification, heavenly blessings and joy. As we allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in our lives, He cleanses our hearts from all forms of unrighteousness through the Word of God. As we follow His leading, He guides us into plentiful blessings and fills our hearts with unending joy (Isaiah 12:3).

Again, water symbolises restoration (Psalm 23:2-3). One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to restore us when we become spiritually weary or exhausted. He does this as we make time to study His Word, pray and join other believers for fellowship and worship.

•  Oil (Isaiah 61:1, Acts 10:38)

In the two verses cited above, the Holy Spirit is described as oil for anointing others. In the Old Testament, kings were anointed with oil as a sign that they had been chosen and ordained by God to rule (1 Sam. 16:1-13, Psalm 89:20). Again, oil was used to sanctify priests (Exo. 29:7; 30:30) and the tabernacle as well as all its furnishings (Exo. 40:9). Prophets were also anointed with oil to signify their ordination (1 Kings 19:16). The giving of the Spirit to the believer is proof that they have been chosen or ordained by God to serve as priests and kings (Rev. 1:5-6). In 1 Peter 2:9, believers in Christ are rightly described as ‘a chosen people, a royal priesthood….’

In the Jewish community, oil was sometimes used as a symbol of richness, joy and health (Jer. 31:12, Heb. 1:9). The reality is that, the Holy Spirit is the One who brings healing to the sick, richness to the poor and joy to the saddened soul.

Again, the anointing oil signifies ‘power from on high’. Thus, when a person is anointed with the Holy Spirit, he/she becomes endued with heavenly power (Acts 10:38). This power is meant to equip us for ministry unto the Lord, the body of Christ and unto the lost world (Acts 1:8).

• The Ministry of the Spirit in the Life of the Believer    

The Holy Spirit has been sent by the Father to help us in diverse ways. Our knowledge of His ministry in our lives is essential to the value we place on our need for Him. We shall thus turn our attention to briefly discussing the work He does in and for us. Some have been mentioned early on and may therefore not be repeated here.

1. He teaches us and helps us to remember all things (John 14:26). As our Teacher, He helps us to understand the Word of God and other issues of life better.

2. He guides us into all truth (John 16:13). When allowed, the Spirit directs us into making right choices or decisions in every aspect of life – in our education, vocation/occupation, marriage and family life, etc.
3. He prays through and intercedes for us (Rom 8:26). This usually happens in times that we are weak and at a point where we know not what and how to pray.
4. He convicts us when we go wrong (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit points out our wrongdoings to us, and by so doing makes us aware of them so we can repent of them.
5. He empowers us to do the work of the Lord – the work of witnessing about Christ both in words and works/deeds (Acts 1:8).
6. He strengthens us to stand for the Lord (Eph. 3:16). When we are tempted by the devil; when we seem depressed by tribulations and afflictions, it is the Spirit who strengthens us to remain steady in the Lord and not faint.
7. He imparts spiritual gifts onto us (1 Cor. 12:7-11, 28, Rom. 12:6-8). The gifts include a word of knowledge, word of wisdom, prophecy, discerning of spirits, faith, healing, working of miracles, speaking in diverse tongues and interpretation of tongues. These supernatural abilities are to be used for the building of the Church, and to bring glory to God. They are not for the purposes of seeking fame nor amassing wealth.
8. He produces the character of God in us. This is what is mostly referred to as the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).

• Experiencing the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

When a person accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, they experience regeneration or rebirth (John 1:12-13). After this encounter, the next very important thing that should happen to the new convert is the experience of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which can further be described as the Baptism and daily Infilling of the Spirit.

• What is the Baptism of the Spirit?

This is a spiritual experience where the whole being of the Christian believer is immersed in the Spirit, and thereby become filled or saturated with the presence and power of the Lord. This experience is officiated by Christ Himself, unlike water baptism which is officiated by a clergy.

• It’s Significance

This experience is very important to the Christian, at least for these reasons:

1. To receive power for witnessing about Christ to the lost world (Acts 1:8)
2. To receive spiritual gifts for service to the Lord and the church (1 Cor. 12:4-11, 18, 28, Rom. 12:3-8).

