Posts in category: Church News

The Winneba Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Otu Appiah, has dedicated the Awutu Beraku Central Assembly church building.

The Winneba Area Head was assisted by Pastor Charles Arthur, the Awutu Beraku District Minister.

The colourful dedication ceremony, held on Sunday, July 23, 2023, also had in attendance Mrs. Gifty Dansoah Appiah (Wife of the Area Head), Pastor William Ofori Atta (Rtd.), Pastor Kofi Anyane Asare (Rtd.), Quaicoo, and Pastor Emmanuel K. Gbadago (Rtd.).

During the service, Apostle Otu Appiah delivered a sermon on the theme “You Are the Temple of the Holy Spirit,” using 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 as his scripture reference.

In his message, the Winneba Area Head emphasised that the body of every believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit, signifying that the Spirit of God dwells in them.

Apostle Otu Appiah further explained that just as the people of Corinth constructed well-decorated and magnificent temples for their gods, believers should honour God with their bodies since His Spirit resides in them.

“By this, Paul was saying that the Spirit of God dwells in them as His temple, and if God dwells in them, then it means their inner man is beautiful or magnificent,” he said.

The Winneba Area Head further stated that God is preparing His temples (believers) by endowing them with His grace, giftings, and fruit so that they can fulfill the purpose He has destined for them.

“Now, you are beautiful inside, but one day, what is inside will come out when He appears, and you shall be like Jesus,” he said.

Apostle Otu Appiah, therefore, urged Christians to lead decent and upright lives, bearing in mind that they are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for them to do.

Also present at the event were Pastor Eric Kweku Ansah, the Winneba Area pastorate and their wives, as well as members of the Area Executive Committee.

Report by Pastor Isaac Sunkwah Nekasen (Winneba Area Reporter)

After 37 years of service to The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Daniel & Mrs. Emelia Owusu Appiah were, on Sunday, July 31, 2023, retired from full-time pastoral ministry.

The retirement service was aptly described as a “thanksgiving ceremony” by the Madina Area Head, Apostle Martin Seth Appiah, who officiated the service. According to him, Pastor Owusu-Appiah’s “ministerial journey was met with turbulent times with infringing health issues, yet ‘his love, sincerity, and zeal for the work of ministry never grew cold, and today we gather to show appreciation to God for a successful ending.”

Called into the ministry in 1986, Pastor Owusu-Appiah pastored in Seniagya (then Ashanti B- Mampong Area) from 1986 to 1991, Agbozume (then Volta A) from 1991 to 1996, Donkorkrom (then Nkawkaw Area) from 1996 to 2002. He also served in Abelenkpe (then Accra East Area) from 2002 to 2008, Santasi (Kwadaso Area) from 2008 to 2014, La-Nkwantanang (Madina Area) from 2014 to 2019, and finally in Ashalley Botwe from 2019 to date where he draws the curtains down on his service.

Speaking on the theme, “Ministry in the Midst of Suffering,” Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Kwesi Anim, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Pentecost University and Resident Minister for the Oyarifa Worship Centre, encouraged believers to always see their lives as a service and ministry to God and men, notwithstanding the challenges and persecution that may come along with such endeavours.

“Our lives must be seen by all as a service that is prompted by love and also stands in endurance that is inspired by hope because there will always be accountability and reward—it is a natural principle,” he asserted.

Reading from 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7 and Colossians 3:17, Apostle Dr. Anim explained that Apostle Paul suffered greatly in his ministry (strong oppositions and great persecution) after establishing the churches in Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth, yet his love and understanding of his ministry encouraged him to endure greatly with the hope that the people will see Christ and that he (Apostle Paul) will be rewarded by the Lord.

“Our retiring colleague is committed to protecting the kingdom’s principles and values. His teachings on eschatology and the characters of the citizens of heaven depict heaven-mindedness…. We will also remember our colleague and friend for his integrity. He made sure he accounted for every resource that was allocated to him. His prompt filing of returns for grants to his districts testifies to his meticulousness in his duties,” described a testimony by the General Council of Pastor Owusu-Appiah.

