Pursue Godliness – Apostle Zabre Tells Christians

Pursue Godliness – Apostle Zabre Tells Christians

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The Burkina Faso National Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Osmane Patinde Zabre, has called on Christians to pursue godliness as they await the imminent second coming of Christ and his judgement of mankind.

He indicated that godliness is living an exemplary Christian life through which unbelievers can be convicted to the saving knowledge of Christ.

“We cannot give to the world what we don’t have. We are called to set our light to shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our father which is in heaven (Mt. 5:16),” he stated. He added that Christ will definitely return to judge humanity of their deeds and that godliness would be a critical indicator on judgement day.

Apostle Zabre, who is an Executive Council Member and Chairman for the West African Francophone Bloc of the Church, made the call when he delivered a paper on: “The Local Church Upholding the Value of Godliness,” on Friday morning at the Heads’ Meeting of The Church of Pentecost at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa.

He noted that the local church should not be a religious fraternity that would be complicit in all manner of things, saying, “Conversion without conviction means nothing. The church must be the epicenter of godliness and righteousness.”

He indicated that godliness implies a devotion to God which ultimately leads to a life pleasing and acceptable to Him. He added that godliness can be viewed as the quality or practice of conforming to the laws and wishes of God as set out in the Bible.

“There is no higher compliment that can be paid to a Christian than to call him a godly person. He might be a conscientious parent, a zealous church worker, a dynamic spokesman for Christ, or a talented Christian leader, but none of these things matters if, at the same time, he is not a godly person,” he pointed out.

The Burkina Faso National Head also observed that members of the local church ought to be the salt and light of the locality within which they exist.

“As salt is a preservative against corruption, light is to expose corruption. Our good works must show the world the way of godliness as against their ungodliness,” he stressed.

He further indicated that godliness is a requirement of grace and a Christian principle manifested in power given by God.

According to him, godliness comes with persecution, sufferings but the Lord God shall rescue believers from them.

He concluded by saying that knowledge of God, transformed life, the love of God, and the power of the cross are the brook of godliness that all believers should yearn for to lead godly lives.

PENTECOST NEWS

Takoradi Area Children’s Ministry Supports Ministers’ Wives

Takoradi Area Children’s Ministry Supports Ministers’ Wives

by with No Comment Children's MinistryChurch NewsTop StoriesWomen's Ministry

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).

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Prioritise Visitation To Church Members – Apostle Anane Denteh To Clergy

Prioritise Visitation To Church Members – Apostle Anane Denteh To Clergy

by with No Comment Church NewsPEMEMTop Stories

The Men’s Ministry Director of The Church of Pentecost, who doubles as an Executive Council Member of the church, Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh, has charged the clergy to prioritise visitation to members in the church since they have been commissioned to take care of God’s flocks.

According to the PEMEM Director, Christian visitation is a divine responsibility that has been mandated by God to Christian leaders to shepherd the members.

“There is a divine responsibility on church leaders to shepherd the flock of God. You are to feed the flock, care for them, guide and guard them so that they will not go astray,” Apostle Anane Denteh stated.

Apostle Anane Denteh made this charge on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at the 2022 Heads’ Meeting of The Church of Pentecost at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa in the Central Region of Ghana.

Speaking on the topic, “Christian Visitation in the Local Church,” he said that godly fellowship, caring for one another, bearing each other’s burdens, and an expression of genuine brotherly love in Christ must always be the hallmark of the local church.

He stressed that Christian visitation is conducted with the understanding that the church as the body of Christ is a family, and the local church is the basis on which the values of the family are developed and espoused, saying, “The local church has always been the focus of church growth because that is where church members meet for fellowship, training, and deployment for ministry.”

Defining visitation, he mentioned that it is an intentional direct encounter by an individual with another person or persons for the purpose of getting to know them, understanding and addressing their felt needs, providing encouragement and assistance in the name of Jesus, and expressing constant love and care of God through words or deeds.

“The visitation ministry is about making a conscious effort to have a direct encounter with another person or group of persons with the view of fellowshipping with them and offering them the needed care, where possible,” he noted.

