Posts in category: Children’s Ministry

Mrs. Gifty Otu-Appiah, the wife of the Winneba Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, has called on Church leaders and Children’s Ministry workers to endeavour to make the church the safest place for children.

According to her, the local church bears a significant responsibility in safeguarding children not only within the church premises but also wherever dangers may arise.

Mrs. Appiah gave this advice yesterday when she delivered a presentation at the Foundation Builders Conference 2023, held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) in Gomoa Fetteh.

Addressing the participants on the topic of “Ensuring Child Safety in/By the Local Church,” Mrs. Otu-Appiah defined child safety as the measures and practices put in place to protect children from harm, injury, abuse, or danger.

She emphasized that child safety encompasses various aspects of a child’s well-being, including their physical, emotional, and psychological security.

She further explained that child safety measures involve creating a secure environment that promotes healthy development and protects children from potential risks or threats.

Mrs. Otu-Appiah also noted the importance of identifying potential hazards, implementing preventive measures, and educating both children and caregivers about safety practices.

She highlighted the need for identifying signs of potential harm, responding to allegations or suspicions of abuse, providing support and services to protect children, and holding accountable those who have harmed them.

Mrs. Otu-Appiah emphasized that the primary goal of child protection is to ensure that all children are safe and free from harm, including physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence.

To promote child safety, Mrs. Otu-Appiah advocated that the local church should empower Children’s Ministry workers, establish systems that limit access to children for potential abusers, as well as educate and empower children to participate in their own safety and prevention efforts.

She also stressed the importance of educating parents, guardians, and the community on child abuse prevention and the need to intervene if harm occurs.

Drawing from biblical teachings, Mrs. Otu-Appiah emphasized that God calls the church to be advocates for children and therefore called upon all members of the local church to uphold the biblical mandate of child safety.

She further outlined practical ways in which the local church can ensure child safety. These measures included implementing screening and background checks, developing comprehensive child protection policies, providing training and education for all child workers, ensuring proper supervision and accountability in all activities, securing facilities, maintaining check-in and check-out procedures, and maintaining open communication with parents and caregivers.

She also emphasized the importance of responding to all safety concerns, developing and practicing emergency preparedness plans, and regularly reviewing and updating safety measures.

Mrs. Otu-Appiah ended her presentation by charging church leaders and Children’s Ministry workers to make child safety a top priority, creating an environment that honours children’s God-given dignity and eliminates the chance for abuse and harm.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Apostle Yaw Adjei-Kwarteng, an Executive Council Member and the Bompata Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, has issued a call to action for children’s workers to rekindle their zeal and reaffirm their love for God and the children.

Apostle Adjie-Kwarteng, who also serves as the Coordinator for the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Committee (ARCC), gave this charge today when he spoke on the topic “Zeal: The Virtue to Reposition your Ministry” at the 2023 Foundation Builders Conference at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

The Bompata Area Head noted that zeal is the driving force behind any vocation or ministry, stressing that “without zeal, progress comes to a halt.”

Quoting 1 Kings 19:31, Apostle Adjei-Kwarteng explained that God Himself is driven by His own zeal and accomplishes His work through it.

He further stated that although God does not require zeal, humans must possess it to thrive, especially in the face of challenges.

Apostle Adjei-Kwarteng outlined love, knowledge, jealousy for God, and the joy of the Holy Spirit as the four major components of zeal.

Citing John 21:20, he emphasised the need for children’s workers to develop a more profound love for God and the children.

According to him, the motivation for Children’s Ministry stems from love because when children’s workers genuinely love God, they will also love His church and show a vested interest in the lives of the children entrusted to their care.

He, therefore, urged children’s workers to be zealous for God and jealously guard the children. For by doing so, they demonstrate a possessive concern for the safety and well-being of the children and ensure they are protected from harm and danger.

“Be concerned about the salvation of the children. As children’s workers, let us strive to bring the young ones close to the altar because that is the safest place to keep them away from predators,” he said.

