Posts in category: Church News

Ghanaians have about two weeks to go to the polls to elect a president and 275 parliamentarians to lead the nation. In view of this, the New Tafo District of The Church of Pentecost has launched an ‘Agent of Peace’ campaign ahead of the elections to educate the populace to pursue peace before, during, and after the elections.

The colourful event dubbed “Seek Peace and Pursue It” took place on Sunday, November 15, 2020, at the M. K. Yeboah Temple, Krofrom in Kumasi. It was in line with the directives of the leadership of the church to preach peace and pursue it.

The District Minister, Pastor Seth Dwamena Asante, led members from the local assemblies in the district in a float through the streets of Ash-Town and Krofrom, holding placards bearing peace and salvation inscriptions, amidst singing and dancing to create public awareness about the event.

Present were the Manhyia Sub-Metro Electoral Officer, Mrs Anastacia Nketia, the Ashanti Regional Programme Officer of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Nana Afia Pokua Konadu, among others.

Pastor Seth Dwamena Asante in his welcome address based on Psalm 34:14 spoke on the significance of seeking in every area of human activity. He said the Vision 2020 theme of the church enjoins members of the church to be agents of peace in their quest to possess the nations.

He asserted that it is the constitutional right for Ghanaians to exercise their franchise. He, therefore, advised the youth not to avail themselves for unscrupulous persons to use them to foment trouble before, during, and after the elections, but to be vigilant and live peacefully with their neighbours to make Ghana a better place to live.

The Electoral Officer for Manhyia South, Mrs Anastacia Nketia, educated the participants on the dos and don’ts of the electoral process and encouraged the youth to partake in the elections since it is an obligation for every citizen who is 18 years and above and of sound mind to exercise their franchise.

“It is against the law to vote when you are not 18 years old. Putting any material apart from the ballot paper and causing violence at the polling centres is also unlawful. Therefore, let us be mindful not to get involved in any of these offenses,” she said.

The Ashanti Regional Programmes Officer for the NCCE, Nana Afia Pokua Konadu, commended The Church of Pentecost for the launch of the peace campaign across the country and the church’s support towards the operations of the NCCE.

She advised that if the message of peace is spread and concerted efforts are made to create awareness of its importance, the world will be a better place.

Report by Dennis Owusu.

The Aflao Area of The Church of Pentecost, in collaboration with the Ketu South Municipal Assembly, the security agencies, the Local Council of Churches, and the traditional authorities, have launched the ‘Agent of Peace’ campaign in the Ketu South municipality.

The programme drew a lot of people to the Shekinah Temple in the Aflao District of the church, where the event was held. The Ketu South Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Elliot Edem Agbenowu, was the guest of honour. It was graced by the Divisional Police Commander, the CEPS Commander, the Ketu South NCCE head and other personnel from the municipality.

The Area Head, Apostle Kofi Dzemekey, who chaired the occasion, in an address gave a brief insight into the main theme of the campaign, “Seek Peace and Pursue It” taken from Psalm 34:14.

He also stated the commitment of The Church of Pentecost towards the peace of the nation, especially in this year’s elections. He encouraged the citizenry to do all that they can to protect the peace they are enjoying in the country since Ghana is the only nation they have.

The MCE of Ketu South, Hon. Elliot Edem Agbenowu, pledged the commitment of the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) to ensure a peaceful election. He encouraged residents to adjust to the new security protocols being implemented by the security agencies in the municipality. This, he explained, was because the constituency has been identified as a hot spot for the 2020 elections, coupled with the activities of the Western Togoland group. He assured residents of his commitment to protect the peace and security of the municipality.

The head of NCCE in the municipality, Mrs Evelyn Klopkodzi, who is also a deaconess of the church, used the opportunity to educate the gathering on peace and how to ensure that everyone becomes an agent of peace during and after the 2020 general elections.

The NPP parliamentary candidate for the Ketu South constituency, David Tiano Quarshie, an elder of the church, spoke on behalf of all the political parties and pledged their commitment of ensuring a peaceful election.