Apostles Mike Obeng Andoh (Rtd), a former Executive Council Member, and Apostle A. K. Ahalivor (Rtd.), the immediate past Madina Area Head, some retired ministers, the Madina Area pastorate and their wives, among others, constituted the congregation in the highly-packed auditorium for the service.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Pastor Stephen Nyarkotey Quao, the Resident Minister for Born Again Worship Centre in the Achimota Area of The Church of Pentecost, has gloriously bowed out of active service after serving for 26 years.

His retirement service, held at the Born Again Worship Centre in Dome, Accra, on July 31, 2023, recorded a huge gathering  of members and non-members. The service was officiated by the Achimota Area Head, Apostle David Tettey Tekper.

Also in attendance were Apostle Abraham Swanzy (Petroleum Worship Centre), Apostle Johnny Peprah (Assistant Registrar, PSTM), Pastor Benedict Eghan (Personal Assistant to the Chairman), and a cross-section of the Achimota Area Pastorate (both retired and active Ministers).

Speaking on the topic; “Following God Completely,” Apostle Abraham Swanzy, the Resident Minister for Petroleum Worship Centre, emphasized that God walks with His people patiently, like a steady companion, never in haste.

“Walking is the best exercise you can find. It is a day-to-day activity; we walk every day, every hour. As you walk every day, make sure to have a day-to-day friendship with God,” he urged.

Drawing from the scripture in Numbers 13:22-24, Apostle Swanzy highlighted how God leads His people out of misery, and to follow Him fully means leaving behind the burdens of the past and embracing a new future.

“Following God means doing everything He says, being careful to obey His commands,” he stressed.

He noted that our focus should be to follow God until we are raptured to glory, adding, “we must keep and sustain the excellent spirit given to us on the day of Pentecost.”

Recalling the story of Joshua and Caleb, Apostle Abraham Swanzy encouraged the faithful to maintain an “excellent spirit” like Caleb, which enables one to support and uplift others during challenging times.

“Many issues arise because people do not follow God. We need to learn patience and avoid despising others,” he stated.

Apostle Swanzy assured the congregation that serving God faithfully ensures divine provision, even in moments of weakness.

“Caleb followed God during difficult times in the wilderness. When times are hard, we must not forget God,” he emphasized, urging everyone to stay steadfast and focused on the divine path.

Testimonies about Pastor Stephen Nyarkotey Quao’s impactful work were shared at the event, with the General Council of The Church Of Pentecost praising his valuable contributions to the nation’s development.

“His dedication and tireless efforts have left an indelible mark on Ghana’s progress. His impact spans various spheres, meaningfully impacting the nation’s development and several people’s lives.

“His messages of hope, love, and social responsibility have resonated with diverse audiences, transcending boundaries and promoting a harmonious society,” it read.

The Achimota Area pastorate described him as “hardworking, demonstrating strong work ethics in everything he does, and has a genuine concern for the well-being of others and readily extends a helping hand to those in need.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Subin Hill District in the Dunkwa Area of The Church of Pentecost has dedicated the 2000-seater church auditorium of its Central Assembly.

The multipurpose edifice, which also includes a Children’s auditorium, three offices, and five washrooms, was dedicated by the Dunkwa Area Head, Apostle Jones Awuah Afrifa, on Sunday, July 23, 2023.

The project was initiated in 2011, and after 12 years of commitment and hard work by the members, it has been successfully completed under the leadership of the current Subin Hill District Minister, Pastor E.A. Ayaabah-Willington, and his wife, Deborah.

The project is considered a great feat because it is the fourth attempt at putting up the facility after the three previous attempts failed.

During his sermon on the topic “Repositioning the Local Church According to God’s Pattern to Possess the Nations,” with Exodus 39:1, 5; 40:16, 32-34 as his main scripture references, Apostle Afrifa emphasised that God has a plan and pattern of doing things and expects believers to follow His commands, just as He commanded Moses when he was building the Tabernacle.

He cautioned that failure to act in accordance with God’s pattern results in death, as seen in the disobedience of Adam and Eve, which brought death to the world.

Apostle Afrifa further stated that everyone has a deposit of God’s gifts and talents that should be harnessed for maximum impact in personal life and society at large.

