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Seven Reasons Why You Should Not Criticise The Church Of Pentecost For Building Prisons

by with No Comment ArticlesChurch NewsPENTSOSTop Stories

I have keenly observed some opinions from some individuals in connection with the Ejura ultra-modern Correctional Centre (prison camp) built by The Church of Pentecost.

There have been divergent views as to whether the church had set its priorities right or not. Many people are also bashing the church, lamenting that the church should have catered for the needy among them before embarking on this project.

Well, these are all opinions. I think the church has done no wrong. I was expecting Ghanaians to praise God for a church like The Church of Pentecost, which is helping to transform the nation.

The church is not just building only prisons, as some people may think, but there are several other national interventions that the church has done over the past few years, and continues to do to help develop the country.

I would therefore like to give seven (7) reasons why we should not lambast the church for the good work done, but rather praise and encourage them to do more if they have the means:

  1. THE CHURCH IS NOT DISCRIMINATORY; NOT A FRIEND TO THE RIGHTEOUS ONLY, BUT “SINNERS”AS WELL.

Following the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His precepts, we should not reject sinners but show some love to them and win them for Christ. Jesus said, “He did not come on earth because of the righteous, but because of “sinners.”

(Mark 2:17 KJV) “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” What I am trying to say is that the church has done a lot for its members and will continue to do more. However, it cannot ignore those outside the church, especially, the less privileged. Taking care of the privileged and the less privileged makes the generosity of the church balanced and unbiased.

2. OUR LORD JESUS COMMANDED US TO GO TO THE WORLD TO PREACH TO ALL, INCLUDING PRISONERS, AND BRING THEM TO CHRIST.

(Matthew 28:19, KJV) “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” This is the great commandment. It is obligatory for every believer to do this. There are many ways of doing this, but the most important thing is to have a good heart for the one you want to win for Christ. You must love him and show him kindness as the Lord has done to us. Apart from giving them the word of God, if you are capable of assisting them in any way, do it. Do not just say, “God bless you” and leave him to suffer! (James 2:15-16 KJV) “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” This is what the Lord says.

We must always help a brother who is in need. There is no doubt that prisoners in Ghana really need help. We cannot just preach to them without helping them, especially if the church has the means to help. Sinners are our clients, so we must serve them well so that we can win them for Christ for a better and a transformed life.

  • THE CHURCH BELIEVES THAT ANY GESTURE FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED IS A GESTURE FOR OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Jesus demonstrated this in Matthew 25:31-45, NKJV: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.”

This clearly tells us not to care for only the righteous, but “sinners” as well. This does not mean if the church builds ultra-modern prison facilities for prisoners, they are promoting criminality. It is A BIG NO; the church is just doing what the Bible tells them to do.

  • IT IS THE BUSINESS OF THE CHURCH TO LEAD SOULS TO CHRIST, IT IS GOD’S BUSINESS TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

Responding to comments such as, “there are some needy individuals in the church…,” I wish to set the records straight. The church leads the members by (1) Preaching the Word to them. (Romans 10:14, KJV): “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” This is why God has called us from the world, sanctified us, and empowered us to go to the world, preach the gospel to them and tell them the goodness of Him. (2) Those that believe, we must teach them what Christ has taught us. (Matthew 28:20, KJV): “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:” If we preach to them and teach them well, they will practice what is right, then God will transform their lives and give them all they want. (Matthew 6:33 KJV): “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” In connection to the above quotations, the bitter truth is that the church is not a business venture for creating businesses or wealth for members, but the church gives biblical directions that will lead the members to Christ who will eventually transform their lives and give them their heart desires.

Obviously, there will be needy individuals in the church, because there are people that the church will be discipling at any given point in time. We believe that God will see to their needs in His own time, even though the church is doing its part to help such people. That does not mean that the church should not consider the less privileged.

  • TRANSFORMING A SOCIETY IS A GRADUAL PROCESS, AND MUST START FROM SOMEWHERE.

Most churches in Ghana, including The Church of Pentecost, are poised to transforming every sphere of the society with kingdom principles and good standards of living. For this reason, The Church of Pentecost alone has achieved the following:

  • Built 96 Basic Schools across the country; 2 Senior High Schools in Kumasi and Koforidua; 2 Skills Development and Learning Centres; 1 Vocational Training Institute; 8 Healthcare Facilities (3 Hospitals & 5 Clinics); Provided financial support to some needy but brilliant students at the National, Area and District levels.

The Church also has:

1. Spent GHS 2,716,112.36 on educational scholarships to support needy but brilliant members at various levels in 2018.

2. In 2020, 74 Street children, 298 drug addicts, 38 sex workers, 101 street dwellers and 48 others were enrolled in schools, put into trade, and given vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

3. Handed over the Pentecost Convention Centre, a multi-purpose conference facility, to the Government of Ghana to host Covid-19 patients, costing the church a total of GHS 39 million during the period.

