CORONA VIRUS

God’s Deliverance In A Crisis – A Case Of Ghana In The COVID-19 Pandemic

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Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.  Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. (Psalm 115:1-3 NIV)

On 12th March 2020, the Minister of Health in Ghana, Dr. Kwaku Agyemang Manu announced to the Ghanaian public of the first cases of the novel corona virus infection recorded in the country. This was after weeks of uncertainty among Ghanaians regarding the spread of the virus in neighbouring countries. This was due to the devastating effects Covid-19 has had on superpowers like China and Italy. In the minds of most Ghanaians, countries with excellent medical facilities and emergency response systems were being “humbled” by the novel virus and thus, Ghana “stood no chance” in dealing with the situation if a case was recorded in the country. The government of Ghana initially banned travels to Ghana from countries with more than 200 cases of the coronavirus. In a press conference, the Minister of Information, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah stated, “All travel to Ghana is strongly discouraged”. Citizens and resident-permit holders were required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. This did not stop the importation of the virus. After recording 137 cases, the president declared a partial lockdown of the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolis to help curb the spread. This did not however stop the spread as more cases were reported through routine surveillance and contact tracing embarked on by health professionals.

A post supposedly attributed to the Italian Prime Minister, Minister Giuseppe Conte reads; “We have lost control, we have killed the epidemic physically and mentally. Can’t understand what more we can do, all solutions are exhausted on ground. Our only hope remains up in the Sky, God rescue your people.” The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic at a news briefing on March 11, 2020.

On 19th March 2020, President Nana Akufo-Addo called on Christian leaders to seek the face of God amid the spread of the coronavirus pandemic across the country. He again declared 25th March 2020 a National Day of Prayer and Fasting against coronavirus. He also re-echoed the words of King Jehoshaphat when he was overawed by the enemies, “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12). This was greeted with mixed sentiments among the populace. Some Ghanaians made mockery of the declarations. In the comments section of a popular news portal in the country, one poster said; “Ghanaians need economic stimulus package to save businesses and lessen the burden on our livelihood. Not fasting and praying at this time. We need to be Serious. Selfish and Greedy Leaders”. Yet another posted, “We need to change our attitude. We don’t need prayers but need to care for humanity”. Another posted, “Mr President, we are very pleased with your words but let us face the fact with honesty, prayers we know won’t do anything…”. A popular musician in Ghana, in an interview during the lockdown said, “It is now time for pastors and Christians to show that indeed their God is real by calling on Him (God) to heal just ten of the infected people.” The naysayers increased by the day.

But the church did not relent. Most church leaders declared fasting and prayers for their members. The Church of Pentecost in particular declared Friday as a day of fasting and prayers to call on God to intervene. After one such prayer sessions, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye declared, “The roots of the virus have been uprooted and burnt.” This was also greeted with mockery when the cases kept going up each day.

Fast forward to 28th September 2020, Ghana had recorded 46,444 cases, 299 deaths and 45,646 recoveries with an active case count of 499. In percentage terms, only 0.15% of the population have been infected with the virus. 0.6% of those infected passed away while 98.3% have been clinically discharged. Only thirteen (13) countries in the world have better recovery rates than Ghana. In Africa, only Djibouti has a better recovery rate (98.7%). Djibouti however has 0.55% of its populace infected with the virus with 1.1% of those infected passing away. The total cases worldwide stand at 33,585,750 with 24,903,199 recoveries (74%) and 1,007,196 deaths (3%). In as much as we praise the government for its interventions, we cannot deny the hand of God in the impressive statistics stated above. Indeed, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in a recent address to the nations bemoaned the fact that most Ghanaians were not adhering to the safety protocols put in place to help curb the spread such as the wearing of nose masks and social distancing. However, the number of active cases keep reducing although testing is still being carried out.

