Pastor John Afawuah, the Kumasi Sector Children’s Ministry Pastor of The Church of Pentecost, has launched a maiden children’s music album titled “Mmɔfra Ho Hia” (Translated: Children Are Important).
The 16-track album, which was unveiled on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at the Santasi Bethel Assembly of the Church, contains Sunday School songs like “Abofra Ketewa,” “Mmofra Ho Hia,” “I am a Child.”
Pastors, leaders, teachers and members of the Children’s Ministry from the various Areas and Districts were present to grace the launch.
The album also featured the Echoes of Godly Children, the Kumasi Sector children’s choir.
Speaking at the event, Pastor John Afawuah revealed that the influence of secular music on children recently is outrageous, and its impact on their future is highly pernicious.
According to the Children’s Pastor, he was inspired by God to invest in the young ones to impact their fellows with godly music, which is another approach to lead people to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus.
“Trending songs across the various social media platforms negatively affect the spiritual growth and development of the young. That is why we have been inspired to put these songs together to build them in the fear of the Lord for the future of this country,” he said.
He added that “the voice of the Children’s Ministry behind the lyrics will help engage their fellow children and impact them positively for God and the country.”
He encouraged Christian parents to saturate their homes with Christian music before calling on the masses to embrace songs from the Echoes of Godly Children.
Some of the children who featured in the songs on the album appreciated the efforts put up by their leadership and the opportunity given them. They, therefore, encouraged their fellows not to be shy of their God-given talents but must use them at church to the glory of God.
The Children’s Ministry of the Darkuman English Assembly (DEA) in the Kaneshie Area of The Church of Pentecost held its maiden edition of the Bible Spelling Competition last Sunday.
The competition, dubbed “Study to Show Yourself Approved,” aimed at making the study of the word of God fun and more innovative.
The event, which was held between the various Jethro Initiative (JI) groups in the assembly, took place at the Children’s Ministry auditorium.
In his opening address, the Darkuman District Children’s Ministry Leader, Deacon Enock Anim Asante, said that the competition was the first among many planned by the ministry in the district.
According to him, subsequent competitions would be organised for all the assemblies in the district in the coming year.
“These competitions would promote teamwork and unity among the children as we strive to raise godly and transformational future leaders,” he added.
Deaconess Sheila Williams, the Children’s Ministry Leader of Darkuman English Assembly, encouraged the children to take their studies, both in school and at church, seriously, stressing that: “Quality and good education with self-discipline in the reading and studying the word of God would surely take you to high places in future.”
The five-member JI competing groups spelt words from the book of Matthew from chapters 1 to 10, using the New International Version (NIV) Bible as their reference point.
At the end of the contest, medals were presented to the overall winners and all other participants.
Deaconess Sheila Williams, in her closing remarks, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the planning committee for the Spelling Competition and the various JI groups for a well-organised event.
The Jethro Initiative, which has as its slogan “Nurturing unto Godliness,” is an extra-curricular programme of the Children’s Ministry aimed at complementing and strengthening the activities of the Sunday Schools in building the foundation of children in Christ and His word and entrenching them on the need to walk in the Faith.
The Takoradi Area Children’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, led by the Area Leader, Pastor Charles Yaw Kodom, has donated half-pieces of clothes valued at GH₵ 26,040.00 to 214 ministers’ wives in eight internal mission areas of the church in Ghana.
The items were presented on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at the sidelines of the Heads’ Meetings at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa-Fetteh, near Kasoa.
According to Pastor Kodom, the kind gesture was part of the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Children’s Ministry, saying, “We want to touch the lives of ministers’ wives in the internal missions areas of the church with tokens of half pieces of clothes.”
The beneficiary areas were the Bolgatanga, Bawku, Walewale, Yendi, Tumu, Sawla, Kete-Krachie, and Nkwanta areas.
Pastor Charles Yaw Kodom disclosed that two more areas would later benefit from the support. These, he noted, are the Tamale and Wa Areas.
“We are extremely grateful to the Lord Almighty for his abundant grace in making this projection to be fulfilled,” he stated.
Receiving the items, the Children’s Ministry Director of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Prof. William Otoo Ellis, expressed his sincere gratitude to the Takoradi Area Children’s Ministry Executive Committee and their members for such a thoughtful act of service to the beneficiaries.