Continuing, he iterated that the concept and principles of visitation are visible in the ministry of the early church, which can be well understood as a practice under pastoral care ministry rather than a theological exposition.

According to him, what transpires in visitation, whether house-to-house or wherever it takes place, must be godly in nature and devoid of pursuing any rebellious behaviour against God’s church or a group of people, especially in the case of the leaders in the local church who are to shepherd the flock.

He urged church leaders to make it an obligation to visit their members, because God is the one who initiated visitation first, and as ambassadors of Christ, they must carry this task at heart.

On the importance of visiting members in the church, he said that it deepens the love and makes members feel a sense of belongingness (2 Cor. 5:14), promotes unity among church members, enhances the spirituality of the local church (Ps. 133:1-3), and promotes genuine interpersonal relationships in the church.

Apostle Anane Denteh further pointed out that lonely church members such as elderly persons, persons with disabilities, the sick, widows, and orphans feel a sense of belonging to the larger Christian community when they are visited (Mark 1:40-45), and it helps to minimize backsliding and restore lost souls to the body of Christ (Gal. 6:1-2; James 5:19-20).

To ensure the success of visitation in the local assemblies, he advised ministers to form local visitation teams, create intentional follow-up teams, involve the local presbytery, encourage virtual churches, have home visitation schedules and guides; utilize home cells and Bible study groups, and establish systematic pastoral care ministry.

Concluding his presentation, the PEMEM Director stated: “Every person in the church must nurture the desire to visit other persons just as he may want others to do unto him bearing in mind that Jesus enjoins Christians to do unto others as we may want them to do unto us.”

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Be Deliberate In Raising Family Altars – Apostle Nyamekye Tells Parents

Be Deliberate In Raising Family Altars – Apostle Nyamekye Tells Parents

by with No Comment Church NewsMoving With ChairmanTop Stories

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has challenged Christian parents to be deliberate and consistent in raising family altars in their homes.

He was of the view that excuses made by fathers who are expected to act as pastors in their homes to be absent from family devotions were not consistent with godly principles in raising children and as role models.

“Make time to be present and participate in the family devotion as the father-pastor,” he said, adding: “Don’t give excuses in the name of preparing to meet deadlines.”

According to him, family worship should be consistent, saying that “consistency is one of the strongest ingredients or components in achieving success in all endeavours.” 

Speaking on the topic, “Raising family altars to strengthen the local church: lessons from the Puritans,” at the ongoing Heads’ Meeting at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), at Gomoa Fetteh, on Thursday, November 17, 2022, Apostle Nyamekye explained that consistent family devotions have the propensity to put in place checks and balances that would inure to the benefits of the family in the long term.

“Constant communion amongst family members builds healthy relationships. But the most important of all is that our children do not grow up in pagan ignorance of Christ – that there will not rise a generation of our descendants who would not know the Lord,” he observed.

He warned that failure to raise godly children could be detrimental to the growth of the family and the church. He expressed concern about Samuel and Eli, two great prophets who could not raise the family altars in their homes and as a result had their children become deviants, thereby ending their priesthood lineage at their death.

“The promise of God could be trans-generational. However, the role of children in seeing to the fulfillment of these promises cannot be overlooked,” he indicated, adding, “Eli’s priestly line was cut short because of the behaviour of his children (1 Sam 2:27-36).”

He was quick to add that “generational blessing is guaranteed if the entire household is included in this relationship of building family altars.”

Apostle Nyamekye used the life and story of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), a Puritan and a clergyman and his wife Sarah who bequeathed a godly legacy to their 11 children and future descendants.

He enumerated that 150 years after his death, one of his descendants became US Vice-President, US Senators (3), Governors (3), Mayors (3), and College Presidents or VCs (13). The rest included 30 Judges, 65 Professors, 80 Public Office holders and 100 Missionaries.