This might be an indication that the fewer active cases is not entirely the work of government and its agencies but something else is involved. That “something else” is God in action. Contrary to the mockery and doubts, God has shown again that “…the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16b). This should increase our faith in Him and increase our appetite for prayer in our personal circumstances and also intercede for others. People will not stop ridiculing the church but the church (you and I) should stand strong, “so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 3:10).

And so it has been today through the pandemic. When sceptics ridiculed and scorned at Christian leaders and the church saying, “Where is your so-called God who heals?” The answer is and has always been this: He is always with us and answers our cry anytime we call. We are His witnesses to the world. And we join voices with the Psalmist to sing;

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory. (Psalm 97:1-6 NIV)

By Elder Eric Sitsofe Akude (eric.akude@yahoo.com)

Jean Mensa 1

I Have Made A Covenant With God To Organise Peaceful Elections – Jean Mensa

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The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs. Jean Mensa, has reiterated her resolve to preside over a peaceful, transparent, and fair elections in Ghana, come December 7.

Speaking at the launch of the 2nd edition of the ‘Agent of Peace’ campaign organised by The Church of Pentecost, the EC boss said that she made a covenant with God several years ago to be used by Him in a way He pleased.  

“Today I stand before the Almighty God to pledge and present myself as an Agent of Peace in our nation Ghana and the rest of the world.

“Romans 12:8 places the onus of ensuring and maintaining peace on us as individuals. It emphasises that if it is possible, as much as it depends on us, we should live peaceably with all men. I believe that if we are each able to do this, we will be counted as worthy agents of peace, and by extension, as ambassadors of Christ.

“As a representative of God, responsible for the conduct of free, fair, credible, transparent and peaceful elections in Ghana, it is important that I and indeed the leadership of the Electoral Commission, signal peace in all our operations, activities and speech.

“As individuals at the helm of affairs, we have a duty to conduct ourselves in a manner that promotes peace and builds trust. We recognise that how we speak, what we say, and our posture will help promote peace or otherwise in our dear nation. It is vital that in all we do we build trust and confidence in our processes as this will go a long way to foster peace in our society.

“It is important that we remain transparent, responsive and accountable to our Stakeholders by providing them with timely and accurate, information on all our activities.

“It is important that we remain fair to all our stakeholders i.e. the Political Parties and that we conduct our activities without fear or favour.

“It is vital that we communicate with our stakeholders with decorum, devoid of inflammatory words, irritation or anger.

“We recognise that this year is a crucial year as we go to the polls on December 7. What we say and do will have a positive or negative bearing on the nation. We are, therefore, resolved that our activities and words should leave a lasting and positive impact on our dear nation,” she indicated.

Giving her personal commitment to holding a credible election, Mrs. Mensa disclosed that she has spent some time talking about what the Commission is doing as an institution. However, I also have a duty to God and Country to be an Agent of Peace, she said.

“As the head of the Commission, the signals I send out, be it to our staff or the public are important as it will have an impact on the election and the nation. This is not lost on me. As such my speeches and interaction with our key stakeholders must be decorous/courteous yet clear and firm and must also inspire confidence and trust in me as a person and in the Commission.

“As a Christian, I am a firm believer in the principles that Christ stands for – Justice, Peace and Truth. I am committed to ensuring that these principles are reflected in everything that both I and the Commission do.

“I must be fair to all and conduct my activities without fear or favour. I must maintain an open-door policy, welcoming all categories of persons irrespective of their social standing. I must have a listening ear and provide people with an avenue to air their views and opinions.

“Above all, I must work and undertake all my duties to ensure that it is the will of the people, which is the will of God, that stands. As an Agent of Peace, I should be truthful and not seek to alter the will of God. The Onus is on me to abide by this principle. God being my guide and helper I am confident that I will not let Him and the people of Ghana down; in Jesus name.”

