Posts in category: Church News

The outgone Abrem Agona District Minister of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor George Ofori, has been enstooled as the Development Chief (Nkosohene) of Abrem Agona by Nana Tekpor V, the Chief of Abrem Agona and acting Paramount Chief of the Abrem Traditional Area in the Central Region of Ghana.

The historic event took place on Sunday, August 14, 2022, at the church auditorium of the Abrem Agona Central Assembly during a farewell service held in honour of the minister and his family.

Pastor George Ofori, who is on transfer to Madagascar as National Head, is the first minister of the Church to be enstooled as a Development Chief. His stool name is “Pastor Nana Ofori I.”

Stating the rationale behind this historic enstoolment, Nana Tekpor V said that the Abrem traditional area has witnessed tremendous development since the minister’s arrival.

According to him, Pastor Ofori was very instrumental in the Church’s construction of an ultra-modern Police Station for the people of Abrem and its environs.

“The Abrem Police Station is one of a kind and has been adopted by the Ghana Police Service as a model for putting up Police Stations in the country,” he said.

The Abrem Agona Chief further noted that Pastor Ofori also led the Abrem Agona people to mobilise resources to commence a six-apartment quarters for the police personnel – a project that is currently at the window level.

Among other extraordinary feats, Pastor George Ofori led the elders and the people of Abrem Agona to review their “Aye” festival to make it more development-focused.

“The ‘Aye’ festival, which hitherto promoted idolatry, has been transformed and renamed ‘Love Festival,” he said.

Taking its biblical basis from John 3:16, the Love Festival now focuses on uniting the Abrem Agona people towards development and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ towards each other. The festival is also climaxed with an interdenominational Church service involving the entire community folk.

“God has indeed used Pastor George Ofori and the Local Council of Churches in Abrem Agona to strengthen the relationship between the community and the Church. So, I can boldly say that God, through The Church of Pentecost has possessed the entire community,” he said.

Ending his message, Nana Tekpor V expressed missed feelings about the departure of “Pastor Nana Ofori I”, whom he referred to as his trusted advisor, but was confident that the Lord was going to use him to do exploits in Madagascar.

Pastor Nana Ofori I, now a member of the royal family of Abrem Agona, was presented a portion of land (100x100ft) by the Traditional Council to affirm his royal status.

The Cape Coast Area Head and Executive Council Member of the Church, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, who officiated the service, led the chiefs and the congregation to thank God for the great things He has done through the minister.

He also led them to pray for divine protection for the Abrem people and the development of the traditional area.

In attendance at the ceremony were Mrs. Margaret Serwaa Antwi (Wife of the Area Head), clergymen, the queen mother of Abrem Agona, chiefs and family heads in Abrem Traditional Area, assembly members and education officers from KEEA, among others.

Report by Ebenezer Ayivi Okoampah (Cape Coast Area Media Pastor)

The Shiloh Assembly in the Mankessim District of The Church of Pentecost has organised a weeklong “Vacation Bible School” for children.

The event, which is a first of its kind, took place from August 22 to 26, 2022 at the church auditorium of the Assembly. It was aimed at engaging the children through prayer and the study of the word of God during their school vacation period.

As part of the school curriculum, the children were taken through various activities, including learning songs, colouring, arts, and spiritual exercises such as Bible reading and intensive prayer sessions.

The District Minister, Pastor Benjamin Kufordjie, visited the school and encouraged the children to continue to have faith in God. He also advised them to be God-fearing by obeying the commandments of God in order to receive divine blessings. 

Elder James Botwe, a member of the Mankessim Area Children’s Ministry Executive Committee, also paid a visit to the school. He advised the participants to be good children and always put on the whole armour of God.

At the end of the school, it was observed that most participants had developed a strong interest in the things of God and had become very conscious of the fact that they are God’s children.

They also learned that they must always put on the whole armour of God to withstand the schemes of the enemy (Satan).

Some parents who visited the school expressed joy and appreciation to the leadership of the Church for the great initiative.

PENTECOST NEWS

The issue of environmental cleanliness has been of grave concern for most African governments in contemporary times due to the high level of use of rubber products (poly-ethene bags, sachet water rubbers and bottles) which are non-degradable materials and harm the environment and human life in general.

This, among other reasons, is why The Church of Pentecost introduced the “Environmental Care Campaign” as one of the focal areas of its five-year strategic vision, dubbed “Vision 2023: Possessing the Nations,” to help deal with the increasing environmental challenges in the country.

The campaign, first launched in 2019, is carried out annually in partnership with Zoomlion Ghana Company, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group, as well as the government of Ghana, with an objective to make Ghana one of the cleanest countries in Africa.

The fight against environmental degradation received a boost on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, when the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, commissioned an integrated recycling and compost plant at Damongo in the Savannah Region of Ghana.

The facility was constructed by the Jospong Group, in partnership with the Government of Ghana, to treat and recycle waste generated in the region into secondary products, like compost and other fertilisers, for agricultural use.

