Posts in category: Church News

The Asamankese Area Head of The Church Of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Obuobi, has charged Christians to make every effort to be the best in every sphere of life they find themselves in.

Making references to the Puritans’ way of life, Apostle Obuobi noted that the Puritans viewed their way of life as a calling from God and that helped them to excel in every aspect of their lives.

He made this known on February 23, 2023, during the ongoing Odorkor Area (Tetegu Zone) Officers and Workers’ Retreat dubbed: “Apostolisation” at the Mt. Olives Worship Centre church auditorium.

Speaking on the topic: “Raising Family Altars To Strengthen The Local Church – Lessons From The Puritans” (Malachi 2:13-16), Apostle Obuobi noted that the family is the base of the nation, a medium through which the ‘Possessing the Nations’ agenda begins.

According to him, the Puritans represent fairness and purity. He said they were people who viewed the family as a conduit for God’s blessings, stressing that “if you possess your home and I possess my home, then we have possessed the nation for Christ.”

He added that family is a calling and that couples will give accounts of their marriages, saying, “Whatever God has placed in your hands, see it as a calling.” 

The Asamankese Area Head further identified three lessons from the Puritans that can help strengthen the marriage. He asked Christian couples to entirely love each other and avoid things that tend to quench love, dwell together (enjoy each other) and help each other’s salvation.

On the contrary, he noted that dissensions in marriage, infidelity and immoral conducts, are some of the possible behaviours that can dissolve a marriage.

According to Apostle Obuobi, the family must serve as a church and a seminary. He noted that the husband, who is the head of the family, should be the ‘pastor’ in the family.

“Because the family serves as a church and a seminary, we are supposed to raise a family altar. The altar is a place dedicated for worship and prayer. Every family is supposed to create an altar. Family altar simply refers to family devotion,” he indicated.

He, however, revealed that if the pastor at home and the lady pastor (the wife) do not live up to their responsibilities, the results will be catastrophic.

“The foundation of the church is the family. So, if you have a solid family, we will have a solid church, thus a solid nation,” he stressed.

Apostle Obuobi mentioned activities that can strengthen family devotion as scheduling a convenient time, teaching the word of God, telling Bible stories, making each member play active role and keeping the duration of the devotion brief.

Adding up to his sermon, Apostle Samuel Obuobi spoke on “Christian Visitation In The Local Church”. He mentioned that “Jesus Christ bought believers with a price and that makes the local church a family.” As a family, he said, there is the need to care for each other and show love.

He noted that the local church is a family and as such, there is a need for vigorous Christian visitations since it will keep the love together.

Apostle Obuobi revealed that although visitation to church members is an obligation of every officer, there are ethical considerations to note before visitations.

“Give advance notice before doing a visitation, there should be confidentiality on the part of the visitor, know your boundaries, be careful with the opposite sex and always remember to keep your visitation time short.”

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Afram Plains Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Victor Asamoah, has admonished ministers and their wives to safeguard the doctrine of the church as they reposition the local church for God.

“As you are repositioning yourselves for maximum impact, watch your life and doctrine closely,” he urged. He said this during the ministers’ and wives’ session of the 2023 Kaneshie Area Ministers and Officers’ Retreat (Apostolisation) last Tuesday at the Bethel Assembly in Kwashieman Official Town.

Apostle Asamoah said doctrine is a set of beliefs, tenets, creeds, and dogma that form an important part of an organisation, religion or system, charging, “Ministers must protect the doctrine of the church.”

According to him, the fear of God in the church must be very high in this post-modern era as knowledge abounds. He explained that despite the foundation of the doctrine of the church built on the word of God, some new leaders of the church learn from different sources due to their associations, hence infiltrating the doctrine with ‘alien’ things.

He charged the clergy to put in much effort to read the Bible daily as they reposition the church to stand the test of time. “Do not be double-minded; put in your whole mind, strength and hope in the Lord,” he said.

The Afram Plains Area Head charged ministers of the gospel to set good examples by following and practicing the doctrines of the church.

Some of the core values and practices of the church, he disclosed, are the consistent study of the Bible, being prayerful; having strong ambitions or desire for God; encouraging oneself and others in the things of God; being grateful to God and leadership of the church; working hard and aiming at excellence; preaching Jesus as Lord and Saviour; respect to authority, among others.

He further urged the ministers and their wives to avoid loving the things of the world and rather conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel.

