Posts in category: Church News

The Agormanya Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle James Gabriel Quardson, has called on Christians not to give up in life since there is hope in Christ that things are going to turn around for the better.

Apostle Quardson said this when he fellowshipped with the Akosombo branch of the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC – Akosombo) at their Parousia Temple during the 31^st December 2020 Watch-Night Service. 

Speaking on the topic, “It is not too late to start it all over again” – Judges 16:28, he said that there is the newness of grace and favour for believers to pick up where they left off the pieces.

Narrating the life story of Samson, the Nazirite, he explained that before Samson was brought to the scene by God, the Israelites were under the rule of the Philistines. Then Samson became a judge over Israel for over twenty years. “With the anointing of God upon Samson, as was prophesied before his birth, he was a one-man army who single-handedly conquered the Philistines.

Apostle Quardson, however, noted that like any human, Samson had his own weaknesses, “He was controlled by sensuality after he killed a lion with his bare hands, a monumental achievement which made him challenge the Philistines into a riddle of which he lost the price of the riddle by the persuasive and enticing words of a woman, Delilah.”

He further noted that the pride in Samson coupled with the enticing words of Delilah made him reveal the utmost secret behind his strength which led to his tragedy.

The Area Head admonished the congregation to be circumspect with the people they confide in. “A strong man like Samson confided in the wrong people, misused his God-given abilities, and with just one mistake, the Philistines leveraged on it to render him powerless,” he pointed out.

Apostle Quardson, however, further explained that even in Samson’s lowest moment and in his desperate condition, he remembered his God and prayed for deliverance. He called on all and sundry to remember God in all their challenging moments since God is the only one who could grant answers to their prayers.

Concluding the sermon, the Area Head admonished Christians to cheer up since things are going to turn around for the better in 2021. “It might be a mistake on your side, but do not be downhearted for such things you went through in 2020. For in him we live and move and have our being. God will make all things beautiful come 2021,” he assured the congregation.   

The Resident Minister, Pastor Peter Adams, led the congregation through the crossover prayers ushering them into 2021.

Report by Agormanya Area Media Team.

The Atakora District in the Afram Plains Area of The Church of Pentecost on December 29, 2020, put smiles on the faces of the aged and persons with disabilities by giving them Christmas treats.

Speaking on the topic, “Kindness” based on 2 Samuel 9:1-13 at the special event which took place at the Central church auditorium, the District Minister, Pastor Francis Lamptey, stated that kindness is an act that Christians must demonstrate to the aged as well as persons with disabilities, especially during festive seasons.

“Covid-19 has taught us a big lesson that we must embrace the difficult times we are currently facing by taking care of the marginalised and the poor,” he stated.

According to him, “what King David did was a godly act of kindness towards Mephibosheth since Mephibosheth was not in the capacity to pay David back.”

He added: “God gave His Son Jesus Christ as a gift to all mankind, even though we do not deserve it. As Christians, we must also demonstrate this same love towards all people especially the aged and persons with disabilities.”

As part of the programme, the beneficiaries were given the opportunity to share their experiences in old age.

Elder Isaac Asante Boateng, a District Executive Committee Member, prayed for the participants for their physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological wellbeing.

The beneficiaries who were full of joy expressed their appreciation to the church for remembering them during the Christmas season.

A total of 37 aged and four persons with disabilities respectively attended the programme.

Also present were Mrs. Linda Lamptey (wife of the district pastor), officers, and members of the district.

Report by Grace Bantey, Atakora.

The wife of the Yennyawoso District Minister of The Church of Pentecost, Mrs. Gladys Oduro, has admonished Christians to forgive their offenders in order to receive healing for their emotional wounds and live long.

According to her, bitterness is one of the killer diseases that fights against Christians and deteriorates the health of the individual.

“Many people are dying out of bitterness. When someone offends you just forgive and forget, because forgiveness heals emotional wounds and prolongs one’s life,” she advised.

She emphasized that bitterness ruins one’s relationship with God and other people, and hinders the prayers of the individual as well.

She, therefore, advised all not to harbour pain and bitterness in their heart, saying, “If someone hurts you, it is good to go to them and point out their fault so that peace prevails.”

Mrs. Oduro, however, stated: “For the sake of peace if going to point out one’s fault will even inflame passions and worsen the situation, it will be prudent to stop and forget about it.”

