Posts in category: Church News

The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has advised Church leaders to make conscious efforts to build stronger relationships with the Christian youth through mentoring and discipleship.

According to the General Secretary, combining the knowledge and experience of the older generation and the strength and speed of the young generation is a sure bet for maximum impact. 

Apostle Kumi-Larbi said this yesterday when he addressed participants of the ongoing 2023 PENSA Ghana Conference at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus.

Delivering a presentation on the theme of the conference: “Repositioning the Youth for Maximum Impact in the Nations,” the Chief Scribe of The Church of Pentecost explained that this year’s theme seeks to underscore the fact that members, particularly the youth, are the Church’s greatest resource, and must, therefore be carefully nurtured, loved and equipped to push the “Possessing the Nations: agenda.

“Repositioning the local church, therefore, means creating the needed atmosphere for the youth to be built up and made sharper for the task of influencing society with the principles, values and lifestyle of the kingdom of God,” he said.

Drawing lessons from Paul and Timothy, Apostle Kumi-Larbi further noted that the duo’s relationship offers Church leaders and the youth a great example of how Christian mentoring and discipleship ought to be carried out.

He further explained that Paul and Timothy are worthy of emulation because they both exhibited the right attitudes needed for ensuring a successful mentoring relationship.

Buttressing his assertion, the General Secretary said Apostle Paul saw Timothy’s potential as a great spiritual leader and subsequently invested his whole heart into helping Timothy develop into the fullness of his calling. 

He, however, emphasised that Timothy also aided the process because he was humble, teachable, and proved to be trustworthy.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi, therefore, urged the youth to also avail themselves to be mentored even as Church leaders make the effort to reach out to them.

“Timothy’s commitment to the Lord was so strong that he allowed himself to be circumcised in order not to offend the religious Jews they would encounter (Acts 16:3). In fact, their relationship grew to the extent that Paul referred to him as ‘my son in the faith’,” he said.

On his part, he further stated, Paul exercised patience as he nurtured his young protégé to grow in wisdom and faith. 

“Paul spent much time teaching him and even addressed two books of the New Testament to him. Paul also introduced Timothy to the joys and the difficulties of missionary life while encouraging him not to allow others to disregard him because of his comparative youthfulness,” he said.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi further indicated that the duo’s relationship also underlines the importance of the older generation discipling the younger ones.

He said that through discipling, Paul painstakingly nurtured Timothy to become a pillar in the early church and thus helped to propagate the gospel message at the time.

“In the story of Paul and Timothy, we learn that discipleship is standing shoulder to shoulder in the work of the Kingdom, iron sharpening iron; encouraging, rebuking when necessary, and sharing a common burden for a lost world,” he said.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi advised Church leaders to regard the youth as equal partners in the work of ministry and to harness the gifts, talents and potentials for maximum impact in the nations.

He also admonished the Church members, particularly the youth, to wholly embrace the tenets, values, practices and the ethos of The Church of Pentecost.

“Like every other Church, The Church of Pentecost has her own culture. Our foundational beliefs are at the heart of our theology. We have our governance system, and our way of expressing practical Christian life and ministry.

“These cultural practices are in tandem with God’s covenant with the Church, which predates the existence of The Church of Pentecost. As a church denomination, we love and cherish these practices so dearly. Hence, everyone who comes into our fold must know and diligently apply themselves to them,” he charged.

The annual PENSA Ghana Conference., organised under the auspices of the Youth Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, is the biggest youth conference in the country.

Dubbed the “Impact Makers Conference,” this year’s event, which officially kickstarted yesterday, is being held concurrently at three separate locations, namely; Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus and University for Development Studies (UDS) campus.

Speakers of the event are Apostle Eric Nyamekye (Chairman), Apostle Samuel Osei Asante (Patron, Youth Ministry) and Pastor Ebenezer Hagan (Director, Youth Ministry), among several others.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, has advised Christians to make the Church a place where true worship and affectionate love among brethren can be greatly felt.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi said this yesterday when he joined members of the Danquah Worship Centre in the La Area of The Church of Pentecost for the first Sunday service of the year 2023.

In his sermon titled: “Discerning the Body of Christ,” the General Secretary explained that the Church is a group of believers or disciples of Jesus Christ who are related through consistent gathering and membership in a Christian denomination that serves as their spiritual family for nurturing, guidance, support and ministry or service (Ephesians 4:12-16).

He also described the Church as the household of God made up of all those who have been redeemed and sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ, stressing that, as members of God’s household, Christians must value and treat each other with love. 

Apostle Kumi-Larbi further posited that Christian churches exist because of the love of Jesus, and they grow with the love of every believer strengthening the family of God. 

“Each follower of Christ is part of God’s universal family, and as children of God, we enjoy His fellowship through the life of every believer,” he said.

