Posts in category: Church News

Elder Ebenezer Anim-Yirenkyi, Principal Finance Officer at the Pension Office of The Church of Pentecost, received a standing ovation from participants of this year’s Retirement Seminar in recognition of his dedicated service to the Church for over three decades. Elder Anim-Yirenkyi retires from his role this year, having served God and the Church in this capacity for 31 years.

Apostle David Amankwaa, a member of the Pension Board of the Church, eulogised the retiring officer on Day 2 of the Retirement Seminar currently underway at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Millennium City, near Kasoa in the Central Region.

He commended Elder Anim-Yirenkyi for playing a pioneering role in the establishment of the office and led the retired ministers, wives, and widows present to applaud him for his service.

Speaking with PENTECOST NEWS on the sidelines of the event, Elder Anim Yirenkyi said, “I feel very honoured by the gesture. But more importantly, looking back on how far the Pension Office has come, I feel very fulfilled. When I look at the fund we were managing at the time and how far we have come, I give glory to God. But all I can say is, I feel very fulfilled.”

The Pension Office was set up 31 years ago by the Church to see to the welfare of retired ministers, ministers’ wives, widows, and children of ministers who pass on in active ministry.

The office is overseen by the Pension Board, which is constitutionally mandated, among others, to manage the Pentecost Ministers’ Welfare Fund and also organise programmes for retired ministers and wives with approval from the Executive Council.

The Board is chaired by Apostle John Appiah Aidoo (Abuakwa Area Head), and has Apostle Lawrence Otu-Nyarko, Apostle David Amankwaa, Pastor Issa-Gustav Abubakar (Secretary), Elder Emmanuel Anane Boate, Elder Lawyer Kweku Agyei Gyamfi, Elder Nathan Kwaffo, Elder Benjamin Enoch Donkor, and Elder Lawrence Adu Kusi, as members.

The Pension Office, which began with less than 10 retired ministers of the Church, now takes care of over 500 retired ministers, wives, and widows. Presently, the office is sponsoring 49 children of ministers who passed on in active service through their education.

Over 500 ministers and widows are currently participating in this year’s retirement seminar. Speakers of the event include Apostle Eric Nyamekye (Chairman of The Church of Pentecost), Apostle Rigwell Ato Addison (Rtd.), Apostle Dr. Alfred Koduah (Rtd.), Apostle Prof. Peter Ohene Kyei (Rtd.), Apostle Dr. Philip Osei-Korsah, Elder Dr. Ken Aboah, Elder Lawyer Adu Gyamfi, and Elder Kofi Owusu.

Some of the special side attractions introduced in this year’s conference include indoor games, cardiovascular exercises, and old Pentecostal tunes.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Mrs. Grace Amoah Baffour, a retired minister’s wife of The Church of Pentecost, has called on the Church’s retired ministers and wives to continue to serve God and the Church even in retirement.

Mrs. Baffour said this on Thursday, August 10, 2023, when she exhorted participants of the ongoing Retirement Seminar at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Millenium City, near Kasoa.

Preaching on the topic: “Repositioning the Local Church for Maximum Impact Role of a Retired Minister,” with 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20, Mrs. Baffour emphasised the instrumental role that ministers and their spouses play in the growth of the Church. She said that, like Apostle Paul, the crown of their labor in the Lord’s vineyard is to see succeeding generations holding fast to the faith that they entrusted to them.

According to her, ministerial service does not necessarily end in retirement, as there is still the opportunity for them to serve God beyond active service.

She cited Anna, who, even at the ripe age of 80, continued to serve in God’s house through prayer and fasting. “Likewise, we can also continue to intercede for the Church while in retirement,” she said.

Reading Psalm 27:4, she explained that although David was not the one to build the Lord’s temple, he contributed his part by providing the materials needed for its completion.

“As retired ministers, we can also encourage those in active service with the word of God, pray for the Church, and take an active part in the church activities,” she said, stressing that: “Our retirement is only physical because we our spirit is not retired.”

She also advised them not to fold their arms unconcerned but to be interested in everything that goes on in the Church. “We should not look down on ourselves and say we are now ‘backbenchers’ because even sometimes, substitutes come on and score goals,” she said.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The 2023 Retirement Seminar, an annual event for retired ministers and their wives, widows, and widowers within The Church of Pentecost, has commenced at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa.

