The Church Must Be Ready For The Future web

The Church Must Be Ready For The Future – Apostle Prof. Kodua

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The Vice Chancellor of the Pentecost University (PU), Apostle Prof. Kwabena Agyapong Kodua, has challenged churches to be active in the anticipation of future trends and prepare for them.

Apostle Prof. Kodua said this at the 2024 Missions Orientation held at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, for newly called missionaries of The Church of Pentecost.

‘By 2028, the world will be technologically advanced. AI and technology will have changed the future,’ the VC declared.

He added: ‘More electrical and driverless cars will be seen in the streets; education will take a different form, with schools in the cloud, digital healthcare, e-businesses, digital law, and a host of online activity will increase.’

In his presentation, Apostle Prof. Kodua stated that these technological developments are not without their attendant challenges.

‘Top scientists are making some pronouncements which are quite worrying,’ he said, cautioning against potential ethical and societal issues that could arise. He, however, reminded believers that God has not lost control of His world.

Warning that family lifestyles would become complex and a struggle between human rights and godly principles would intensify, Apostle Prof. Kodua forewarned: ‘This may assume uncontrollable heights.’

Reflecting on the church’s journey, the Vice Chancellor lauded current efforts at embracing technology and social media through the creation of an e-church, saying, ‘The general attitude of the church towards technological advancement, characterised by the creation of an e-church and increasing its visibility on social media, is quite commendable.’

He also touched on the church’s programmes relating to marriage and family life, as well as those relating to care for the environment.

Apostle Prof. Kodua said the church has added ‘Marriage and Family Life’ to its tenets and launched ‘Environmental Care Campaign’ projects to tackle environmental challenges.

He said that despite the successes in soul conversion, there was a need to empower believers for the engagement and transformation of the different systems within society.

‘If a system is bad, whatever a believer will do, they are more likely to fall or compromise. If you do not seek to change the system, the system will change you,’ he cautioned.

Concluding his presentation, Apostle Prof. Kodua called on all believers to be spirit-filled, with knowledge of God’s word, of current systems, and wisdom.

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Follow Jesus To Finish Well web

Follow Jesus To Finish Well – Apostle Dr Elorm-Donkor To Fresh Ministers

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The United Kingdom National Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr Lord Elorm-Donkor, has admonished newly commissioned ministers of the church to follow Jesus throughout their ministerial journey to finish successfully.

Speaking on the topic, ‘Follow To Finish Well,’at the Commissioning Service organised for newly trained ministers held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, on Friday, July 12, 2024, the UK National Head indicated that whenever there is a task to be performed, there will always be the question of ‘how am I going to finish?’ This, he indicated, is not different from the call to the full-time ministry.

He, however, admonished them to know that they have not called themselves into ministry but Jesus Christ who has called them and, therefore, they need to follow Him. He stressed that so long as they obey the voice of Christ and follow Him, He will grant them the grace to do the work and finish well.

He explained that following Jesus who has called them into ministry requires them to trust and obey, adding that it is very simple but many times it is very difficult to do it.

‘Many times, we say we are following Jesus, but we don’t obey His every instruction,’ he said.

To succeed in ministry, he charged the newly commissioned ministers to trust the church in which they have been called and its practices. According to him, the leadership of the church have carefully, with the help of the Holy Spirit, interpreted scriptures to guide ministers for a successful ministerial life and so they should follow and abide by the church’s constitutions and ministerial practices.

He also informed the ministers that following involves humility, which has to do with accepting who they are in God and depicting themselves as such and not allowing anything make them raise their shoulders high.

Apostle Dr Lord Elorm-Donkor admonished the ministers to always have its in mind that it is not always about their achievements in ministry but about how they were able to follow Jesus to make such achievements.

A total of 118 ministerial students out of which 106 are from Ghana and 12 from the external branches were commissioned after completing their training from the Pentecost School of Theology and Missions.