The President, in his address at the colourful commissioning ceremony, commended Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyapong, the Chairman of Jospong Group and an Elder of The Church of Pentecost, for his forthrightness, dexterity, and competence in delivering the project on time, describing him ‘as the greatest businessman man and visionary of our time.”

Delivering the keynote address, Elder Dr. Siaw Agyapong emphasised that great leaders see ahead of time and proffer solutions before the challenge arises. 

He noted that in addition to dealing with waste in the country, the plant would help ease the burden of the state in providing fertiliser to support farming.

The Coordinator for the Northern Regional Coodinating Committee of the Church, Apostle Sylvest Arhin, who led a Church delegation to the event, thanked God for the intervention and also prayed that more of such projects would be undertaken to improve sanitation and help alleviate poverty from the land through the creation of employment. 

He further prayed for Elder Agyapong, the President and the country to enjoy continued peace within which development can be envisioned.

Apostle Sylvester Arhin, also an Executive Council Member of the Church, was accompanied by Apostle Nii Tackie (Wa Area Head), Pastor David Amankwaa (Sawla Area Head) and some ministers from the Tamale Area.

Also present at the August ceremony were some ministers of state, namely, Hon. Saeed Muhazu Jibril (Savanna Regional Minister) and Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor (Member of Parliament for Damongo and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources).

The Buipe Wura and Vice President of the Savanna Regional House of Chiefs, Jinapor II, who represented the Yagbon Wura, and 32 paramount chiefs from Gonjaland also graced the occasion. 

Report by Sawla Media Team

Prophet Ebenezer Kofi Appiah, the outgone Area Head of the Dansoman Area of The Church of Pentecost, and his wife, Janet, have bowed out of active service after 29 years of meritorious service in the full-time ministry.

A glorious retirement service was held in honour of the minister and his family last Sunday at the Mamprobi Central Assembly church auditorium in Accra. 

The event was officiated by Apostle Mike Etrue (Executive Council Member and outgoing Kaneshie Area Head) with support from Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh (Executive Council Member and Pentecost Men’s Ministry Director) and Apostle Amos Jimmy Markin (Evangelism Ministry Director).

Taking scriptural references from Genesis 37:9-11, Proverbs 4:18 and Psalm 105:19, Apostle Jimmy Markin preached on the topic “The Path To Your Destined Place” at the event.

In his sermon, the Evangelism Director stated that the Lord has a plan for everyone, hence believers should have no fear of the future.

“The Lord is the one who elects and leads the people He has called. For this reason, we should not be afraid of what the future holds; for great is the goodness and favour of God to all,” he said.

He further indicated that God has a well-thought-out plan for His children but He never reveals them because of the afflictions to be encountered as one embarks on the Christian journey.

According to the Evangelism Director, the tests include the test of one’s service and sacrifice; wisdom, and how one manages greatness.

He, therefore, advised Christians to be determined to pass whatever test they are given at all costs, adding that “Favour always attracts enemies so we should not be distracted by them.”

Throwing more light on grace, mercy and favour, he explained that “Grace is an extended mercy and not unmerited favour, and that God gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). Favour, on the other hand, comes not by chance.”

Apostle Jimmy Markin ended his sermon with a word of encouragement to believers to solely depend on the sovereign God for provision and providence. 

Present at the retirement service were Pastor Ebenezer Hagan (Youth Ministry Director), and Deaconess Philomina Mireku (Women’s Ministry Director). Also in attendance were the immediate-past General Secretary of the Church, Apostle Dr. Alfred Koduah (Rtd.), other relatives and friends of the retiring minister, as well as members of the Dansoman Area. 

Report by Lawrence Asiamah and Lawrenda Ami.

The Coco Beach District in the Teshie-Nungua Area of The Church of Pentecost has won 131 souls through beach evangelism it organised in collaboration with the Pentecost Students and Associates (PENSA), Legon.

The aggressive evangelistic drive took place from July 29 to 31, 2022, at the Coco Beach enclave.

Prior to the exercise, the district held a three-day evangelism conference which was aimed at empowering the members with the power of the Holy Spirit and the word of God for effective evangelism.

Other activities engaged in were street evangelism, house-to-house evangelism, one-on-one evangelism and ghetto evangelism.

Out of the 131 souls won for Christ, 22 were baptised in water with one person receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Notable among the various spectacular events that occurred was the conversion of a football team who were training at the beach.

Report by Fred Broohm.

The Bawku Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Gyambibi Boateng, has dedicated the newly built Zebilla District mission house.

The 5-bedroom apartment was dedicated on August 6, 2022.

The construction of the new mission house commenced in 2019 by the immediate past District Minister, Pastor George Tackie, due to the deteriorating nature of the old mission house, which was constructed in 2000.

Delivering a sermon at the service on the title, “Divine Call and Radiated Mission House,” the Bawku Area Secretary, Pastor Joel Essel Donkoh, who doubles as the Bawku District Minister, charged Christians to take their positions as servants and witnesses of God because of the divine call upon their lives.