She reminded Christians that forgiveness is reciprocal, stressing that “if we do not let go of our brothers’ sins, God will not also forgive us our sins.”

Mrs. Oduro made these assertions during the Yennyawoso District 2020 Christmas Convention on Saturday, December 26, 2020, at the M/A Division School Park, Krofrom in Kumasi. The convention was held under the theme, “Jesus Christ; The Prince of Peace” – Isaiah 9:6.

Dilating on “Peace” with Romans 12:18 as the anchor text for her sermon, Mrs. Oduro charged believers to strive to live at peace with all persons. She admitted that “though some people are irritating and disturbing to handle and live with, we are enjoined to tolerate and accommodate them.”

She noted that it is not just enough for believers to accept Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace, but to demonstrate His peaceful nature to others.

Describing Christians as agents of peace and peacemakers, Mrs. Oduro urged them to make way for such qualities to reflect in their marriages, families, homes, workplaces, among others.

“As Christian couples we should not consider divorce as an option when things turn out to be horrendous, because marriage is a lifelong journey,” she indicated, adding, “Whatever the case is, we must ensure that peace ensues.”

Touching on peace in the church, she noted that signs and miracles that appear to have taken nosedive nowadays in the church are due to the fact that there are factions and divisions among believers. She asked, “How can God be merciful and come to us in the midst of chaos and confusion?”

She, thus, called for a change of heart and attitude to create an atmosphere of acceptance by God so that He can work among His people.

Quoting Hebrews 12:14, Mrs. Gladys Oduro noted that failure to live peaceably with one another could cost Christians eternal life and for that matter, “we must try as much as possible to live by God’s word and pursue peace for the Scripture does not speak in vain.”

She also advised parents to avoid being discriminatory towards their children to foster unity and ensure peaceful existence among them.

Report by Emmanuel Nana Nsiah.

The Afram Plains Area Children’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost has donated assorted items to the Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital Children’s and Maternity wards as well as the Donkorkrom Orphanage.

The items donated included baby diapers, soaps, drinks, biscuits, toilet rolls, rice, cooking oil, amongst others.

The event, which took place on December 30, 2020, was to show love to the children who found themselves in the hospital and the orphanage during the Christmas season.

The Area Children’s Ministry Leader, Pastor Stephen Larbi, in an address stated: “The reason for celebrating Christmas is tinged to the love that God showed us by giving His only begotten Son as a sacrificial lamb for our sins.” He added: “The love of Christ compels us to give genuinely with no strings attached.”

The Matron at the Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital, Mrs. Rosina Amoah, and the Caretaker of the Orphanage, Mrs. Erica Benyarko, who received the items on behalf of the hospital and the orphanage respectively, were delighted that the church had shown their facilities such act of benevolence.

Present at the event were Elder Princeworth Abankwa (Area Deacon who is also the Procurement Manager for the Donkorkrom Hospital), Elder Simon Yeboah (Assistant Area Children’s Ministry Leader), Mrs. Catherine Dicka Bonsu (Area Children’s Ministry Executive Committee Member), and Miss Portia Danyi (Children’s worker).

Report by Simon Yeboah.

It was a memorable and joyous moment when many people gathered at the Twifo Nyenasi District Central Assembly in Twifo Praso Area of The Church of Pentecost to witness the mass blessing of the marriages of 33 couples, comprising 11 Elders, 4 Deacons, and 18 Brothers. Notably among the couples were Elder (Retired) Victor Ayensu (82 years) and his wife Margaret, and Mr. John Manu (72 years) and his wife Martha, who have married for 46 and 45 years respectively.

The ceremony, the first of its kind in the district, took place on December 19, 2020. It was officiated by the Twifo Praso Area Head, Pastor David Nii Addo-Pappoe, assisted by the District Minister, Pastor Matthew Mpaba.

Some of the couples who have married under the customary law for so many years were excited to have the opportunity to dedicate their marriages to the Lord.

The Twifo Praso District Minister, Pastor Vincent Ephraim Amegah, led the couples to exchange their vows after which the Area Head, Pastor Addo-Pappoe, blessed the marriages.

