Posts in category: Church News

Christians have been advised to be zealous for good works by eschewing corruption in every aspect of their lives.

This admonition was given by the Effiduase Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Daniel Yeboah Nsaful, in a sermon he preached at the climax of the Effiduase Zone Easter Convention on Sunday, April 17, 2022, at the forecourt of Ebenezer Assembly at Effiduase, near Koforidua in the Eastern Region.

Speaking on the topic, “The Christ Who Did Not See Corruption,” Apostle Nsaful quoted from acts 13:36-37; Mark 16:6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Psalm 16:10, and said that Jesus died, was buried but did not see decay.

He indicated that some people have tried to cover up this truth “but whether concealed or not, the truth is one; that Jesus died and was buried but did not see decay.” He added that Jesus resurrected from the dead and that is what sets Christianity apart.

Comparing David to Jesus, Apostle Nsaful said David served his own generation and died, but Jesus is still serving generations yet unborn; David was the king of Israel, but Jesus is the king of the world; David served for a period but Jesus reigns forever; David was not seen after he died, but Jesus was seen by many; David’s body saw decay, but Jesus rose from the dead and is alive.

On the significance of Easter and why Christians should celebrate it, the Effiduase Area Head said that “celebrating Easter is celebrating our salvation; reflecting on the story of our salvation and reminding us of our resurrection with Jesus Christ.”

He added that Jesus’ resurrection has saved Christians from moral decadence and corruption, saying, “Do not go back to the life of decay, rather live morally upright lives as Christians.”

Apostle Nsaful bemoaned the situation where many people profess to be Christians but there is so much corruption in the country.

He asked: “Why do you report late for work but close before the closing time?”

“Jesus through his resurrection has saved us from corruption. Therefore, eschew corruption and be zealous for good works,” he admonished.

Concluding, Apostle Daniel Yeboah Nsaful said just as Jesus died but did not see decay, all who believe in Him will not see decay in their lives.

“Therefore, if you are a Christian and your life is still the same, then you have not yet arrived,” he ended.

Report by Ezekiel Korletey.

Apostle Wilberforce Nkrumah-Agyeman, the Teshie-Nungua Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, has said that Jesus is the horn of salvation which is a gift offered to all humanity.

“Salvation is by grace through faith alone,” he said, adding, “Jesus left His crown in heaven and came to redeem us. He suffered and died for our sins on the cross; took our place  on the cross.”

Speaking at the 2022 Easter Convention of the English Zone held at the Fred Safo Temple at Nungua Nshorna, he said that though death is very difficult to comprehend, the death of Jesus was good, stressing that the death of Christ has made Easter Friday a Good Friday, saying, “The Lord Jesus went to the cross for our sake to redeem us from our sins, and now we are saved.”

He quoted Psalm 18:2, and Luke 1:68-69, and explained that a lot of people have been redeemed as a result of the death of Christ while salvation is still freely available to all.

He said that it was this redemption that caused David to worship the Lord by singing that “The Lord has raised the horn of salvation in the house of his servant David.

According to Apostle Nkrumah-Agyeman, King David saw the hand of the Lord and described the Lord as the one who rescues him.

He further said that Zachariah, after doubting the angel’s statements, was muted until the day his son John was born.

“Zachariah blessed the name of the Lord and prophesied that God had raised up the horn of salvation in the lineage of David,” he added.

The Area Head explained that in the Old Testament times, the sheep had to die for the shepherd, but in the advent of Christ, the shepherd had to die for the sheep.

“The creature murdered the creator,” he said.

He added: “The Lord in His mercy even saved the robber on the cross; that was the moment of change. Once he accepted Jesus as the Lord and pleaded with Him for mercy, he lived as a citizen in heaven as he was with Jesus in paradise.”

“Just as this robbers story changed, may your story also change. Salvation is a gift, purchased on the cross for us. The other robber did not accept Christ and died in his sins, while his colleague died from his sins,” he said.

Apostle Nkrumah-Agyeman further explained that salvation is a comprehensive package that contains everything an individual requires in this life and hereafter.

“Beyond this convention, greater vision will be opened to us, good health is in the salvation package, it is comprehensive, it covers everything, it includes our wellbeing, our healing too is in the salvation package,” he said.

He further explained that the horn is an emblem of plenty, power, abundance, and redemption for everybody.

