Posts in category: Church News

Pastor Samuel Boateng of Redeemer City Church has underscored the urgent need for Ghanaian churches to create welcoming and gospel-centered communities that fully integrate expatriates—not merely as visitors, but as family in Christ.

Delivering a thought-provoking presentation on the topic “From Strangers to Family: Effective Integration Strategies for Expatriates” at the ongoing Home and Urban Missions (HUM) Conference 2025, Pastor Boateng offered deep theological insights and practical strategies to help churches reach and retain expatriates with love, relevance, and intentionality.

The three-day HUM Conference, which began on July 10 and ends on July 12, 2025, at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, has brought together missional leaders, pastors, and practitioners from across Ghana and beyond. It seeks to deepen commitment to reaching marginalised and unreached people groups in urban and peri-urban centres, in line with The Church of Pentecost’s broader mission.

In his session, Pastor Boateng stressed the importance of nurturing churches that are authentically biblical, gospel-centered, Spirit-empowered, and culturally aware.

Referencing the need for contextualisation, he defined it as the practice of answering the real questions people are asking in their specific time and place—using language and forms that resonate with them, even if they don’t yet agree.

“The gospels themselves are contextualized. We must communicate the unchanging message in ways that are understandable, relevant, and compelling to those from different cultures,” he stated.

Pastor Boateng challenged churches, particularly Pentecost International Worship Centres (PIWCs), to recognise that their pastoral and missional focus must extend beyond Ghanaians.

“Don’t forget that you are reaching and pastoring not only Ghanaians. Every city church must intentionally identify the expatriate groups around them and plan to reach them,” he advised.

Drawing from the “Theological Vision” model popularised by City to City Africa, Pastor Boateng explained how doctrinal foundations (hardware), theological vision (middleware), and ministry expressions (software) must work together to design ministries that reflect both timeless truth and cultural relevance.

He urged churches to rethink Sunday services by using a sermon style that is topical, expository, gospel-centered, and evangelistic, assuming non-Christians are present; and selecting music that blends Pentecostal zeal with rhythms and lyrics familiar to expatriates, possibly borrowing from their cultures.

“We must carefully consider who stands at the door to welcome people and who leads various parts of the service, as representation matters,” he further added.

Pastor Boateng also stated that expatriates often desire not only to find spiritual family but also to make a meaningful impact in their host city. “Help them see how the Church enables them to serve others. Give them a mission beyond themselves,” he said.

He advocated for forming small groups within Sunday gatherings to promote deeper community and biblical growth, noting that many expatriates are searching for safe, trusting relationships. He also advised forming intentional core teams made up of both locals and expatriates, trained to be the Church’s “evangelists” to targeted communities.

In addressing perceptions of the church among expatriates—such as suspicion of exploitation or financial motives—he called for gospel-centered leadership, hospitality, and cultural humility. “Invite them into your homes and lives so they see Christianity beyond Sunday,” he urged.

Pastor Boateng further encouraged churches to use existing resources—such as multilingual members who can bridge language gaps—and to train and release them for focused mission work. “Language is God’s powerful tool to reach us. Let’s use it to reach others of different cultures in our cities.”

He affirmed that by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Church can indeed live up to her calling—reaching and embracing expatriates, not as outsiders, but as fellow citizens of God’s household.

“With a Christ-like heart, we can hold out the Kingdom of God to expatriates. With a humble heart, we can enter their cultures and proclaim the unchanging word of God to a changing world,” he concluded.

PENT NEWS.

Pastor John Angoh, the Resident Minister of the City Churches of The Church of Pentecost in the Netherlands, has called on churches to intentionally embrace cultural and ethnic diversity as a demonstration of the Spirit’s power and Christ’s mission to reach all nations.

He made this passionate appeal during his presentation on the topic “Unity, Diversity, and the City Church: Embracing the Nations Through the Power of the Spirit” at the maiden edition of the Home and Urban Missions (HUM) Conference 2025, held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

Referencing Jeremiah 32:27, Pastor Angoh reminded participants that God is the “God of all flesh,” and that nothing is too hard for Him—including building united, multicultural churches in increasingly diverse urban spaces.

Drawing from Psalm 133, he described unity as both beautiful and powerful, comparing it to sacred oil and the refreshing dew of Hermon. “Where there is unity, there is God’s commanded blessing,” he said, stressing that a truly unified church creates the conditions for spiritual vitality and fruitfulness.

Pastor Angoh pointed to Acts 2:1–2 as a vivid example of the power of unity, where the early disciples were together in one place, leading to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

He asserted that the original design of the Church is that of a Spirit-filled, united, and multicultural body that breaks down barriers between people groups.

He also acknowledged the practical challenges of building inclusive churches in multicultural settings, including language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and subconscious bias. However, he offered biblical solutions and urged the Church to take intentional steps—such as confronting stereotypes with humility, promoting cultural sensitivity, and selecting diverse leadership that reflects the full body of Christ.

Citing Ephesians 2:14–18, Pastor Angoh emphasised that Jesus’ mission was to create a new humanity out of divided peoples. “This is our calling—to build a church that is not only diverse but deeply united in Christ,” he said.

He further drew lessons from the early Church in Acts 2:42–47, which thrived in community, shared resources, and continued steadfastly in fellowship, prayer, and the apostles’ teaching. Highlighting Acts 6:5–6, he said diversity in leadership is key to addressing cultural tensions while maintaining unity.

On the progress being made in the Netherlands, Pastor Angoh said The Church of Pentecost City Churches are already seeing growth through prayer, teaching, discipleship, strategic media use, and culturally relevant outreach.