• The Initial Evidence

Although the experience of the Holy Spirit’s baptism is spiritual, there is a physical manifestation to prove its occurrence. Speaking in tongues is the initial evidence. There are, of course, other evidences that will follow with time, but the very first is speaking in that unknown, heavenly language. Below are some biblical examples:

1. The example of Paul (Acts 9:17, 1 Cor. 14:18)
2. The example of Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-46)
3. The example of the Ephesian disciples (Acts 19:1-7)

• The Significance of Speaking in Tongues

So, why is it important for the Spirit-filled believer to speak in tongues?  Here are a few of the many reasons.

1. We edify or build up ourselves when we pray in tongues (1 Cor. 14:4, Jude 20).

2. We speak mysteries (that cannot be unravelled by the devil) unto God (1 Cor. 14:2).
3. Through tongues speaking, we magnify God (Acts 10:45-46).
4. Tongues speaking produces spiritual refreshing (Isaiah 28:11-12).
5. It allows our spirit to commune with God in prayer (1 Cor. 14:14).
6. Through tongues speaking, the Spirit prays through us, making intercessions for us and others (Rom. 8:26).

• How to Experienced the Baptism of the Spirit

Every person who has experienced regeneration or rebirth (that is, has become a Christian), automatically qualifies to also experience the baptism of the Spirit. Here are a few steps that could be followed afterwards:

1. Develop a heartfelt desire for the baptism (Prov. 10:24).

2. Believe that you will receive when you ask for it (Matt. 21:22, Mark 11:24).
3. Ask, and keep asking until you have received it (Luke 11:9-13).
4. There are times that the believer may receive the baptism while meditatively listening to a Spirit-filled message (Acts 10:44:46).
5. The experience may also occur through the laying on of hands by a Spirit-filled minister or church leader (Acts 19:5-6).

• The Daily Infilling of the Holy Spirit

It is not just enough for the believer to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. We as well need His daily infilling. We need new empowerings, new anointings, new outpourings of the Spirit daily in order to remain spiritually buoyant and victorious in our walk with the Lord.

After the outpouring of the Spirit on the 120 disciples on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), they experienced repeated outpourings and infillings. In Acts 4:23-31 when the believers gathered to pray following the release of Peter and John from imprisonment, the Bible recounts that ‘…they were all filled with the Holy Spirit….’ When Paul converted and became a believer in Christ, Ananias prayed for him, and he got baptised in the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17). Later when Paul confronted Elymas the sorcerer, the Spirit filled him again (Acts 13:9).

Having this continuous experience would require that we make time to fellowship with the Holy Spirit in prayer, praise and worship, and to meditate on His Word daily (Josh. 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3, 1 Thess. 5:17).

• Hindrances to the Daily Infilling of the Holy Spirit

The following behaviours can hinder us from experiencing fresh outpourings of the Spirit:

1. Lack of involvement in spiritual disciplines like having personal devotions and retreats, and fellowshipping with other believers, among others.

2. Lack of unity with other Christian believers (Psalm 133:3).
3. Lack of obedience to God’s Word, the leading of the Spirit and to the godly counsel of God’s people.
4. Living a life of self-indulgence, self-centredness, materialism and secularism.
5. Grieving the Holy Spirit through bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, lies, etc. (Eph. 4:30-5:2, Acts 5:1-11).
6. Resisting the Spirit by rejecting or ignoring His leading (Acts 7:51).
7. Following the desires of the flesh and pleasures of the world (Isa. 59:1-2, Gal. 5:16-170).

• Walking in the Spirit

To enjoy a continuous fellowship with the Holy Spirit, and experience the fullness of His presence, wisdom, power, grace and glory, it is required that the believer learns to walk in the Spirit daily. Walking in the Spirit enables us to receive fresh outpourings of Him.

To walk in the Spirit means yielding to His control, following His leading, and allowing Him to influence every step we take (Luke 4:1). It requires that we do not live according to the dictates of the flesh, for the desires of the flesh conflict with those of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-17). When we walk in the Spirit, we do not gratify the desires of the flesh, instead, we bear the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and in self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23).

Those who walk in the Spirit rely on Him daily to guide them in their thoughts, utterances and deeds (Rom. 6:11-14). They live their whole life according to the Word of God (Josh. 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3), and allow the Word to dwell in them richly (Col. 3:16).

Those who do not walk in the Spirit produce the works of the flesh – sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness and carousing. When we walk in the Spirit however, we find that the sinful appetites of the flesh have no dominion or power over us.