4. The Areas, Districts and local Assemblies of the church also assisted the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic to the tune of GHS 5, 412, 653.20 in providing relief support to the vulnerable members and non-members alike.

5. The church spent GHS 2,313,859.09 on health care to support members.

6. Drilled 44 boreholes in rural communities across the country.

7. The church launched the ‘Environmental Care’ campaign to take care of our environment and to fight against sanitation issues in the country.

8. The church has started a process of building 1,000,000 trees in the country.

9. 37 active Credit Unions referred to as Pentecost Cooperative Mutual Support and Social Services Societies (PENCO) providing financial assistance to members of the Church. These and many more are what the church is doing to assist humanity, aside the core mandate of winning souls and discipling people for Christ.

Many other churches are also doing great things to help develop the nation. The Church cannot do everything at once, not even the government, so it has to start from somewhere according to its strength. Looking at what the church has done for both its members and the country, I think we must praise them instead of criticising them.

  • THIS PRISON WILL HELP SOLVE SOME HEALTH ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE DUE TO OVERCROWDING.

Looking at the rate at which our prisons are congested, no one needs a prophet to tell us that there can be an outbreak of diseases. Again, some conditions at the prisons are detrimental to human dignity.

In order to solve these challenges (both health and human right issues), I would personally commend The Church of Pentecost for taking the initiative to find a better place for our brothers and sisters behind bars. In this case, the church did not just visit Christ when He was in prison, but rather secured a better place for Him.

  • THE ULTRA MODERN PRISON WILL SERVE AS A FACILITY TO EQUIP INMATES FOR A BETTER FUTURE AFTER THEIR PRISON SENTENCE. 

We must thank God for the vision given of The Church of Pentecost. This project is not just to keep prisoners, but to train them to unearth their God-given talents as they serve their prison terms. This is equipped with facilities that will help them to learn a vocation of their choice that would help them to establish themselves after serving their prison terms.

It is worthy to note that, such a gesture will help transform the prisoners and lead them to live a better life.

CONCLUSION

We must see this corporate social responsibility of The Church of Pentecost as God-given. Let us encourage the church so that other churches will follow suit. Criticising someone for doing something good may not encourage him to do more. However, acknowledging their good gestures and showing appreciation can bring out better things from them.

As a country, we must not criticise blindly, rather, we must be circumspect in our criticism.

GOD BLESS THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST.

GOD BLESS GHANA.

By Nana Owusu Nkrumah, Broadcast Journalist

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Apostle Dr. Walker Interacts With Staff Of Tarkwa Pentecost Hospital

by with No Comment Church NewsPENTSOSTop Stories

The Tarkwa Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr. Daniel Okyere Walker, has paid a working visit to the Pentecost Hospital-Tarkwa, to familiarise himself with the operations at the facility.

Apostle Dr Walker, an Executive Council Member and Coordinator of the Western and Western North Regional Coordinating Committee of the Church, was at the facility on March 4, 2021. He was joined by Pastor Charles Owusu Mpiani, District Minister for Adieyie, who also doubles as the Area Media Pastor.

He was welcomed to the facility by the General Manager, Pastor Dr. Suleman De-Graft Issaka, and Elder Isaac Ofori Adom, Head of Finance.

Apostle Dr. Walker was taken round the facility where he interacted with the staff.

Addressing a section of the staff, the Area Head urged them to uphold the vision and mission of the church and the hospital. He further entreated them to continue to hold clients who patronise the facility in high esteem.

He ended by encouraging the staff to work as a team, saying, “If you travel alone, you will go fast but if you travel together, you will go far.” He assured the staff of the church’s unwavering support to the hospital to become a preferable facility in the area.

As part of the visit, Apostle Dr. Walker donated two nebulizers to the hospital.

The General Manager, Pastor Dr. Suleman De-Graft Issaka,thanked the Area Head for the visit. He assured him that the nebulizers will be used for the intended purpose.

Pastor Dr. De-Graft Issaka disclosed that in 2020, the Head Office of the Church gave the facility GHS 250,000.00 to complete a disability-friendly ramp and a link at the hospital.

He added that the hospital received financial support from the Tarkwa Area for the construction of a new Outpatient Department (OPD). According to him, a good amount of money was also donated by Ardent Fire Protection Limited, a company belonging to Elder John Arthur, the Tarkwa Area Deacon, to the facility.

The General Manager expressed appreciation to the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the Executive Council, the PENTSOS Directorate and members of the Church for their support to the hospital.