She appealed to the general public to be peace ambassadors since every citizen, no matter the tribe, creed, age or gender, should see themselves as agents of peace, saying, “As citizens, we all have a duty to promote peace in our dear country and we can only achieve this if we ourselves are agents of peace. Very often, citizens tend to feel that the onus of maintaining peace is upon their leaders only.”

PENTECOST NEWS.

Lets Pursue Peace Apostle Eric Nyamekye Urges Ghanaians

Let’s Pursue Peace – Apostle Eric Nyamekye Urges Ghanaians

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The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has made a clarion call to the people of Ghana to do whatever they can to pursue peace and consolidate it as the nation prepares for the general elections on December 7, this year.

Speaking at the launch of the Church’s ‘Agent of Peace’ campaign held at the Burma Camp in Accra on Sunday, September 27, 2020, under the theme: “Seek Peace and Pursue It” – Psalm 34:17b, Apostle Nyamekye appealed to all Ghanaians to be objective and constructive in their criticisms and not to be unduly blinded by their political colouration.

“Let us have the courage to correct our politicians when they go wrong and appreciate and encourage them when they do what is fitting and proper,” he said, adding, “As we launch this campaign today, we urge all stakeholders to pledge their unflinching commitment towards the peace of this nation.”

He seized the opportunity to call on the Government and other state institutions to pursue good governance so as to guarantee the peace of the country, and also do whatever is within their power to ensure a level playing field for all the political parties.

He also appealed to the security agencies to conduct themselves within the highest remit of their professional codes and remain neutral in dealing with all troublemakers.

With regards to the activities of the Electoral Commission (EC) in the run-up to the elections, Apostle Nyamekye commended the Commission on the smooth compilation of the new Biometric Voters Register. “It ought to be however noted that for an election to be viewed as free, fair and transparent, all the processes in the chain, from voter registration to the declaration of electoral results play very key roles. We, therefore, urge the Electoral Commission to undertake its activities and conduct itself in such a manner as will elicit the confidence of all its stakeholders,” he pointed out.

The Chairman further called on the Judiciary, led by the Chief Justice, to take all necessary steps to have all election-related court cases that may arise, fast-tracked. This, he said, will not only ensure that outcomes are known as quickly as possible but also shore up the confidence of the public in the judiciary in the settlement of electoral disputes.

He charged the political parties and their candidates to undertake their politicking in manners that do not seek to malign their opponents, saying, “The politics of insults, ethnocentric trivialities and unnecessary rivalry that exacerbate tensions, should be brought to an end in our political discourse and other forms of engagements.”

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, who did not leave the clergy and other religious bodies out, called on them to continue to educate their members and institute fasting and prayers for their members to cry out to God for the peace of the nation.

The event was attended by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs. Jean Mensa who was the special guest speaker; Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mrs. Josephine Nkrumah; Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana and Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo; President of the Catholic Bishops Conference, Most Rev. Philip Naameh; President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) and General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Rev. Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso, heads of churches, and the Deputy Ameer, Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, Alhajj Ahmad Suleman Anderson.

Others were Members of Parliament, Municipal and District Chief Executives, traditional authorities, representatives of the various security agencies, among others.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Church of Pentecost Launches 2nd Agent Of Peace Campaign1

Church of Pentecost Launches ‘Agent Of Peace’ Campaign

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History was made over the weekends when The Church of Pentecost, a leading global Pentecostal church, launched its second edition of peace campaign dubbed ‘Agent of Peace’ at the Burma Camp in Accra.

The launch which was held under the theme, “Seek Peace and Pursue It” – Psalm 34:17b, kick-started numerous interventions by The Church of Pentecost in all its branches across the country, numbering about 17,000. This year’s edition was inspired by the Vision 2023 agenda of the Church, which has as its overarching theme, ‘Possessing the Nations: Transforming every Sphere of Society with Values and Principles of the Kingdom of God.’