The Divisional Police Commander, Superintendent S. O. Bempah, and the CEPS commander both pledged the commitment of the security agencies towards ensuring peace and security, before, during and after the 2020 general elections.

Other speakers included the representative of the Municipal Chief Imam, the chairman of the United Churches of Aflao and the representative of the Paramount Chief of Aflao Traditional Area.

Prayers were offered for the Electoral Commission, the Municipality, the Region and Ghana as a whole.

There was a peace walk in some principal streets of Aflao with members holding placards bearing various peace messages.

Report by Pastor Samuel Abil Asoandek.

It was a colourful, joyous, and blissful day as Apostle Abraham Lincoln Angoh, the Bompata Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, retired from the active ministry of the church after 38 years of laudable service to God and the church.

The retirement service, which took place on Sunday, November 15, 2020, at the A. T. Nartey Temple, Bantama in the Bompata Area, was officiated by Prophet James Osei Amaniampong, Executive Council Member of the church who also doubles as the Area Head for Asokwa Area. 

Delivering the sermon on the topic, “Magnify the Lord” based on Psalm 34:3, Prophet Amaniampong encouraged the Angoh family to continue to praise God for the rest of their lives, because God has made them greater than their problems.

“I want to inspire you this morning that the Lord is great; greater than everything, including your problems and everything you possess now. So blow Him! …scale God up! Make God more important, make Him more important than every other thing. God is the first, He is the last, He is the beginning, He is the end, He is the keeper of all creations, He is the creator of the universe; manager of all time,” he said.

Abraham Lincoln Angoh was born on 12^th August 1955 at Bankyim in the Western Region, to Maame Afua Sika and Nana Kwasi Angoh.

He started primary school at Dompin No.1 Local Authority Primary School, near Dabaose in 1961 and continued at Tamso Anglican Primary School. He completed and obtained the Middle School Leaving Certificate (MSLC) in 1970 at Tamso L/A  Middle School.

He was called into full-time ministry as a Probationary Overseer in 1982 and has since served the church meritoriously and selflessly. His passion, desire, and exemplary work ethic have led him to serve in various capacities in the church. He also served as the National Music Committee Chairman of the church for nine (9) years from 2011 to 2020.

Different testimonies read out by the Area Pastorate and Area Presbytery praised Apostle Abraham Lincoln Angoh and his wife, Mrs Theresa Esi Angoh for welcoming the views of all persons and their ability to ease up tensed moments with laughter and bliss.

The General Council applauded him for effectively balancing his time, both as a national figure and area head. His wife, Mrs Theresa Esi Angoh, was also praised for supporting her husband’s ministry and standing in the gap for him whenever national assignments took him away from the Area.

The service was graced by the presence of the immediate past Chairman of the church, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah; Apostle Isaac Nii Kotei Djani (Executive Council Member), among other dignitaries.

Meanwhile, a 3-day Praise and Worship Festival was held in honour of Apostle Angoh prior to retirement on Sunday, November 15. The event saw ministrations from Elder Dr Kwasi Mireku, the Voice of Pentecost, Jak Alolome, Kwaku Gyasi, Deaconess Dorcas Appiah, various choirs in the area, and other individuals.

Report by Pastor Joshua Kwabena Donkor.

After 28 years of selfless service, the Techiman Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Julius Franklin Asante-Ayeh, has brought his active ministerial journey to a successful end.

The colourful retirement event, which took place on Sunday, November 15, 2020, at the Dwomor Central Assembly church auditorium in Techiman, was chaired by the General Secretary of the church, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi Larbi.

Delivering a sermon on the topic: “Seeing Him Who Is Invisible,” based on Hebrews 11:23-27, the Sunyani Area Head, Apostle Mark Obeng Andoh stated that “serving God is an act of faith because there are no stipulated rewards, rather, it is a step of faith unto a path that leads to innumerable rewards.”