Pentecost Hospital-Tarkwa started as a mobile clinic in 1984. It became a static clinic in 2005. It has 141 permanent staff and 21 temporary staff. The Hospital has been fully accredited by both the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) as a Primary Hospital.

Report by Sandra Walker & Deloris Jennifer Annan.

Okorase District Mission House2

Okorase District Mission House Dedicated

by with No Comment Church NewsTop Stories

The Okorase District Mission House in the Koforidua Area of The Church of Pentecost has been dedicated to the glory of God. The 4-bedroom manse with an office and a garage, was constructed at the cost of GH¢ 324,953.65.

The Koforidua Area Head, Apostle Samuel Osei Asante, an Executive Council Member, who dedicated the mission house on May 16, 2021, commended the District Minister, Pastor Paul Odai Laryea, the District Executive Committee Members, District Presbytery, and the entire membership for the great work done. 

The Okorase District was carved out from the Adweso District in 2017, with Pastor Paul Odai Laryea as the first District Minister.

On March 2, 2018, the then Area Head, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, now Chairman of the Church, delegated Pastor John Lovelace Baidoo, assisted by Pastor Paul Odai Laryea, to cut the sod for the construction of a district mission house. The foundation stone laying ceremony was performed by Apostle Samuel Osei Asante, the current Area Head, on August 16, 2019.

In a brief sermon on the topic, “Who is on the Lord’s side” based on Exodus 32:26 and Judges 17:12-13, Pastor Samuel Amankonah of Two Streams District, said that the people of Israel sinned against God by worshipping a golden calf even though Moses left them in the hands of Aaron when he went for the Ten Commandments.

He identified three reasons which accounted for their sin. For the reason of fear/ anxiety, he said that the people of Israel could not wait for Moses just as the virgins slept when the bridegroom delayed (Matthew 24). He also identified the lack of respect for the Man of God (Moses) and the disobedience to the Word of God as the other reasons.

Pastor Amankonah said that those on the Lord’s side have a peculiar way of life. According to him, people on the Lord’s side separate themselves from the world, make a declaration by letting people know that they are part of the church, render services to God as the Levites were asked to kill their own brethren who were not on the Lord’s side. He further elaborated that people who are on the Lord’s side show great sense of commitment and integrity in their service to the Lord.

He concluded the sermon by saying that people who are on the Lord’s side are rewarded and blessed and thereby admonished all present to separate themselves for the Lord.  

In attendance were Mrs. Elizabeth Osei Asante (wife of the Area Head), Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Ghartey (Assemblies of God – Okorase), Rev. John Bentsil (CAC – Okorase), Rev. Appleton (Perez Chapel – Okorase), the queen mother of Ewe community in Okorase, and the Koforidua Area pastorate and their wives.

Report by District Editorial Desk.

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PENSA Kwadaso Sector Wins 1,134 Souls In Missions Outreach

by with No Comment Church NewsTop StoriesYouth Ministry

The Pentecost Students and Associates (PENSA) – Kwadaso Sector, in collaboration with the Manso Atwere, Akropong, Abore, and Antoakrom Districts, all in the Ashanti Bekwai Area of The Church of Pentecost, has won a total of 1,134 souls, 795 being adults, and 339 children through the maiden 2021 Sector Missions Outreach. Out of the 795 adult souls won, 409 were baptised in water, while 116 received Holy Spirit baptism.

The Sector, in line with the vision of the Youth Ministry, “Grounding young people in Christ and unleashing them to possess the nations,” mobilized 58 committed PENSA members from five tertiary institutions within the sector, namely Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skill Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AMMUSTED), Akrokerri College of Education, Fomena Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Obuasi Campus, and Kwadaso Agricultural College, to embark on an Aggressive Rural Evangelistic outreach in the Ashanti Bekwai Area.

The week-long programme commenced on Monday, 10th May, and ended on Sunday, 16th May, 2021, under the theme: “Repent! The Great Day of the Lord is Coming (Joel 2:11;31).

In an interview with PENTECOST NEWS, the PENSA Travelling Secretary for Kwadaso Sector, Pastor Isaac Donkoh, revealed that the 2021 Sector Missions team were stationed at Manso Atwere Central Assembly for the first three days for a retreat to equip them as they sought the face of God in fasting, prayer and teachings before embarking on the outreach.

“We decided to start Aggressive Evangelistic operations on Thursday, May 13, 2021, but the way our student missionaries were charged after the 3rd day of the retreat, we had no option than to release them for the task of soul-winning, and to the glory of God souls began to surrender to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” he affirmed.

Pastor Donkoh further stated that the student missionaries stationed in villages and towns in the selected districts engaged in personal evangelism, dawn broadcasting, and cinema evangelism, among others during the period.

The Ashanti Bekwai Area Head, Apostle Fred Tiakor, highly commended the student missionaries for their relentless effort, passion, and commitment that led to this great harvest of souls into the Kingdom of God.