He noted that when one acts according to God’s pattern, it pleases God and humanity, which activates the blessings and glory of God.

In attendance at the dedication service were Pastor Peter Quayson (Dunkwa Area Secretary), the Area pastorate and their wives, and some clergymen from the Local Council of Churches (LCC).

Also present were Pastor Smart Kwaku Ayim, the first Subin Hill District Minister who is currently serving as the Ablekuma District Minister, Nana Kofi Agyei I (Chief of Ameyaw) with his elders, Nana Krobea Asante II (Chief of Afiafiso) with his elders, and many others.

Report by Subin Hill District Media Team

The Vice President of Ghana, His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has commended The Church of Pentecost for its continued support to national development, describing the Church as a “steadfast development partner.”

“Indeed, the contribution of The Church of Pentecost to education, healthcare, social welfare and the financial development of Ghana continues to merit the unalloyed gratitude of the Ghanaian people,” the vice president said when he addressed participants at the National Development Conference 2023 (NADEC’23), organised by The Church of Pentecost, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

The conference held under the theme ‘Moral Vision and National Development’ was attended by all major stakeholders in Ghana’s development, including former presidents H.E J.A. Kufuor and H.E. John Mahama; Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban S.K. Bagbin; the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship, Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, National Executives of political parties, leaders of religious bodies, civil society organisations and governance experts.

Alluding to the theme for the conference, the Vice President pledged that Government would work assiduously for the “establishment of a free and just society, where entrepreneurship and individual initiative are the sources of wealth creation with a strong social safety net for the marginalised and disadvantaged; and the improvement of the governance architecture to deepen accountability and respect for the rule of law in our body politic.”

He said that the government of Ghana is leveraging digitalisation to shape national discourse and promote behavioural change based on moral principles.

Outlining the positive effects achieved by the ongoing infusion of digitalisation in daily national life, Dr Bawumia said Government had taken a deliberate decision to reduce the human interface, which is usually the arena for corruption, in order to reduce its incidence and cultivate a new approach to national life.

“The behaviour of the people determines the transformation of a nation. This is why, as a government, we have focused on putting in place systems that will reduce the role of the human factor and enhance transparency through the digitalisation of the economy. We have put in place systems that will encourage or compel morally upright behaviour.”

“Through digitalisation, we are compelling behaviour that is morally upright”, he continued, noting that by reducing the human interface, state institutions and their clients have no choice but to do the right things and pay the right fees because “computers don’t understand bribes,” he said

Dr Bawumia cited the major impacts digitalisation has had on efficiency and revenue generation in some key government institutions.

“The DVLA is now a world-class institution, without the need for ‘goro boys’. Now you can apply for a passport online and have it delivered to your house without having to pay a bribe. The port is now paperless, and clearing your goods has become much easier.

“Digitalisation has also had a major impact on revenue generation. Take the Electricity Company of Ghana, for instance. Before digitalisation, the company collected an average of GHS 450 million a month. We noticed that this figure had not changed for some years, despite an increase in customers. Something clearly was not right. So, we introduced digitalisation into their processes and made all payments cashless. Despite initial resistance, the system is working smoothly. And interestingly, the monthly revenue has shot up from GHS 450 million a month to GHS 1.2 billion a month,” he disclosed.

“Before digitalisation, the Passport Office generated an average of GHS 1 million annually. After digitalising the process, including cashless payments, the Office now generates over GHS 60 million a year.

“It is therefore evident that with the infusion of digitalisation, we are creating an environment where corruption cannot thrive due to the reduction and elimination of the human interface,” he noted.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The immediate past Finance and Administration Director (FAD) of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Dr Nicholas Darko, and his wife, Mabel, have retired from the full-time ministry after serving the Church in various capacities for 22 years.

Pastor Dr Darko spent a record 19 years of active ministry at the Church’s General Headquarters as the Finance and Administration Director, making him the longest-served Exchequer of the largest Pentecostal Church in Ghana. 

A glamorous retirement service held in his honour at the Twereboa Central Assembly Auditorium in Dansoman on Sunday, July 30, 2023, was attended by people from all walks of life. Among them were officials from the National Cathedral, including Rev. Dr Joyce Rosalind Aryee (Member, Board of Trustee) and Dr Paul Opoku-Mensah (Executive Director of the National Cathedral). Also in attendance was a high-powered delegation from the Akwamu Traditional Area, led by the Paramount Chief, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III.