“Edwards’ life is worth emulating, for it teaches us that leaving a godly legacy to our children should be our goal as Christian parents. Admittedly, the faith and godliness of children is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit, but I equally believe that God often uses the influence of parents to make a great impact on their children,” he observed.

He called on ministers to see their marriage and family life as a calling and their family as a church and seminary as the puritans saw and lived with an aspiration to be the best in all human endeavours.

He charged Christians to be the best husbands, best wives, best children, best masters, best servants, best magistrates, and best subjects, saying, “In so doing the doctrine of God might be adorned not blasphemed (Titus 2:7-10).”

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Apostle Dr. Ntumy Receives Standing Ovation

Apostle Dr. Ntumy Receives Standing Ovation

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The former Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr. Michael Ntumy, received a standing ovation during the opening session of the 2022 Heads’ Meetings today after it was announced that he was due for retirement next year.

Led by the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the participants of the meeting rose to their feet and gave the former Chairman a resounding round of applause in recognition of his meritorious service to the advancement of the Kingdom of God and The Church of Pentecost, in particular.

Apostle Dr. Ntumy was elected as the 4th Chairman of The Church of Pentecost in 1998 at age 40 and served in that capacity for two terms of five years.

Under his leadership, the church witnessed tremendous growth from 800,000 members in 44 nations to 1,700,000 members in 71 countries (over 160%), among several other growth and development indicators. 

He is also a former President of the Bible Society of Ghana and President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC).

In 2006, Apostle Dr. Ntumy was decorated with a Companion of the Order of the Volta (Civil Division), one of the highest awards any Ghanaian could receive from the State.

Apostle Dr. Ntumy currently serves as the Director of Literary Works of The Church of Pentecost, a position he has held since 2008 when he ended his term of office as Chairman of the church.

As Director of Literary Works, he has overseen the production of various church publications, including “God’s Faithfulness to The Church of Pentecost,” “God’s Power At Work,” and Annual Theme Books,” among others.

Other ministers of the church who are also due for retirement in 2023 are Apostle David Tettey Tekper, Apostle Dr. Benjamin Ali, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, Apostle Kobbina Atta, Apostle Jones Awuah Afrifa, and Apostle Moses Kwame Ahiakor.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye singled out the former Chairman for his visionary leadership and also commended all the ministers for their great contribution to the Body of Christ.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Promote Personal Devotions In The Local Church – Apostle Antwi Tells Leaders

Promote Personal Devotions In The Local Church – Apostle Antwi Tells Leaders

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The Cape Coast Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, has charged church leaders to promote and encourage personal devotions as an avenue in repositioning the local church to possess the nations.

According to the Executive Council Member, the local church should be seen as the focal point for the implementation of Vision 2023, which is the 5-year strategic plan of the church.

“Church leaders must, therefore, consider reviewing and strategizing activities of the local church towards this implementation,” he stated.

Apostle Antwi made this charge on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, during the 2022 Heads’ Meetings, which is happening at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa-Fetteh, near Kasoa.

Delivering a paper on the topic, “Encouraging Personal Devotion and Small Groups Prayer Meetings to Strengthen the Local Church,” the Cape Coast Area Head said that the need to develop personal devotion should come from the knowledge that the local church consists of individuals who must come together to deepen their faith in Christ (Mark 1:35, Luke 22:39-40, Acts 2:42; 8:27-31).

“It is vital that each person develops their spirituality by personal devotion to God because without each person making time to pursue God in their own lives, there is no church,” he explained.

Defining personal devotion, he said that it is an act of prayer or private worship undertaken in order to continually know the Lord and be built up in God, adding, “Personal devotions carry with it the idea of loyalty and love or care for someone.”

Using Job (Job 1:5) and Daniel (Daniel 1:8, 6:10) as examples of individuals who committed to personal devotions, the Central Regional Committee Co-ordinator of the church iterated that as a custom, personal devotions, become part of one’s behaviour by which he or she can be identified with.

He, however, noted that it should be a personal resolve and obligation to respond to worship from one’s conviction and understanding.