In attendance were Pastors Joseph Kyei of Manso Atwere District, Jerome N. Cudjoe of Manso Akropong District, Clement Ampaako of Antoakrom District, Maxwell Ntow of Manso Abore District, the Ashanti Bekwai Area Youth Leader, Overseer Silas Awusi, and Mrs. Doris Donkoh, wife of the Sector’s Traveling Secretary.

Report by Pastor Ernest Perbi-Asare.

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ALWC Women & Children’s Ministries Support Nyame Dua Orphanage

by with No Comment Children's MinistryChurch NewsTop StoriesWomen's Ministry

The Women and Children ministries of A-Lang Worship Centre (ALWC) in the Odorkor Area of The Church of Pentecost have donated some items worth GH₵5,145.50 to the Nyame Dua Christian Home, an orphanage located at Madina, Accra.

The items, which included 15 bags of rice, detergents, diapers, baby food and wipes, drinks, cooking oil, sachet and bottled water, towels, tinned tomatoes, among others were donated during a visit to the orphanage on Monday, May 3, 2021.

The church delegation was led by Elder Ernest Asinor, the Presiding Elder of the Local Assembly; Mrs. Olivia Tsekpoe, wife of the Resident Minister; and Deaconess Theresah Boampong, the District Women’s Ministry Leader.

Other members of the team were the Assistant District Children’s Ministry Leader, Ruth Quainoo, and Deaconess Nora Amaning, the Local Assembly Women’s Ministry Leader.

The team was warmly received on arrival by the founder of the Home, Mr. Paul Anaba, and the 39 children of the Home, including two three-month-old babies.

Addressing the gathering, Mrs Tsekpoe quoted James 1:27 (Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world) to stress the need for Christians to reach out to orphans and other destitute groups in society. She said that the visit was in line with the church’s “Possessing the Nations” agenda and is also in fulfilment of the aforementioned scripture.

Elder Asinor, on his part, encouraged the children to pray at all times and never give up for God has a purpose for their individual lives. He advised them not to forget their humble roots when the Lord blesses them in their adult life, saying, “You should always remember your home, where you come from.”

Deaconess Nora Amaning advised the children not to look down on themselves, while Ruth Quainoo urged them to be obedient, humble, and respectful.

Receiving the items on behalf of the children, Mr Anaba said that he has always prayed to the Lord for the Home to attract the attention and benevolence of The Church of Pentecost, and was, therefore, very grateful to the Lord for an answered prayer. 

He thanked the church for the kind and timely gesture.              

The team also refreshed the children with “Sobolo” drinks and pastries.       

Report by ALWC Media                 

Mampong Area

Mampong Area Chieftaincy Ministry Launches Bible Reading Project At Ejura Chief Palace

by with No Comment Chaplaincy MinistryChurch NewsTop Stories

The Chieftaincy Ministry of The Church of Pentecost has launched a Bible Reading Project dubbed, “Thus Says the Lord” (Jeremiah 33:2) at the Ejura Palace in the Mampong Area. The project, which seeks to take God’s word to the palace was launched by the Area Head, Pastor Samuel Kwabena Asare, at the Ejura Chief Palace on April 24, 2021.

The Area Head thanked Nananom for the opportunity given the church to present the word of God to them. He said that if any community gladly receives the Gospel, it brings improvement and development to the people.

According to him, God created all things including humans, adding that if the things created will stand, then they must be kept by the Word of God, just as Prophet Jeremiah declared, “Thus says the Lord.”

He hinted that when Jesus was tempted, he said: “It is written” meaning life (in the area of marriage, family, governance, business) can only stand by the Word that comes from God. He opined that all spheres of life including the palace are part of the “Possessing the Nations” agenda of the church’s Vision 2023.

He said that the purpose of the visit was to distribute Bibles among Nananom to encourage the reading of the Word which reveals God’s mind to His people in order to bring development on the land.

The Area Head and ministers distributed Asante and English Bibles to the Chief and his elders. There were more than enough Bibles for all persons in the palace. Also, diaries and calendars were given to them.

Launching the project, Pastor Samuel Kwabena Asare read John 1:1-18 and introduced Pastor Stephen Obeng Asare as the Coordinator for the Chieftaincy Ministry in the Area.

The Ejurahene, Barima Osei Hwedie ll, who is an Elder of the church, shared his joy at receiving God’s word in the palace and also the honour done them. He appointed the Kurontihene, Nana Odiasempa Antwi Obugyei, as the Palace Chaplain who will liaise with ministers of the church to ensure that the project (fellowship) takes place every week.

The Kurontihene gladly accepted the responsibility and thanked the chief for the honour done him and the Area Head for bringing God’s Word to them.