PENTECOST NEWS

The National Music Committee of The Church of Pentecost has ended its end-of-year meetings. The meetings which came off at the Pentecost Pensions Guest House Gbawe from Thursday, February 16 to Friday, February 17, 2023 saw leaders of the various Area Music Committees in attendance to present reports of their stewardship in the year 2022.

Speaking at the meeting, the National Music Committee Chairman, Apostle Daniel Dekpor thanked all the Area Music Committee Leadership and the National Music Committee members for their dedication and commitment to work.

Speaking on the topic “Repositioning yourself to focus on fulfillment” from Colossians 2:1-7 and Matthew 21:1-4, he said in the Bible it is evident that people intentionally focused on fulfilling their God-given ministries.

Using the stories of Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Apostle Paul, Apostle Dekpor said although they went through lots of difficulties in their attempt to fulfill their ministries, they still did not give up but strived to do what the Lord had commissioned them to do. “Jesus remained focused in fulfilling what the scriptures had said about him.” He added.

He made known that, sometimes, people focus on other assignments while neglecting what has been assigned to them, because those look weightier and more attractive than theirs. Adding “God knows why he gave you one assignment and another person two. No matter what you have been given, make sure you focus on fulfilling what you have been given to do”.

He, therefore, encouraged the music committee chairmen to focus on fulfilling their music ministries since one day they will account for the stewardship.

The NMC took the opportunity to outline its annual calendar of activities to the Area Leaders present, including visits to the Northern RCC, Volta RCC and newly created Areas in Ashanti Region and Bono Region.

In attendance were members of the National Music Committee.

Report by Pastor Emmanuel Kyei Boate

The National Discipleship and Leadership Development Committee [NDLDC] of The Church of Pentecost, has honoured the Area Head of Obuasi, Apostle William Boakye Agyarko, who is an immediate past National Executive Committee [NEC] Member of the NDLDC.

This was done at the Pentecost Convention Centre [PCC], in a short ceremony on Friday, February 17, 2023 in an ongoing End of Year Report Reading and Training Sessions, involving four members each from the seventy-six [76] Areas of the Church in Ghana.

In the ceremony, a citation signed by both the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye and the NDLDC Coordinator, Apostle Samuel K. Gakpetor, was presented by Apostle Samuel Edzii Davidson on behalf of the NEC to him.

Part of the citation read, “You gave your all to the development of the Discipleship Ministry of the Church. Your simple selfless lifestyle, ready to learn and mentor others attitude, your sense of humour which made tensed meetings become a relaxing one will be endeared forever in our hearts…”.

Apostle Boakye Agyarko expressed his gratitude to both the leadership and the house, for the opportunity to serve in the discipleship and leadership development enterprise and the honour done him. He then encouraged his successors and the entire house to give in their maximum support to making many others like Christ. He served on the Committee for four [4] years.

Report by Ben Baidoo

The Yennyawoso District Minister of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Charles Oduro, has advised Christians to strenuously guard their hearts against sin.

According to him, the heart is the nucleus of the human body, which superintends and defines a person (Mark 7:21-23). He, therefore, remarked that “the condition of the heart determines the state of the person.”

“The heart is the seat of joy and mind. So, if the heart is good, it affects the person’s attitude,” he reiterated.

Pastor Oduro made this known when speaking at the End-of-Year District Presbytery Meeting held on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at the Yennyawoso Central Assembly auditorium.

Exhorting the presbyters on “Repositioning the Heart to Seek God,” he stressed that Christianity is all about the heart. 

He noted that decisions are made from the heart (Daniel 1:8) as truths are also stored in the heart.

“The heart is the place where Jesus reigns as Lord and it is the residence of the Holy Spirit where God pours His love,” he added.

Using 1 Chronicle 28:9-10 as his foundational text, Pastor Oduro, mentioned that God always expects Christians to know Him (God) and His Son, Jesus (John 17:3), and also to serve Him with a perfect and genuine heart (Genesis 17:1; Matthew 5:48).

The Yennyawoso District Minister further explained that God searches the heart (Romans 8:27) and knows the thoughts and imaginations of man (Isaiah 66:18); therefore, He reveals Himself to those who diligently seek Him (Proverbs 8:17).

Pastor Charles Oduro, however, noted that those who refuse to seek God are entirely rejected by Him. Thus, he encouraged Christians to require God as their first and vital necessity to succeed in all their endeavours at all times.