Ministers from the Church present included the Dansoman Area Head, Apostle Daniel Kodjoe Sey, who officiated the service; Apostle Lawrence Otu-Nyarko (Finance and Administration Director of The Church of Pentecost), Apostle Emmanuel Agyei Kwafo (National Co-ordinator of the Home and Urban Missions), Apostle Daniel K. Dekpor (Asankrangwa Area Head), Deaconess Vivian Amfo (Deputy Director of the Women’s Ministry), Apostle Rigwell Ato Addison (Rtd) – a former General Secretary of the Church, among other serving and retired ministers of the Church.

Profile of Pastor Dr Nicholas Darko

Born 65 years ago at Koforidua in the Eastern Region, Pastor Dr Nicholas Darko, who hails from Akwamufie, also in the Eastern Region, had his secondary education at the New Juaben Secondary Commercial School (now New Juaben Senior High School) at Koforidua, where he obtained the General Certificate of Education Ordinary and Advanced Levels (GCE – ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels) in 1979 and 1981, respectively.

He is a Chartered Accountant, a Fellow of the ACCA and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ghana (ICA). He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma and a Master’s Degree in Organisational Development (OD) from the University of Cape Coast. He is a Registered Organisation Development Consultant (RODC) with the International Society of Organisation Development and Change (ISODC).

He was among the five people selected from some developing countries sponsored by Global Peers and the International Organisation Development Association (IODA) to participate in capacity-building training in Organisation Development in Austria in 2012. He also received training in Group Dynamics at the University of Graz’s Centre for Social Competence in Austria. At the ISODC International Conference held in Ghana in 2013, he received an Award of Excellence for being an Outstanding OD Student and for Exceptional Performance, Willingness to Learn, Share, and an Exemplary Disposition to OD Values. 

While in ministry, he obtained a Bachelor of Theology (Hons) with distinction and a PhD in Practical Theology at the South African Theological Seminary (SATS). He is affiliated with professional bodies in Accountancy, Theology and Organisation Development.

While working as Head of the Audit Department at the Headquarters of the Church, he was called and ordained a pastor and stationed at the Headquarters as Finance and Administration Director (FAD) in 2001. He served under three General Secretaries: Apostles Albert Amoah (now retired), Dr Alfred Koduah (now retired) and Alexander Kumi-Larbi. He also served in the administration of three Chairmen: Apostles Dr Michael Kwabena Ntumy, Prof. Opoku Onyinah (now retired) and Eric Nyamekye. In 2020, he was transferred from the Head Office to Twereboa District in the Dansoman Area after serving as FAD for 19 years.

Sermon

Speaking at the service on the topic, “The Unslumbering God is your Keeper” based on Psalm 121:3-4, the Dansoman Area Head, Apostle Daniel Sey, stressed the need for believers to rely on the God Almighty because He does not slumber and fails not. According to him, God can keep and protect all who trust Him.

Testimonies 

Various testimonies read lauded Pastor Dr Nicholas Darko and his wife, Mabel, for their dedicated and selfless services and life of integrity and simplicity.

The General Council’s testimony read by his successor, Apostle Lawrence Otu-Nyarko, revealed that Pastor Dr Darko, during his tenure as FAD, utilised his extensive professional experience as an Accountant and Administrator to institute a robust financial and management system for the Church. He worked closely with the leadership of the Church to introduce monetary policies that have helped to ensure the prudent management of the Church’s resources, earning The Church of Pentecost a well-deserved reputation as an organisation with strong financial and administrative structures.  

“Equally deserving of honour is Mrs Mabel Darko, his virtuous wife. She is a woman of great cheer and love who supports her husband’s ministry with unwavering dedication,” the General Council noted. 

It added: “Her sound Bible teachings, hospitality, excellent communication skills, and respect for others have been instrumental in their successful ministerial journey. Her contribution to the Women’s Ministry at the national level and other boards and committees has been phenomenal.”

PENTECOST NEWS.