Other persons present were Nana Akua Tiwaa (Ejurahemaa), Nana Benkumhene, Nana Nifahene, and other sub-chiefs within the Ejura Traditional Area.

Also in attendance were the wife of the Area Head, Mrs. Beatrice Asare, ministers and wives in the Mampong Area, and some church officers. The media was also well represented.

Report by Overseer Osei Mensah.

police

Abrem-Agona District Hands Over Multipurpose Facility To Ghana Police Service

by with No Comment Church NewsTop Stories

The Abrem-Agona District of The Church of Pentecost has commissioned and handed over a multipurpose Police Station facility at Abrem Agona in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality of the Central Region, to the Ghana Police Service (GPS).

The facility, described as one of its kind in the country, was funded and constructed by the church at the cost of GH¢135,000.00.

It has the station officer’s office with washroom, CID Office, charge office, armory room, exhibit store, orderly room main office, male and female washrooms with lobbies, male cell with toilet and bathroom.

The old Police Station is dilapidated and had become a death trap for Police personnel and the public who seek their services.

The situation officers, therefore, referred suspects under its jurisdiction to Elmina for safe custody.

Speaking at the commissioning, Pastor George Ofori, the Abrem-Agona District Minister explained that the construction of the facility was inspired by the five-year strategic vision of the church dubbed ‘Vision 2023,’ which among other things aims at forging strategic partnerships with government geared toward nation building.

He said that several projects were being undertaken across the country, including clinics and prison facilities, under this vision.

Pastor Ofori said the church held various consultative meetings with major stakeholders in the community who agreed that a police station with residential quarters should be built for the community. The quarters would soon be completed to accommodate about ten staff.

DCOP Habiba Twumasi-Sarpong, Central Regional Police Commander, expressed gratitude to the church for the magnificent edifice and assured that it would serve the intended purpose for the people of Agona Abrem and KEEA municipality at large.

The edifice, she said, would help the Police personnel in the area to work efficiently and effectively.

She also urged the public to be law-abiding and offer the necessary assistance to the Police by providing credible information to help flush out criminals in the society saying, without security, nothing could be achieved in any community.

DCOP Twumasi-Sarpong appealed to other religious bodies, individuals, and organisations to emulate the gesture for the Police to deliver efficiently.

Nana Terkpor V, Chief of Abrem Agona commended the efforts of the church to the community and said the newly built Police Station would go a long way to reduce the incidents of crime and violence in the community.

‘When the elders and Pastors of the church came to me that they wanted to build a Police station, I could not believe it could be achieved, though we needed it to check indiscipline and lawlessness’, he revealed.


Nana Terkpor also thanked the Member of Parliament for KEEA, Mr Samuel Atta Mills, the MCE and the District Police Commander for playing a vital role in the construction of the project.

Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, the Cape Coast Area Head of the church, commended the efforts of the Ghana Police Service gave the assurance that the church would continue to partner government to undertake initiatives that would bring social and economic transformation in the country.

Nana Appiah Korang, Municipal Chief Executive of KEEA, who was overwhelmed by the gesture, applauded the leadership for the vision and benevolence.

He urged the community members to collaborate effectively with the Police to maintain and improve safety and security in the area, adding that security was paramount to the socio-economic development of the Municipality.

Aps Gakpetor

Church Of Pentecost To Plant 1,000,000 Trees Nationwide

by with No Comment Church NewsTop Stories

“So, God said, “Let the earth sprout [tender] vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit according to (limited to, consistent with) their kind, whose seed is in them upon the earth;” and it was so.” (Genesis 1:11 AMP)

The leadership of The Church of Pentecost headed by Apostle Eric Nyamekye and the Executive Council hold the strong belief that God in His wisdom created the heavens and the earth and everything thereof including plants (trees) for varied purposes. He then gave humanity trust to hedge and to keep the plants and all the things He had created. It is, therefore, inimical for the church to gross over her stewardship role in that regard. 

For this reason and in the spirit of the church’s strategic vision of “Possessing the Nations,” dubbed; “Vision 2023,” the Environmental Care Campaign was introduced. This intervention, which is pursued to take care of the environmental needs of the nation, has gained nationwide acceptance after two successful clean-up and stakeholder engagement exercises undertaken by the church in the last two years.

This year, however, the leadership has considerably decided that one million (1,000,000.00) trees should be planted nationwide as part of the campaign. The exercise would be organised in collaboration with the Forestry Commission of Ghana in the months of May and June.