“Moses could have enjoyed life in Pharaoh’s palace, but he decided to leave all that pleasure and associate with his fellow Jews, this was an act of faith, but in the end, it yielded great blessings in his life and his impact is evident even till now,” he revealed.

He, therefore, entreated all believers to follow in the sacrificial example of Moses, by shying away from worldly pleasures, and rather, seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and to let their lights shine before men so that glory will be given to the Lord.

According to Apostle Andoh, unlike in most worldly engagements, the rewards in serving God are invisible and unspecified, however, if one takes a step of faith to serve Him, there are abundant rewards that can be attained.

He commended Apostle Asante-Ayeh for following in the sacrificial example of Moses by leaving his job and comfort zone to accept the call to take up the herculean task of active ministry.

Apostle Asante-Ayeh was called into active ministry in 1992 and into the office of an Apostle in 2012. He served in Navrongo as District Minister, PIWC-Accra as Resident Minister, Lesotho as National Head, and Bantama West as District Minister. He also served in Nungua Nshorna as District Minister. His ministry took him to the Headquarters of the church as Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM) Director and finally in Techiman as Area Head.

He also served in the following capacities: Area Children’s Ministry Leader (Bolgatanga), Area Witness Executive Member (Accra West), Area Secretary (Bolgatanga), and Area Workers Secretary, (Accra East). Others are Area Executive Committee Member (Asokwa), and Area Executive Member (Teshie/Nungua).

The retirement service was preceded by a musical concert on Saturday, November 14, 2020, at the same venue to honour him for his service to the Area and specifically, his love for music, which led to the formation of the Techiman Area Mass Choir.

In his response, Apostle Asante-Ayeh thanked all who have helped him in his Christian life and ministry including all past and present Chairmen of the church as well as Deaconess Eunice Addison (of blessed memory).

Also present at the special occasion were Apostles Yaw Adjei-Kwarteng (Hohoe Area Head and Executive Council Member), Emmanuel Ofei Ankra Badu (Immediate-past PEMEM Director) and the area pastorate.

Report by Pastor Peter Amuzu-Avorde, Techiman Area.

The Axim Area of The Church of Pentecost, in collaboration with the Local Council of Churches, has launched its “Agent of Peace” campaign in three different constituencies in the Area.

The launch took place on October 11, 14, and 17, 2020, at Jomoro, Ellembelle, and Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira constituencies respectively.

In an opening address, the Axim Area Head, Apostle Philip Osei-Korsah, explained that the peace campaign is an initiative by The Church of Pentecost to educate and challenge her members and the Ghanaian populace to seek and pursue peace before, during, and after the 2020 general elections.

Apostle Osei-Korsah, therefore, called on all political parties, civil society organisations, and the entire public to refrain from acts that would jeopardize the peace of the nation. “No one is above the laws of Ghana and the law will deal with anyone who violates the electoral processes,” he stressed.

The directors of the Electoral Commission (EC) in the aforementioned districts, on their part, educated the participants on the electoral processes and advised them to comply with the processes to foster a peaceful election.

The Police Commanders in the three districts also pledged to be agents of peace in the coming elections and gave the assurance to guard the peace of the nation by monitoring all the polling stations in the area and bring perpetrators to book.

The Parliamentary Aspirants and the political parties present at the programme also pledged their support to sustain the peace of the nation as well as the peace of Nzema land.

The launch of the ‘Agent of Peace’ campaign in the three constituencies was preceded by a peace walk through the principal streets of Half Assini, Aiyenase, and Axim with placards bearing peace inscriptions to educate passers-by. 

Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion the Member of Parliament for Jomoro who is also the Deputy Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture, Honourable Paul Essien; the Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Jomoro, Honourable Samia Yaaba Nkrumah; Chiefs and District Police Commanders of Nzema East, Ellembelle and Jomoro, District Directors of the Electoral Commission, NCCE Directors, the clergy, and the Pastorate and in the Axim Area of The Church of Pentecost. 

Report by Overseer Daniel Atuah. 