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118 Ministerial Students Commissioned Into Full-Time Ministry web

118 Ministerial Students Commissioned Into Full-Time Ministry

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The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, on Friday, July 12, 2024, commissioned into the full-time ministry 118 men who have accepted the call of God and have completed their ministerial formation from the Pentecost School of Theology and Missions of the Pentecost University.

Out of the 118 ministers who have been commissioned with their wives, 106 of them are from Ghana while 12 are from the external branches outside Ghana.

At a commissioning service held at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, the Chairman reminded them of the requirements of their calling and administered the oath of office to them.

Advising the newly commissioned ministers, Apostle Nyamekye told them that acceptance of the office of the overseer places upon them many responsibilities such as preaching the Word of God in season and out of season, baptizing new converts by immersions, and discharging any other duties assigned to them by their Area/National heads and the Head Office.

He also asked them to remember that they are being commissioned at a time when the whole church is being unleashed to transform their world and, so they must have a renewed commitment to Christ through reaching out to many with the gospel and have their presence felt beyond the church walls to the marketplaces, offices and all spheres of society for transformation.

He called on Area and National Heads to take particular interest in the new ministers, guide and train them with their experiences, while admonishing the districts and local assemblies to accept them, pray for them and support them to succeed.

The Vice Chancellor of the Pentecost University, Apostle Professor Kwabena Agyapong Kodua, expressed gratitude to all lecturers and faculty members of Pentecost School of Theology and Missions for the in-depth training they have given to the students whom he described as God’s gift to the communities that God has decided to dispatch them.

He admonished them to have Jesus as their model and look up to only Him and yearn for His grace. 

Ministers who have been called into the missions’ field were also prayed for and encouraged to do the work with God as their help.

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Apostle Anane Denteh Pushes For Churches To Invest In Digital Media web

Apostle Anane Denteh Urges Churches To Invest In Digital Media

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The Director of the Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM), Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh, has urged churches to deliberately invest in digital media for the purposes of evangelism.

Speaking on the topic, ‘The Church and Missions in a Digital World,’ Apostle Anane Denteh who is an Executive Council Member of The Church of Pentecost, urged church leaders to purchase digital media gadgets and train persons on the digital media space to successfully conduct missions work on that space.  

He indicated that with over 5 billion people living in the digital space, missionaries need to be strategic in getting the gospel to them.

He stated: ‘The digital space is a place where many people in the world now live, and God is interested in them. Hence, missionaries must be interested in their souls.’

He highlighted how digital media helps missionaries minister to people in hard-to-reach areas simultaneously.

Apostle Denteh also spoke about the need to understand the whole concept of the digital world, how it operates and how to penetrate there with the gospel.

According to him, the Church’s vision to be a global church, includes the sharing of the gospel to people in the digital space and planting churches there. To achieve this, he proposed a ‘Church Digital Missionary Model,’ where every Christian with a digital device is called to share the gospel in the virtual realm.

‘The church must orient all such persons with the basic steps of evangelism so they can pick it up,’ he stressed.

The PEMEM Director mentioned that while some emerging technologies like AI may be perceived as ‘threats’ to Christianity, the Church must seize these innovations and transform them for the advancement of the Kingdom.

He noted that social media is a crucial mission field, emphasising the need for intentional engagement with Christian bloggers to push the Church’s contents and put together persons with various expertise within a variety of fields to effectively manage their digital media presence.

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Never Forget The Message web

Never Forget The Message You Have Been Sent With – Apostle Dr Anim Advises

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The Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Pentecost University, Apostle Dr Emmanuel Anim, has advised missionaries to always carry along the Gospel message, which is the main task of a Christian.

According to him, missionaries are not self-appointed but sent with a divine message.

‘You have been called and sent, but you are not going on your own accord but with a message. Your goal is to communicate effectively the message you have been sent with,” he stated.