Present were Prophet David Kankam Beditor (Patron, Children’s Ministry and Ashaiman Area Head) and Deaconess Philomina Mireku (Women’s Ministry Director).
The Anyaa District of The Church of Pentecost organised an appreciation service in honour of the 75 Children’s Ministry workers (Sunday School teachers) in the district.
The event, according to the District Minister, Pastor Emmanuel Teye Sackitey, was organised to commend the children’s workers for their dedicated service towards the spiritual growth and holistic development of children in the district.
“It is common knowledge that among the hardly appreciated people in churches are Sunday School Teachers. Whilst some see them as a nuisance to mainline adult service, others consider their services as the least important,” he observed.
He advised Church leaders to regard the services of Children workers as indispensable to the growth and development of the body of Christ in this undulating world, where the love of many is growing cold.
“The role of Children’s Ministry Workers is critical in the Possessing the Nation agenda,” he added.
Pastor Sackitey, therefore, praised the Children’s Ministry workers for the good work they are doing such as paying regular visits to children in their homes and schools, holding prayer meetings with children, training children during ministry week celebrations, etc.
Pastor Sackitey advised Children’s Ministry workers never to expect any pecuniary reward in discharging their duties, but to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that their labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the teachers, the District Children’s Ministry Leader, Elder David Agyemang, said that they were completely overwhelmed by the gesture of the Church leadership and pledged their commitment to the service of the Children’s Ministry.
An amount of GHȼ8,354.50 raised from the six local assemblies in the district was shared among all 75 Children’s Ministry workers.
The Anyaa District in the Anyaa-Ablekuma Area of The Church of Pentecost has distributed 564 Bibles, worth GHȼ3,900.00, among the children in the district.
The donation, which took place on October 16, 2022, was jointly sponsored by the District Children’s Ministry and the various local assemblies in the district.
The gesture is in fulfilment of the One-Child-One-Bible project of the Children’s Ministry which aims at making the word of God accessible to all children in the Church.
Earlier, the district received 240 Bibles from the Area Children’s Ministry and distributed to the children. Currently, all 804 members of the Children’s Ministry in the district have received Bibles.
During the presentation, the District Minister, Pastor Emmanuel Teye Sackitey, remarked that, considering the invaluable use of the Bible in training the child, it should be the most basic property every child possesses.
He, therefore, charged all the children’s workers to help harness the gifts and talents of the children, and also form reading clubs in the community to help children develop interest in reading the Bible.
Receiving the Bibles on behalf of the children, the District Children’s Ministry Leader, Elder David Agyemang, expressed much gratitude to the leadership of the Church for such a wonderful initiative.
He pledged the commitment of children’s workers towards ensuring the children make good use of the Bibles.
So soon the euphoria around the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Children’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost is gradually dying out and the dust is settling on the five-decade journey of the Ministry, breaking a new dawn for the years ahead.
The question, however, is: What does the future hold for the church and this important ministry, which is the bedrock for the survival of such a great institution like The Church of Pentecost and Christianity as a whole? Are there lessons we can gather from our five-decade journey? What should be the responsibility of various stakeholders in the church? These and many questions come into mind as we brought the curtains down on the 50th anniversary celebration of the Children’s Ministry.
In every small seed, they say is the future of a big tree. History has it that this great oak that has seen the churning out of some crème de la crème of society and for the church started as a small seed that was planted and nurtured by the caring hands of the late Mrs Margaret Mills, wife of Pastor David Mills (the then Principal of the Pentecost Bible School in Asokwa, Kumasi) at their mission house. Hmmm…I believe, if it were today, it may have qualified to be one of our Community Children’s Clubs (CCCs). The Mills are gone to be with the Lord but their legacy still lives on.
Let me pause here and ask…how many mission houses (District and Area) do we have in the church today? Per a simple calculation, if the number of ministers in the church now is a little over 4,000, then we should have almost the same number of mission houses. Can you imagine the number of Community Children’s Clubs we could have if every ‘Osofomaame’ (Minister’s wife) like Mrs Margaret Mills, decides to establish one with the support of their husbands? Can this not make our agenda of possessing the nations quite faster? As for this, I am only thinking aloud oo.
Let us now turn the searchlight on the participation of various stakeholders – leadership, parents, children workers and our children in Children’s Ministry activities over the years, and most especially the just-ended week-long celebrations.