“In biblical devotion, we are establishing a custom in the life of the individual in the church,” Apostle Antwi stressed, urging church leaders to push personal devotion as a habit in the members to further promote the local church.

Giving the benefits of personal devotion among members in the church, Apostle Antwi pointed out that it helps the believer to grow in the knowledge and understanding of the Lord and His Word, helping believers to have a deeper relationship with Christ, grants strength to the weary, brings God-consciousness, and helps in becoming more like Jesus Christ.

Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi further admonished that small prayer groupings in the local church must be instituted to build up the spiritual growth of the members.

“Even though the church has been doing well on mass prayer time, refocusing on individuals and small groups is of utmost importance,” he said.

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The Church of Pentecost General Secretary Hailed

The Church of Pentecost General Secretary Hailed

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The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, got very emotional this morning as he announced the impending exit of the indefatigable General Secretary of the Church, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, at the opening session of the ongoing November Heads’ Meeting at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

Apostle Nyamekye threw the entire participants into a state of weeping when he sobbed and virtually became speechless when announcing the exit of the chief scribe of the church.

He stated this when he finally put himself together: “This Heads’ Meeting happens to be the last that Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi will be attending in his official capacity as the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost.”

He continued: “You will all bear with me that he has served this Church selflessly and meritoriously in the last nine years. I humbly crave your indulgence to give him a stand ovation to appreciate our brother.

He added: “May the Lord, the One whom you have so faithfully served, bless you. And may He grant you the grace to end your tenure gloriously. And may the years ahead of you be more fruitful.”

Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, an engineer by training, was appointed General Secretary of the Church in 2013 during the time of Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah. His second term of office ends in 2023.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Sunyani, Asante Bekwa Areas Win 2022 National Youth Quiz

Sunyani, Asante Bekwai Areas Win 2022 National Youth Quiz

by with No Comment Church NewsTop StoriesYouth Ministry

The Sunyani and Asante Bekwai Areas of The Church of Pentecost have won this year’s edition of the annual National Youth Quiz Junior and Senior categories respectively organised by the Youth Ministry of The Church of Pentecost.

Sunyani Area won the Junior category with 38 points, ahead of Effiduase and Cape Coast Areas which earned 29 and 29 points respectively.

In the Senior category, Asante Bekwai Area grabbed 40 points to be crowned victors whereas Assin Foso Area and Sunyani Areas garnered 33 and 23 points respectively to win the second and third positions.

This year’s event was held on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at the Pentecost International Worship Centre, Atomic in Accra.

In his welcome address, Elder Prof. Eric Appau-Asante, the Deputy National Youth Director of The Church of Pentecost, said the Youth Ministry has a vision of grounding young members and unleashing them to possess the nation which is tied to the vision of the church.

“Every young man has the law of the Lord as his delight which is the word of God. That is why there is the need for the youth quiz. They are going to rattle the word of God to show that something on the inside is working on the outside,” he explained.

Apostle Emmanuel Gyasi-Addo, the immediat-past IMD who is the current Area Head for Haatso said the National Youth Quiz is a strategic intervention to ground young people in God’s word and to also deal with heresies of the time

The quiz comprised three rounds based on Church history and current affairs; New Testament books; Bible study and Home Cell manual of the Church; Doctrines of The Church of Pentecost; Vision 2023; Youth Ministry Syllabus and Daily Devotion; Riddles and the Problem of the Day.

Question and Answers (Junior Category)

In the first round of the contest, Cape Coast and Sunyani areas, being represented by Masters Daniel Aidoo, Gideon Dadson and Robert O. Andoh Jnr. and Snr. respectfully, held on to each other with 9 points whereas Effiduase Area, gladly represented by Isaac A. Twumasi and Samuel A. Twumasi marked the two areas closely with 8.5 points.

In the second round, Cape Coast and Sunyani areas still held on to each other’s neck with 14 points while Effiduase Area again came third with 4.5 points.

In the final round, the Effiduase Area topped with 13 points whereas Cape Coast and Sunyani Areas followed closely with 12 and 11 points respectively.

