Posts in category: Church News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PENTECOST NEWS.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PENTECOST NEWS.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PENTECOST NEWS.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PENTECOST NEWS.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Report by Overseer Jeremiah Boffour.

Teeming mourners involving relatives, prominent members of society, as well as ministers and members of The Church of Pentecost, paid their last respects to the former Finance Board Chairman of the Church, Elder Emmanuel Owusu Kissi (Retired), in a glorious funeral service held in his honour at Suhum on Saturday, February 5, 2022.

Unlike the typical funeral service, which is characterised by an overwhelming display of emotions and grief, this event was instead a celebration of the life of a faithful soldier of the Cross whose life could easily pass for a template (role model) for all Christians, particularly officers and members of the Church.

It was, therefore, fitting that after listening to the glowing tributes paid to Elder Kissi’s extraordinary life, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo (the immediate past International Missions Director and the conductor for the event), spontaneously led congregants to give a rousing round of applause to the late elder for a life well-lived.

Delivering a sermon based on Hebrews 11:32-40, Apostle James Smith Gyimah (Rtd.) further eulogised Elder Kissi by saying that he lived a life of faith.

According to him, although the former Finance Board Chairman endured a difficult life – losing both parents and other guardians at a very tender age – he held on to his faith in Christ to the very end of his life on earth.

The former Suhum Area Head said that, just like the “Heroes of Faith” in Hebrews 11, Elder Kissi was able to hold on to his faith because he looked forward to the hope of the resurrection.

He said that the outcome of his life is a testament that “Faith is not a bridge of troubled waters, but a pathway through them.”

Apostle Gyimah, therefore, urged Christians to be resolute in their faith and continue to hold fast to the hope of the resurrection.

The event, which was officiated by Apostle Eric Nyamekye (Chairman of the Church), took place at the Suhum Senior High Technical School Park. The Chairman was ably assisted by the IMD, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe. Among those present were the immediate past Chairman, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah (Rtd.), and some Executive Council Members namely, Apostles Samuel Osei Asante, Dr. Daniel Okyere Walker, Yaw Adjei-Kwarteng, Isaac Nii Kotei-Djani, Sylvester Arhin, Dr. Dela Quampah, Vincent Anane Denteh, Mike Etrue and Prophet David Kankam Beditor.

In a brief remark, Apostle Nyamekye advised elders of the Church to emulate the extraordinary life of Elder Kissi by rendering faithful services to the Lord and living Christ-centered lifestyles.

Elder Kissi accepted Christ as his Lord and personal Saviour in the then Apostolic Church at Suhum in 1951 and was baptised by the late Pastor K. Boateng. He served the Lord zealously with his strength and resources.

During the challenging times in the Apostolic Church, young Elder Kissi stood firmly behind the McKeown group, which later became The Church of Pentecost after the separation. He was also very instrumental in galvanising the Church from total collapse after the hard-hitting impasse between the Apostolic Church and The Church of Pentecost, which resulted in the latter losing most of its properties to the former.

The Church recognising Elder Kissi’s love and zeal for the Lord gave him various appointments and roles to play. Some of these were Witness Movement (now Evangelism Ministry) Leader at the local, district and regional levels, treasurer for the Witness Movement, Presiding Elder for the then Suhum Assembly, Area Deacon for the then Eastern Region “A” and the first Area Deacon for Suhum Area. He later served as the Finance Board Chairman of the Church from 1985 to 1998.

As Finance Board Chairman, Elder Kissi saw to it that the needs of ministers were well taken care of while ensuring that the resources of the Church were well accounted for. Under his able leadership, many key financial policies were introduced in the Church to help cushion the lives of ministers, especially those in the northern part of the country. He discharged his duty so well that it was hard to believe that he had no accounting background. Throughout his 13-year period of service, he proved utmost integrity and ensured prudent use of the church’s resources. He was known for his integrity, devoutness, and immense generosity.

Elder Kissi was called to glory on Thursday, November 18, 2021, at aged 91. He is survived by seven children, three of whom are in the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost namely, Pastor Samuel Agyekum Kissi (New Achimota District), Mrs. Rose Dansoa Kumi-Larbi (Wife of the General Secretary), and Mrs. Joyce Adupong (Archway District, UK).

He also left behind 21 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

May he rest in perfect peace.

PENTECOST NEWS.