• Conclusion

May we yearn to have broader knowledge, deeper understanding, and an intimate, personal relationship with the Holy Spirit whom the Father has forever given to us to be our Comforter, Counselor and Advocate.

Written by Pastor Samuel Acheampong

Scripture References: Judges 13:1-5, 16:18-25

It is disheartening to witness the transformation of individuals entrusted with the gospel and the profound wisdom of God into mere performers or comedians. Instead of fulfilling their duty to save the lost, they have become entertainers on the pulpit, prioritising amusement over salvation.

Regrettably, it has become a prevalent trend among some Ghanaian preachers and acclaimed prophets to assume the role of comedians on both the pulpit and screens. Rather than focusing on saving souls, they choose to amuse. However, this should not come as a surprise, for when those appointed by God allow themselves to be consumed by worldly pleasures, they eventually lose their relevance and impact as messengers of God. Consequently, their ability to attract people to Christ diminishes as they gradually disconnect from the Holy Spirit, the primary source of effective evangelism.

In their attempt to mask their inadequacy as God’s messengers, they become philosophical orators, uttering words that please people but lack true substance. Unfortunately, our brother Samson can be considered among those who failed as God’s messengers.

Upon initial examination of the story of Samson in Judges 13, it becomes evident that Samson was born with a specific purpose: to save the Israelites (verse 5). As a Nazirite, that is, any man or woman who takes a vow to separate himself or herself unto the Lord (Numbers 6:1ff), Samson possessed a clearly defined mission, a divine mandate similar to the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5ff) and our Saviour Jesus (Luke 1:31-33). However, he allowed his love for a woman to supersede his earthly purpose. This led him to lose his connection with heaven, exposing his secret and falling into the hands of the enemies he was sent to destroy. Tragically, in Judges 16:25, Samson was called upon to perform for the Philistines and willingly complied.

How pitiful! Why should we, as messengers called to save people, become comedians to amuse them instead? May God grant us guidance. May our ministries never reach the humiliating point where our only contribution is entertaining people and making them laugh.

Let us be vigilant in our own lives, ensuring that we fulfil our calling and election with confidence before God.

Written by Overseer Seth Frimpong

At the inception of The Church of Pentecost (CoP), the Lord entered into a covenant with the Church, which was received through prophecies at Akroso in 1931, confirmed in 1940 at the Easter Convention in Winneba, and repeated at a general convention in Koforidua in 1948.

A portion of the covenant reads: “It is not because of how few or many you are in membership that I have chosen to covenant with you. I have done this out of my eternal purpose and goodwill for my church; the Church will grow into a Pentecostal Church where the gifts of the Holy Spirit will operate bountifully upon men and women; the Church will spread across the world, a great international church that will send missionaries to Africa and the rest of the world. That the Church will make disciples for the Soon-coming Christ….”

This evangelism covenant can be compared to God’s word to Israel in Isaiah 59:21 (KJV): “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” saith the Lord, “My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed,” saith the Lord, “from henceforth and forever.”

This covenant, as illustrated in the above scripture, is generational – “your seed and your seed’s seed forever.” Bringing this to our context as a Church suggests that God’s covenant with us must be passed on to future generations of CoP members.

It is worth noting that the covenant to make the Church a great International Pentecostal Church has been fulfilled, and now The Church of Pentecost is present in 151 nations worldwide. However, the Church cannot rest on its laurels. Instead, we should aim to possess all nations of the world and affect every sphere of society until the second advent of Christ.

Evangelism is vital and should be aggressive at the local church level, hence the need to reposition the local church for effective evangelism to achieve these goals.

WHAT IS EVANGELISM?

J.I. Packer notes in his book, “Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God,” that: “To evangelise is to present Christ Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, that men shall come to put their trust in God through Him as their Savior, and serve Him as their king in the fellowship of His Church.”

In other words, evangelism is the proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit by employing the use of accompanying or appropriate gifts of the Holy Spirit, specifically power gifts such as faith, miracles, and gifts of healing.

According to Mark 16:15, our Lord Jesus has entrusted believers with evangelising “all creatures/people” on the face of the earth. The command involves bringing the Gospel to every tribe, nation, and age group. This means that children must be included in our evangelism agenda.

Another critical factor in evangelism, as stated in Matthew 28:18-20, is that evangelism is a process and not an event. This process involves preparation, going, preaching the Gospel, baptising, follow-up, and new convert care. Until this is achieved, our evangelism mandate is not complete.