Preaching the sermon on the topic, “Transform Your Marriage Into the Glorious Image of Christ” based on Ephesians 5:1-2; 5:21-28, Pastor Vincent Ephraim Amegah stated that marriage is a heritage, gift, and a blessing from God, so there is the need for couples to ensure its longevity. This, he said, can be done when couples cherish the word of God, tolerate each other’s views, and forgive one another.

“You are agents of transformation; let your marriage bring glory to God for others to see the beauty of Jesus in you,” he concluded.

The Area Head, Pastor David Nii Addo-Pappoe, on his part, advised the couples to do whatever they can to sustain their marriages no matter the circumstances, because they cannot understand their spouses to the very end since they are not the same. “You are created with different temperaments, and because of that, remember that no two persons are the same. Learn to live happily with your spouse without any comparisons, and you will enjoy a happy marriage,” he said.

The couples were each presented with a certificate of marriage from the State and The Church of Pentecost to validate their marital union.

Report by Joseph Smiles Adu.  

The English Assembly in the Kintampo Newtown District of The Church of Pentecost has organised a praise and worship festival dubbed “Pent Praiz ’20.’”

The annual programme which took place on the evening of Sunday, December 27, 2020, at the church auditorium, was aimed at appreciating God’s loving-kindness towards His people throughout the year.

The District Minister, Pastor Akwasi Amponsah, in an exhortation highlighted on the goodness of God. Using Psalms 100:1-5 as his main text, he mentioned that the year 2020 was very challenging and difficult for the church in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that despite all that the Lord has been good to His church.

Pastor Amponsah admonished Christians to cultivate a heart of appreciation and thanksgiving to God for His goodness and faithfulness no matter the challenges and difficulties that confront them.

The Presiding Elder, Dr Dennis Adu-Gyasi, in an interview explained that the brain behind the programme was to worship and praise God with Pentecostal songs.

He added that The Church of Pentecost has been blessed with so many spirit-filled songs which have been documented into a songs book. “It, therefore, dawned on the leadership of the choir to oragnise this programme and to bring to light the rich Pentecostal songs, hence the name ‘Pent Praiz,’” he stressed.

The host choir thrilled the congregation with some spirit-filled Pentecostal songs which kept them on their feet amidst singing and dancing. The Kyeremankoma District Mass Choir and Sister Dianah Ankrah also ministered at the event.

In attendance were Mrs Barbara Owusu Amponsah (wife of Kintampo Newtown District Minister), Mrs Barbara Ababio (wife of Jema Nkwanta District Minister), among others.

Report by Overseer Prince Augustine Ababio, Kintampo Area Reporter.

The resident choir for Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) – Sakumono, Life Impact, has held its annual musical concert dubbed ‘Life Praise.’ The event, which took place on December 26, 2020, at the church’s auditorium, was on the theme, “Unceasing Praise” based on Psalm 104:33.

Life Impact choir ministered inspiring local and foreign songs to the admiration of the audience. Other artistes that featured were Minister Kofi Owusu Peprah, Efe Grace, and Life Theatre.

In a welcome address, the Presiding Elder of the church, Elder Michael Ofosu Ampadu, acknowledged God for His grace and mercies towards members of the choir as well as the entire congregation during the year.

He was also full of praise for the organizers of the event for a job well done.

In an exhortation, the Resident Minister, Pastor Anthony Owusu Sekyere Kwarteng, stated that Jesus Christ is the joy and celebration of Christians during Christmas. According to him, even though Christ was born in Bethlehem, spiritually Christians experience him being born in them. He added: “Christ is no longer a baby in a manger but seated at the right hand of God.”

Pastor Kwarteng indicated that Jesus Christ should be the focus of Christian worship and that Christmas is centered on Christ Jesus’ birth as well as worshipping and praising God. He stated: “Praising and worshipping God is a spiritual experience and you deceive yourself if you fail to fulfill such activity.”

Pastor Kwarteng encouraged Christians to let worship and praises be their lifestyle, saying, “Your praise should be more purposeful if you have experienced God as Lord and personal saviour.”

Elder Joseph Samuel Aggrey, the Planning Committee Chairman of the event, was grateful to God for the successful outcome of the programme. “It’s been awesome, and the presence of God was felt greatly,” he said, adding, “We trusted God for a spiritual and conducive atmosphere, and he granted it to us. May His name be praised.”

The event had church members as well as guests from other churches in the vicinity attending – singing and dancing their hearts out.

Report by Yaa Asantewaah Adu Boahene.