Posts in category: Church News

The Children’s Ministry Director of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Prof. William Otoo Ellis, says the introduction of the Jethro Initiative (JI) by his outfit will serve as an alternative way of increasing engagement between Children Ministry’s teachers and the children.

“The membership of the Children’s Ministry is currently more than a million. However, our engagement with our children is mostly on Sunday mornings, and in this dispensation where services have been further reduced to two hours due to COVID-19. This means, we spend less time with the children. It has, therefore, become important to have the JI meetings as an alternative way of engaging children,” he said in a documentary that was shown at the launch ceremony yesterday.

He explained that the Jethro Initiative, which has “Nurturing unto Godliness” as its slogan, is not meant to replace the Sunday Morning meetings.

“JI aims to complement and strengthen the activities of the Children’s Ministry in building the foundation of the children in Christ and His word whiles making their walk in the Faith exciting through intentionally designed extra-curricular activities,” he stated.

He further noted that unlike Sunday morning classes, JI meetings are not restricted to only members of the Children’s Ministry but must be opened to all in line with the Church’s “Possessing the Nations” agenda.

The initiative was officially launched yesterday by the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, following a successful pilot of the project in selected areas of the Church in Ghana.

Among other objectives, the initiative seeks to raise godly transformational future leaders, promote team work and unity among children, make the study of the word of God fun and innovative, inculcate a high sense of civic responsibility and patriotism in children, promote holistic growth and development of children, introduce children to role models, coaching and mentoring, create an opportunity for effective evangelism among the children in their community, encourage children to learn social skills, resilience, resourcefulness and empathy, as well as nurturing and maintaining the love for church attendance and participation in children.

The JI requires that children of ages 7 to 12 years in a particular assembly (local church) are broken into smaller groups. These groups, named after the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), should each comprise of 10 to 20 children. Members of each group would appoint two of its members to serve as a Group captain and assistant. The assembly would then appoint an overall JI Prefect and Assistant to coordinate the activities of the various JI groups. That notwithstanding, each group, must be supervised by at least one Child Worker (teacher).

The preferred day for JI meetings is Sunday afternoon. Saturday afternoon may be considered as a second option based on geographical or peculiar reasons. Although JI meetings are to be held for a maximum duration of one hour and 30 minutes, the acceptable time range is 2pm and 5pm.

Some of the special activities of JI include Character Studies in the Bible, Christian Family Values, My Environment, My Responsibility, Leadership Day, Talent Exhibition, Talk Shows, Civic Education, Reading Club, Family Day Out, Games, Learning to Serve, Music and Drama, Quizzes, Debate, Sword Drill, My Community My Treasure, and Bible Recitation.

In line with the operational guidelines of the Jethro Initiative, no JI meeting is to be held on Lord’s Supper Day.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Jethro Initiative (JI), a newly-introduced programme of the Children’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, was officially launched yesterday at a special ceremony held at the Burma Camp Worship Centre in Accra.

The JI has now been fully adopted by the Church after a successful pilot of the programme in selected areas of the Church in Ghana.

Launching the novelty, the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, said that the strategic importance of children in ensuring that the “Possessing the Nations” agenda remains relevant and sustainable from generation to generation cannot be overemphasised.

He said that the JI has been initiated to complement and strengthen the activities of the Children’s Ministry in building the foundation of the children in Christ and His word whiles making their walk in the Faith exciting through intentionally designed extra-curricular activities.

The Patron of the Ministry, Prophet David Kankam-Beditor, in an address at the event, said that the pilot programme of JI in some selected areas in Ghana yielded positive results, a reason why it has now been approved by the leadership of the Church to be fully rolled out.

The Ashaiman Area Head, who doubles as an Executive Council Member of the Church, therefore, appealed to church leaders and parents to embrace it wholeheartedly. 

“Through this initiative, God is going to equip our children to grow in Him and impact their generations,” he said.

The Children’s Ministry Director, Pastor Prof William Otoo Ellis, in a documentary shown at the launch, said that the initiative was introduced by the ministry as an alternative way of increasing engagement between CM teachers and children.