WHY SHOULD CHRISTIANS EVANGELISE

• It takes an evangelistic-oriented member in the Local Church to be prayerful, committed, dependable and sacrificial in given

• The general covenant of God with believers (Isaiah 59:21) and specific covenant with the Church of Pentecost contains evangelism, discipling and possessing the nations. We must fulfil our part of this divine contract by preparing disciples for the soon-coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

• Jesus was a soul winner, and we must follow His steps – 1 Timothy 1:15; Luke 19:10; Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38.

• The harvest is great, the labourers are few – Matthew 9:37-38; Isaiah 6:8; John 4:35.

• We must obey the Great Commission. His last Command must be our first priority – Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-19; Luke 5:32.

• Everyone must hear the gospel before Jesus’ Second coming – Matthew 24:14; Romans 10:14.

• The blood of the unconverted will be demanded from us – Ezekiel 3:17-18; Ezekiel 33:6-8.

• The value of a soul. Gaining the whole world is less than the value of one soul. (Mk. 8:36-38). Countless angels in Heaven rejoice over one sinner who gets converted – Luke 15:10; Daniel 7:10

• Rewards and crowns for the soul winner both in this life and in the life to come – Daniel 12:3; John 4:36; 1 Corinthians 15:58, Luke 10:20

• The Power of God is demonstrated during Evangelism – Romans 1:16; Mark 16:17; Psalms 96:3.

• God adds to the church through evangelism. The Church grows through evangelism – Acts 2:47.

• Jesus is the only way to Heaven. John 14:6.

• Over 4,200 Religions and more than 500 Cults in the World, only Christianity has a Redeemer – Acts 4:12.

CONCLUSION

Delivering the State of the Church Address at the recently-held 46th General Council Meetings, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, reported that the Church membership as of 2022 was 10.7% of Ghana’s population. This is a significant number, and if every church member wins just one soul a year, the church’s membership could reach 50% of Ghana’s population in just three years.

However, achieving this requires the development of a culture of evangelism within local churches through the cultivation of knowledge, attitude change, and consistent practice. As we mark this year’s National Evangelism Week, I urge all ministers, ministers’ wives, officers, and members to make a concerted effort to win souls for Christ and fulfil the evangelism covenant God has made with The Church of Pentecost.

Written by Pastor Frank Awuah Fordjour

We live in very exciting times. We hear of the amazing waves of souls coming to Christ, and the news gets better when it comes from places that were unreachable in the past, and where preachers were brutally prevented with many becoming martyrs.

All over the world, there are news reports of people encountering the Lord Jesus Christ in visions and dreams, especially in the worlds of other religions. These revelations are always about Christ leading the people to accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. Incredible as this may sound, it is also a sad commentary on us as Christians that perhaps we are leaving our core mandate of witnessing to the world undone, compelling the Master to practically set foot in the field He left for us.

In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus revealed that all authority had been given to Him, and commissioned every Christian beginning from the disciples to ‘GO therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising…and teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…’. The resultant effect of Christ’s authority is our GOing to make disciples. The New King James Version of the Bible clarifies it; since Christ has the authority, we are equipped, boldened and entrusted, therefore, with making disciples of all nations. It is our assignment; when we fail God by keeping quiet, then Christ will bypass us to let ‘stones’ cry out (Luke 19:40) with the salvation message to a world in dire need of it (Romans 8:19). In preaching the gospel, we praise and please God with one of the highest kinds of worship we can give.

Jesus Christ will build His Church, with or without you and me. He will always have a remnant, but for those who do not ‘Go’ to make others disciples, this form of disobedient would have made them members of the gates of Hades, which try to prevail against the Church without avail (Matthew 16:18). Whenever someone comes to the saving knowledge of Christ and confesses Christ as their Lord and Saviour, they join Peter in making that confession of Christ as the Rock in Matthew 16:16 upon which the Church is being built. On this acknowledgement and acceptance, they automatically become additional human blocks laid on the Church Christ is building. However, before they become part of the building (make the confession), they must be moulded into blocks (preached to). This work is the responsibility of the co-labourers (Christians) and not the master (Christ).