Apostle Dr Anim revealed this when speaking on the topic, ‘Biblical Perspective on Mission’ during the second day of the 2024 Mission Orientation currently underway at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa-Fetteh.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor noted that the entire Bible is the foundation for the mandate of mission, saying, ‘Through Christ and the people of God, who are Abraham’s spiritual children, we have a responsibility to all mankind to be stewards of God’s creation.’

Citing Genesis 12:1-3, he urged Christians to recognise their calling, much like Abraham did.

He also referred to Jonah as a reluctant missionary whose story reflects human limitations and desires in seeking to accomplish God’s mission.

‘Often God does not think like us. Jonah wanted his enemies to be punished because of historical experiences. He saw Yahweh as the God of Israel and not God of their enemies,’ he noted.

Drawing from Matthew 28:19, he cited the imperative of the Great Commission, stressing that Christians are sent out to change systems with the values and principles of the Kingdom of God.

Missionaries, according to Apostle Dr Anim, must lead people to recognise the Lordship of Christ.

He referenced Acts 10:15-16 where Apostle Peter struggled but eventually accepted and obeyed God’s directive to welcome Gentiles into his home.

‘The missionary challenge you will have to deal with is gospel and culture. Culture is dynamic, but you must understand where people are at a particular time. At the heart of every culture is a worldview, which shapes our future,’ Apostle Dr Anim explained.

He likened culture to an iceberg, with observable aspects and hidden depths that can only be suspected or imagined.

‘The principle of love must be in operation; do not exploit the people. Mission is about the transformation of people and cultures in the light of God’s word,’ he concluded.

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Apostle Dr Tsekpoe Emphasises The Need For Intergenerational Missions web
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The Head of Ministerial Formation and Training at the Pentecost School of Theology and Mission (PSTM), Pentecost University, Apostle Dr Christian Tsekpoe, has stressed the critical importance of intergenerational missions in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Presenting a paper on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, during the 2024 Missions Orientation for newly called missionaries of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr Tsekpoe drew some lessons from Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8 and explained that Jesus’ vision for the gospel was not to be confined to Jerusalem, but to spread to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth – encompassing all generations to come.

He lamented that while the church in Africa is experiencing vibrant growth, the church in the West has lost much of its former vibrancy. He warned that this shift is a deviation from God’s original mandate, which is for the gospel to be spread and not for it to move from one point to another.

He indicated that there is a need to consider all persons, both old and young in the missions work. This, he explained, is because they both play roles that are significant from each other.

He emphasised the critical role of the Holy Spirit in maintaining the gains of the church and called for a deliberate, intentional approach to intergenerational missions.

The Resident Minister for A-Lang Worship Centre challenged the church to not cling to outdated practices, but to adapt to the needs of the younger generation. He urged the church to encourage intergenerational services, where children and youth are given meaningful roles and opportunities to participate fully alongside the adults like ushering, protocol, choirs, leading worship, and even preaching.

For that to be possible, he suggested that intentionality and consistency is required. He cautioned against separating the young from the adults, as this can make them feel unimportant.

Apsotle Dr Tsekpoe also emphasised the need to listen to the language and perspectives of the current generation rather than simply passing down the practices of the past to them. He called for a deliberate, mission-focused approach that provides opportunities for all generations to interact and collaborate.

The Pentecost University Lecturer made a clarion call for the church to embrace the vision of intergenerational missions, ensuring that the gospel continues to spread to the ends of the earth and to all generations to come.

PENTECOST NEWS

Social Media Key In Promoting Missions Work – Pastor Dr Klutse web

Social Media Key In Promoting Missions Work – Pastor Dr Klutse

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The Director of the Pent Media Centre of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Dr Felix Dela Klutse, has revealed that social media is very critical in enhancing missions work as it can provide maximum results.

Making a presentation on ‘The Use of Technology and Social Media for Greater Results in Missions Work,’ at the 2024 Missions Orientation for newly called missionaries of The Church of Pentecost and ministerial students at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Pastor Dr Klutse highlighted the need for Christians, including missionaries to learn how to use social media to facilitate the proclamation of the gospel.