“The membership of the Children’s Ministry is currently more than a million. However, our engagement with our children is mostly on Sunday mornings, and in this dispensation where services have been further reduced to two hours due to COVID-19, this means we spend less time with the children. It has, therefore, become important to have the JI meetings as an alternative way of engaging the children,” he said.

He revealed that the programme seeks to break children into smaller groups based on the principle of leadership proposed by Jethro to his son-in-law, Moses (Exodus 18). He further revealed that these groups are named after the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

On her part, Mrs Freda Koranteng, a National Executive Committee of the ministry and the JI Coordinator, said that, as part of the initiative, special activities have been designed to meet the transformational needs of the children. These include Character Studies in the Bible, Christian Family Values, My Environment, My Responsibility, Leadership Day, Talent Exhibition, Talk Shows, Civic Education, Reading Club, Family Day Out, Games, Learning to Serve, Music and Drama, Quizzes, Debate, Sword Drill, My Community my treasure, Bible Recitation, among others.

The age range of children who can attend JI meetings is 7 to 12 years. According to her, this is because children of this age group are fairly independent and mature and can easily attend JI meetings on their own.

“That notwithstanding, some parents still bring their wards for JI meetings,” she added.

Mrs. Koranteng also noted that: “The preferred day for JI meeting is Sunday afternoon; Saturday afternoons may also be considered based on geographical reasons. The meetings should be held between 2 pm and 5 pm. However, the duration for every JI meeting should not exceed an hour and 30 minutes. This means that by 5:00 pm, we expect every JI meeting to be closed.”

She, however, reiterated that JI should not replace the Sunday morning meetings; rather, JI seeks to complement and make CM meetings more active and participatory.

Present at the event were Apostle (Lt. Col.) B. G. Kumi-Woode (Resident Minister, Burma Camp Worship Centre), Pastor Prof. William Otoo Ellis (Children’s Ministry Director), Elder Lawyer Alfred Aidoo (Deputy Children’s Ministry Director), some members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ministry, Children’s Pastors, as well as Children Ministry workers and children from some selected areas in the Greater-Accra region.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Newtown District of The Church of Pentecost in the Kintampo Area has retired ten (10) officers of the church. The glorious retirement service took place recently at the Grace Boahen Memorial Temple, Kintampo.

Delivering his opening address, the Area Secretary, Pastor Peter Akabere, on behalf of the Area Head, Apostle Gideon Obeng-Darko Debrah, said the constitution of the Church allows ministers and officers to retire at the age of 65. “Such people are retired or made to rest from active service and not to permanently retire them from the Lord,” he emphasized.

Pastor Akabere commended the retiring officers for their selflessness, dedication and commitment to service.

The Kintampo Newtown District Minister, Pastor Akwasi Amponsah, was full of joy for the lives of the retiring officers. He outlined how they have contributed in diverse ways to the growth of the district.

In his sermon, Pastor Yaw Adusei of Jema District spoke on the topic, “Loyalty.” He admonished all and sundry to remain loyal to their callings as well as any responsibility assigned to them. He entreated all not to be discouraged by the inactions and reactions of people, but to remain loyal and focused in all their endeavours.

Using Ruth 1:6-19 as his main text, Pastor Adusei encouraged all to emulate Ruth who never gave up despite her mother-in-law’s attempt of preventing her to follow her. 

He said that the act of loyalty and resilience showed by Ruth paid off greatly for her, saying that it pays to be loyal in the midst of difficulties and challenges.

The retired officers are Elder John Kwasi Donkor who served for 42 years; Elder Kweku Effa (30 years) and Elder Samuel Owusu (23 years).

The rest are Deaconesses Emma Anobel (37 years), Georgina Amponsah (35 years), Elizabeth Donkor (32 years), Margaret Agyare (26 years), Ruth Oteng (26 years), Mary Nyarko (25 years), and Comfort Opoku (17 years).