John C. Maxwell has said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Can you imagine that it took the leadership of the church in our 85-year checkered journey as a church, 35 solid years to accept and formalize the activities of the Children’s Ministry. The vision direction in those days might have been different, but the historical contribution of the children towards the development of the church cannot be underestimated. Is it not true that some adults then were led into the church by their children? Or were the thoughts of leadership in the early stages of the church’s development in sink with that of the Israelites in the days of Haggai who said it was not time to build God’s house (Haggai 1:1-5)?
However, the answers to the above questions may be, some attitudes of some leaders (ministers and officers) yield some credence to the fact that within this current generation, there are still leaders who do not see children as God sees them and their role in the possessing the nations’ agenda. No matter how others see children, God still sees them as his heritage, his reward and as arrows in the hand of a warrior who, when well-equipped, are expected to bring glory to their parents at the city gate (Psalm 127:3-5). Who dare see these children who are God’s standard for gaining entry into the Kingdom of God (Matthew 18:3) in another light as nuisance?
Notwithstanding the seemingly gloomy picture the attitude of some church leaders seem to paint, other leaders including our chairmen, both past and current and most especially our chairmen, Apostle Eric Nyamekye is giving prominence to the Children’s Ministry both in words and in action. Apostle Nyamekye, in one of his messages, said: “there are so many leaders who are not close to their members at all. How many pastors have thought in the Sunday School in the past year? You were not made a pastor for the adults only. You are a pastor for everyone in the District,including the Children’s Ministry. Go there and teach! If your anointing cannot teach children, then you cannot teach adults at all.”
Chairman and his Executive and some notable personalities at various levels of the churches leadership continue to show concern for the Children’s Ministry through programmes and activities and policy formulations such as incorporating children auditoriums in all new church building constructions, featuring child-centred issues in lay leadership schools, mounting of programme of studies on Early Childhood at the Pentecost University, Ministers Time with Children at various levels among others.
With all these in place, I believe leadership at various levels must buy into the vision of preparing children to take up the reins of leadership in the future. The children should not be seen as only good when it comes to singing of action songs at conventions, but as members of the church who could be used by God to declare his thoughts and precepts to this generation just as he did with the boy, Samuel (1 Samuel 3).
I look with concern over the years the attitude of most parents towards the activities and progress of their children. Have you noted the attendance of parents during Children’s Week Celebrations? The weekdays are even worst. But mind you parents, who gives his or her assets or estates to somebody to manage and never keep an eye on him? Who does that? Who sends his or her child to school without checking up on his progress or liaising with the teachers to see to the wellbeing of the children?
According to the American Federation of Teachers, “substantial evidence exists showing that parent involvement benefits students, including raising their academic achievement. There are other advantages for children when parents become involved — namely increased motivation for learning, improved behavior, more regular attendance, and a more positive attitude about homework and school in general.”
Can we therefore ask ourselves the psychological implication and the long term effect of parents non-involvement and seemingly lack of interest in Children’s Ministry activities on our children?
Some teachers handling the children today themselves have no positive self-image of themselves in their work as children’s workers. Much of this less self-esteem and low confidence are due to lack of required trainings which qualifies one to handle children and sometimes how the church looks at them as people who do not matter and that they have been placed in this department just to take care of the children and prevent them from ‘making noise’. So, most teachers who do not understand this call at best are behaving like hired hands who do close to nothing in feeding, guarding and guiding these lambs (John 10:11 – 14), who are part of the flock the Lord Jesus bought with his own blood (Acts 20:28).
In the next few years, can we have teachers like Jehoaida who will teach the Joashes (children) to do the right thing (2Chronicles 24:2)? Can we have shepherds (teachers) like David who will feed and lead the flock with the integrity of heart and skillfulness of their hands (Psalm 78:72)?
All these will be possible if we recruit people who have a call to do ministry among children, train them and motivate them to give of their best in moulding the children God’s way.
So what do we do going forward into the unknown but certain future? Let us continue to push for an “all hands and hearts on deck” agenda, which will encourage all from the pulpit to the pews to get involved in Children’s Ministry activities.
Can we have a special day all across the nations earmarked for recognizing our hardworking teachers?
Can we have a well structured curriculum for the Children’s Ministry with clearly spelt out standards for recruiting teachers for the ministry?