The glamorous event which had the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs. Jean Mensa, as the special guest of honour, attracted the movers and shakers of the Christian community such as the Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana and Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo; President of the Catholic Bishops Conference, Most Rev. Philip Naameh; President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) and General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Rev. Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso, heads of churches among others. The Deputy Ameer, Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, Alhajj Ahmad Suleman Anderson, was also present.

Also in attendance were the top echelons of the Police Administration, Ghana Armed Forces and other security agencies.

The political parties and their representatives were also present, including the Minister of Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori Atta; National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Members of Parliament, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mrs. Josephine Nkrumah, traditional authorities, among others.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, was hopeful that the launch would contribute significantly to a peaceful electioneering process.

According to him, God has been gracious to Ghana as the country has over the years enjoyed peace, especially during elections. “Ghana is celebrated across the world as an oasis of peace in the West African sub-region and even in the whole of Africa. As a nation, we have experienced seven peaceful general elections, with numerous by-elections in the Fourth Republic.

“These great accomplishments did not come by chance but by contributions from various stakeholders, key among who are represented here today,” he stressed.

He noted that for the nation to continue to enjoy peace within her walls, the citizenry must arise, seek and pursue peace.

“The Church of Pentecost believes that the Church as the body of Christ has been called to belong to God and sent back into the world to serve God’s purpose. It is from such understanding that we have over the years shown unalloyed commitment to efforts by various governments towards development and nation-building.

“As we move to the 2020 General Elections, we are confident that the Lord will once again grant Ghana His abiding peace. This will however not come by chance. We need to work at it. We need to seek and pursue it.

“Together, we can continue to make Ghana a beacon of stability and democracy in Africa. We have done it before, and we can do it again,” he stated.

The Chairperson of the EC, Mrs. Jean Mensa, pledged her absolute commitment to peace and supervising over fair, free and transparent elections. “Today I stand before the Almighty God to pledge and present myself as an Agent of Peace in our nation Ghana and the rest of the world.

“As a representative of God, responsible for the conduct of free, fair, credible, transparent and peaceful elections in Ghana, it is important that I and indeed the leadership of the Electoral Commission, signal peace in all our operations, activities and speech. As individuals at the helm of affairs, we have a duty to conduct ourselves in a manner that promotes peace and builds trust.

“We recognise that how we speak, what we say, and our posture will help promote peace or otherwise in our dear nation. It is vital that in all we do we build trust and confidence in our processes as this will go a long way to foster peace in our society,” she stated.

It would be recalled that The Church of Pentecost in the 2016 general elections launched the maiden ‘Agents of Peace’ campaign to impress on its members to be peace ambassadors.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Sunyani PIWC PEMEM - 1

Sunyani PIWC PEMEM Donates Musical Instrument, PA System To Liberia Central Church

by with No Comment Church NewsPEMEMTop Stories

The Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM) of Sunyani Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC – Sunyani), has donated a set of musical instruments and a public address (PA) system worth GH¢15,000.00 to the Church in Morovia, Liberia.

The items included a Keyboard with a stand, Bass Guitar, Bass Combo, Mixer Board, 2 pieces of Speakers, a set of Drums, 2 Cordless Microphones, and an Extention Board.

The PEMEM Director, Apostle Emmanuel Ofei Ankra-Badu, led the PIWC-Sunyani Assistant PEMEM Leader, Elder Kwame Boakye, and Probationary Overseer Stephen Danso, to present the items to the International Missions Director (IMD), Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, at the Headquarters in Accra on Thursday, September 24, 2020.

Receiving the items, Apostle Gyesi-Addo, who was impressed with the donation, thanked the Resident Minister, Pastor Samuel Asare, the District PEMEM leadership, and the entire church for the kind gesture which, he said, will go a long way to support the church in Liberia.

Elder Kwame Boakye indicated that the donation formed part of the activities to climax the PEMEM weeklong national celebrations.

