Posts in category: Church News

Forty-two years after its inception, the Pentecost Students and Associates (PENSA) has recorded its first permanent place of worship following the dedication of the PENSA-Takoradi Technical University (TTU) church auditorium by the Takoradi Area Head, Apostle Joseph Assabil,

The historic event, which took place on Sunday, May 15, 2022, had in attendance Prophet Samuel Tetteh Doku (Takoradi District Minister), Pastor Ebenezer Hagan (Youth Ministry Director), the Takoradi Area pastorate and their wives, as well as the PENSA-TTU Patron, Deaconess Dr. Gladys Quartey, who is also the National Secretary for the Women’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost.

PENSA Takoradi Technical University (PENSA-TTU), formerly PENSA T-Poly, started in 1985 with six members. The group had the then Brother Opoku Woode (now a minister) as its first president.

As the years went by and the group membership increased, one of the classrooms on campus was given to association as a temporary place of worship. Through the commitment and tireless efforts of the members, the association won more souls to add to their numbers. At a point, the classroom allocated to them could not contain their teeming members; therefore, with the permission of school authorities they began to use large lecture halls for meetings. Later, school authorities directed the leadership of the group to relocate off-campus, partly because their services were hampering evening and weekend lectures, which usually took place at the lecture halls allocated to the group.

The association gained favour in the sight of the leadership of the then Effiakuma New Site Assembly, who accepted to share their place of worship with them in 2004. At the time, the group had a total membership of 530. 

The group relocated to the Tanokrom Assembly six years later due to a clash in activities between the association and the New Site Assembly. This intervention was short-lived, and they had to return to the EffiaKuma New Site Assembly even though the earlier challenge persisted.

To navigate the clash in activities, the group resorted to erecting canopies on the premises of the Pentecost Preparatory School for services. Although it served the purpose, it still came with some inconveniences as services were called off whenever it rained.

In 2011, during the tenure of the then Takoradi Area Head, Apostle F. E. Antwi (of blessed memory), the idea for a permanent place of worship was mooted. He, thus, gave the group a plot of land for the project. In 2014, the then Takoradi Travelling Secretary, Pastor Ben Noye, in consultation with the leadership of the group made a proposition to the New Site Assembly to assist them in constructing their building project on the condition that they would be allowed to occupy the top floor upon completion. This was a temporary arrangement even as the association continued work on their building project. 

To raise adequate funds, the association sold its bus and received donations from members to support the New Site Assembly church building project. Unfortunately, the project came to a halt later due to unforeseen challenges.

After careful consideration, the new PENSA-TTU leadership headed by Elder J. Ohene-Acquah officially initiated the PENSA-TTU church building project to commemorate the association’s 30th anniversary.

The then Area Head, Apostle Dr. Alfred Koduah (now retired). cut the sod for the commencement of the project on November 4, 2014. The project continued steadily under Elder Benjamin Bruce as PENSA-TTU president and Pastor Emmanuel Opoku Mensah who took over as Travelling Secretary.

The foundation stone for the building was laid by the General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi Larbi, with assistance from Apostle Dr. Koduah and Pastor Opoku Mensah on November 19, 2017. 

All presidents who took over the leadership mantle of PENSA-TTU in the last four years, namely Deacon Samuel Nimako Darkwa, Elder Paul Teye, Elder Samuel Mensah, and Elder Edmond Acheampong, continued with the project at various stages such as plastering, floor casting, doors and windows fixing, plumbing and electrical works, ceiling, floor tiling, and painting, until its completion.

In a short speech, the Dean of Students Affairs at TTU, Dr. Eric Bruce-Amartey Jnr., who represented the Vice-Chancellor at the event, thanked God for the sterling leaders He continues to give The Church of Pentecost. He also applauded the Church for the great impact it has been making in Ghana and for having the youth at heart. This, he said, the Church has once again demonstrated by helping to put up a suitable place of worship for its members on campus.

Apostle Assabil, in his remarks, advised the students to honour their leaders, saying: “honouring your leaders is equivalent to giving reverence to God.”

One of the challenges of the campus ministry, especially at the tertiary level, has been getting a suitable place of worship, and PENSA has been no exemption.  