Can we start drawing monthly speakers plan for the ministry like that which is painstakingly drawn by Pastors for the adult membership? Such a plan will pull both ministers and their spouses, officers and other mature members into together to intentionally help to groom the children.
Would parents start taking a second look at their attitudes toward the children and the Ministry?
Could we have Children’s Ministry Sundays every quarter during the Monthly intergenerational services of the church for them to showcase what they have, aside what is done annually during Children’s Ministry Weeks?
Can the church at all levels incorporate the needs of the ministry into their financial budgets as a matter of policy?
In conclusion, as the church and leadership of the Children’s Ministry pursue various plans and activities in making the ministry vibrant, a lot more still needs to be done to ensure the security and future of the church of God. The Scriptures says “a good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22). What legacies will the church leave for the coming generation in the next 50years? Selah!
Written by Pastor Samuel Avornyo (Children’s Ministry Leader, Assin Foso Area).
The Cape Coast Area Children’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost has donated assorted food items worth GHS 4,000.00 to the Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Blind (CAPEDEAF) as part of activities marking the golden jubilee anniversary celebration of the Children’s Ministry of the Church.
The items, comprising bags of maize, rice, gari, 20 crates of soft drinks, and ten boxes of biscuits, were presented to the school on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, when a delegation of the ministry led by the Area Leader, Pastor Ernest Ohene Adu, visited the institution.
Addressing the staff and students, Pastor Ohene Adu said that the donation was part of the Church’s social responsibility aimed at complementing the effort of government in supporting such public institutions that are in dire need of assistance.
The Assistant Headmaster in charge of Academics, Mr Emmanuel Abiew, who received the items on behalf of the school, thanked the Church for the kind gesture, saying: “Staff and students of CAPEDEAF are forever grateful to The Church of Pentecost Children’s Ministry. God richly bless you.”
The short presentation ceremony, which took place in front of the Administration Block of the school, put deep smiles on the faces of the students. The presentation was witnessed by Mrs. Lydia Asante, the Senior House Mistress, and some staff members and students of the school.
Also in attendance were Deaconess Susanna Marian Holdbrook (Area Assistant Children’s Ministry Leader), Mrs. Akosua Oforiwaa Osei-Appau (Area Children’s Ministry Executive Committee Member), and Elder Samuel Ebo Atobrah (Area Children’s Ministry Executive Committee Member).
The Children’s Ministry of Airport Assembly in Yennyawoso District of The Church of Pentecost has shown love to occupants of the Kumasi Children’s Home by donating assorted items and a cash amount of GHC 300.00 to the Home.
The gesture, which took place on Sunday, September 18, 2022, was part of the activities commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Children’s Ministry of the Church.
The items, which included packs of biscuits, sachets of milo and Cerelac, soap, gari, sugar, toiletries, assorted drinks, used clothes and footwear, were donated by a delegation led by Deacon Robert Frimpong, the Local Children’s Ministry Leader.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Management, the Principal Child Care Officer of the Home, Mrs. Doris Asamoah, expressed her profound gratitude to the Church for the kind gesture.
“The Church of Pentecost is noted for its philanthropic acts. In fact, the Church has been a conduit for blessings to this nation in diverse ways. We appreciate your efforts,” she said.
She, therefore, appealed to the Airport Assembly Children’s Ministry to make the visit a monthly feature to fellowship and share the word of God with the inmates.
As part of activities to mark the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Children’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, members of the ministry in the Yennyawoso District of the Church, on Saturday, September 10, 2022, organised a health walk dubbed “Jesus March.”
Escorted by police officers, together with some health officials to ensure their safety, the children joyfully marched through the principal streets of Dichemso, Moshie Zongo, Nhyiaeso, Krofrom and ended at Yennyawoso amidst brass band music.
The children, numbering more than 200, were holding placards displaying Gospel truths as part of efforts to reach out to many with the gospel message of Jesus Christ.
Some of the placards read: “Try Jesus,” “Jesus Is The Saviour,” “Yesu Mu Na Nkwa Wɔ,” “Jesus Loves You,” “Run For Your Life,” among others.
According to the District Leader, Elder Kingsley Appau, the march was not only meant to mark the 50th anniversary of the ministry, but to help improve the health conditions of the children and to promulgate the gospel to the masses and win them for Christ.
