Posts in category: Church News

Pastor Isaac Donkor, the PENSA Travelling Secretary for the Kwadaso Sector, has urged Christians, especially  the Christian youth, to make evangelism their lifestyle.

He made this call during a presentation at the ongoing PENSA Ghana Conference (Transformers Conference) at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, one of the three centres for this year’s annual youth conference.

In his presentation, Pastor Isaac Donkor mentioned that the concept of evangelism takes its root from the greatest commission highlighted by the four Gospels and also affirmed in Acts 1:8. He stated emphatically that the Great Commission is not a suggestion nor a negotiation but a command.

He remarked how our forebears evangelised wholeheartedly, and not even persecution could stop them because they upheld one of the core values of the church: evangelism, being a prime purpose.

He further elaborated on the need to make evangelism a lifestyle, pointing to the fact that people are dying, and the unanswered question of how many are saved is of great concern.

Pastor Donkor reiterated that it is therefore the will of God that all be saved, with reference to 1 Peter 3:9.

He posited that the heartbeat of God is world evangelisation as such we must be compelled with love to evangelise to all.

In the course of his presentation, Pastor Isaac Donkor stressed that we all have a moral responsibility to evangelize and reach out to the lost – by so doing, we reconcile the lost to God.

“As we evangelise, the crown of soul winners is made available unto us,” he added.

As he approached the conclusion of his presentation, he listed vital ways of making evangelism a lifestyle. These include travailing in prayer for the lost, developing passion and zeal for personal devotion, delighting in joining evangelism trips, and most importantly, attaching scriptures or gospel messages to our posts on social media to proclaim Jesus to our world.

He made a profound quote by John Knox; “Give me Scotland or I die.”

He urged Christians to also have this same desire and rise with boldness proclaiming similar chant, “Give me my Campus or I die.”

Pastor Isaac Donkor ended with a prayer for the youth to passionately and vigorously evangelise to win the lost.

Report by PENSA Ghana Secretariat Team

The Agormanya Area Head and National Coordinator for the Discipleship and Leadership Development Committee (DLDC) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Gakpetor, has said that effective follow-up and discipleship are the legs on which evangelism thrives.

Apostle Samuel Gakpetor made this assertion yesterday during a presentation at 2024 PENSA Ghana Conference (Transformers Conference) at the PENSA-KNUST centre, one of the three centres for this year’s conference.

The DLDC Coordinator, in his presentation, enlightened participants on the need to effectively follow up and disciple others, especially new converts, to be grounded in Christ.

Apostle Gakpetor likened preaching the gospel to fishing, emphasising the necessity of diligently working on souls until they can confidently claim them.

He passionately stressed the importance of follow-up and discipleship for various reasons including the vulnerability of new Christians, ensuring spiritual multiplication, and preventing the hardening of new believers who lack proper guidance.

He also noted that discipleship is key in equipping believers to bear fruits with buds, that is, manifesting in character, good works, and an evangelistic lifestyle.

Apostle Gakpetor also stressed on the needs of new converts such as being loved, being nourished by the word of God, prayer, as well as protection against the devil and their previous worldly associations.

Reading from Acts 9:1-22, he cited Ananias as an evangelistic prototype, who demonstrated the eight essential actions of a disciple-making Christian during his encounterwith Saul.

According to him, Ananias prayed to God about Saul, visited him, accepted him as a brother, tended to his spiritual and physical needs, ensured that Saul underwent water baptism, laid hands on him, introduced him to the fellowship of saints, and equipped him for ministry.

Drawing inspiration from the Ananias and Saul example; he admonished the church to pay attention to follow-up and discipleship so that their evangelism efforts are not in vain.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Apostle Jude Hama, the Former National Director of Scripture Union (SU) Ghana, has underscored the imperative for the Church to focus on equipping and unleashing the youth as the largest mission field in Ghana in order to transform the nation.

With 70% of the population being young people, Apostle Hama urged the allocation of resources for their training, emphasising the pivotal role they play in transforming the nation for Christ.

Apostle Hama articulated a compelling vision for Ghana’s future, asserting that Christ and Christ-like individuals are the nation’s true hope.

He emphasised the need for holistic disciples who embody godliness and integrity, serving as salt and light in their communities.

The crux of Apostle Hama’s message centered on the intentional efforts required to disciple those won for Christ, particularly on university campuses.

He asserted that disciple-making is the primary task assigned to the Church by Jesus Christ, quoting C. S. Lewis: “The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men and women to Christ to make them ‘little Christs’.”

Highlighting the interconnectedness of evangelism and discipleship, Apostle Hama echoed Dr. Mark Dever’s sentiment that “Evangelism without discipleship is incomplete evangelism.”

He stressed the urgent need for effective discipleship within the Ghanaian Church, identifying a lack of intentional disciple-making focus as a significant challenge.