As we mark Evangelism Week in The Church of Pentecost, this responsibility placed on us must drive us and carry us on to bring all other sheep outside the pen (John 10:16) through the only Way (John 14:6) into the pen (God’s Kingdom). Let us not relegate this task to visions and dreams of Christ to the unsaved. We must be seen on the ‘Go’. And as we go, we must reach all nations.

In the light of reaching all nations, the introduction of special ministries in The Church of Pentecost must be of interest to all Christians. These special ministries, such as Home and Urban Missions (HUM), Schools Outreach Ministry (SOM), Pentecost Workers’ Guild (PeWG), Ministry to Royals and Politicians, and Ministry to Persons with Disabilities (MPWDs), must be part of the fore-burner as we endeavour to reach all nations. These have become wings of the gospel we must all ride on to get the gospel going.

On May 13, 2023, the Okyeame (royal linguist) of Gomoa Jukwa in the Central Region of Ghana, Okyeame Kobina Akwando I, was laid to rest. As I sat through the burial service and heard the tributes read in memory of a man who was a Christian for just seven (7) months, I asked myself, ‘What if the gospel had not flown to this man?’

The introduction of the special ministries by Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, as part of the roadmap to achieving the church’s Vision 2023 mandate of possessing the nations, birthed a passion for embarking on ministry to the ghettoes and people living with disabilities in Swedru. The Lord blessed us, and an Assembly (local church) was opened for the hearing-impaired. One of the founding members of the Assembly was Sister Elizabeth Akwando, daughter of the late linguist. Through her, we got to know her family, which had all her siblings having a hearing impairment. Virtually the entire family except the Okyeame and his wife did not have the impairment.

The church took particular interest in their situation to offer any assistance we could. We also shared the gospel with the family; over time, Elizabeth’s life influenced her father and many household members to accept Christ. It is said that Okyeame Akwando I, a hard man to deal with, suddenly became sober and humane, and soon members of the royal family were influenced to accept Christ. Some members of the chief’s palace who had abandoned going to church soon started attending their former churches again due to the transformation they saw in Okyeame Akwando. This is the testimony of what preaching the gospel to just one soul can do. First, it was just Elizabeth, but today, the message has reached her entire family and the larger royal families of Gomoa Jukwa.

Every Christian is blessed with the mandate to ride on the wings of the gospel and get it to the world. When God saw the Ethiopian Eunuch searching the Scriptures, He sent Philip to preach the gospel to him, not angels or visions (Acts 8:26–31). Again, when the Centurion was visited by an angel for his devotion, he was asked to look for Peter (Acts 10:1–44). For ‘…how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14).

We have all been called to evangelise (Romans 10:15, Matthew 20:19). Let us gird our loins and get going. For we bear the gospel of peace on our feet (Ephesians 6:15). Those are “beautiful feet” (Romans 10:15); let us bring them to the world. Take a ride on the wings of the gospel, be a Philip and visit a confused world that needs to understand this Jesus you have (Acts 8:31). Hark the clarion call!

Written by George Osei-Asiedu

What happens when the plastic bucket we bought from the Makola Market becomes old and breaks into pieces? What happens when we no longer need plastic bottles after drinking its content? What happens to our broken plastic chairs and washing basins? The good news is that plastic waste can be recycled and granted a new lease on life.

Plastic waste has become one of the most severe threats to human nature. According to the Geneva-based International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), by 2015, 60% of all plastics produced had become plastic waste. Plastic waste has become “ubiquitous,” found in the air, soil, freshwater, and the sea. Plastic waste in the oceans and seas off the coast of Africa has increased from an estimated 4.4 million tonnes in 2010 to 17 million tonnes in 2022. According to the World Economic Forum, Ghana generates 840,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, and only 9.5% of that figure is collected for recycling.

To tackle this issue, The Church of Pentecost and the Jospong Group of companies have partnered to help segregate plastic waste at home before it reaches the final disposal sites, drains, and oceans. The ongoing plastic waste project between the Jospong Group of Companies and The Church of Pentecost, which started a couple of years ago, is gathering momentum. Under the program, church leaders educate their members to segregate their plastic waste from other forms of waste and forward them to aggregators who will, in turn, sell them to UPPR Ghana Limited.