After the march, the children were refreshed with sumptuous mashed kenkey and bread at the Yennyawoso Central Assembly auditorium.
Participating in the event were the members of the District Executive Committee and the Local Executive Committee, as well as other workers of the Children’s Ministry.
Miss Precious Anane from the Volta Region has won the 2022 version of the Preacher Kid competition organised by the Children’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost Headquarters.
Securing 85% of the total marks, Precious slightly beat Master Noble Asante Agyei from the Northern Region, who had 80.84%. Akua Frema Adu Gyamfi from the Ashanti Region garnered 78.75% to place 3rd, while Ama Nhyira Oppong, representing the Central Region, and Adwoa Sarpomaa Sarpong, from the Western Region, placed 4th and 5th after securing 76.42% and 73.83%, respectively.
Each of the contestants received boxes of Bibles from the Bible Society of Ghana, TV sets for their local assemblies, hampers of groceries and stationery, and a certificate of excellence.
The event, which was held on Sunday, September 18, 2022, at the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Asokwa, saw a vast number of members of the Children’s Ministry thronged the auditorium to support the contestants from their various areas.
Addressing the contestants, congregants, and viewers of the competition, the Patron of the Children’s Ministry, Prophet David Kankam Beditor mentioned that the contest was a historic one since it coincided with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the ministry.
“It is very unique and the first of its kind,” he said, and urged the patrons to support the children, encourage them and give them morale, saying, “You will be inspired by their preaching and teachings.”
The Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, in an address delivered on his behalf by Apostle Yaw Adjei-Kwarteng (Bompata Area Head), expressed his gratitude to the Children’s Ministry leadership for the organisation of the competition and the 50th Anniversary celebrations.
“Starting as ‘a mustard seed’ in Asokwa, it is not a coincidence it happens to fall within the 50th Anniversary celebrations; it is a coincidence arranged in heaven,” the Chairman said.
According to Apostle Nyamekye, although Accra, the capital city of the country, is the administrative location of the church, Kumasi can be considered the heart of the church.
He noted that the Preacher Kid competition is a step in the right direction, saying, “It is good it has been given the prominence it deserves. I pray that the exercise will impact children and help to not only improve the delivery of God’s word but more importantly the reading and meditation of the Word.”
He ended by stating that “there can be no good preaching without the study of God’s Word.”
The contest saw Apostle Lt. Col. Benjamin Woode (Burma Camp Worship Centre), Pastor Ebenezer Hagan (Youth Director), and Mrs Gifty Otu-Appiah as judges.
In his closing remarks, Apostle Yaw Adjei-Kwarteng congratulated all five contestants on outstanding performances.
“Thank God for giving us a competition and something to be proud about; separating the diamond from other precious stones,” he explained.
“The victor, Precious Anane, has successfully defended the title and won for the church. Through this radiant exercise, great talents have been unearthed. If the children can preach like this, then the future will be great for the church. My heart is at ease as I can assure you and all audience present that the church has an exciting future,” he added.
He remarked that If the competition was available to all, and four out of five of the finalist were girls, then girls and women, in general, have a big stage in the future in the church.
Contestants of the Preacher Kid competition came along with their parents and several members from their various areas within the church as well as friends and well-wishers.
As part of the event, an award certificate, as well as a cash prize, was handed to the winner of the just-ended Drawing Competition also spearheaded by the Children’s Ministry. The winner of the competition was Master Charles Pepprah from Offinso in the Ashanti Region.
According to the Director of the Children’s Ministry, Pastor Prof. William Otoo Elis, the drawing competition had 24 submissions from children all over the country. A jury made up of lecturers from the Faculty of Arts in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology was established to decide the winner of the competition.
Prophet Kankam Beditor With Master Charles Pepprah
Prophet Kankam Beditor, on behalf of the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, presented the award certificate and an envelope to the winner.
Also present at the event were Apostle and Mrs Dzemekey (Area Head, Asokwa), Apostle Dr. Dela Quampah (Area Head, Ho), Apostle and Mrs Buertey (PIWC Asokwa), Apostle John Budu Tawiah (Area Head, Kwadaso), Apostle Fred Tiakor (Area Head, Bekwai/Former Director, Children’s Ministry), Prophet Samuel Tetteh Doku (Area Head, New Tafo), Apostle and Mrs Gideon Obeng-Darko Debrah (Atonsu Area Head), among others.