According to the General Secretary, fellowship is a gift from God to help the believer enjoy their faith journey with like-minded people. He said that, through Christian fellowship, the believer is able to help, encourage, strengthen, teach, and comfort other Christians – and receive the same from them.

Referring to Acts 2:42, Apostle Kumi-Larbi highlighted the strong bond that existed between the early Christians, who devoted themselves to “teaching, fellowship, prayers, and breaking of bread.” 

He explained that early believers willingly shared what they had with their brethren to the point that they had no needy persons among them, and, thus, urged contemporary Christians to emulate this “great display of brotherly love.”

The General Secretary also urged Christians to share each other’s burdens by comforting the afflicted, encouraging the disheartened, visiting the sick, and praying for those who are weak or struggling in the Christian faith. 

“Every follower of Christ carries a burden for His kingdom, and these loads become lighter when shared,” he said.

Touching on the spiritual significance of the Church, Apostle Kumi-Larbi noted that, beyond fostering healthy relationships among brethren, the gathering of Christians has spiritual implications for God’s mission on earth.

“Every Christian is like a stone, and the Church is the spiritual house that God is building. The Lord Jesus is the foundation of this spiritual temple. He is a great stone. Every Christian is a small stone built upon the Lord Jesus to become the temple of God and the habitation of God,” he explained.

He further noted that Christians, as living stones, are therefore being built up to become “God’s spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5).

“The purpose of our being built up as a spiritual house is to form a collective priesthood that is continually offering spiritual sacrifices to God,” he added.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi, therefore, called on Christians to lead righteous and holy lives at all times to make their bodies acceptable sacrifices that God could use for His purpose.

He also advised them not to speak disparagingly about the Church and God’s people as this brings the Church, and extension, God’s name, into disrepute.

“Rather, make your concerns and grievances known to the appropriate authority for explanation or redress, he advised.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has advised Christians to resolve in the New Year to obtain God’s favour at all cost.

According to him, pursuing divine favour, which he also describes as the Lord’s approval, would bring upon an individual untold blessings, cause God to make worthwhile interventions in their circumstances, and connect them to their destiny.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi revealed this in a sermon at the Osu Central Assembly church auditorium during the recently-held 31st December watchnight service.

Speaking on the topic “The Highly Favoured One,” the General Secretary explained that the manifestation of God’s abiding presence in the life of an individual is what reflects as the favour of God. 

He, however, stressed that God’s grace must precede His favour because the Grace of God revealed in Christ transforms a person’s heart from one opposed to God to one that can be approved and inhabited by the Holy Spirit.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi therefore indicated that divine favour is a distinguishing mark of every believer since only those who have experienced the grace of God in Christ Jesus can receive it.

“Anyone who has encountered the grace of God in Christ that transforms the heart and has the abiding presence of God is highly favoured. So, as a child of God, you must accept that you are indeed highly favoured,” he explained.

Making reference to the encounter between Angel Gabriel and Mary in Luke 1:28-30, 38, Apostle Kumi-Larbi noted that the former addressed the latter as “highly favoured” and “blessed” due to the unique task and privilege she had to be the earthly mother of the Messiah, through whom salvation would come to all humankind.

“Gabriel’s emphasis was on the privilege Mary had received, not on her status as a virgin or a member of the house of David, but just that she had found favour with God and become the recipient of His grace; His undeserved favour,” he explained.

The General Secretary further noted that, just as people usually favour those who favour them, God also shows favour to those who honour Him with their words and deeds.

Quoting Isaiah 66:2 and 2 Chronicles 16:9, Apostle Kumi-Larbi advised Christians to develop an intimate relationship with God and to delight in, connect with, and give honour to Him daily so as to be rightly positioned to receive the Lord’s approval (favour).

“Mary gives us an example of her total devotion to the Lord in her answer to the angel Gabriel: ‘I am the Lord’s servant. May it be unto me as you have said.’ [Likewise], may we have the wisdom and grace to answer God’s call, whatever it is,” he said.

Touching on the benefits of divine favour, the General Secretary noted that people who are divinely favoured receive special strength to outrun their competitors and accomplish great feats even with little effort. 

Apostle Kumi-Larbi further noted that people who are divinely favoured are selected among many other qualified persons.

“Divine favour is also said to be in operation when a man seeks the face of God in prayer and has all his request granted, and also when help is made available unto a person at a time and from a place they least expected as was the case of the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda in John 17: 1-15,” he said.

The General Secretary also stated that divine favour is seen at work when one is called by God for the work of ministry when they least expected; when one always receives kindness from others; when one is singled out of a crowd; and when, all of a sudden, every endeavour one undertakes begins to succeed or prosper.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi, however, cautioned Christians who have obtained God’s favour not to take it for granted like Saul, Samson and Lucifer but to guard it jealously.

He mentioned disobedience to God, immorality, pride, stinginess (selfishness), wickedness and prayerlessness, among others, as some actions that could cause one to lose God’s favour.

PENTECOST NEWS.