‘Not learning how to use social media is like a missionary going into a new country and not learning their language,’ he cautioned.

The Media Director indicated that the devil is using the social media to execute his agenda. Therefore, there is the need for Christians to make deliberate efforts to use social media to also promote the agenda of Christ.

According to Pastor Dr Klutse, Facebook is an agenda-setting tool, and it is imperative for missionaries to pay critical attention to it and make use of it to set evangelism agenda.  

He explained that Jesus’ call in to his disciples and believers in Mark 16: 15 to ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,’ includes the world of social media and the people in it. He, therefore, called on the church to raise social media missionaries for the execution of that mandate.

Sensitising the participants on social media missions, the media strategist advised them to identify the need of people, offer solutions to them to attract them and spread the gospel through that.

He also advised them to make their messages portable using short videos because the current generation want things ‘now, fast and on the go.’

He entreated them to focus on building relationships so that people will engage the contents they put on social media, ask questions, just like Jesus asked questions when he was on earth to initiate conversation, respond to questions and reply to comments on their social media posts consistently.

Pastor Dr Felix Dela Klutse admonished the participants to invest in media gadgets and social media ads to promote the gospel and wins more souls on the social media space for Christ.

PENTECOST NEWS

Uphold The Core Values Of The Church – General Secretary Advises Missionaries web

Uphold The Core Values Of The Church Of Pentecost – General Secretary Advises Missionaries

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The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Gyau Obuobi, has charged newly called missionaries to uphold the core values and practices of The Church of Pentecost which represents it’s uniqueness. 

Speaking on the topic, ‘The Church of Pentecost Brand,’ at the 2024 Missions Orientation at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Apostle Obuobi explained the concept of branding within the church, highlighted how the church’s distinct identity has been carefully crafted and maintained over the years.

According to him, branding which is vital for organisations and businesses is an asset which must be guarded, saying, ‘When your brand is destroyed, your company is destroyed because it is the brand that gives a competitive edge over others in the same industry.’

He stressed that a brand encompasses both tangible and intangible elements. Tangible aspects include the product, service, symbol, or logo, while intangible aspects shape people’s perceptions, appreciation, acceptance, and respect for the organisation.

‘Brands go beyond identification; they represent what the company or the individual stands for,’ he added.

The General Secretary highlighted that churches, as corporate bodies, also have brands. He indicated that a church’s brand shows its core values and mandates, stressing that ‘it shapes people’s perceptions about the church and what we do.’

According to him, The Church of Pentecost (CoP) brand stands out due to several key factors: Divine Covenant, Tenets of the Church, Rules of Conduct, Core Values, and Practices and Policies.

‘One of the first things new members should encounter in the church is the emphasis on the Holy Spirit baptism. To continue with The CoP brand, we must maintain our absolute reliance on the Holy Ghost,’ he said.

He also revealed that The Church of Pentecost has been known over the years as ‘The Church of Prayer.’

He stated: ‘Our forebears instituted ‘Friday Prayers,’ focusing on the infilling of the Holy Ghost and the expansion of the Kingdom of God. The average CoP member is introduced to prayer and fasting from the outset.’

Preaching and adhering to the unadulterated Word of God has always been part of The CoP brand, he pointed out.

‘Our services centre on the Four-Square Gospel – Jesus the Healer, Jesus the Saviour, Jesus the Baptiser of the Holy Ghost, and Jesus the Soon Coming King. We should use our pulpit to talk about Jesus and no one else,’ he added

Apostle Obuobi revealed that holiness and righteousness are integral to The CoP brand, saying, ‘We do not only believe in holiness but uphold it. Sin is dealt with appropriately whenever it is exposed.’

He also noted that The CoP is known for its discipline and that maximum respect is given to superiors irrespective of their age.

‘It is our responsibility to carry on with the brand of The CoP. Hold on to the uniqueness of the Church. Our core values and practices mark us out from the others,’ he concluded.