Since its inception in 1980, PENSA has struggled to put up a permanent place of worship for its members on the various campuses in Ghana. As a result, students have to oscillate between worshipping under canopies, lecture halls and rented apartments. Others also have to move from campus to nearby churches to fellowship in their buildings, which, as earlier indicated, is fraught with many inconveniences.

The dedication of the PENSA-TTU church auditorium, therefore, comes as a breath of fresh air and has brought about a new sense of optimism that soon all PENSA branches would have suitable places of worship.

Report by Pastor Emmanuel Opoku Mensah (PENSA Travelling Secretary for Takoradi Sector)

About 3,000 officers and members of The Church of Pentecost in the Odorkor Area yesterday, gathered at Sampson Okyere Memorial Temple at Mallam Junction in Accra to begin the celebration of the Global Pentecost Week in a grand-style.

The global event which was launched in Accra on Sunday May 29, 2022 by the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, is expected to be climaxed on June 5, 2022 at all the local assemblies of The Church of Pentecost worldwide.

The Day of Pentecost marks fifty (50) days after Easter Celebration, and it is a major feast of the Church when Christians recall how the Holy Spirit descended onto the disciples after Jesus’ ascension, empowering them to be disciples of all nations.

In his sermon, the Area Head of Odorkor, Apostle Patrick Aseyero, said pentecost is not about joining a church, but it is about experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Pentecost involves the demonstrations of the Holy Spirit,” he stressed, while urging Christians to eschew all forms of sins and yearn for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

The spirit-filled event was also used to ordain Overseer Alex Nyame, the National Coordinator for the Ministry to Persons with Disabilities (MPWDs) of The Church of Pentecost, who was called into the pastorate during the just-ended extraordinary council meeting.

The reviewed Odorkor Area Deacon, Elder Bossman Yabre, together with other reviewed Area Ministries’ Executives were also appreciated and prayed for during the event.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Social Media Ambassadors of The Church of Pentecost were given a warm reception when they fellowshipped with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) branch of the Pentecost Students and Associates (PENSA) yesterday.

The visit, which is the first of many scheduled visits to the various PENSA branches of the Church nationwide, coincided with the inauguration of the PENSA-KNUST French Assembly.

The three-member delegation, led by Elder Joseph Bill Danquah (the Group President), took the congregants through the various social media platforms of the Church.

Addressing the congregants, Elder J. B. Danquah explained that The Church of Pentecost, through the “Possessing the Nations” agenda, is taking territories for Christ. According to him, one territory that has emerged of primary interest to the Church in recent years is social media. 

He further noted that the growing influence of social media in the contemporary world has caused a paradigm shift in Christian evangelism.

“There is a shift in how the Gospel is presented from the use of traditional media to the use of social media. This is because now social media is undoubtedly the place with the biggest number of people and opportunities, and we need to take over this territory for Christ,” he said.

Elder Danquah called on Church members, particularly the youth, to come on board as Social Media ambassadors to push this new agenda of the Church for maximum impact.

He bemoaned the fact that social media is now awashed with negative content, and was confident that together they could change this trend and, rather, saturate the space with the gospel of Christ.

Elder Prince Asare, a member of the delegation, showed the congregants how to access the various digital platforms of the Church, namely Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Amazon, Podcast, Website and Mobile Application, 

He urged church members to subscribe to these platforms since they are the primary audience to whom the contents posted are targeted.

“We have merged all our digital links into one (linktr.ee/thecophq) to make it easier to access the digital platforms of The Church of Pentecost. So, you can now access all the digital platforms of the Church with just a click,” he added.

The Group Secretary, Deacon Ebenezer Amoako Antwi, also urged the members to engage with the content on the Church’s platforms to give them the needed mileage so as to reach more people by reacting, commenting and sharing them.

The exercise undertaken by the Social Media Ambassadors was deemed a great success as it instantly generated over 400 new Facebook subscribers. The team plans to visit all other PENSA branches in the country to sensitise the youth on the need to become Social Media Ambassadors and to help boost the Church’s Social Media drive.