The Church of Pentecost has paid critical attention to environmental education and sustainable development. Church leaders are encouraged to educate their members to keep their communities clean, plant trees, and segregate their plastic waste from other forms of waste in the waste stream. Zoomlion Ghana Limited has taken a keen interest in improving the sanitation situation in the country for over 17 years. In 1998, the company introduced a Free Waste bin promotion in which thousands of households were given free 240-litre waste bins at no cost to help partly separate plastic waste from other forms. Additionally, the company initiated public education programs to educate the public on how to protect their health through proper waste separation, storage, and disposal.

“The Plastic waste menace is a huge challenge all over the world.,” says Mrs. Florence Larbi, Chief Operating Officer of the Environment and Sanitation Cluster of the Jospong Group. “Jospong Group and Zoomlion Ghana Limited have teamed up with The Church of Pentecost to help our dear nation Ghana manage the situation better by educating church members to separate their plastic waste from other forms at home. By this, the plastic will not go to the landfill but will be sent to the right places such as Jospong Group recycling and manufacturing plants such as the IRECOPS and UPPR Ghana Limited,” Mrs. Larbi explained further.

Various Jospong Group subsidiaries, such as the Universal Plastic Product and Recycling (UPPR) company as well as Zoomlion Ghana Limited, held various buyback events throughout the country from March 13th to 19th, 2023, under this year’s Environmental Care Campaign of The Church of Pentecost, which focused on Plastic waste. They bought tonnes of plastic waste from various districts of the church nationwide. The Coordinator for National Discipleship and Leadership Development Committee (NDLDC), Apostle Samuel Gakpetor, said the exercise is necessary to help the country rid itself of plastic waste while making good use of the plastics collected. Even after the environmental campaign, he called on all church members to continue collecting plastic waste for sale to Jospong Group.

He said, “Plastic waste is causing a lot of havoc around and negatively impacting the health of people, even in the country.” He, therefore, called on all church members to continue collecting plastic waste for sale to Jospong Group even after the environmental campaign. UPPR Ghana Limited was selected to partner with the church because the company has the requisite machinery to process the plastic waste into other usable items that will benefit society.

“UPPR is in the business of recycling plastics and adding value to them,” says Mr. Perumalsamy SureshKumar, General Manager of UPPR Ghana Limited, who piloted the buyback event in Bompata, Kumasi, and Ashaiman in Accra. “We have been doing this for the past ten years, manufacturing waste bins, chairs, bin liners, and other items for households, waste management companies such as Zoomlion Ghana Limited and other members of the Environmental Service Providers Association.”

“As a company, we firmly believe in supporting the United Nations in its quest to build sustainable cities and communities as stated in the Sustainable Development Goals number 11, as well as goals 14 and 15, which talk about ‘Life underwater’ and ‘Life on land,’ respectively. This can easily apply to plastic pollution on land and in the sea.

“Our primary focus is on PET bottles,” says Mrs. Sharon Lamptey, Head of Zoomlion’s International Business Development Unit. “We have intentions of adding more value to these PET bottles.

“Our interest is in plastics,” says Ms. Sophia Nana Kudjordji, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Jospong Group, adding, “We are excited to partner with The Church of Pentecost in this great venture for God and country.”

The global plastic waste management market is expected to grow from $35.25 billion in 2022 to $41.39 billion in 2026. Hopefully, the Jospong Group – The Church of Pentecost partnership will help Ghana’s economy thrive.

Written by Isabella Gyau Orhin.

The Church of Pentecost is undoubtedly a household name in Ghana. There is no dispute about this in academia (Asamoah-Gyadu, 2019; Amanze, 2019; Ogbuji, 2020; Gyau, 2021;) or the arcade of social life. With the church’s phenomenal growth and impactful influence in every sector of Ghana, it goes without mentioning that Christianity in this country cannot be studied or discussed without recourse to The Church of Pentecost.

As I analyse it, the church’s growth is threefold; numerical growth, visible infrastructural growth, and social responsibility growth. With the current population of 3.5 million (46th GCM Brochure, p. 19), it is undeniable that every household in Ghana from Abor to Zaare has a member of The Church of Pentecost. Again, the edifices of the church, by God’s infinite grace, tower magnificently from the hamlets to the cities.

The church’s ever-present yellow, white and blue colours are seen at every junction and joint as one tours the nation. You cannot miss that The Church of Pentecost is truly ‘everywhere you go’. Furthermore, it is arguably the religious organisation taking social responsibility to another level. To buttress this, let me mention the prisons project, police stations project, irrigation project and the evacuation of Ghanaian citizens from Ukraine as a few of the many imposing show of commitment to affect human lives holistically – spiritually (spirit), psychologically (soul) and physically (body).