It was all joy and applause when Assistant Director of Prisons (ADP), Apostle James Teye Tetteh, the Chaplain General of the Ghana Prisons Service, donated the offering proceeds from his retirement service in support of an officer who had all his belongings burnt in a recent fire outbreak in Tamale.

ADP Tetteh showed this gesture on Friday, February 4, 2022, at his retirement service, held at the Prisons Inter-Denominational Church at the Prisons Headquarters in Accra.

Apostle ADP James Teye Tetteh joined the Ghana Prisons Service on December 2, 2002, and served for 20 years.

Before his call into full-time ministry, and subsequently into the Ghana Prisons Service, Apostle ADP James Teye Tetteh served as a Senior Programme Officer responsible for United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), training programmes with Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) designated for the northern parts of Ghana.

Speaking at the ceremony, on the topic: “God is not unjust,” Apostle Lt. Col. Benjamin Godson Kumi-Woode, Chaplain of the Ghana Armed Forces, said that God is just, righteous, faithful and good towards everyone.

He stated that if righteousness prevailed in society, then there was no need for justice. But if there was no righteousness, then God’s intervention was justice by men.

Reflecting on the Parable of the Master and his three servants, in Matthew 25:19-23, he noted that the two servants who worked diligently were rewarded, while the servant who failed to be productive, faced the consequences of his action.

He, therefore, congratulated and commended Apostle ADP Tetteh, for the good work done and in serving his generation dutifully.

In explaining why God is not unjust, Apostle Lt. Col. Kumi-Woode said that God kept records of everything people do, remembers everything and rewards every good work done by his servants.

“Beyond the profile, God has detail records of everything, keeps every good deed of stewards in remembrance and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him,” he added.

Apostle Lt. Col. Kumi-Woode, who doubles as Head of the Chaplaincy Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, appreciated the work done by Apostle ADP James Teye Tetteh, in reforming and contributing greatly to the development of the prisons in Ghana.

“The morality of any society is measured on how it treats the vulnerable,” he stated.

Prophet David Kankam Beditor, Coordinator of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Committee of The Church of Pentecost, who also doubles as Ashaiman Area Head and Executive Council Member of the church, who represented the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, congratulated Apostle ADP James Teye Tetteh and family for a meritorious work done for God, church and man.

A short prayer was offered on behalf of Apostle ADP Tetteh by Apostle David Tekper, Achimota Area Head.

The Evangelism Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, led by Apostle Dr. Amos Jimmy Markin and Elder Lawyer Ken Aboah, presented a plaque in his honour, for serving as the Coordinator for the Prisons Ministry.

In his response, Apostle ADP Tetteh thanked the leadership of the Ghana Prisons Service led by the Director-General of Prisons (DGP), Mr Isaac Kofi Egyir and the entire Ghana Prisons Service staff.

He then advised the officers to contribute their part in the development of the Service and to avail themselves wholly to their duties.

“Take the opportunities to avail yourself and do the work with diligence,” he urged.

Also present at the ceremony were Apostle Lawrence Otu-Nyarko (Financial & Administration Director, CoP), Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Anim (Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Pentecost University), Apostle Martin Seth Appiah (Madina Area Head), Apostle Dr. Christian Tsekpoe (Director, Post Graduate Studies and Research Directorate, Pentecost University), Apostle Ekow Badu-Woode (Rtd), Apostle John Osei Amaniampong (La Area Head), Apostle Patrick Aseyero (Odorkor Area Head), Apostle Dr. Benjamin Ali (Downtown-Ofaakor Area Head), Apostle Wilberforce Nkrumah Agyeman (Teshie-Nungua Area Head), Apostle William Ohemeng-Kwakye (Anyaa-Ablekuma Area Head), and other ministers of the Church.

Apostle ADP James Teye Tetteh was born on August 4th, 1962 in the coastal town of New Ningo. As the 10th child out of 12 siblings, he strived to complete his education at all levels through to his Master’s programmes. He was called into full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in the year 2000 and trained subsequently at the Pentecost Bible Institute (now Pentecost University). 

He served at Mensah Dawa District, then in the Koforidua Area before his enlistment into the Ghana Prisons Service and in the capacity as Chaplain. While in service, he served as the Resident Minister at then Amasaman Worship Centre and Amanfrom Worship Centre. He was also the Resident Minister of Mount Olives Worship Centre at Gbawe, Accra and currently fellowshipping at Dzorwulu English Assembly.

PENTECOST NEWS.