Quoting from Acts 26:16-18, Ephesians 5:16, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Pastor Donkoh explained the benefits of a mission house, urging Christians to endeavour to visit mission houses to tap the blessings of it.

The old mission house has accommodated six ministers. They are Pastor Samuel Kofi Yanney, Pastor Owusu Boadi (late), Pastor Kwasi Afoakwah Duah, Pastor Thomas Appiah, Pastor Emmanuel Yarquah, and Pastor George Kwaku Tackie.

Present at the dedication service were the Bawku Area Pastorate and their wife, members of the Zebilla District, and well-wishers.

In a related development, Apostle Eric Gyambibi Boateng has laid the foundation stone of the English Assembly auditorium of Zebilla District.

Report by Bawku Area Media Team.

After 35 years of serving The Church of Pentecost, Apostle James Nana Ofori, Mankessim Area Head, and his wife, Mrs. Ellen Mary Ofori, have ended their active service in the church.

The glorious retirement service which was held on Sunday, August 21, 2022, at the Estate Central Auditorium in Mankessim, was officiated by the Co-ordinator of the Central Regional Co-ordinating Committee and Executive Council Member of the church, who doubles as the Cape Coast Area Head, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi. 

The event saw people from all walks of life in attendance to honour and appreciate God for the great work He has accomplished through his servant.

Delivering a sermon on the topic, “All Because of Him,” Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi entreated believers to always remember where they come from and how they have been saved by the grace of God, saying, “Some of us were not influential and were not born with silver spoon in our mouths”

Using Luke 19:28-35; 17:10; Mark 15:5; 1 Corinthians 1:26-30 as scripture references, the Cape Coast Area Head said that like Barabbas, most ministers in the full-time ministry today were unqualified but God chose the foolish things of this world to glorify Himself and shame the wise.

“Ministers of the gospel must understand that all that we have been made of is because of the Master,” he stated while admonishing the clergy to eschew pride, exaggerations on matters and super-heroism.

Apostle Antwi, therefore, urged Christians to be humble while staying at the feet of Christ for greater glory, adding that “after all is done, know that you are a worthy servant for you did what was required of you.” 

Apostle James Nana Ofori was born on July 15, 1957, at Obo Kwahu in the Eastern Region to Opanyin Kwadwo Appah and Madam Elizabeth Yaa Ofosuhemaa, both of blessed memory. He had both his elementary and secondary education at Obo- Kwahu and received his G.C.E. O’ Level in 1973. He also holds a certificate in Library and Archival Studies from the University of Ghana, Legon, and a Bachelor of Theology from Canada Christian College.

Before joining the full-time ministry of the church, he worked as a Librarian for nine years at the University of Science and Technology School of Mines and Technology (now University of Mines and Technology), Tarkwa from 1978 to 1987.

Throughout his 35 years of ministry, Apostle Nana Ofori served at seven stations commencing from Ankaase (1987-1992); Ashanti Mampong (1992-1995); Assin Manso (1995-2001); Ashaiman (2001-2007); Kwadaso (2007-2012); Sunyani (2012-2017) as District Pastor, and Mankessim Area as Area Head (2017-2022).

Notable among the various leadership positions he held was the Central Regional Treasurer of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), from 2018 to 2022, and GPCC Mankessim District Chairman, from 2018 to 2022.

Testimony by the General Council described Apostle Nana Ofori as a “dynamic man of God who operates in charismatic gifts, prayerful and grounds breaker in new and difficult terrains.”

Both the Mankessim Area Presbytery and the Pastorate described him as a great lover of music and a worshipper, evangelistic man and a motivational minister.

The Area Women’s Ministry also described Mrs Ellen Mary Ofori as a formidable, affable woman who always beams with smiles and a homemaker whose hospitality know no bounds.

Gracing the event were Osagyefo Amanfo Adu VI (Paramount Chief of Mankessim Traditional Area), Hon. K. K. Essuman (former MCE for Mfantseman), and Hon. Samuel Obodai (former Deputy Central Regional Minister).

Also present were Apostles Daniel Kwaning Mireku and wife (Agona Swedru Area), Frederick K. Andoh and wife (Assin Fosu Area), Jones Awuah Afrifa and wife (Dunkwa Area), David Nii Addo -Pappoe and wife (Twifo Praso Area), Samuel Appiah (National Head of Dubai).

Others were Pastor Obiri Yeboah and wife (France), and Mrs. Gifty Dansoa Appiah (wife of Winneba Area Head), Rev. Vincent Mensa (Assemblies of God and GPCC Central Regional Vice Chairman), Rev. Felix Awuah (Area Head, Apostolic Church and GPCC Secretary, Central Region), Apostle Mark Obeng Andoh (Rtd.), Apostle Robert Christian Ackon (Rtd.), and Area Deacons from Kintampo, Asante Mampong and Mankessim.

In his response, Apostle James Nana Ofori, on behalf of his family, expressed his utmost appreciation and thanks to God, the Church and the leadership of the Church for their continuous support throughout their 35 years in ministry.

Report by Pastor Joel Beddim.