For an effective, concise, and sustainable exercise, aimed at planting seedlings and ensuring their growth, the various ministries of the church have been brought on board to lead in the planting, nurturing and maintenance process. The scheduled dates for the planting exercises are as follows:

  • Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM) would lead the church on Saturday, 29th May 2021, to plant 50,000seedlingsacross the nation.
  • Evangelism Ministry would continue on Saturday, 5th June 2021 to plant 100,000 seedlings across the nation. 
  • On Friday, 11th June 2021, the pastorate, Women’s Ministry & Children’s Ministry would take turns to plant 500,000 seedlings. 
  • The Youth Ministry would climax the exercise on Saturday, 12th June 2021, with 350,000 seedlings across the length and breadth of the nation. 

All are invited to join this laudable cause. Interested persons and groups should contact Pastor Pasteeco Arthur on 0541 929 974 for more information about this tree-planting project. Join us as we paint the country green; one tree at a time!

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“To Proclaim Freedom For The Prisoners:” Towards an Understanding of Pentecostal Missional Ethos of Prison Ministry in Ghanaian Context

by with No Comment ArticlesChurch News

INTRODUCTION

In the statement that can be appraised as defining the ministry of the man Jesus Christ on earth, a joyful announcement of a time in the mission of God in which good tidings would pervade human existence is given. Citing Isaiah 61:1-2 in 4:18-19 of Luke’s account of the Gospel, Jesus indicated to his audience that he has received anointing to bring redemption to the poor, prisoners, the blind, the oppressed, and “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” It tells an exciting news about the penetrance of the Spirit in human history leading to viable transformation in the spiritual and physical welfare of people. This act of redemption in Christ essentially informs the approach that the Church in its ministry to the world ought to adopt.

This essay discusses the plausible ethos of mission which should underpin the spread of the Church’s tentacles into the recesses of the institutionalised prisons in modern civilisation to champion a holistic transformation of incarcerated persons. Pentecostals in their quest to leave no stone unturned, have defined a philosophy of mission that takes into account the holistic transformation of people and places. The essay briefly shows how Pentecostal missional spirit, exemplified in The Church of Pentecost (hereafter CoP), has seen the progress of social action with particular reference to prison ministry in Ghana. It thinks that such a ministry is highly tenable per the impressive design of humanity’s redemption in Christ.

THE PRISON CONCEPT IN BIBLICAL AND WESTERN THOUGHT

Prisons already exist in Egyptian civilisation in Bible times. Recounting the circumstances under which Joseph and the others have been incarcerated (Genesis 39:7-23; 40:1-3), it suggests that prisons were classically designated for political offenders mostly. The same can be said of Samson (Judges 16:20-21). Such conceptualisation also existed among other nations including Assyria and Babylon (2 Kings 17:4; 2 Chronicles 33:11; Isaiah 20:4). When the nation of Israel translated from theocracy to monarchy, such an understanding has been adopted from the other nations. Prior to this, Israel has been introduced to the idea of prisoners of war (Deuteronomy 20:10-15). In fact, Israel, the nation of God has had a fair share of being prisoners of war at various stages of its political history. The Old Testament is pervasive with the practice. Prisoners of war and their subsequent release or the giving off of people as prisoners of war as recompense for debt, would later inform the theology of our redemption in Christ.

By the time the Greco-Roman world, whose thought impacted heavily western culture, rose to prominence, the concept of prison saw expansion within a system of justice to include offends of various kind towards the building of a more civil society. In Luke 23:17-19, the account talks of one Barabbas who has been imprisoned for leading an insurrection in the city. Matthew 27:16 identified Barabbas as a “notorious prisoner.” The incarceration of John the Baptist by Herod because he spoke against a marital infidelity he was engaged in meant that even in this later civilisation, governments concentrated absolute powers and throw people in prison without trial (Mark 6:17).

Religious reasons also saw to the imprisonment of people. Though the Greco-Roman culture was initially religious tolerant because the Jews were at least allowed to practice their religion, imprisonment occasioned by matters of religion later increased in the religious pluralistic Greco-Roman world. Christians suffered not only imprisonment but persecution of various forms due to their refusal to sacrifice to Roman gods. The will of God was to prevail when later under Roman Emperor Constantine, the Roman Empire was Christianise. Christianity became the approved religion of the whole Empire. 

It can be assessed that the development of prison concept serves the purpose of imprisonment as a means of punishment, character reformation, rehabilitation and consequent incorporation of prisoners back into normal life in society. It is also obvious that whilst history presents with cases of persons who have been rightly imprisoned as means of punishment and attitudinal change, many have also wrongly suffered prisons. This makes the concept of prison in judicial system, a special area that Christians must speak to. Ensuring justice in the world is a mandate of the Christian faith.