The Dunkwa Area of The Church of Pentecost has launched its “Agent of Peace” campaign aimed at educating the public on the importance of peace before, during, and after the 2020 general polls.

The launch, which took place on October 21, 2020, at the Dunkwa Central Assembly Auditorium, dubbed “Seek peace and pursue it,” was chaired by the Dunkwa Area Head, Apostle Jones Awuah Afrifa. It was preceded by a float through the principal streets of Dunkwa-On-Offin.

In his address, Apostle Afrifa said: “The agent of peace campaign is an initiative by The Church of Pentecost to educate and challenge all Ghanaians to be agents of peace before, during, and after this year’s election.” 

He defined peace as “freedom from disturbances,” and he charged all Ghanaians to pursue peace and guard it jealously.

“As Christians and citizens of a peaceful nation, we must all work hard to maintain the peace we are enjoying, not only for ourselves but for posterity as well,” he reiterated.

Apostle Afrifa called on all stakeholders and parties involved to pursue peace and set good examples that will be worthy of emulation and ultimately bring about a peaceful election come December 7.

The well-attended occasion was graced by major stakeholders including political party leaders, traditional rulers, security agencies, civil society organisations, and the Muslim community, among others. 

The occasion ended with an intercession prayer for the nation and the general elections.

Report by Pastor Justice Adane Twene, Dunkwa Atechem District.

It was a dream come true, a moment of joy and a day of celebration when Apostle Michael Collins Asiedu of Suame Area was retired from the active ministry of The Church of Pentecost after 31 years of meritorious service to God and the church.

The retirement service, which took place on Sunday, November 15, 2020, at the Tetelestai Temple in the Suame Area, was officiated by the Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye.

Delivering the sermon on the topic, “The True Value of Our Work Is With The Lord,” Apostle Nyamekye explained that the reward of the believer’s work on earth is not necessarily in the material gains they acquire, rather, the true reward of every believer’s work is in the impact they make in the world and the lives of others.

“When we believe in Jesus, what matters is not the money we have, or the cars we buy, or the titles we carry, what flows through us to become a blessing to others; that is what really matters,” he opined.

Reading from John 7:38, the Chairman revealed that God has placed in each believer streams of living water for the purpose of blessing their world and their generation, stressing that “the true measure of a believer’s worth is based on the extent to which the living water deposited in them is flowing through them to impact others.”

Drawing lessons from the story of the Samaritan woman, Apostle Nyamekye noted that “when Jesus said that He possesses water that could forever quench the thirst of the Samaritan woman, she immediately desired for that water. This, according to him, implied that “there are people in this world who also desire and thirst for the living water that we (believers) possess, so if we fail to let it flow, the world will be in a drought and the people therein would thirst. However, if we let the streams of living water flow into our world, we will indeed make the world a better place.”

He posited that although Apostle M. C. Asiedu may be retiring, the streams of living waters that have flowed through him will still keep flowing to bless others that he may not even have come into contact with.

Apostle Nyamekye, therefore, advised ministers to focus less on material gains and rather devote themselves to making their inner rivers flow to bless humanity.

Michael Collins Asiedu was born on November 29, 1955, at Aboabo Sonkor near Suhum in the Eastern Region, to Opanyin Richard Kwabena Atta of Aseseaso, and Madam Grace Akua Anibea Asiedu of Larteh – Akuapem.

He holds a GCE ‘O’ Level from the Royal Society of Arts (UK). He also holds the Intermediate Certificate from the London Chamber of Commerce, a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Pentecost University (2012), and a Master’s Degree in Conflict, Peace and Security Management from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre, Accra (2016).

Apostle M. C. Asiedu was called into full-time ministry as a Probationary Overseer in 1989 and has since served the church meritoriously and selflessly. His passion, desire, and superb work ethic have led him to serve in various capacities in the church. He also served as the Director of the Evangelism Ministry of the church for eight years (2008 to 2016).

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Tema Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Matthew Larbi Wettey, on Sunday, November 15, 2020, retired from the full-time ministry of the church after serving meritoriously for 32 years.