PENTECOST NEWS

Be Sold Out To God – Apostle Adjei-Kwarteng Charges Missionaries web

Be Sold Out To God – Apostle Adjei-Kwarteng Charges Missionaries

by with No Comment Church NewsMissionsTop Stories

The Kwadaso Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Yaw Adjei-Kwarteng, has advised Christian missionaries to have a heart of absolute service to God.

According to him, this should be the heart of every missionary – somebody who is sold out completely to God. 

He made this known on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, during the opening session of the 2024 Missions Orientation currently underway at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa-Fetteh.

Apostle Adjei-Kwarteng, an Executive Council Member of the church, stressed on the essence of a missionary’s heart, contrasting between the physical and spiritual importance of the heart.

‘The heart is the blood-pumping machine, one of the vital organs of the body,’ he said, referencing Ephesians 3:17 to highlight the heart as the seat of God and the human spirit.

He urged Christians to guard it diligently as it is the engine of both spiritual and social life.

He described the heart of a missionary as the core makeup, inclinations, drives, priorities, and passions that define them, saying, ‘The composition of your heart should be the totality of your person.’

He referenced Acts 21:10-14 and Deuteronomy 6:4-5 to illustrate how Apostle Paul was forewarned about the dangers in his missionary trip to Jerusalem, yet his unwavering commitment to God remained.

‘Paul was a man sold out for God; that is how every Christian worker and minister of the Gospel should be. Love God, have passion for souls, love the church above everything and even above your life,’ he stressed.

He quoted the words of David Livingstone, a pioneer Christian missionary, ‘I am determined never to stop until I have come to the end and achieved my purpose. I am prepared to go anywhere provided it goes forward and promote the gospel. If you have men who will only come if they know that there is a good road then I don’t want them, I want men who will come even if there is no road at all.’

According to him, a missionary should be the foremost witness of Christ, as highlighted in Acts 1:8, and must be ready to defend or die for Christ and the Gospel, as seen in Romans 8:35.

‘Without a genuine love for God, service to Him becomes a task,’ Apostle Kwarteng noted, referencing John 21:15-19, adding that love is the lubricant that oils the heart and makes any operation for God easy.

He explained that zeal, encompassing fervent passion and earnestness, is crucial for success on the mission field.

A missionary, according to him, must know God personally and understand the people he works with. He must possess a sacrificial heart, placing God’s interests above all else, including family.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Estate Assembly Launches “Free Sanitary Pad Project” web

Estate Assembly Launches “Free Sanitary Pad Project”

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The Estate Assembly in the Adiebeba District of the Asokwa Area of The Church of Pentecost, has initiated a project called the “Free Sanitary Pad Project” aiming to empower girls and women with knowledge and skills to manage their menstrual hygiene effectively and sustainably.

The programme also provided a platform for stakeholders to engage in dialogues and find possible solutions to the menstrual hygiene challenges within the community, to ensure that girls stay focused on their education.

Research indicates that the high cost of hygiene products and the challenges in managing periods are significant factors that contribute to girls missing school. The increasing poverty levels in various communities in the country also lead to teenage pregnancy as young girls become dependent on boys.

Under the theme, “Pad A Girl” the project underscores the importance of providing sanitary pad and educating girls about puberty to improve school attendance.

Hundreds of packs and boxes of sanitary pad were distributed for free to students, members, and non-members of The Church of Pentecost, along with education on proper use to prevent infection.

The District Minister, Pastor Kwaku Affum, revealed that the project is part of the Church’s transformational agenda.

Receiving the items, Mrs. Joyce Osei Manu, the District Women’s Ministry Leader, expressed gratitude for the kind gesture of The Church of Pentecost in empowering girls to manage their menstrual hygiene effectively.

Nana Yaw Mensah Joel, the visionary behind the project, urged churches and NGOs to support the initiative and help safeguard the girl child and future generations.

Report by Emmanuel Nana Nsiah & Dennis Owusu