It would be odd if any Ghanaian reading this piece heard of The Church of Pentecost for the first time. However, this massive awareness of the church has not translated into knowledge of the church. This may sound a bit controversial, but I will attempt to defend this statement, suggest reasons and proffer solutions to this unfortunate situation that negates the excellent work the church is doing and creates an antagonistic reception of its important place in our social media discourses.

 According to Bekk and Ozturkcan (2018), brand awareness is ‘the degree to which a brand is recognised by potential customers and is associated with a particular product category or need’. Per this definition, I can conclude that The Church of Pentecost has huge brand awareness. Everyone knows it is a church, and for those who care to distinguish further, they know it is a Pentecostal church. Scholars posit that brand awareness can be measured by various indicators, such as brand recall (the ability to remember a brand top-of-mind) and brand recognition (the ability to identify a brand from others of similar nature) (Sharma, 2019; Natarelli & Plapler, 2020). Clearly, The Church of Pentecost enjoys this in good measure. Ask anyone to mention a Pentecostal church in Ghana, and the name The Church of Pentecost will come up.

Unfortunately, this is where it mostly ends up. Nothing or little is known of the brand in terms of its values, beliefs, operational focus, mission and vision. The result of this lack of critical mass of knowledge is the demonstration of this crux ignorance by the masses who elect for themselves to respond or react to news about the church. I have had the privilege of studying in three of Ghana’s renowned institutions of Communication Studies, even to the graduate level, and I have always felt embarrassingly intrigued by the knowledge people possess of The Church of Pentecost.

Much of the so-called knowledge of the church exhibited in casual conversations and during class discourse are either myths, ancient practices, or hearsay of mere mudslinging. For example, on three occasions in two graduate schools, professors said that The Church of Pentecost risked collapse once the older generation, who, according to him, form the majority of the church’s membership, dies because it has refused to reform. Another had boldly remarked that the youth were leaving the church in droops.

Not only were the above assertions untrue, but they also revealed how ignorant people could be when they believe something to be accurate and do not bother searching and researching. This situation is not unusual but unacceptable, especially when they are stated as facts, defended blindly or made publicly. Some researchers adduce that when people become aware of a brand but fail to seek further information on the brand, they form misconceptions and wrong interpretations of the brand (Walker Jr. & John W. Mullins, 2020). 

The solution is to seek knowledge rather than from the wrong sources. The Church of Pentecost is a church that has a defence for whatever she has believed, practised and lives for (2 Peter 3:15). Thus, she has authored so much on herself and opened her doors for researchers to the extent that there is no darkness but light for those who seek to know.

The Church of Pentecost recently held a very successful 46th Session of its General Council Meetings (the General Council Meeting is the church’s highest decision-making body). It was spirit-filled, the atmosphere of divine camaraderie, mutual concern and decisions making moments of radiating love. Even critics of the church will give her that unless their criticisms bother on enmity and envy.

During the grand opening session with over 5000 people in attendance, the Chairman of the church (the worldwide leader of the church), Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, gave an impressive state-of-church address which touched on every aspect of church life to the apt admiration of all including the guest of which was the Vice President of the Republic, Alhaji Dr Mahamadu Bawumia. So impressive was the delivery that all fraternal greetings touched on the great work the church has done. The Vice President of Ghana drew inspiration from that to admonish politicians to refrain from politics of lies and deception and major on data. The state-of-church address was so evidence-based that Dr Bawumia described it as ‘shedding so much light’.

Topical in the delivery by Apostle Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, was the amount spent by the church on scholarships for church members. He stated that an amount of Gh₵10,686.084.76 was sent in 2022 by Districts, Areas and ministries in Ghana together with the headquarters to sponsor educational pursuits by members. This excludes what individual ministers and church leaders at various levels did to assist members with their educational needs. Commendable as this is, critics of the church ran to ‘market’ with accusations of these scholarships going to ministers, their children or families.

I shuddered in disbelief when I saw various social media platforms smeared by such blatant falsehood. Apostle Nyamekye chose his words carefully, and only the uninitiated, mischievous or finger-happy (borrowed from trigger-happy) will rush to social media to make such a post. Before announcing this scholarship package that went to church members, the Chairman had informed the ardent reader or listener of the package that went specifically to ministers sponsored for further education or scholarship given to children of deceased ministers (46th GCM Brochure, p. 42).