Apostle Adjei-Kwarteng also advised children’s workers to know God personally and to seek knowledge, mainly through the study of the Bible, adding that: “By developing an experiential knowledge of God, children’s workers can effectively carry out their duties.”

Concluding his message, Apostle Adjei-Kwarteng encouraged children’s workers to generate interest and joy in their work.

Stressing the importance of joy, he highlighted that without it, zeal fades, and workers may lose interest in their work; hence they should cultivate joy in order to find fulfilment in their service.

“It is only then that children’s workers can reignite their zeal and make a lasting impact in the lives of the children they serve.,” he said.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Director of the Children’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Prof. William Otoo Ellis, has stressed the indispensable role of Children’s workers in the Church’s quest to raise godly children.

Pastor Prof. Ellis said this today in a welcome address to participants at the Foundation Builders’ Conference (FBC’23) currently underway at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

In his speech, the Children’s Director said that children’s workers, who are popularly known as Sunday School Teachers, serve as conduits for raising godly children; hence, there is a need to build their capacities and reignite their passion in the face of the challenges they encounter while discharging their mandate.

He said the Foundation Builders Conference, thus, aims to equip and empower these dedicated individuals for maximum impact in shaping the church’s future.

“The Foundation Builders’ Conference serves as a platform for intentional and continuous training to enhance the capabilities of children’s workers,” he said.

According to him, there is an urgent need to prioritise the development and support of those entrusted with the spiritual well-being of these young members has become paramount especially with the Children’s Ministry accounting for 31.1% of the church’s total population.

Acknowledging the current global trends and the influence of sophisticated systems, Pastor Ellis further highlighted the importance of increasing attention to the Children’s Ministry.

He referred to the Chairman’s recent State-of-the-Church Address at the 46th General Council Meetings, noting the essential role of children’s workers in nurturing godly children who will shape the future of the church and Christendom.

Quoting Matthew 26:31, he reminded the audience of the importance of strong leadership, stating that “strike the shepherd, and the flock will be scattered.”

He, therefore, expressed deep appreciation to the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the Executive Council Members, and Area Heads for their unwavering support and active involvement in all Children’s Ministry activities across their respective jurisdictions.

He also commended the children’s workers for their dedication and for consistently organising innovative programmes and activities that align with the Ministry’s vision.

This year’s Foundation Builders Conference, which is under the theme, “Rekindling the Zeal of the Children’s Worker for Maximum Impact,” has about 1000 participants in attendance.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Children’s workers of The Church of Pentecost have been urged to improve their presentation and facilitation skills in order to excel in their role as child facilitators.

Pastor Peter Adjei, the Greater Accra Children’s Pastor of The Church of Pentecost, issued this call on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, during the 2023 Foundation Builders’ Conference (FBC’23) at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) in Gomoa Fetteh.

Speaking on the topic “Facilitation Skills,” Pastor Adjei expressed concern about how some children’s workers continue to struggle with handling various topics in their ministries.

“All around the world, people struggle to connect. Great ideas are discarded or left unsaid, and strategies are not understood. A lot of the time, people can’t connect because workshops or meetings are improperly structured, with too many things happening at once,” he noted.

Pastor Adjei emphasised that two crucial elements that drive every meeting are the content and the process. He further stressed the importance of structuring meetings into different stages and using group tools to ensure a clear understanding of the content and keep everyone on the same page.

To achieve success as a facilitator, he asserted the need for one to be skilful with the Heart, Head, and Hand (3Hs).

He explained that the Heart encompasses the attitude and character the facilitator must demonstrate, while the Head and Hand represent the knowledge and skills required in the facilitation process, respectively.

Concluding his presentation, Pastor Adjei noted that although knowledge and skills are important, the Heart (attitude and character) of the facilitator remains paramount, saying: “The Heart of every facilitator is the most important in every facilitation process because if the Heart is corrupt, both the Head and the Hand will be corrupt too.”