GHANA’S EXPERIENCE

Perhaps prisons in Ghana remind us of our sad colonial past. The forts in Ghana which tell stories of Ghana’s past were the initial prisons in Ghana. The incarcerations which took place when the prison concept was transported from Western culture to Ghana, were significantly based on indigenous people flouting the rules of the colonial masters. It would be difficult to prevent yourself from crying when you visit some of the places that held prisoners in the past. Prisons survived the colonial period and were also utilized by indigenous politicians. The abuse of prisons continued. A good example is the Preventive Detention Act promulgated in Ghana on July 18, 1958. This Act permits that people who are deemed a threat to national security be detained for as many as 5 years without trial or any charge whatsoever. Within the 5 year period, detainees have no right of appeal to the courts. Many people suffered under this Act prior to its later revision.

In those days, as it is realised today too, the conditions of the prison facilities were substandard. They do not present themselves as able to fulfill adequately the principles underlining modern prison concept. One of the age-old concerns is the existence of adequate space in prisons to house inmates. Sergeant Ambrose Imoru Salifu in his work, “Beginning of Ghana Prisons Service” indicated that the colonial government once upon a time decided to modify the prison system in its colonies to make it conform to what pertains in England. Key among the attempts to overhaul the prison system is to ensure that prison facilities are spacious enough to house prisoners. This can be ascertained in a letter written in 1869 by the then secretary of state and cited by Sergeant Salifu. This letter gave directives on how to check overcrowding in the prisons without expanding the facilities, subsequent to the decision to change the prison system. On how to ensure space in the prisons, he quoted the letter thus, “it may be done by resorting to shorter and sharper punishments, by whipping in addition to shorter terms of imprisonment or in total substitution for any imprisonment, by substituting in the early stages of imprisonment strictly penal labour and by lowering the diet to the minimum required for health.” This rigid approach to ensuring space in the prison facilities would not warrant the following; adequate attitudinal change, empowerment of prisoners to become better citizens, vocational and skills training, psychological shaping and general improvement in the personality of prisoners. The fact is that, there is still great deficiency in the prison system today. A better way to ensure proper modification of the prison system must be pursued. I think the CoP is on course in ensuring a remarkable transformation of the prison system in Ghana.

Today, the Ghana Prisons Service maintains that treatments meted out to prisoners must be “guided by training, reformation and rehabilitation.” In its “Ten-Year Strategic Plan” spanning 2015-2025, the Ghana Prisons Service intends to achieve this by taking steps to “establish modern training workshops and re-equip existing ones with modern equipment.” One reason given for this move is reduce the situation where ex-convicts return to criminal activities. This reason is to be taken seriously. Reports show that substantial number of ex-convicts go back to criminal activities. For instance, the 2018 report of the Ghana Prisons Service show that out of the 13,971 average number of prisoners in Ghana, 1,505 were reoffenders. Thus a move to place prisoners on the job market is to be encouraged. It also plans to employ the service of clinical psychologists and professional counselors to aid the reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners. It further intends to ensure that the fundamental human rights of inmates are protected in the treatments given to them. Meanwhile, in this same strategic plan, the Ghana Prisons Service showed concern for the overcrowding nature of remand prisons, and frowned on inhumane treatment of prisoners. Such a plan must be supported towards fruition.

IN CHRIST IS OUR YEAR OF JUBILEE

The backdrop to Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 61:1-2 referred to above) that informs the mission statement of Jesus, is the Babylonian captivity situation the people of God found themselves. Under Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylon attacked Judah, the people of God and took many captives. Revolts against Babylonian rule ended up in failure (2 Kings 24:8-17; 24:18-20, 25:1-26). The Lord through the Prophet declares a time of redemption and restoration of Judah. The prophet called it “the year of the Lord’s favour.” In this eschatological period in the life of the people of God, they would earn their salvation from Babylonian imprisonment.

This promise of redemption reminisces the year of Jubilee as ordained by God in Leviticus 25. In the year of Jubilee, freedom is proclaimed through the land of Israel. Key features of the year of Jubilee include redemption, freedom from debt, rest from labour, and release from captivity. In the year of Jubilee is redemption realised and restoration achieved. The expression “acceptable year of the Lord” or “time of the Lord’s favour” has been linked to the Christ in Isaiah 49, particularly verse 8.

Redemption being linked with freedom from captivity or imprisonment has survived the Old Testament period and has found important application in the doctrine of redemption in Christ. Christ has paid the debt that has kept humanity imprisoned by sin. Freedom has been proclaimed to all those who put their faith in the finished work of Christ. Such people “are justified freely by his [God’s] grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24, NIV). Life in Christ is our desired Jubilee. Thus prison theology is essential in Christian soteriology (study of the doctrine of salvation).

PRISONS AS MISSION FIELD

Pentecostal mission knows no bound. Since the movement began, the Pentecostals have been on the quest to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. They appropriate the power of the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus in Acts 1:8. Professor Allan Anderson, the doyen of Pentecostal Studies indicated that in recent times, Pentecostal mission is the most successful. He realises that this is as a result of the strong emphasis on mission and evangelism. The CoP exemplifies this excellently. Many other scholars in and out of Ghana testify to this.

