Posts in category: Church News

Apostle Emmanuel Ofei Ankra-Badu, the Tema Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, has charged Christians to align themselves well in pursuit of the call into God’s army.

Speaking to the topic, “God’s Army Breaking the Walls of Jericho to Possess the Nations” (Joshua 6:1-27; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:10-18), Apostle Ankra-Badu said that it is not automatic for every Christian to be enlisted into the Army of God, but only staunch believers with unique attributes.

The immediate past Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM) Director said this on Sunday,  January 23, 2022, during the closing session of a two-week-long programme of the Abasraba District in Winneba Area dubbed, “Beginning With Jesus.”

Apostle Ofei Ankra-Badu indicated that for a person to qualify into the army of God, the individual had to be spiritually inclined, be obedient to God’s word, and be honest in all he does.

He explained that the belief in Jesus Christ alone did not guarantee one’s salvation. He added that the believer had to comply with the will of God, with scriptural references from Matthew 7:21-22, Proverbs 30:12, Romans 10:2, and John 2:23-25. He then charged the congregants to emulate the righteous life of Jesus Christ at all times to secure their places in the salvation plan of God.

“There are two gates for us as a people; the narrow gate which leads to salvation and the broad gate which leads to destruction. Christ has chosen the narrow gate for us so we may live and also be saved. We are living at the expense of the grace of God, not by our smartness or strength,” he stated while entreating them to make tithing a sacred responsibility.

“Most of us here have lost our glory or blessings due to doubts. If you are here as a true follower of Christ, still comparing yourself to worldly people and craving for worldly materials, then you have not entered the narrow gate yet. Therefore, endeavour to enter the narrow gate alone and your life will surely transform to be a living testimony,” he stated.

The Tema Area Head highlighted that some Christians encounter difficulties in entering the narrow gate due to their failure in establishing the will of God and that of their own, adding that: “God will help you if you avail your weakness to Him.”

He further noted that believers had only one life despite the theories of a section of Christians in referring to their lives as ‘private’ and ‘social life. He urged them to uphold the truth and stay clean to be fit for the call of God.

The programme was hosted by Pastor Emmanuel Foster Asamoah (Abasraba District Minister). Also present were members of the District Executive Committee.

The event started from Monday, January 10 to Sunday, January 16, 2022, at local levels and Monday, January 17 to Sunday, January 23, 2022, at the District level.

Report by Pastor Emmanuel Foster Asamoah.

The Pentecost Hospital-Tarkwa, one of the nine health facilities of The Church of Pentecost, currently serves the health needs of the 18 communities within the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality and its environs. It is estimated that over 47,000 people depend on the facility for healthcare.

This was revealed at a special ceremony held today at the E. K. Kyei Memorial Temple, Tarkwa, to dedicate the facility.

The Pentecost Clinic, Tarkwa began in 1984 as a mobile clinic but has, over the years, evolved into a fully-fledged primary hospital accredited by the Health Facilities Regulatory Authority (HeFRA). It is also accredited by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) as a primary hospital and is the only Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) facility in the municipality.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, said the hospital project is in line with the Church’s effort to launch a transformation agenda in the society by partnering with the Government of Ghana to improve the lives of the citizenry as enshrined in Vision 2023.

“This is part of a package of social development projects undertaken by The Church of Pentecost across various locations in the country,” he stated.

The nine health facilities operated by the Church, through the Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS), include three hospitals at Tarkwa, Madina (Accra) and Ayanfuri and six clinics located at Enchi Kwawu, Yawmatwa, Kasapin, Kultamise, Twifo Agona and Kpassa.

A clinic is also being jointly constructed at Abrafo Odumase by the Church and the community members.

The Church is also constructing a clinic at Abesiwa near Bechem in the Abuakwa Area of the Church. 

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has dedicated the Tarkwa Pentecost Hospital at a special ceremony held on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.

The facility is one of the three hospitals owned and run by the Church through its social services wing, Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS).

The health facility, which began as a mobile clinic in 1984 with just eight workers, has now evolved into a fully-fledged primary hospital with a staff strength of over 183. It currently serves over 47,000 people in the municipality and its environs.

At the short dedication ceremony at the E.K. Kyei Memorial Temple, Tarkwa, Apostle Eric Nyamekye said the facility was constructed to meet the urgent need for healthcare delivery for the Brahabebome community and its environs.