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Kamina Barracks District Minister of The Church of Pentecost (CoP), Pastor Isaac Deku, and his family hosted 109 children in the district at his official residence for a special event dubbed “Children’s Ministry Fun Time.”

The event, held on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, aimed to entertain the children and provide them with an opportunity to interact with the District Pastor and his family.

The fun-filled event featured several activities, including food, drinks, a dancing competition and an interactive session with the District Minister.

During the interactive session, Pastor Isaac Deku encouraged the children to remain loyal to The Church of Pentecost and value the CoP brand.

He explained that values such as prayer, ministry excellence, respect for authority, and friendship with the District Pastor, which are integral to the CoP brand, can help them become valuable individuals not only in the Church but also in life as a whole.

He added that since they are the future leaders of the Church, they should embrace these tried and tested values to preserve the CoP brand and successfully carry on from their fathers and take the Church to even greater heights.

Expressing their appreciation to the Children’s Ministry for accepting their invitation, the Deku family presented them with Bibles, Kiddie Fire magazines (the official magazine of the Children’s Ministry), and other CoP literature.

Also present at the programme were the District Children’s Ministry Leader, Brother Joseph Kumitey, and other Children’s workers in the District.

Report by Overseer Isaac Kwabena Tagoe (Assistant Area Reporter, Tamale)

The Mampong Area Children’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost organised a one-day workshop for the ministers’ wives within the area.

The workshop, a novelty of the Area Head, Apostle Samuel Asare, was held on Thursday, June 8, 2023, and aimed at equipping minister wives to take direct involvement in the children’s ministry affairs of the various districts.

The workshop was facilitated by Pastor Vincent Cudjoe Amuzu (Area Children’s Ministry Leader, Area Executive Committee Member, and Kofiase District Pastor) and Mrs. Ruth Afrah Koomson (Area Children’s Ministry Executive Member and Wife of Nsuta District Minister).

Participants were taught how to use the ministry’s syllabi to teach children by Mrs. Ruth Koomson. She began her presentation by saying, “Just as we prayerfully prepare and deliver sermons at adult congregations, the story should not be different if we really want to make the needed impact in a children’s ministry class.”

She further explained that Bible stories and memory verses should not be taught in the same class or session with the children on the same day.

“These are to be separated to help the children properly comprehend what we want to teach them on a particular day, class, or session,” she added.

She emphasised that “it is always advisable to separate the children according to their age grouping (0-6, 7-9, and 10-12) for the sake of their comprehension or absorption capacity.”

Mrs. Koomson also stressed that lessons from the Bible stories should be outlined to the children rather than just narrating the stories to them.

Pastor Vincent Cudjoe Amuzu, in turn, took participants through the concepts of the Community Children’s Club (CCC), Jethro Initiative (JI), Box Library, and My Community My Responsibility.

He encouraged participants to employ these insightful, playful, and colourful initiatives proposed by the Children’s Ministry directorate to plant Jesus in the hearts of our children.

There was also a breakout session where participants were grouped and made to practice what they had learned.

In a brief remark at the event, Apostle Samuel Asare admonished participants to take the training seriously to help impact the children in the Area, especially when the ministry is challenged with inadequate Children-Workers.

“The area is positioned to offer you all the necessary support as far as this initiative is concerned in order not to leave these God-given children out of the maximum impact agenda,” he passionately added.

The event, which coincided with ministers’ wives’ monthly prayer meeting, also had in attendance Mrs. Beatrice Asare (Wife of the Area Head).

Report by Mrs. Janet Osei-Yeboah

The Anyaa District in the Anyaa-Ablekuma Area of The Church of Pentecost launched the box library for the Children’s Ministry on Sunday, May 28th, 2023, at a cost of GHȼ10,000.00.

The event, chaired by the District Minister, Pastor Emmanuel Teye Sackitey, was graced by Pastor Emmanuel Ofori Opoku (Area Children’s Ministry Leader) and Pastor George Osei-Asiedu (Dwenewoho District).