Pentecostal mission has advanced to such an extent that social ministry has become an integral part of it. Considering the missional tenacity of Pentecostals, many people have benefited greatly from the love of Christ which was shown to them through Pentecostal mission so that both the body and spirit of the saved are transformed by the Gospel. The CoP has embraced social ministry as key to its mission. Prison ministry has become its concern by dint of this missional ethos of the church. Its “mission statement” does not alienate the Church from the secular polity of Ghana but seeks to impact communities. This underlies the significant contribution the CoP has made to the educational, health, and other sectors of Ghana. Recently the CoP has taken its long standing prison ministry to higher level. It points to Hebrews 13:3 to advance a case for a holistic prison ministry. The text reads, “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (NIV). This demonstrates a continuing Pentecostal missional idea of prison ministry. The contribution to the general socio-economic fortunes of Ghana has been lauded by many. It is being advanced as the years go by. The Vision 2023 of the CoP carries great concern for the larger society. Since the vision took effect fully at the beginning of the year 2019, many projects have been carried out to put in effect its aim of transforming society.

Dr. David D. Daniels III, the respected American Professor of Church History, has classified the general social ministry of the CoP into “relief,” “renovate,” “reform,” and “repair.” This is important because it indicates the orientation of the CoP as it engages the larger society. I think that the prison ministry being undertaken by the CoP captures in diverse amounts the categories of CoP’s general social engagement put together by Prof. Daniels III. The Relief aspect is seen in the many donations the CoP has made to various prisons in Ghana over the years. Donations include food, clothes, personal hygiene items, shelter among others. The most recently reported relief outreach undertaken by the CoP was the donations made by the Men’s Ministry of the Kasoa Area of the CoP. Assorted items amounting to GH 29,700 were donated to the Awutu Senya Prison Camp in the Central Region of Ghana. With the Renovate class, which “seeks to maximize human potential,” the CoP recently built and donated to the Ghana Prison’s Service an ultramodern camp prison in Ejura in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Others are to follow. Contained in the facility is a centre that provides educational and vocational training that would provide inmates skills thereby finding them a place in the job market of Ghana. This would enable their livelihood. The Reform class is seen in the restructuring of prison camps. The projects being undertaking by the CoP departs sharply from the old facilities many of which undermine the humanity of the inmates. The structuring of the projects have introduce some kind of civility in prisons unprecedented in the history of prison facilities in Ghana. In the Repair class, the entire structuring of the prison facility seeks to rethink the pervasive perception about prisons and to show that such facilities should rather be places for the shaping of the personality of prisoners. The environment of the facility alone would make inmates feel that they are part of the larger community. That knowledge would aid positive shaping of their personality. Provisions have also been made for the spiritual transformation of prisoners. The old idea of prison has been repaired by the prison projects being pursued by the CoP.

CONCLUSION

It has been showed that in the Ghanaian context, prison as mission field for Christians is highly tenable. More so, prison theology has proven to be key to the discussion of redemption in Christ. The ministry to prisons must be holistic. It must seek to rehabilitate the spiritual and physical life of prisoners. The larger society stands to benefit greatly if careful attention is given to prisons ministry in Ghana. If there is any place in society in which we witness a tangible case for “whilst we were yet sinners Christ died for us,” it is in the prisons. A missional church must be bothered about the prison system of the nations. Prison ministry as can be seen in Pentecostal missional philosophy must be understood and joyfully embraced.

By Elder Dr. S. Ofotsu Ofoe

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Konongo Area Women’s Ministry Visits Yawkwi Caring Homes Village

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The Konongo Area Women’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost has donated assorted items to the Caring Homes Village at Yawkei, near Juaso, as part of the mandate to extend mercy and kindness to the homeless and the needy as stated in Proverbs 19: 17 (Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done).

The visit, which took place on Monday, May 3, 2021, was led by Mrs. Dora Owusu Akyaw (wife of the Area Head), supported by Pastor Daniel Adjabeng Kissi (Area Secretary), Deaconess Ruth Gyasi (Area Women’s Ministry Leader), and her team, among others.

The items included rice, toilet tissues, eggs, washing powder, detergents, assorted soft drinks and biscuits, medicated carbolic soaps, sanitary towels, among others.

They were received by the administrator of the Home, Mr. Adjei. On behalf of the Home, Mr. Adjei extended his profound gratitude to the church for the kind gesture. He appealed to the church to make the Village their second home by regularly visiting the inmates.

Through the visit, management of the Home has allowed the church to hold regular fellowship with the inmates of the facility.

Report by Pastor Isaac Ayiku Quarshie.