“It connotes power to rule. When Jesus enters the camp of the enemy sets captives free,” he said, adding, “Jesus attacks our enemies, because He is our defender, our protector, He secures dominance for us, and uses His power to secure and protect His people.”

The Area Head assured Christians that the anointing they have received in Christ remains in them. “You are full of the anointing. The Lord has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows,” he said.

He stated with salvation Christians have direct access to the presence of God and need not go through intermediaries,” he said.

The Resident Minister of PIWC Graceland, Pastor Ebenezer Korankye Agyapong, after the sermon, led the congregation through a power prayer session of healing and Holy Ghost baptism among other needs.

Report by Isabella Gyau Orhin.

Apostle Samuel Osei Asante, the Koforidua Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, and Executive Member of the church, has asserted that the blood of Jesus shared on the Cross of Calvary, was Christianity’s greatest mode of reconciliation with God.

He, said this today, at the Nkurakan Zone Easter Convention, within the Koforidua Area of the church, at the Wawase R/C School Park, Wawase.

Speaking to the event’s theme: “God was In Christ, Reconciling the World to Himself,” taking scriptural reference from 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Apostle Asante said that through the death of Jesus, the unrighteous nature of man became the righteousness of God.

He emphasised that Jesus dying for us as believers was not due to our righteousness. This, he believed is because the righteousness of man is like filthy rags and full of negative behaviour.

Reading from 2 Corinthians 5: 17, he explained that in most cases, Christians only focus on only the new creation of man, emphasising on leaving the old nature behind.

Enlightening the congregation on the new creation, the Koforidua Area Head of the church, noted that it means, “taking away the old nature of man and being restored with the new nature full blessings.”

“Therefore, when you come to Christ, the old has gone, and the new has come,” he pointed out.

He added: “it encourages us that God has made new creatures, devoid of the past.”

He iterated that when man chose to accept the sacred offering of salvation, he received three things. He, then mentioned that through Christ, we have become God’s righteousness, we are no longer in human nature, and we have become the new creation of God.

Another good news worth reflecting on, that he further said was that: “God was reconciling people to Himself, and not counting their sins against them.”

He, however, stressed that to receive the reconciliation of God, one needs to accept Jesus Christ, as their Lord and personal Saviour. (Salvation)

Touching on reconciliation, he explained that it is the restoration of a broken relationship, adding: “reconciliation in the Bible talks about the restoration of man back to God through the blood of Jesus.”

The Eastern Regional Coordinating Committee Chairman admonished married individuals to make conscious efforts to reconcile with each other anytime there is misunderstanding, moreover, whenever there is reconciliation, anything lost will be restored.

Quoting from Genesis 3, he cited that the man’s depraved nature led to the destruction of the relationship between Him and God. Nevertheless, through the death of Jesus, mankind was again reconciled back to Him.

“God found a way to bring man (world) to Himself, on the cross of Calvary,” he further said.

He reemphasized that: “When we celebrate Easter, it is to help is remember when God, though we sinned against Him, did not consider that, rather He brough the Salvation plan through Jesus Christ.”

Concluding his message, he outlined that through the reconciliation in the blood of Jesus, we are at peace with God, have access to God and His grace; we boast in hope of His glory, rejoice in suffering and became the children of God, through Christ.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Martha Dansowaa was instantly healed of a painful eye condition when she patronised a medical screening exercise organised yesterday by the Evangelism Ministry of The Church of Pentecost at Kwahu Kotoso in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

The outreach formed part of a series of activities for the “Kwahu for Christ” Easter Outreach being undertaken by the ministry in partnership with the Kotoso Assembly of The Church of Pentecost. The medical team was led by renowned pathologist and member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Evangelism Ministry, Elder Dr. Ken Aboah.

Narrating the miraculous incident to PENTECOST NEWS, Madam Dansowaa said she had suffered the eye problem for about two months. 

“My eye was very sore and it felt like someone had poured sand particles on it. It was so severe that I could hardly blink my eye,” she stated.

After a while, Martha said she felt a burning sensation in her eyes which was followed by swellings around her eyelids.

“This uncomfortable situation has persisted for the last four days; the reason why I decided to come and see the medical team for help,” she said.