Addressing the issue, the former National Director of the Scripture Union of Ghana provided practical steps on how to follow up with new believers.

These steps include fostering a sense of immediate belonging to God’s family, imparting foundational Christian knowledge, ensuring basic assurances of salvation, facilitating Holy Spirit baptism, and instilling essential spiritual disciplines for Christian maturity.

Quoting Ephesians 4:15, Apostle Hama urged believers to hold fast to the truth and solid teachings of scripture, emphasizing the goal of continuous growth in Christ.

He emphasised that the formation of Christ-like disciples on campuses and in churches is crucial for Ghana’s future, asserting that without effective discipleship, numerical growth would be in vain.

Concluding his presentation, Apostle Hama defined a true Christlike disciple as one who has experienced life in Christ, is born again, committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, baptised with the Holy Spirit, practices basic Christian living and service, and possesses the capacity to train others to become disciples.

“As believers engage in effective discipleship, Ghana holds the promise of a brighter future grounded in resilient, matured Christ-like disciples”, he remarked.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The PENSA Ghana Coordinator, Elder Samuel Boahen, has stressed the urgent need for young people to step up as world transformers and change agents in society.

According to him, Christian youth have reached a pivotal moment where their energy, ideals, and potential are required to shape communities and nations.

Elder Boahen made this declaration in his opening address at the 2024 PENSA Ghana Conference, dubbed the “Transformers Conference.” The conference aims to spiritually equip young people to maximise their global impact.

Addressing the participants, the PENSA Ghana Coordinator said young people needed to avail themselves for a divine encounter, stressing that: “to transform others, you must be transformed.”

“Young people cannot ignite transformation in their schools, workplaces, churches, and governments unless they have been changed from within. That is why spaces like the PENSA conference that facilitate dynamic personal reflection and transformative spiritual experiences are so critical,” he stated.

He explained that when young hearts and minds encounter the life-giving message of the Gospel, they gain new perspective and direction to channel their energies, adding, “With the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, the youth can rise as “transformers for good” in their spheres of influence.

He, however, revealed that the world has already seen the beginning of youth-led movements tackling society’s most pressing issues, from climate change to racial reconciliation to mental health awareness. 

He revealed that God is unleashing a generation of young change-makers who will redeem and restore the broken aspects of society.

“As the Church, we must do our part to spiritually invest in young people, nurture their leadership gifts, and make space for them to lead. There are Esthers, Josephs, Ruths, Marys, and Timothys among us who will courageously take up the mantle to transform systems and structures by living out Kingdom values,” he said.

Ending his address, the PENSA Ghana Coordinator noted that it is time for radical obedience, sacrificial living, and bold faith from young people to see revival and renewal spread in our communities and nation.

“The future belongs to those transformers who, captivated by a transcendent vision, are willing to pay the cost to see their world changed. By God’s grace, may the youth arise from gatherings like PENSA Ghana glow with holy fire and hope,” he concluded.

PENSA-Ghana Conference, an annual conference championed by the Youth Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, is one of the biggest youth conferences in Ghana and the West African sub-region. Many youths who participated in previous editions have testified to life-changing encounters with God. Participants of the conferences are taken through rigorous spiritual exercises, among other activities that address their holistic development; as a result, they always leave with a renewed sense of purpose and a calling to go out and make positive change. 

Report by PENSA Ghana Media/Editorial Team

The Youth Ministry Director of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Ebenezer Hagan, has indicated that members of the Church are key stakeholders of the second phase of the “Possessing the Nations” agenda (Vision 2028).

Apostle Hagan said this today during his sermon on Day 2 of the ongoing PENSA Ghana Conference at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, one of the three centres of the conference.

In his sermon, he explained that Vision 2028, which aims to unleash the Whole Church to transform their world with the values and principles of the kingdom of God, enjoins Church leaders to create a church environment where each member understands their role as the Salt and Light of the World by serving as catalysts for positive change in society.

Drawing inspiration from 2 Timothy 2, he stressed the need for a paradigm shift in order to change the mindset of church members to rise to their divine mandate.

The Youth Director further underscored the importance of countering societal norms that may act as influencing operating systems.

He, therefore, urged members, especially the youth, to align with the word of God to avoid deception, stating, “These systems work by way of one’s mind, and it is only prayer and God’s word that can change the mind (thoughts) of the people.”

Apostle Hagan noted that to build a proactive church, there is a need for members to be taught and equipped to be acutely aware of their role as agents of transformation in the present generation and beyond.

He further noted that every member of the Church acts as a bridge between the world and Vision 2028, adding: “One doesn’t need to be a scholar to become a witness and disciple of Christ Jesus; every member is required to undertake this divine task.”

Concluding his sermon, Apostle Hagan issued a rallying call to the youth of the Church to embrace Vision 2028 and avail themselves as active agents of change as they work collectively towards the realisation of the Church’s strategic vision.

Report by PENSA Ghana Media/Editorial Team