According to Elder Boakye, the District PEMEM Leader, Elder George Oppong Danquah,  visited the FD Walker Assembly of the Church at Clara Town Bushroad in Liberia whilst on official duty to the country. He said that Elder Danquah, who was touched by the plight of the assembly in their effort to acquire gadgets for evangelism, informed his district minister, Pastor Samuel Asare. He said that PEMEM gladly and generously accepted the responsibility to acquire the instruments and the other essential items for the Church in Liberia.

On behalf of his District Leader, Elder Boakye expressed the ministry’s profound gratitude to God for enabling them to be used to support missions. He was also grateful to the Sunyani Area Head, Apostle Mark Obeng Andoh, the Area PEMEM Leader, Pastor Samuel Yador Beble, the Resident Minister, Pastor Samuel Asare, and all the men in the district who gave graciously to support this worthy cause.

Present at the presentation ceremony were the Personal Assistant to the IMD, Pastor Gideon Kofi Boadu-Yirenkyi, the Principal Executive Assistant to the IMD, Mrs. Victoria Kumi-Woode, and the National PEMEM Secretary, Elder Stephen Teye Djaba.

PENTECOST NEWS.

winneba

Winneba Area Donates PPE To Trauma And Specialist Hospital

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The Winneba Area, through its social service wing, Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS), on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, donated personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Trauma and Specialist Hospital, located at Winneba in the Central Region.

The items donated include 15 boxes of Deva sanitisers, 1,750 pieces of nose masks, 20 gallons of liquid soap and 120 pieces of Flora tissue papers.

They were presented to the management of the hospital on behalf of the Area by Pastor Augustine Dorman Kantiampong (Area Executive Member), Pastor Enock Amoah (Area Secretary), Pastor Isaac Sunkwah (Area PENTSOS Coordinator) and Elder John Biney (Area Deacon).

Presenting the items, Pastor Dorman Kantiampong said the gesture is in line with the church’s commitment towards the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the Area is also hopeful that the items would help to protect the health workers from the virus as they risk their lives to provide medical assistance to patients.

Receiving the items, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr George Kwame Prah, commended the effort of The Church of Pentecost in the fight against COVID-19 and promised to use the items for the intended purpose.

Also present at the brief presentation ceremony were Mr Umar Nurudeen (Administrator), Mrs Mercy Andoh (Nurse Manager), Dr John M. Wireko (Clinical Coordinator) and Mr Samuel Ocran (Accountant).

After the presentation, Pastor Enock Amoah prayed for management, staff and patients of the hospital.

Report by Pastor Isaac Sunkwah, Winneba Area Reporter

PEMEM PWDs

Assakae District PEMEM Supports Persons With Disabilities

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The Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM) of the Assakae District in the Takoradi Area has donated some items to persons with disabilities (PWDs) within Assakae community in the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipality as part of activities marking the recently held 2020 National PEMEM Week Celebration.

The items were donated on behalf of the men in the district by the District Ministry Leader, Elder Samuel Afriyie Kumah, assisted by the District Minister, Pastor Ernest Perbi-Asare on Friday, September 18, 2020.

Elder Afriyie Kumah, in an interview with PENTECOST NEWS, said that the donation was made to support the livelihoods of PWDs in the community so that they would be able to cope with the economic hardship brought on Ghanaians due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Pastor Perbi-Asare charged members not to discriminate against PWDs in the church as well as in the community but rather show them love by emulating the love that Jesus Christ demonstrated to all humanity.

The District Leader for the Ministry to Persons With Disabilities (MPWDs), Deacon Samuel Nkrumah took the opportunity to explain the church’s vision for the introduction of the MPWDs as captured in the 5-year strategic vision of The Church of Pentecost (Vision 2023: Possessing the Nations) and how the church ensuring the full inclusion of PWDs in the church and society.

The highly-excited PWDs who benefited from the kind gesture were grateful to God that the Assakae District had remembered them in this difficult time.