During the launch, Pastor Ofori Opoku commended the District Pastor for his bold initiative and for adding value to the vision, making it a reality.

He reiterated the vision of the box library to the gathering and encouraged the Children’s Ministry workers to stock the library while advising the children to take good care of the books.

In his speech, Pastor Teye Sackitey emphasised the numerous benefits of developing the habit of reading at an early stage of development.

He pointed out that despite the advantages of reading, the high cost of books discourages parents from purchasing more for their children. The box library project aims to mitigate this challenge.

Pastor Sackitey expressed deep appreciation for the commitment shown by the presiding elders of the five local assemblies in the district (Anyaa Central, Maranatha, Bethel, Nsumfa, and Berea) by raising the funds needed to make the launch possible.

He also praised the Children’s Ministry workers in the district for their dedication to duty, specifically highlighting their devotion to hold monthly fasting and prayer exercises for the children, while encouraging the teachers to continue their good work.

The bookshelves for the library cost GHȼ7,500.00, and an additional GHȼ2,500.00 was spent on books as initial materials.

The Central Assembly set an example by stocking their shelves properly. The purchased books, included children’s dictionaries, moral novels, packs of flashcards, French storybooks, inspirational books, and more.

Pastor Sackitey also donated church publications and diaries worth GHȼ1,000.00 for use in the library.

As part of the event, the teachers received instruction on monitoring the children’s reading habits and guiding them to understand what they read.

In total, 21 teachers and 55 children from the five local assemblies in the district attended the event.

Report by Anyaa District Media Team

The English Assembly of Kwabenya Point One (KP1) District in the Achimota Area of The Church of Pentecost officially launched the Children’s Ministry “Box Library” Project last Sunday.

The project, worth GHS 2,700.00, is stocked with 105 complete Bibles and other stationery items, etc.

The launching ceremony took place at the Children’s Ministry Quarters and was officiated by the District Minister, Pastor James Mckeown.

In his short exposition, Pastor McKeown encouraged all Children’s workers and officers in the Assembly to continue their good work.

He urged them to raise the standard of the Children’s Ministry with innovative projects like this, in order to bring more children in the community to Christ.

Among those present at the event were Elder Derek Owusu (Achimota Area Children’s Ministry Secretary), Elder Twum Boavo (KP1 District Secretary), Elder Samuel Oko Mensah (English Assembly Presiding Elder), and Sister Doreen Mensah (English Assembly Children’s Ministry Leader).

Report by Elder Derek Owusu

The Children’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost in the Assin Foso Area has registered a total of 2,086 children onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

This took place during a two-day medical outreach the Church organised for children in some deprived communities in the Area.

The event, which took place in five centres, namely Assin Tebil, Assin Nnuannua, Assin Bereku, Assin Akropong and Assin Hasowode, brought together hundreds of children who were assessed and treated for various health conditions such as malaria, worm infestation, malnutrition, skin rashes among others. Children whose NHIS cards had expired were renewed.

Speaking to the media, Pastor Samuel Avornyo, the Area Children’s Ministry Leader, noted that the gesture was motivated by the concern for the physical well-being of children in deprived communities.

He added that the Area recorded some preventable child mortality cases in its annual reports, hence the outreach.

Pastor Avornyo thanked Tobinco Pharmaceuticals Limited and Elder Francis Mensah for donating drugs towards the project. He also paid glowing tribute to Elder Sam (Assin Foso Area Executive Assistant) for supporting financially to register some of the children onto the NHIS.

At the end of the two-day event, 906 people (898 children and eight adults) were screened and treated for various ailments, while 40 others were referred for further medical examination. To the glory of God, 153 souls, comprising 129 children and 24 adults, were won for the Lord.

Parents and children who benefitted from the medical outreach were full of praise to The Church of Pentecost and the sponsors.

Report by Pastor Samuel Avornyo, Area Reporter