The problem of the day, which was the final round of the contest, had each Area listing 10 core values of The Church of Pentecost. Sunyani was able to grasp 4 out of the 10 points with Effiduase and Cape  Coast Areas gaining 2 and 1 points respectively.

At the end of the Junior category contest, Sunyani Area was crowned victors with 38 points, Effiduase Area came second with 29 points, and Cape Coast Area third with 28 points.

Question and Answers (Senior Category)

The Asante Bekwai Area led the Senior category with 16 points in the first round, while Assin Foso Area pulled their wits by gaining 11 points, with the Sunyani Area earning just three points.

Led by Alexander Opoku and Emmanuel Agyapong, the Asante Bekwai team trailed last in the second round by earning just three points below Sunyani Area, represented by Douglas Nii Ayi Armah and Portia Amoah, and the Assin Foso Area, which was represented by Benjamin Anokye and Bright Kusi Yeboah, which had 10 and eight points respectively.

At the end of the third round, Asante Bekwai Area proved their intellectual prowess by garnering 17 points, with Sunyani Area earning nine points, while the Assin Foso Area obtained eight points.

In the final session of the Senior contest, which is the Problem of the Day, Sunyani Area had only one point, Assin Foso Area had six points and the Asante Bekwa secured four points.

At the end of the Senior contest, Asante Bekwai grabbed 40 points to win the category. Assin Foso followed closely with 33 points, while Sunyani Area had 23 points to close the contest.

Bible Bee

In the Bible Bee category, contestants recited the whole Book of Hebrews within 15 minutes.

In the Senior category, Susan Dapaah of Haatso Area won by gaining 210 points while Isaac Saae, also of Wa area grabbed 206 points to win the second position. Justice Mankata (Agona Swedru Area), on the other hand, secured 194 points for the third position.

Battling it out in the Junior category, Ruth Manu (New Tafo Area) gained 154 points by reciting the six chapters of the Book of Ephesians, whereas Evelyn Nyankotey (Agormanya Area) and Vivian Lamptey (Kaneshie Area) both had 156.5 points, leaving the category with no clear winner. Breaking the tie, Evelyn Nyankotey of Agormanya Area had extra 110 points to be crowned the winner, while Vivian Lamptey of Kaneshie Area had 98 extra points for the second position. 

In his closing remarks, the Patron of the Youth Ministry, Apostle Samuel Osei Asante, acknowledged the excellent work done by the leadership of the Youth Ministry. He thanked participants and coaches who made themselves available to be used by the Lord.

He, however, encouraged the youth to be actively involved in future competitions. Apostle Asante called on the various ministries in the church to emulate the Youth Ministry’s contest.

PENTECOST NEWS

Make The Local Church Centre Of Growth – Apostle Nyamekye To Ministers

Make The Local Church Centre Of Growth – Apostle Nyamekye To Ministers

by with No Comment Church NewsMoving With ChairmanTop Stories

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has called on the leadership and members of the Church to make conscious efforts in positioning the local church as the pivot of growth for maximum impact in the nations.

According to him, the existence of a local church whose members are loved, nurtured, and rooted in the word of God, and in Christ would be the highest joy and greatest opportunity in building up and consolidating new members who join the church.

Launching the Church’s theme for 2023 at the ongoing 2022 Heads’ Meeting at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, Apostle Nyamekye stated that The Church of Pentecost remains very committed to the Vision 2023 agenda of ‘Possessing the Nations,’ adding that equipping and building up of the local church and family unit in godliness and faithfulness will project a steadfast and strong church.

The 2023 theme: “Repositioning the Local Church for Maximum Impact in the Nations,” has 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 and Colossians 2:5-7 as the anchor scripture verses.

The Chairman disclosed that the Church will continue to adopt the military strategy of building morale and equipping the local church with a healthy church life in order to position it as a formidable army for God.

“We foresee that when the local church is repositioned, its confidence is built, the members can be equipped and unleashed – sent out as channels to make the desired impact,” he explained.