PENTECOST NEWS

police2

Abrem Agona District Commences Police Station Project

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The Cape Coast Area Head and Executive Council Member of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, cut sod for the commencement of the Agona Abrem Police Station project, an initiative of the Abrem Agona District of the church.

The facility, when completed, would have offices for Inspectors and the Criminal Investigative Department, as well as an Armoury, Exhibition room, a Secretariat, lobby, Male and Female cells, and washrooms.

Speaking at the ceremony, Apostle Antwi commended the district for the noble initiative and pledged the Area’s total support to complete the project.

He stated that The Church of Pentecost as part of its 5-year strategic vision dubbed: “Vision 2023,” is committed to ensuring community development and transformation. He cited a few projects undertaken by the Church in the country such as the construction of correctional facilities and police stations for the nation, to underscore the church’s commitment to the “Possessing the Nations” agenda.

The Area Head was also grateful to the traditional Chief of Abrem Agona, Nana Terkpo V, for donating the land for the project, as well as the Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Samuel Atta Mills for donating 100 bags of cement to support the project.

Apostle Antwi, on behalf of the Cape Coast Area, donated 100 bags of cement towards the project.

He also called on members of the district and the entire community to contribute their quota towards the successful completion of the project and on time.

In his remarks, the Municipal Police Commander for K.E.E.A, Inspector Abraham Bansah was full of gratitude to the church for such a timely intervention as the police station in the Abrem Agona community was due to be closed down due to the dilapidated and poor state of the facility.

Nana Terkpo V also praised the church for coming to the support of the community by undertaking such a project for the community. He mentioned that the community has for the past years been struggling to provide a suitable facility to inhabit the police, and was therefore very elated when the District Minister, Pastor George Ofori, informed him of the church’s plan to build one for the community.

The NPP parliamentary candidate for the area, Dr Joe Acquah, who was also present at the event donated 30bags of cement and fully pledged his support towards the completion of the project.

The ceremony was attended by the Cape Coast Area pastorate, former Pastors of Abrem Agona District, Traditional Chiefs of Abrem Agona Traditional Area, the District Executive Committee and members of the Abrem Agona District of the church.

Report by Overseer Daniel Appiah

dansoman

Heaven Remains Our Ultimate Goal – Chairman Tells Church Leaders

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The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye has advised ministers and officers of the church not to only preoccupy themselves with discharging their responsibilities as church leaders but ensure that they do not drift away from the faith. 

According to him, Heaven remains the ultimate goal of every Christian, as a result, they ought to go about their duties as church leaders while consciously ensuring that their souls remain saved. 

Apostle Nyamekye gave this admonition during his meeting with Officers in the Dansoman Area on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, at the PIWC-Dansoman church auditorium in Accra.

The Chairman read Hebrews 3:12-15, among other scriptures, to reecho the need for Christians, particularly church leaders, to regularly examine themselves to see if they are still in the faith. 

This, according to him, would enable them to hold fast to the gospel they have received, lest they drift away from the faith.

Apostle Nyamekye indicated that the “drifting process” is not instant, but gradual, hence, church leaders may seem to be going about their duties as usual, and yet, be oblivious of the fact they are slowly moving away from the faith.

He, therefore, urged them to be careful about the people they associate with, even in the church, so that they are not negatively influenced by them.

Apostle Nyamekye further noted that one key thing that could cause them to stumble is a disease of the heart known as bitterness. He described bitterness as the seeds of resentment lodging in the human heart.

Expounding on the topic: “Bitterness,” the Chairman explained that the human being is tripartite and complex in nature, in that “he is a spirit who has a soul and lives in a body.”

He added that what people usually see is the body; however, the spirit and soul of the human being is not invisible, and this is what the Bible usually refers to as the inner man (the soul or spirit) or the heart.

Apostle Nyamekye indicated that God is, therefore, interested in the state of the inner man or the heart because out of him flows all the issues of life.

He read Matthew 12:35, to reiterate that it is the inner man who dictates the actions of an individual that is why they must always be concerned about the state of the heart.