The special service which took place at the F. S. Safo Memorial Temple in Community 5, Tema, was officiated by the International Missions Director (IMD), Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo. It was attended by people from all walks of life.

Speaking at the service on the theme, “Because you have done this,” Apostle Gyesi-Addo said that, “the call of Abram to leave his father’s land was in itself a test from God. His response to the call, followed by the subsequent events and the ultimate quest to sacrifice caused God to swear by Himself to bless him and his generations.”

Reading from Genesis 22:15-18, he said that although God has given Christians the essentials needed for survival in life with varied promises in scriptures, He requires them to make a personal commitment to love, belief, obey and make committed sacrifices for Him to activate His blessings for the believer.

According to Apostle Gyesi-Addo, all the sacrifices made by Abraham was as a result of God testing him and that the test of the believer is a call to glorify God and understand His purpose for their lives in their Christian journey.

“God tests us to find out if we can unreservedly offer our everything to Him and also to find out if the believer can love Him and sacrifice so supremely as He did with His Son (Jesus) for mankind,” he stated.

Recounting some of the tests and sacrifices Apostle Larbi Wettey and his wife Elizabeth had to make prior to their call into the full-time ministry, the IMD was full of praise to God and Apostle Wettey for passing the test by heeding God’s call, sacrificing and losing some things which God eventually has replaced according to His covenant with him.

Called into the full-time ministry of the church in 1988 as Probationary Overseer, Apostle Larbi Wettey was confirmed an Overseer in 1990, called into the pastorate in 1993, the office of Area Head in 2011 and Apostle in 2013.

Apostle Wettey, considered as one of the revered historiographers of the church, served in Asamankese Mepom (1988-1993), Sepe Buokrom (1993-1999), Prestea (1999- 2005), Darkuman (2005- 2011), Axim Area (2011- 2016) and Tema Area (2016- 2020).

In the course of the ministry, he also served on several committees, notable among them was the National Discipleship & Literature Development Committee (NDLDC).

He was also a fluent interpreter on Pentecost Hour – a sponsored religious broadcast of the church which was aired on GTV between 2003 and 2011. Together with his wife, Maa Elizabeth, they have authored 10 books.

The pastorate in the Area in their testimony described Apostle Wettey Larbi’s love for the ministry of the Holy Spirit as profound. “He teaches extensively on the gifts, baptism, and fruit of the Spirit and looks forwards to their manifestation,” the testimony read. “He is a great leader and team player who combined delegation of duty with effective coaching and patient supervision to ensure that assigned tasks are effectively executed.”

The Area Presbytery, on the other hand, described him as a versatile and growth-oriented minister. “He has an all-inclusive approach to church administration, which fostered unity and cordial work relationship between pastors and officers and one with passion for ecumenism as he served as the Tema Zonal Vice-Chairman for GPCC,” the testimony said.

The Tema Area Women’s Ministry in their testimony to Mrs. Elizabeth Wettey Larbi eulogized her as one who made a great impact on the ministry which will always be remembered.

“She has the knack for being neat, cheerful and with a strong positive disposition enthusiasm and brimming energy as she welcomed all manner of persons, including street children, the vulnerable and the downtrodden to her home to feed them,” it said.

Delivering the General Council’s testimony, the Kasoa Area Head, Apostle Ekow Badu Wood, said the Council saw Apostle Larbi-Wettey as “a man of prayer, affable, very humble and loyal who distinguished himself as a hardworking soldier of the cross and could be trusted for integrity, faithfulness, and dignity.”

The Council also acknowledged his book, ‘The legacy of Pastor James McKown’, which documents the life and ministry of the Founder and the history of the church in its formative years, as a great resource for Pentecostal and theological training.

The General Council also described Mrs. Larbi-Wettey as exceptionally affable, God-fearing, and a principled woman. “Her cheerful smile and enthusiastic dance during praise sessions at General Council Meetings will be greatly missed,” the testimony stated.

Report by Samuel Owusu Amofah.