According to him, the project is part of a package of social development projects undertaken by The Church of Pentecost across various locations in the country in line with her five-year strategic vision, dubbed “Vision 2023.”

“As part of this vision, the Church is partnering the Government of Ghana in contributing to the accelerated socio-economic development of the nation. We are, therefore, grateful to the Almighty God for granting us the privilege to serve humanity and contribute to national development through our social ministry,” he said.

The Chairman also thanked the Government of Ghana, Ministry of Health, the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), PENTSOS, and all who contributed in diverse in making the vision of the Pentecost Hospital Tarkwa a reality.

Besides this edifice, the Church has over 96 educational institutions and eight healthcare facilities (two hospitals and six clinics). Other social interventions of the Church include the construction of four holding facilities to enhance the reformation and integration of inmates, construction of police stations and posts across the country, construction of over 76 water facilities in deprived communities and institutions and the establishment of social enterprise ventures which are providing employment opportunities to the youth in Ghana.

The Chairman also hinted that a new clinic is being constructed by the Church at Abesiwa near Bechem. He also revealed that the Pentecost Clinic at Enchi Kwawu in the Asankrangwa Area of the Church is being upgraded.

The Tarkwa Municipal Director of Health Services, Mrs. Caroline Otoo, commended the management and staff of the hospital for their hard work and urged them to keep up the good work. She also advised them to aspire for greater heights by providing quality healthcare so as to attract more patrons.

The Health Services Unit Coordinator of PENTSOS, Elder Alexander Kwame Frimpong, also congratulated the management and staff on the great feat.

He noted that it is the objective of PENTSOS to make all of its healthcare facilities a sanctuary of healing.  

“To be able to achieve this, the staff must be dedicated, take standardisation seriously and aim for excellence. This we will be able to achieve through proper policies, structures and motivated human resource,” he said.

He also thanked the Executive Council of the Church for instituting the Health Improvement Infrastructure Fund to support the infrastructure development of health facilities in the country.

Dr. Peter K. Yeboah, the Executive Director of CHAG and President of Federation of World Christian Health Association, commended The Church of Pentecost for its commitment towards providing enhanced healthcare delivery to deprived communities in the country.

He also commended the staff and management of the facility for the giant stride made.

“Pentecost Hospital-Tarkwa is the only CHAG member institution in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, joining a family of other 345 CHAG member institutions, and now has a new role as a special representative and ambassador of CHAG to demonstrate stewardship and Christlike-centreed compassionate healthcare in this municipality,” he said.

Present at the event were Nana Kwabena Ango II (Chief of Apinto Traditional Council), Nana Ampong Kwesi II (Chief of Bonsawire and Kyeame Hene of Wassa Fiase), and some ministers of the Church in the Tarkwa Area.

Also in attendance were Board Members, management and staff of the hospital including the Board Chairman, Apostle Dr. Daniel Okyere Walker, an Executive Council Member and the Tarkwa Area Head of the Church, and the General Manager, Pastor Dr. Suleman De-Graft Issaka.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost (CoP), Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has advised ministers of the Church to be Kingdom-minded and to look beyond the CoP fraternity in order to influence their brethren in other denominations.

This, he claims, will ensure that they “possess the nations” by instilling the values and principles of God’s kingdom in every sphere of society.

Apostle Nyamekye said this during the opening session of this year’s Officers’ Retreat at the Tarkwa Worship Centre today.

“If we truly desire to possess the nations, we must strengthen our fellowship as a Church, look beyond our horizons, and strive to connect with and influence our brethren in other denominations,” he said.

In his sermon, he stated that the 2022 theme, like the Church’s previous three themes, aims to provide members with a better understanding of the Church as a people of God’s kingdom in the ‘possessing the nations’ agenda. He claimed that Jesus introduced the kingdom as a Seed in the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32).

Using Genesis 3:16, Genesis 13:14ff, Galatians 3:15-19, John 12:24, and 1 Corinthians 2:8, the Chairman established further that Jesus Christ is the eternal Seed that was “ignorantly” sown by the devil but has now grown into a vine tree with many branches that continues to bear much fruit.

According to him, the various church denominations are thus branches connected to Jesus, the true vine.  The Chairman, on the other hand, explained that no single church organization can cater to everyone’s tastes and preferences, and that every denomination, in any generation, should decide what kind of church it wants to build, develop, and maintain.