After going through the screening process, Madam Dansowaa was referred to the Pharmacy Desk for medication. There, she was received and prayed for by some members of the team, namely; Elder Albert Narh, Deacon Patrick Agasiya and Philippa Bortei.

According to Madam Dansowaa, while she was being prayed for, she felt that the pain, burning sensation and swellings had suddenly left her. She could now see clearly and could blink her eye without any discomfort.

“This could only be the doing of the Lord,” she shouted with excitement as she thanked the Lord for her healing.

Madam Dansowaa, a staunch Methodist, was also grateful to The Church of Pentecost, the Evangelism Ministry and the Kotoso Assembly for organising the event.

Elder Dr. Ken Aboah took the opportunity to encourage her to fully dedicate her life to Christ and to tell others about the love of God and what He has done for her. 

In a related development, Mr. Kwame Denteh, who arrived at the medical outreach grounds with an infected wound on his left leg, was rendered speechless after Elder Dr. Aboah offered to enroll him onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Mr Denteh, 45, said that his wound, which has caused the swelling of his left leg, had deteriorated because he could not seek medical treatment due to financial constraints.

He, therefore, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Aboah for the generous gesture.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Chaplain for the Ghana Armed Forces (Director, Airforce), Apostle Lt. Col. Benjamin Godson Kumi-Woode, has declared the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, widely referred to as “Easter,” as the best season on earth.

According to Apostle Kumi-Woode, “Easter is the best season because it is the period during which the primary need of mankind was met, the primary debt of humanity was paid, and the primary battle of the human race was won.”

The revered minister, who doubles as the Resident Minister of Burma Camp Worship Centre of The Church of Pentecost, said this yesterday during the opening session of the La Zone Easter Convention at the Arko Adjei park in Accra.

Speaking on the theme of the event, “Being Equipped with the Resurrection Power to Possess the Nations” (Philippians 3:10), Apostle Kumi-Woode said that every human being born of a woman has the burden of death hanging around their neck.

He explained that this came about due to the disobedience of the first humans, Adam and Eve. Hence, as products of Adam and Eve, all humans have inherited their sinful nature and share in this common state of sin.

“For this reason, we also share in the wages of sin, which is death. This also implies that we are all born ‘dead on arrival’ because we have death hanging around our necks,” he said.

Apostle Kumi-Woode further noted that, in addition to the sin of the first humans they have inherited, humanity, by virtue of their Adamic nature, continue to indulge in sinful acts on earth.

“Human beings have become very innovative in creating sin, because the seed of sin is in us” he said.

What is worse, he added, is that, death is a slave of Satan and it also comes with other challenges such as sicknesses, worry, etc.

He, however, stressed that, although very destructive, death can only reign in the absence of resurrection. This, he stated, is the main reason why Easter is the most important season, because it marks the resurrection and triumph of Jesus over death, the primary enemy of all mankind.

Buttressing his assertion, the GAF Chaplain explained that, on many occasions during Jesus’ time on earth, He proved that He has power over death.

He cited the instance of Jairus’ daughter who died and was laid in state, but Jesus raised from death (Matthew 9:18-26). He also cited the story of the widow’s son at Nain, whom Jesus raised from death, while his family were on their way to bury him (Luke 7:11-17); and finally, the story of Lazarus whom Jesus raised from death after he had been buried for four days.

According to Apostle Kumi-Woode, Jesus, by these miracles, proved that He has absolute power over death. Beyond that, Jesus has fully paid for the wages of sin, which is death, by dying on the cross for mankind, he noted.

The GAF Chaplain, therefore, called on all and sundry to take refuge in Jesus, because He is the only one who has the remedy to death and its associated ills.

PENTECOST NEWS

For the first time in three years, members of The Church of Pentecost in Ghana could once again converge at various open spaces to observe this year’s Easter Conventions.

One person who is really relishing this moment is Mrs. Vivian Darko Addo, a member of the Bethel Assembly in the Osu District of the Church.

Vivian arrived ahead of time yesterday for the opening day of the 2022 La Zone Easter Convention at the Arko Adjei park in Accra. She is a member of the La Zone Easter Convention Evangelism Team.

In an interview with PENTECOST NEWS at the event, Mrs. Addo stated that the last time she and her team took part in an outdoor Easter Convention was in 2019, right before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) when the outbreak reached an alarming peak in the year 2020; compelling nations across the globe to introduce extreme measures to help manage and reduce the spread of the deadly virus.