The Social Media Ambassadors, a novelty of the Media Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, seeks to boost the presence and impact of the Church on the various Social Media platforms.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The inauguration of the French Assembly of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) branch of the Pentecost Students and Associates (PENSA) was greeted with rapturous applause and excitement by the over 2000 congregants gathered at the PENSA-KNUST church auditorium yesterday.

The inauguration service was officiated by the KNUST Campus Minister of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Johnathan Ebo Quaye, with support from Pastor Thomas Ayamboya (Home and Urban Missions Pastor for the Kumasi Sector)

Speaking at the event, Pastor Ebo Quaye, an alumnus of KNUST, recounted how PENSA-KNUST started with an initial membership of 23 students and has now grown into a vibrant campus Christian group with thousands of members. He was, therefore, hopeful that the new French Assembly would also become a strong ministry on campus in some years to come.

“Today will forever remain in the annals of history and we pray that this seed we have sown today would germinate and bear fruit in Jesus’ name,’” the Campus Pastor said as he inaugurated the French Assembly.

Pastor Thomas Ayamboya, in a brief speech, said that the inauguration of the French Assembly is a great manifestation of the five-year strategic vision of The Church of Pentecost (Vision 2023) at work.

He said that language is magnetic and has the power to bring people together towards the achievement of a common goal, hence the significance of the establishment of the French Assembly.

He was, therefore, confident that the new Assembly would help minister to the spiritual needs of international students and other French-speaking people on campus.

Delivering a sermon on the topic: “Who Has the Final Say” based on John 11:1, Pastor Quaye explained that, although there are negative elements and forces that affect believers, their sole consolation is in the fact that the Sovereign God they serve always has the final say on all issues.

According to him, there is always a hidden reason why God allows His children to endure suffering. He further noted that God sometimes allows suffering on the righteous to bring glory to Himself, to build their faith, and to cause others to believe in Him because of their testimony.

Pastor Quaye, therefore, advised believers to keep holding on to their faith in the Lord and to trust that in His appointed time, He would turn things around.

“If it is not God’s time, you cannot force it, and if it is God’s time you cannot stop it,” he said.

Among those present at the historic event were Mrs Joana Dwomoh Quaye (Wife of the Campus Pastor), Elder Francis Amihere (President, PENSA-KNUST), other executive members of PENSA-KNUST as well as some international and French-speaking students.

Report by PENSA-KNUST Media Team

Beginning this year, members of The Church of Pentecost worldwide will celebrate a week-long experience with the Holy Spirit dubbed: ‘Pentecost Week’ to mark the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early disciples of Jesus Christ.

As such, Monday, May 30 to Sunday, June 5, 2022, has been set aside to celebrate the power of the Holy Spirit at all local assemblies of the church worldwide.

The Day of Pentecost marks fifty days since Easter Day and brings the Easter season to an end. It is a major feast of the Church’s year when Christians recall how God’s Holy Spirit was given to the disciples after Jesus’ ascension, empowering them to begin the work of making disciples of all nations.

The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, on Sunday evening [May 29, 2022] launched the week on behalf of the Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, at the studios of PENT TV in Accra.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi indicated that the period, which has been dedicated to Holy Spirit baptism, infilling and gifts of the Holy Spirit, will be observed with intensive fasting and prayer. 

Taking his main scripture readings from Joel 2:28-29; John 14:16-17, 26; 16:5-15; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4, and speaking on the topic: “Experiencing Pentecost,” he explained that Pentecost is significant in both the Old and the New Testaments.

According to him, the word “Pentecost” is a Greek name for a festival known in the Old Testament as the Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:9). The Greek word means “fifty” and refers to the fifty days that have elapsed since the wave offering of Passover.

Touching on Joel’s prophecy (Joel 2:28–32) and relating it to the promise of the Holy Spirit by Christ (Acts 1:8), Apostle Kumi-Larbi asserted that Pentecost signals the beginning of the church age.

“The giving of the Holy Spirit is therefore not just a stingy, inconsequential trickle,” he said, adding, “It is a very active point of view where we learn that God will act and do something for His people.”

He stressed that God indeed fulfilled His promise to the church ten days after the ascension of Jesus to heaven, during the Jewish feast day of Pentecost, as He poured His Spirit to the disciples with evidence of speaking in tongues.