The 2023 theme has the following as thematic topics to be treated: Stoking the Fire of the Holy Spirit, Living in the fear of God in the local church, The Local Church as a Family and The Local Church Upholding the values of Godliness. The rest are Sacrificial Giving and Tithing, Repositioning the Local Church for Evangelism, Christian Visitations in the Local Church, Raising Family Altars to strengthen the Local Church – Lessons from the Puritans and Encouraging Personal Devotion and Small Groups Prayer meetings to strengthen the local church.

There were fraternal greetings from the past Chairmen of the Church, Apostle Dr. Michael Kwabena Ntumy and Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah.

Apostle Nyamekye used the opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate seven heads of the church who were attending the Heads’ Meeting in their official capacities for the last time.

Former Chairman of the Church, Apostle Dr. Michael Kwabena Ntumy, is one of the seven ministers of the Church who are due for retirement next year.

The others are Apostle David Tettey Tekper, Apostle Dr. Benjamin Ali, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, Apotre Kobbina Atta, Apostle Jones Awuah Afrifa, Apostle Moses Kwame Ahiakor.

The Chairman led participants in applauding them for their praiseworthy services to God and the church with a standing ovation.

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The Church Of Pentecost Unveils 2023 Theme

The Church Of Pentecost Unveils 2023 Theme

by with No Comment Church NewsMoving With ChairmanMoving With GsMoving With IMDTop Stories

“Repositioning the Local Church for Maximum Impact in the Nations” – 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 & Colossians 2:6-7, is the theme of The Church of Pentecost worldwide for the ensuing year 2023.

The theme was unveiled by the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, at the official opening of the 2022 Heads’ Meetings on Wednesday, November 16, at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa in the Central Region of Ghana.

According to the Chairman, next year’s theme seeks to place a great deal of emphasis on the local church and reposition her as a formidable army unit to ensure the successful mission of the Church in possessing the nations for Christ. 

“We foresee that when the local church is well positioned, it can be launched to make a difference in a hopeless world. Our local churches must be strengthened to equip and send out her members, and the members must go and take the nations for Christ as envisioned in Vision 2023,” the Chairman stressed.

To achieve the desired set goals under the 2023 theme, Apostle Nyamekye said that a pattern of teaching will be adopted, guided by some selected topics to help reposition the local church for maximum impact in possessing the nations.

The eight thematic topics are: Stoking the fire of the Holy Spirit, living in the fear of God in the local church; The local church as a family; The local church upholding the value of godliness; Sacrificial giving and tithing; The local church in evangelism; Visitation in the local church; Raising family altars to strengthen the local church: Lessons from the Puritans, and Encouraging personal devotions and small group prayer meetings to strengthen the local church.

Apostle Nyamekye disclosed that the leadership of the Church has dedicated the first three months of the Bible study sessions in 2023 to studying the rules of conduct and core values of the church, as a means of strengthening the local church and deepening The Church of Pentecost brand.

“We shall be intentional in grounding our members in the Lord. We shall build their confidence in the gospel of Christ which is the power of God that saves and unleash them into the world to be channels through whom God’s grace will flow to bless humanity.

“We intend by this theme to make the local assembly ready to combat every thought, argument and pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ,” he stated.

This year’s theme of the church is: “Equipping the Church as an Army to Possess the Nations.” As a continuation of the 2022 theme, the Chairman stressed the need to reposition the local church to achieve the desired goal, saying, “This is because to maintain unit cohesion and will to fight to possess the nations, there is the need to reposition the tactical unit (local church) to keep the fighting strength up.”

He indicated that the local church will then be more vibrant, a serious threat to the enemy and afford the Church greater success in possessing the nations, since the strength of the Church lies with the local church where real practical ministry and congregational life exist.

He stated: “As a denomination, our greatest resource is our members, and it is in their strength we find strength. It is the efforts at the local church level (tactical unit level) that culminates in the overall success of the Church as an army.

“To this end, Vision 2023 deems the local church as crucial towards the achievement of its goals and objectives.  The local church is therefore expected to be a vibrant centre for equipping members to possess the nations.”

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