This is so mind-boggling in this era of information. A simple rule is that before you write on a subject, you research (RESEARCH) because knowledge evolves, things change, and what appears at face value may have a deeper meaning. Whiles this piece is about the unfortunate trend of people taking The Church of Pentecost to the laundry when she is just coming out of the bathroom, it is a concern all social media users must address ourselves too. We have become too finger-happy as a people lately. We forward just anything and have become hugely guilty of spreading the misinformation of those who author such ‘viruses’.

On scholarship for educational pursuit for members, The Church of Pentecost has as a rule that ministers and their families do not qualify. There is a different category of support for such. Scholarship committees exist at various levels of the church that vet brilliant but needy and promising but needy people and make selections based on the availability of funds and quota system. This is so transparent that candidates who attend the vetting processes get to know themselves, and whoever is selected is announced at the Local, District and Area levels. Nothing is in the shadows. In fact, the names of those awarded scholarships, including where they schooled or are schooling, can be obtained on request anytime or day. Every report sent on miracles; financial commitments are purely data-based and verifiable.

Inasmuch as this harm of blind criticism, misinformation and disinformation is mainly the doing of outsiders who are not members of The Church of Pentecost, a handful come from disgruntled members who do this for only God knows why. This is a sad commentary because everyone associated with a brand is expected to be a brand ambassador. How can a church member be out there painting their ‘home’ with mud?

From my little experience studying branding, we have various brand ambassadors. There are reluctant brand ambassadors (unwilling but compelled by the situation), poor image brand ambassadors (people who have been discredited by their ills), disloyal brand ambassadors (people who represent a brand but use a competing brand), fun brand ambassadors (people who represent a brand for fun), and committed brand ambassadors (people who are die-hard and ready to promote the brand). All these types of ambassadors could be hired or do so pro bono. In a church, the pulpit and pew are automatic ambassadors, first of Christ and the church denomination. It is, therefore, awkward, a betrayal of trust and disloyalty to be anything more than a fun brand ambassador or committed brand ambassador.

We are called to be an army prepared to stand up for Christ and defend our faith. As the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost has reiterated severally, in The Church of Pentecost, if you do not know something or understand anything, you ask. I implore all members to seek to be well-educated on anything they do not understand and pursue that knowledge from suitable sources. Growing up in the church, we had this inquisitive and inquiring mindset, and the fathers were always there to help. I asked why we sit in church the way we do, why new coverts have to raise their hands when they say the sinner’s prayers, and why mothers must present their babies to the child’s father, who then gives the child to the officiating minister when the child is about to be christened. I have cited these examples because they look trivial, and very few ask about them, but I did and got educated on the church’s culture, traditions, practices, core values, etc. On the other hand, I had and continue to have fathers and mothers who will lend an ear anytime and explain all I need to know even today.

My humble suggestion, as I conclude, is that members should be both fun and committed ambassadors of The Church of Pentecost brand. It calls for getting all that we need to be aware and know of the brand and commit to educating others and doing it out of fun and pro bono. Do not wait until you are asked before speaking out for our Christ and church. In doing so, let us do so with seasoned language. Again, let those in leadership positions at various levels flex up a bit more and respond to all the questions, including the sarcastic ones, because denying them may push them to a smear campaign out of anger or to spite leadership.

For netizens and social media users, let us get our facts right. We are presented with a huge opportunity to interact, and we all need to ensure the platform is trustworthy, sanitised and worth investing our data in uploading or downloading content. Let me end by inviting you to accept the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Truth! And The Church of Pentecost is an able representative of this Truth. He saves, gives illumination and provides eternal life. May I invite you to fellowship with a local Assembly of The Church of Pentecost near you and experience Jesus and what we believe and practice for ourselves? Come with an open mind and a clear conscience; you will never regret it. I was once a sceptic, but today I have found peace with the Lord Jesus and a haven to fellowship with the saints in The Church of Pentecost. God bless you.

Written by Pastor George Osei-Asiedu

REFERENCES:

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Nyanni, C.O. (2020). ‘Changing lanes: Second-generation African Pentecostals in the United Kingdom’. Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association, 40(1), pp. 32-45

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