“We should not make comparisons between The Church of Pentecost and other churches. Rather, let us develop what we have, make it a brand, and stick to it, because no church denomination, no matter what you do, can meet the tastes and preferences of all people,” he stated.

In light of this, Apostle Nyamekye added that ministers of a particular church denomination should not regard themselves as superior to others, but rather as one body born of the same spirit.

He urged ministers to regard their colleagues in the CoP and other denominations as brothers, coworkers, fellow soldiers, and fellow prisoners (Philippians 2:25. Colossians 4:10). The Chairman urged ministers to love one another and work together to keep the body of Christ united (Ephesians 4:1-7).

“We need to collaborate and win together. We must support and protect one another,” he charged.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Apostle Lawrence Otu-Nyarko, the Finance and Administration Director (FAD) at The Church of Pentecost (CoP) Headquarters, has disclosed that, one of the factors that could enable church leaders to excel in their ministry is their ability to withstand pressure.

He stated that pressures from followers (members) and other co-workers could cause leaders to make poor decisions in times of crisis, stressing that, the leader must be able to maintain a “cool head” and calm composure at all times.

Apostle Otu-Nyarko said this when he preached this morning on the topic: “Equipping the Saints to Watch Over Their Ministry and Complete It” at the Ministers and Wives’ session of the ongoing 2022 Tarkwa Area Apostolisation.

Using scripture references such as Ephesians 6:11-12, Hebrews 13:20-21, and Colossians 4:17, he stated that, in keeping with this year’s overarching theme, church leaders have a mandate to equip members for greater impact.

He defined equipping as “committing resources to an institution or a person in order for that person or institution to execute an assignment, duty, task, or responsibility.”

Apostle Otu- Nyarko stated that Christ has appointed ministers for the equipping of the saints, and thus they must carry out this mandate effectively until the end of their calling.

He stated that the equipping process necessitates girth because it will take more grace to build church members up to stand in the Lord and withstand the schemes of the evil one.

He did, however, assure them that if they were able to complete this mandate, they would receive a large heavenly reward for their efforts.

Apostle Otu- Nyarko mentioned arrogance, discouragement, over-ambition, covetousness, weariness, the Love for the Flesh, success pressure, and distractions as other factors that could prevent church leaders from “completing their ministry.”

The Finance and Administrator Director of The Church of Pentecost advised ministers and wives to remember that it is the Lord who has called them (1 Thessalonians 5:24) and that He has a hand in every ministerial assignment they receive in order to keep and discharge their ministry to the end.

He also advised them to fix their gaze solely on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), to be content and relaxed, to praise God in all circumstances (2 Peter 1:3), and to stand firm in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10-11).

The Ministers and Wives’ session was held ahead of the official opening of this year’s Officers’ Retreat also referred to as Apostolisation.

The Officers’ Retreat (Apostolisation) is an annual capacity-building and training program established by The Church of Pentecost to equip and empower church leaders to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

This year’s event is under the theme: “Equipping the Church as an Army to Possess the Nations” (Hebrews 13:20-21, Ephesians 4:11-12, Ephesians 6:10-11),” which is the overarching theme of the Church for 2022.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Elder Steve Owulaku of the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC)-Tarkwa and his family have single-handedly funded the construction of a church building at Gmantendo in the Gbungbalinga District of The Church of Pentecost.

The 75-seat auditorium, which cost GHS 20,053.00 in total, was dedicated recently by Apostle Emmanuel Kojo Aidoo (Yendi Area Head).

Speaking at the event, Overseer Jerry Ohene-Acquah, the church’s Gbungbalinga District Minister, who also serves as the Area Estate Committee Chairman, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Elder Steve Owulaku and his family for their generosity to the district.

He said as part of efforts to eliminate churches worshipping under trees in the Area, a building model had been designed to propel the said initiative.

After dedicating the structure, Apostle Emmanuel Kojo Aidoo praised Elder Owulaku and his family for their generosity. He also urged all Church members to emulate such selfless qualities, as these are the foundational church practices.

The event also included the commissioning of a mechanized borehole, which was generously funded by the Gbungbalinga District and supported by PIWC-Graceland of the Teshie-Nungua Area and Goaso Area, respectively.

Report by Overseer Jeremiah Boffour.