He stated that the Church’s goal is to have more ministers from different nationalities by 2028, emphasising the need for sacrifice and intentionality to achieve this.

“Inclusive churches must foster a Christ-centered culture where the only dress code is Christ Himself (Galatians 3:27),” he said.

He encouraged churches to structure their services, squads, and leadership to reflect the diversity of the body of Christ, adding that worship styles, languages, and customs must be navigated with love, humility, and without compromising sound doctrine.

Pastor Angoh outlined several challenges multicultural churches may face, including segregation within congregations, unintentional exclusion, and language barriers. However, he affirmed that with prayer, sound biblical teaching, genuine hospitality, and openness to the Holy Spirit, these challenges can be overcome.

“I envision a Church for the nations—anointed for the city—characterised by dynamic worship, fervent prayer, relevant preaching, strategic media use, and organisational excellence. This is what it means to be a Spirit-filled, multicultural, and mission-focused community,” he stated.

The ongoing three-day HUM Conference, which began on July 10 and ends on July 12, 2025, is equipping participants to reach marginalised and unreached people groups in urban and peri-urban areas.

Leadership of The Church of Pentecost believes the conference will be a major catalyst for the Home and Urban Missions agenda, in line with the church’s broader missional vision.

PENT NEWS.

The National Coordinator for the Home and Urban Missions (HUM) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyei Kwafo, has made a passionate call to believers to take full ownership of the Church’s flagship agenda, Vision 2028, by committing to the sacrifices necessary for its fulfillment.

He made the appeal during the opening session of the maiden Home Missions Conference, underway at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, under the theme: ‘Paying Your Price in the Vision 2028 Agenda.’

Apostle Kwafo noted that the realisation of Vision 2028, which aligns with the Church’s broader ‘Possessing the Nations’ agenda, demands intentional sacrifice and personal responsibility from every member.

Quoting from Ecclesiastes 3:1–23, Acts 13:36, and Ephesians 3:10, he underscored the urgency of the moment, saying, ‘There is a time for everything, and we must act with urgency to accomplish God’s purpose for our generation. Vision 2028 has a lifespan, and we must not mark time while the opportunity passes.’

He outlined four key pillars of the theme: ‘The Charge’ – A divine call to action; ‘The Assignment’ – The specific work entrusted to each believer; ‘The Risk’ – The cost and sacrifices required;  and ‘The Reward’ – The blessings and eternal impact that follow.

Apostle Kwafo stressed that Vision 2028 is both a corporate and personal mandate. Corporately, the Church is called to actively engage in societal transformation through its ministries. Individually, every believer is expected to be an agent of change, embodying the vision in daily life and ministry, he explained.

‘Every believer must own this vision and be willing to lose something for its success—whether time, comfort, resources, or personal ambitions. Without personal investment, the vision cannot be realised,’ he stated.

Referencing Acts 13:36, he reminded participants that, like David, each person is born to fulfill God’s purpose in their generation. 

‘We will not live forever, but we must not leave this earth without fulfilling the divine mandate assigned to us. For this generation, it is Vision 2028,’ he stressed.

He further emphasised that Vision 2028 is not a human invention but a divine agenda established from the foundation of the world. Believers, he said, have been strategically positioned to contribute to its realization.

Apostle Kwafo urged Christians to minister intentionally across racial, ethnic, and social boundaries, sharing the transformative message of the Gospel with all people.

Drawing inspiration from 2 Samuel 23:8–12, he encouraged perseverance, even when it feels like few are committed.

‘At times, it may seem that only a few are pushing the vision forward, but we must press on. Whether in scarcity or abundance, with or without support, the vision must be accomplished,’ he said.

He assured the gathering that no labour in the Lord goes unrewarded, saying, ‘Whatever you sacrifice—your time, your resources, your comfort—God will repay with divine dividends. As 1 Corinthians 15:58 declares, our labour in the Lord is never in vain.’

Apostle Kwafo called on all present to embrace the urgency of the moment, act decisively, and play their part in ensuring that Vision 2028 is not only fulfilled but leaves a lasting legacy for generations to come.

Pent News

The Missions Director (MD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, on behalf of the Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has officially opened the much-anticipated maiden edition of the Home and Urban Missions (HUM) Conference 2025 at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

The historic gathering has brought together a diverse group of participants, including ministers and presiding elders from Pentecost International Worship Centres (PIWCs) across the country, ministers and their spouses serving in the Home and Urban Missions, representatives from the Chaplaincy Ministry in Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi, members of the Ministry to Celebrities Committee, and Pastor Ing. John Angoh, the resident minister of Amsterdam City Church in The Netherlands, representing the City Churches.

As the first of its kind, the conference aims to deepen participants’ understanding of the HUM agenda and equip them to advance the Church’s Vision 2028 mandate of ‘Possessing the Nations.’

In his opening address, Apostle Agyemang Bekoe encouraged all attendees to fully engage in every session and activity, emphasizing that their presence was divinely orchestrated for a greater purpose.

‘Take part and take charge, for God has a clear reason for assembling us here,’ he declared, adding, ‘The Lord is set to use this conference as a launching pad to equip us for greater exploits in our churches, communities, and beyond.’

The three-day conference, which began on July 10, 2025, will conclude on July 12. It features a range of workshops, prayer sessions, and strategic discussions designed to empower participants to pursue the Home and Urban Missions agenda with renewed passion and commitment.

Leadership of the church believes the conference will serve as a catalyst for reaching marginalised and unreached people groups in urban and peri-urban settings, in alignment with the church’s broader missional vision.

Pent News