In attendance were relatives and friends of the retiring officers as well as some officers and members of Sawaba and Newtown districts.

Report by Overseer Prince Augustine Ababio, Kintampo Area Reporter.

A 23-year-old fetish priestess and drug addict, Margaret Kesewaa, has abandoned idol worship and turned to Christ after her gods failed to rescue her from a gory road accident.

In an interview with PENTECOST NEWS, Margaret Kesewaa based in Kibi in the Eastern Region, indicated that she made this eventful decision when the gods she had trust in, and served for almost a decade, could not save her from a fatal accident she was involved in recently.

“I have worshipped the gods faithfully for eight years and performed several sacrifices, nevertheless, they could not save me from this accident,” she said.

According to her, she encountered this misfortune while on her way from Kibi to Kumasi. She was left unnoticed on the scene, but was later identified the next day, and quickly rushed to the St. Joseph Hospital in Koforidua. She suffered from multiple fractures in her legs and waist.

Upon her discharge from the hospital, she encountered Elder Osafo Afari Ampene, an elder of The Church of Pentecost in the Kibi District, who led her to accept Christ and was subsequently delivered from the powers of the evil spirits.

Led by the District Minister of Kibi, Pastor Jacob Coffie Agbesi, her idols were burnt.

Margaret Kesewaa, who was later baptized in water, now worships with the New Town Assembly in the Kibi District. She expressed her excitement in Christ, adding: “I have realized that no one gives life except God. I did not know that God is so sweet.”

Although she is joyfully enjoying a new life in Christ, Margaret revealed that her family and friends had neglected her due to her conversion.

The Suhum Area, under the leadership of Pastor Anthony Eghan Kwesi Ekuban, the Kibi District, and the New Town Assembly, have adopted her and have been providing support to her.

Report by Samuel Danso.

Elder Professor Stephen Owusu Kwankye, Finance Board Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, has called on members of the church to fully emulate Christ as they equip themselves to possess the nations.

According to him, Christians should not be seen engaging in activities that taint the image of Christ. This, he said, would make it difficult for them to represent Christ in the ‘Possessing the Nations’ agenda.

Elder Prof. Owusu Kwankye was delivering the sermon on the topic: “Dress up for enlistment into the Squad to Possess the Nations” at the climax of the week-long Teshie-Nungua Area Officers’ Retreat (Apostolisation) at the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC)- Sakumono, on Sunday, February 13, 2022.

Touching on the military, he said that “the military is a disciplined institution where people cannot dress anyhow for duty.

“The military man must dress fully to be counted as a member of the army of God. He must take the shield of faith, praying always, and be watchful to the end,” he stated.

He further urged Christians to live and reflect the values enshrined in the army of God, notably loyalty, dedication, discipline, and trust.

Using Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Timothy 2:4; Proverbs 14:34, and Revelations 2:10 as scriptural references, Elder Prof. Owusu Kwankye compared the church to the army according to its structures and spiritual roles.

“In the military, when you see your superior coming, you stand to salute. Hence, in the army of God, we need to respect our superiors and see ourselves as one body,” he iterated.

He acknowledged the role of the various ministries, cell groups, and committees in the church which jointly work to make the work of God active and entreated members of the church to support the initiatives of leadership.

“When somebody comes to church and is not a member of any squad (group), it is not good. All must join the squads; be counted and when we play that role, then collectively we will be able to possess the nations,” he admonished.

The Finance Board Chairman of the Church then cautioned leaders to refrain from unnecessary competitions that come up in discharging their duties, adding, “When we come to the army of God, one may belong to the Children’s Ministry, Evangelism Ministry, Women’s Ministry, but our work should complement each other.”

He, however, urged Christians to demonstrate their righteousness and stand on the Word of God.

The Resident Minister, Pastor Anthony Owusu Sekyere Kwarteng, then expressed his gratitude to Elder Prof. Stephen Owusu-Kwankye and his wife Vida for their visit and impartation.

Report by Isabella Gyau Orhin