“A good man out of the good stored up in him will bring out good fruit and a bad man out of the evil stored up in him will bring up evil fruit, “he emphasized.

Explaining how bitterness gets into the heart, the Chairman said that no one consciously stores up evil in their heart, however, as they engage others and the things around them they unconsciously take in new things within. 

He, therefore, cautioned them to consciously guard the heart because evil can make its way into it and cause them to perpetrate evil. On the other hand, when they allow the goodness of the love of God into their hearts, they become the good people that God has destined them to be.

He also advised persons nursing bitter emotions, to rid themselves of such negative emotions because it could lead to far-reaching consequences.

“When one is filled with bitterness, he or she is like one infected with HIV or COVID-19. This is because once you contract it, it becomes a problem for yourself and it begins to destroy you. But it does not end there. You also become a carrier of the virus which makes it possible for you to transfer it to other persons,” he explained.

Apostle Nyamekye revealed that bitter people tend to keep mental records of the wrong done to them, have sharp and hurtful tongues and are very vengeful or unforgiving. He added that nursing bitterness could also lead to insomnia (inability to sleep) and other diseases such as ulcer and high blood pressure. He also added that bitterness dries up one’s anointing and causes them to lose their faith in God.

In overcoming bitterness, Apostle Eric Nyamekye stated some five (5) facts of life that every Christian must internalize. He noted that: “to avoid becoming bitter you must accept the fact that not everyone would like or love you, not everyone would understand you, disappointment is a fact of life, the world is not fair, and bad things happen to good people.” 

The Chairman concluded his message with an advice to Christians to desist from expressing their bitter emotions angrily. He said that expressing bitterness would not make them meet the standard of righteousness that God expects of them. He also advised them against repressing (suppressing) their bitter emotions, because people who do so tend to be hypocrites and live a life of duplicity. Instead, he urged them to always confess their bitter emotions to God, and if possible, to the offender for an amicable resolution.

The meeting with Officers is part of the Chairman’s three-day visit to the Dansoman Area. It is also the Chairman’s first visit to the Area since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March this year.

PENTECOST NEWS

African Universities Should Practice What They Teach - Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah 1

African Universities Should Practice What They Teach – Prof. Opoku Onyinah

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The immediate past Chancellor of Pentecost University, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah (Rtd), has urged university administrators in Africa to integrate the things their universities teach in their own operations.

Apostle Prof. Onyinah made the call when he delivered the keynote address at the Second Session of the 2020 Management and Staff Prayer and Fasting Retreat of the University. He spoke on the theme, “Building a Christian University to Reflect God’s Glory.”

According to Apostle Prof Onyinah, the educational system in Africa has taught us to celebrate theory with little room for practice. This, he said, is also a troubling reality in the administration of most universities.

“Very often, when we talk about integrating theory into practice, people easily cite engineers and other professions as teaching theories, but our universities where we teach business and customer service are also victims,” Apostle Prof. Onyinah said.

He added that in most cases, universities only pay attention to teaching but unable to provide quality service to their students as they should. “For example, universities allow administrative weakness to fester, thereby affecting simple deliverables such as a request for transcripts,” Apostle Prof Onyinah added.

He attributed these poor services to weak administrative structures, organisational conflicts, poor staff motivation, among others, saying, “As institutions that teach people how to handle such bottlenecks, universities should be most efficient in dealing with them.”

He, therefore, urged African universities to invest heavily in all avenues such as technology, staff welfare and methodologies that will help them practice what they teach.

The Management and Staff Retreat is part of the corporate culture of Pentecost University. It is organised every year to pray, strategise and usher in the new academic year.

This year’s edition began on Tuesday, 22nd and ended on Wednesday, 23rd September, 2020. It was held on the theme, “Reflecting God’s Glory in Our Work-Life.”

Report by Pentvas PR.