It was for this same reason that on March 30, the government of Ghana imposed a lockdown on the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas for two weeks. Enshrined in the lockdown directive, was the suspension of all public gatherings, including church services, with all individuals urged to stay home as much as possible.

These interventions, although necessary at the time, had a devastating impact on the Church, especially on the 2020 Easter Convention, which was only a few weeks away.

Despite the challenges, the Lord endowed the leadership of the Church with the wisdom to introduce new ways of doing things to navigate the situation. One of the novel initiatives introduced during the period was organizing the Easter Convention online via Pent TV and the various social media platforms of the Church. Thus, for the first time in the history of The Church of Pentecost, members took part in the convention virtually from their homes.

Two months later (on May 31, 2020), the government eased some restrictions on religious activities, leading to the resumption of church services. This, however, came with some conditions such as: a mandatory one-meter rule of social distancing between congregants, a mandatory wearing of nose masks, a mandatory two-hour length of service, and a maximum of 100 congregants per service. In spite of these restrictions, the Church relished the opportunity to resume in-person services and to hold the Easter Conventions indoor the following year.

While acknowledging that the 2021 Easter Convention was a significant step forward compared to that of 2020, Vivian revealed the restrictions still had an adverse impact on the work of the evangelism team.

“From the perspective of the evangelism team, I believe the last two years has been quite difficult for us. We have had to be more strategic in our evangelism efforts in 2020 and 2021, but with relatively low results,” she said.

According to her, the team mostly resorted to house-to-house and personal evangelism to win souls during the period, but that did not yield much results (compared to the souls won during outdoor conventions in the past).

She added: “During the indoor convention, the members were also encouraged to invite people to the service, but we observed that it was not very effective, because most of them left for work early and came to the service right from work, so they were unable to invite people within the community. So, it was difficult to get non-members attending the event.”

Following a rapid decline in cases, President Akufo-Addo announced the relaxation of most of the COVID-19-related restrictions in his 28^th COVI D-19 Update on March 27, 2022. The new directive allowed for the resumption of church meetings to full capacity and beyond two hours. He also directed that the wearing of nose masks in public spaces was no longer mandatory for citizens who are fully vaccinated.

Vivian, a mother of three, said she received the announcement with great joy, because it has made it possible for this year’s convention to be organised outside the auditorium.

“We thank God for this directive. It is always good to have Easter Convention outdoors for many reasons. As an Evangelism team, it is easier for us to evangelise when conventions are held outside. The singing, dancing and powerful word ministrations capture the attention of people and draw a lot of onlookers to the event grounds, which gives us the opportunity to draw close to them and help lead them to Christ,” she explained.

Vivian further observed that church members’ approach to conventions held indoors is not the same compared to that of outdoor conventions.

“When conventions are held indoors, it usually feels like a ‘normal’ service because all our church meetings are held inside. But when held outside, a lot of people really look forward to it: this is partly because having the conventions outside gives it more of a festival feel, which is what Easter is all about; a celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, we thank God that we have resumed outdoor conventions again,” she said.

Due to the new directive on nose masks, majority of members who thronged the Arko-Adjei park for the La Zone Easter Convention were seen without nose masks – a scene reminiscent of past Easter Conventions before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reacting to the nose mask directive, Vivian said, “It is great news indeed. The truth is, some of us have gotten so used to the nose masks that we sometimes forget that it is no longer mandatory. So, it would take some time to get used to life without it.”

Mrs Vivian Darko Addo, together with the hundreds of patrons who participated in the opening session of the La Zone Easter Convention, which included the General Secretary of the Church, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, were very jubilant and praised the Lord for the return to “normal” life.

Vivian is confident that this year’s convention could record more souls as compared to the previous two years, and hopes that through the conventions being organised nationwide many would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The La Zone Easter Convention, which is being held under the auspices of the La Area Head, Apostle John Osei Amaniampong, has as its theme: “Being Equipped with the Resurrection Power to Possess the Nations” (Philippians 3:10). Also present at the event was Apostle Lt. Col. Benjamin Godson Kumi-Woode (Resident Minister, Burma Camp Worship Centre).

PENTECOST NEWS