“Albeit God is good, He forsakes those who refuse to seek Him,” he admonished.

Report by Emmanuel Nana Nsiah

Nana Buabasa Adubofour Kwaw II, Chief of Atimatim, who doubles as the Gyaasehene of the Overlord of the Ashanti Kingdom, Otumfour Osei Tutu Ababio II, has commended the Atimatim District of The Church of Pentecost for their enormous contributions towards the development of the Atimatim community.

The Church received this special acknowledgement from Nana Buabasa Adubofour Kwaw II, during a durbar and sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a wall around the cluster of schools in the community held on Friday, February 10, 2023, at Atimatim in the Afigya Kwabre South District of the Ashanti Region.

The Atimatim District, under the leadership of Pastor Manasseh Mintah, last year donated 100 bags of cement and a cash amount to support the wall building project to secure school lands from encroachment and prevent unlawful entry to ensure the safety of the pupils and staff.

At the durbar to express appreciation to all sponsors and seek further assistance, Nana Buabasa stated that education contributes to the development of people around the globe and it was his utmost priority to provide resources to facilitate better teaching and learning, hence the initiative.

He acknowledged the efforts of the Atimatim District of The Church of Pentecost for their holistic approach to issues in the community. The Chief mentioned that the role being played by the Church, especially in communal works and the transformation of lives through the Gospel is immense.

“I am thankful for the existence of the Church in the community,” he said.

Report by Dennis Owusu & Emmanuel Nana Nsiah

The Presiding Elder of the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Graceland, Elder Dr. Joseph Saw Agyepong has called on members of The Church of Pentecost (CoP) to uphold the godly values of selfless giving and tithing bequeathed to them by the founding leaders of the Church.

“If our forebears have sacrificed so much for us, we have to do same for the generations ahead,” he said when he spoke at the just-ended Ministers and Officers Retreat (Apostolisation) of the Teshie-Nungua Area, on the topic;”Sacrificial Giving and Tithing.”

In his presentation, Elder Dr. Agyepong, who is also the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, a conglomerate of over 60 companies operating in Ghana and other African countries, said one of the core values of the Church which has transcended generations is the spirit of giving.

He cited the donation of jewelry by Deaconess Christiana Obo-Mends to the Church at a time of dire financial difficulty as a shining example of the selfless-giving spirit of the early members of the Church.

Relating this noble act to the story of the woman with the alabaster jar who anointed Jesus with an expensive perfume in Matthew 26:1-6, Elder Dr. Siaw Agyepong urged members of the Church to continue giving to support the work of God.

“In The Church of Pentecost, local assemblies support their ministers for their ministries to thrive. Consistently pray for your Pastor, care for your Pastor, give to your Pastor, appreciate your Pastor and submit to your Pastor’s leadership,” he said.

Elder Siaw-Agyepong further stated that paragraph (e) of the Rules of Conduct for the members of The Church of Pentecost enjoins Church members to “take the Pastor as your own friend; He needs your compassion, help and advice as you also need his, pray for him always.” (Hebrews 13:16/Gal 6:6/I Timothy 5:17-18).

He also urged members to intensify their payment of tithes to the Church to promote the Kingdom business. “Don’t listen to the negative comments on social media, pay your tithes, this value has taken care of our Church since time immemorial,” he said.

He explained that The Church of Pentecost has a covenant with God which includes financial prosperity, and this was confirmed on three different occasions at Asamankese in 1931, Winneba in 1940 and Koforidua in 1948.

“God said He will meet the financial needs of our Church and, for this reason, the Church should only depend on Him for their provisions,” he said.

Elder Dr. Agyepong indicated that, from all indications, God has been faithful to His covenant with The CoP by granting the Church enormous financial blessings.

“In 1983, the Renowned Researcher on Church growth in Ghana, Ross Campbell observed that The Church of Pentecost has become one of the very few African churches that is completely financially self-supporting.”

“Today, history has not changed as the Lord continues to bless The Church of Pentecost financially; many have sought to know the secret behind this amazing financial provision, which is our special covenant with God,” he said.

The four-day Apostolisation of the Teshie-Nungua Area, which ended on February 10, 20223, was chaired by the International Missions Director, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe. Other speakers were Apostle Moses Ahiakor (Ho Area Head), Apostle Rigwell Ato Addison (Rtd.)

Report by Teshie Nungua Media Team