“At Pentecost, the disciples witnessed the birth of the New Testament church with the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell all believers,” he disclosed.

He also the idea of spiritual life as generated by the Holy Spirit is certainly implicit in the sound of the wind at Pentecost.

“God’s presence and holiness are implied in the Pentecostal tongues of fire. Indeed, fire is identified with Christ Himself (Revelation 1:14; 19:12); this association naturally underlies the Pentecost gift of the Holy Spirit, who would teach the disciples the things of Christ (John 16:14), he said.”

Another aspect of the Day of Pentecost, the General Secretary revealed, is the miraculous speaking in foreign tongues which enabled people from various language groups to understand the message of the early apostles.

“In addition, is the bold and incisive preaching of Peter to a Jewish audience. The effect of the sermon was powerful, as listeners were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37) and instructed by Peter to “repent, and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). The narrative concludes with 3000 souls being added to the fellowship,” he stated.

This, he said, gave birth to the church in Jerusalem.

“The outpouring of the Holy Spirit ushered in a new era, the church age. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was a rare gift that was only given to a few people, and usually for specific assignments.

“At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers in Christ, and He came to stay. This marked a major change in the Holy Spirit’s work,” he disclosed.

Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi stated that all those who put their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately and permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11), saying, “The Holy Spirit still works in and through believers to accomplish His will. His power leads us, convicts us, teaches us, and equips us to do His work and spread the gospel. The Holy Spirit’s powerful indwelling is an amazing gift we should never take lightly.”

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Tarkwa Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr. Daniel Okyere Walker, has called on Christians to speak the truth always no matter the circumstances in which they find themselves. 

Apostle Walker, who is also an Executive Council Member and the Coordinator for the Western and Western North Regional Committee of the Church, said this during a special service, dubbed “Divine Encounter,” organised by the Area Youth Ministry at the E.K. Worship Centre, Tarkwa.

Speaking on the topic: “Equipping the Church with the Belt of Truth with Ephesians 6:10-19 as his Bible reference, the Tarkwa Area urged the youth to be strong in the Lord by putting on the whole armor of God. 

“It is sometimes difficult to speak the truth because when you do, some people may see you as a betrayer,” he said.

He, however, noted that although being truthful and honest is not always easy, God requires every believer to stand for the truth at all cost.

Apostle Walker stated that truth is essential in the life of the Christian, and, therefore, every Christian must strive for it.

He expressed worry at the rate at which falsehood has become so easy in the contemporary world, to the extent that there is no fear in telling lies.

He, however, advised Christian youth not to conform to the status quo, saying: “Never tell a lie, because a lie will enslave you, it will make you a perpetual slave.”

Despite the alarming rate of falsehood in the contemporary world, Apostle Walker was hopeful that with Jesus Christ as their source of strength and a total reliance on God’s word (the truth), Christians could raise and influence a new generation of people who would stand for the truth at all times.

He stated that being strong in the Lord is important because the battle with the enemy is spiritual and not physical, hence the need for believers to draw power from God in order to win.

The “Divine Encounter” programme is an annual event of the Tarkwa Area Youth Ministry where the youth in the area sit at the feet of the Area Head to receive from him. This year’s event recorded an attendance of over 600 participants.

As part of the event, the leadership of the Area Youth Ministry gave special recognition to some youth members who had excelled in their various fields of work.

Among them were Elder Thomas Thomas, a member of the Dr. S.K. Baidoo Worship Centre and a broadcast Journalist at Dynamite FM in Tarkwa, who was adjudged the “Best Journalist of the Radio Category” at the MTN Media Awards ceremony as well as “Newscaster of the Year” and “Morning Show Host of the Year” at the Luxury Touch Radio Personality Awards held at Tarkwa.

Antoinette Buadu, a member of the J.W. Sackey Worship Centre and a teacher at Goldfields School Complex, was also acknowledged and celebrated for winning the Goldfields Best Teacher Award (Lower Division).

Present at the service were Mrs. Irene Odi Walker (Wife of Area Head), Pastor Abraham Nana Bamfo Oppong (Tarkwa Area Youth Pastor) and the area pastorate. 

Report by Tarkwa Area Media Team