Organised by the Pension Board of The Church of Pentecost, the seminar began on Tuesday. It will end on Thursday, August 10, 2023, focusing on the theme, “Repositioning the Local Church: The Role of the Retired Minister,” based on 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 and Psalm 92:12-14.

The speakers for the seminar include Apostle Eric Nyamekye (Chairman), Apostle John Appiah Aidoo (Chairman, Pension Board), Apostle Dr Philip Osei Korsah (Director, Counselling Ministry), Apostle Rigwell Ato Addison (Rtd) – Trustee & Former General Secretary of the church, Apostle Dr Alfred Koduah (Rtd) – former General Secretary, and Apostle Prof. Peter Ohene-Kyei (Rtd) – former Rector of Pentecost University.

Others are Elder Lawyer Kwaku Agyei Gyamfi (Member of the Pension Board & Legal Advisor to the church), Elder Kofi Owusu (Dietician), Elder Paul Kofi Mante (MD, Ecobank EDC), and Elder Dr Kwabena Boamah (MD, Stanbic Investment Management).

The speakers will cover a wide range of topics, including the Ministers’ Welfare Fund Policy, Willing Process and Procedure, Interstate Succession Law, Emotional Health in Retirement (including aspects like Empty Nest Syndrome and Loneliness), Ageing and Associated Health Concerns, Diet and Exercise in Old Age, Staying Socially Connected During Retirement, Continuing Ministry in Retirement, Investment Insights, and Sharing Life Experiences in Retirement/Thriving in Retirement.

In his welcome address, Apostle John Appiah Aidoo, the Chairman of the Pension Board, highlighted the performance of the 2022 Pentecost Ministers’ Welfare Fund.

“As of December 2022, the total number of retirees and spouses in the church stood at 278, with an additional 141 widows,” he said.

He noted that 26 ministers and their wives were added to the list after retiring this year. He stressed that the fund supports 49 ministers’ children under the scheme.

Highlighting the significance of the seminar’s theme, Apostle Aidoo emphasised the crucial role retired ministers and their partners play as pioneers and spiritual guards within the church.

The Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, urged the participants to seek the Lord’s presence for their health and happiness, acknowledging that old age is a blessing that comes with its unique challenges, including loneliness.

“Old age is a blessing, but all things being equal, ageing also means closer to the grave; it means loneliness for most people,” he stated, adding, “The utmost desire and hope is for health and happiness.”

He prayed that their spirits would be strong in the Lord, their souls filled with fortune and their bodies be strong.

The seminar is attended by about 500 participants and virtually for remote participation.

PENTECOST NEWS

The newly-constructed Mission House of the Thomas Nyarko Worship Centre in the Teshie-Nungua Area of The Church of Pentecost was dedicated on Sunday, August 6, 2023.

The service was officiated by the Area Head, Apostle Wilberforce Nkrumah- Agyeman, with assistance from the outgoing Resident Minister for Thomas Nyarko Worship Centre, Overseer Emmanuel Marfo.

Apostle Nkrumah-Agyeman commended the leadership of Thomas Nyarko Worship Centre for putting up the beautiful edifice to serve as a permanent place of residence for their Resident Minister.

Preaching on the topic “Repositioned to Stand Firm,” Apostle Wilberforce Nkrumah- Agyeman quoted various Bible texts including Matthew 7:24-27, 2 Kings 2:19-22 and Psalm 11:3 and explained that the builders in Jesus’ parable in Matthew 7:24-27 put up both buildings under similar circumstances and were faced with the same storm. However, it was the one whose foundation was on the rock that could withstand the raging storm.

He said that Christians are not immune to challenges and troubles of life because God has not promised a problem free Christianity.

He continued that the rain in the passage represents a short succession of trials while the flood represents a prolonged season of trials that becomes overwhelming.

He reiterated that all these trials come as a test, to test the faith of believers in Jesus Christ.

“It is only when Christians are deeply rooted in Jesus Christ and in His word, that they will be able to overcome every trial that comes their way,” he said adding, “As Christians, Jesus is our anchor and we must be firmly grounded in Him by abiding in His word because Jesus Christ is our sure foundation.”

Christians, according to him, should remain steadfast in the Lord when trials and tribulations come because the God of all grace will Himself restore them and make them strong, firm and steadfast, quoting from 1 Peter 5:10.

Apostle Nkrumah-Agyeman commended Elder Alfred Quainoo, a building contractor from the Tebibianor District of the Teshie-Nungua Area, who in short time was able to put up the ultra-modern Mission house.

Pastor Marfo expressed gratitude, on behalf of the Worship Centre, to the leadership of The Church of Pentecost and the Area for their invaluable support.

Report by Pastor Bernard T. Kofie

The Downtown Ofaakor Area Office Complex of The Church of Pentecost has been dedicated by Prophet Kamkam Beditor, Ashaiman Area Head and Co-ordinator of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Committee of the church, and assisted by Apostle Dr Benjamin Ali, Downtown-Ofaakor Area Head.

The dedication service took place on August 2, 2023. Among the ministers present to grace the occasion were Apostle James Kwabena Asare (Kasoa Area Head) and Apostle Samuel Osei Asante (Kaneshie Area Head and Executive Council Member) and their wives, as well as the architect and designer of the building, Pastor Jonathan Ebo Quaye, who is currently PENSA-KNUST Campus Pastor.

In his opening remarks, the Area Head, Apostle Dr Benjamin Ali, explained the need to mobilise funds to construct a permanent Area Office to address the issues of limited office space and the high cost of rent.

Delivering the sermon on the topic, “Be a Worthy Steward for Maximum Impact,” Prophet Kankam Beditor, an Executive Council Member, said that every servant is a steward who must demonstrate obedience, trustworthiness, serviceability, knowledge of and honour for his master. He admonished believers to guard what has been entrusted to their care so they can be trustworthy. 

Prophet Beditor was very impressed and appreciative of the Downtown-Ofaakor Area Head and his team for rendering a good account of funds used for the project and producing excellent work in such a short time. 

According to the Area Deacon, Elder Victor Israel Koufie, the project cost GH¢941,580.63 through the Area’s internally generated funds.

The office complex has seven offices with eight washrooms, two reception rooms, a conference room, a restroom, two kitchenettes, a waiting room, and a store room, revealed the Area Estate Committee Chairman, Pastor Isaac Kwasi Gyadu, who conducted the guests round the facility.

Carved out of the Kasoa Area with 14 districts, the Downtown-Ofaakor Area was inaugurated on September 3, 2018, with Apostle Samuel Otu Appiah as the first Area Head. It operated from the rented Patmos Island apartment in Akweley. In September 2019, when Apostle Dr Benjamin Ali took over, he initiated plans to build a new office complex. 

Apostle Dr Ali, on June 8, 2021, cut the sod for the commencement of the project with the support of the former Area Deacon, Elder Felix Nyarko, and the Area Executive Committee. He laid the foundation stone on July 23, 2022, with the completion of the ground floor. To the glory of God, the entire project has been completed.

Report by Overseer Stephen Danso.

The Bonwire District Minister of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Titus Oni Kwarteng, has encouraged Christians not to live in fear of what the enemy will do because victory is guaranteed so long as they remain in Christ Jesus.

Speaking on the topic: “No Weapon Formed Against You Shall Prevail,” during the New Tafo Area monthly prayer meeting held on Friday, August 4, 2023, at the Sepe-Buokrom Revival Centre, Pastor Oni Kwarteng supported his sermon with scriptures from Isaiah 54:16-17; Psalm 34:19; 2 Corinthians 1:10 and Romans 8:31.

He explained that though the devil may pelt Christians with all kinds of missiles, the Lord will  surely deliver them from all because Christians are the chosen people and inheritance of God. 

He defined weapon as any element, which has the tendency to destroy. According to him, since the destroyer was created by God Himself, God has an absolute control over him and for that matter, his schemes against Christians will not materialise.

Sharing a testimony of a Christian woman who was tried severally to be eliminated by some fetish priests but failed, Pastor Oni Kwarteng stressed that “if God is for us no one will be able to stand against us.” He, therefore, urged the congregants to continually invest their full trust in God and have a firm belief in Him.

The Bonwire District Minister, however, advised the congregants to guard themselves against doubt and unbelief (Ephesians 6:11; James 1:6-8), fear and anxiety, and sin as such are weapons the devil employs against Christians.

Touching on how God brings deliverance to His people, Pastor Titus Oni Kwarteng explained that God, through the word of His promises (2 Peter 1:4); the power of the Holy Spirit; angels, and the blood of Jesus, delivers Christians from the machinations of the devil.

After the sermon, the Area Head, Prophet Samuel Tetteh Doku, ushered the congregants into a period of prayer.

Report by Emmanuel Nana Nsiah