Posts in category: Church News

The Sunyani Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle James Gabriel Quardson, has assured believers that the prophecy about the second-coming of Jesus is reliable and should be earnestly desired and believed.

In a sermon titled “Jesus is Coming, So Wait for His Appearing” at the 2023 Heads’ Meeting of the Church at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) near Gomoa Fetteh, Apostle Quardson stated that whenever a sinner encounters the gospel message, a profound understanding of Christ as a Saviour, Healer, Sanctifier, and Soon-coming King takes hold of the individual’s heart.

“This knowledge, when well understood and accepted, changes the behaviour of the receiver,” he expressed.

Describing the appearance of Jesus as an integral part of the gospel message, he indicated that the second coming of Jesus is of dual nature, further elaborating that Jesus shall either come to meet His people, or His people will join Him.

He reiterated that the prophetic message is reliable, and Jesus will definitely fulfill His part. Thus, he admonished, “It is not so much about His coming really but our readiness for Him.”

He stressed that the forebears of the Church understood this message and lived their lives accordingly. “They lived as if He was coming tomorrow and thus did not bother themselves much with the things of the world,” he said.

He mentioned that, though Jesus emphasised His ascension several times in His interactions with the disciples, when it happened, they were surprised by its sudden nature.

He disclosed that it took two angels to remind and encourage them that He would come back. “This motivated them, and they were always careful with their lives and tried to please their Lord.”

Apostle Quardson, referencing 1 John 3:2–3, advised that the message of the second coming of Jesus must be believed because that births purity in the believer.

He warned that “because we, of today, have not positioned our lives so well, we may be people who confess the belief that ‘once saved, forever saved’ and live our lives anyhow.”

Touching on 2 Timothy 4:8, he added that believers need to yearn and earnestly long for His coming. “We need to always desire it; it is linked to the crown of righteousness we are going to receive.”

Apostle Quardson pointed to 1 Corinthians 16:22 that the second coming must be the love of believers. “What you love makes you happy and drives you for action,” he said.

He reiterated that the church has to be intentional for action. “We should be positioned in the move of waiting for His coming because it will be spontaneous. Let us always be in readiness, always looking up to His coming,” he said.

The five-day Heads’ meeting will discuss the five-year vision of The Church of Pentecost on the theme: “Possessing the Nations (Phase II) – Unleashing the Whole Church to Transform their World with the Values and Principles of the Kingdom of God” and also unveil the annual theme of the church for the year 2024.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Ho Area of The Church of Pentecost, under the leadership of Apostle Dr. Dela Quampah, has organised an event to celebrate and reward the hardworking farmers in the area.

The inaugural Farmers’ Day Celebrations took place at the forecourt of the Central Assembly in Sokode Gborgame District on November 11, 2023.  The theme of the celebration was “Repositioning the Living Standards of Members Through Agriculture”. 

The event aimed to honour and appreciate farmers for their significant contributions to the country’s development. It also highlighted the importance of agriculture in improving the living standards of church members.

This maiden event is a testament to the tremendous contribution made by our hardworking farmers and an emphasis of their crucial role they play in our nation’s development.

Speaking on behalf of the Ho Area Head, Apostle Semenya Yao Dogbe, the Hohoe Area Head, said this maiden Famers Day Celebration pioneered by Ho Area was visionary and exemplary. He added that the celebration first and foremost express gratitude to God creator of the universe who sustains, nourishes, and ensures the fruitfulness in farming.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Area PENTSOS Chairman, Pastor Cosmos Abi, who is the originator of the idea of the celebration, said the day served as a reminder of the crucial role played by farmers in ensuring food security, economic growth, and the financial stability of both the church and the nation. It highlighted the importance of standing in solidarity with farmers and appreciating their sacrifices and hard work.

“Agriculture plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of Ghana. The Region’s economy is mainly rural and dominated by agriculture and employs about 74% of the economically active population,” he said.

He bemoaned low incomes have made farming less attractive to the youth who form majority of the population of the church. This has led to the migration of potential leaders and officers of the local church to the urban cities seeking for greener pastures, creating Acute Leadership Deficiency Syndrome (ALDS).

Concluding his remarks, he mentioned the farmers day celebration seeks to improve the living conditions of our members through increasing income levels, food security and general standard of living of members. It also seeks to sell the church to the outside world of what God is doing in His church even as we possess the nations.

He encouraged members to work hard to ensure food security, reduced unemployment, and rural-urban migration.

Eighteen major awards and 22 ground and exhibit awards were given to farmers to appreciate and motivate them. Award categories includes Overall Best farmer, 2^nd Best Farmer, 3^rd Best Farmer, Best Woman Farmer, Best Livestock Farmer, Best Fish Farmer, Best Root & Tuber Farmer, Best Physically-Challenged farmer, Best youth farmer, and Grounds and exhibits. The award items include Double-deck refrigerators, Chest freezer, knapsack sprayers, Crocodile matchet, wax prints, Key soap bar and radio sets.

Elder Patrick Ahiamale of Ziope District won the Overall Best Farmer award receiving a Double Decker refrigerator, a pair of wellington boots, two cutlasses, a knapsack sprayer, four bars of key soap, a wax print and a certificate.

Brother Godwin Agbo of Sokode Gborgame came second receiving, a tabletop deep freezer, a pair of wellington boots, a cutlass and a certificate.

Deaconess Esinam Agbenyefia of Tsito district came third receiving a Asano 32” Flat screen Television set, two bars of Key Soap, a Cutlass and a certificate. Items were given to all other winners.

Apostle Semenya Yao Dogbe, drawing the curtain down, appreciated Apostle Dr. Dela Quampah for visionary leadership, the Area PENTSOS Chairman, the pastorate, and all dignitaries present at the occasion.

He also encouraged the farmers to increase and double their farmlands and produce to the glory of God.

The colourful and maiden ceremony drew many dignitaries: the Ho Area pastorate, Area Deacon, Area Women’s Ministry Leader, Municipal Chief Executive’s Representative, Sokode Assemblyman, among others.

Report by Ho Area News Desk

The Anyaa-Ablekuma Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle William Ohemeng-Kwakye, has underscored the need to close the backdoor of the church for maximum impact in the nations. 

He said when souls are won into the church, they need to be nurtured in the fellowship of believers, and that requires efforts at first retaining them before discipling can be effective. 

Apostle Ohemeng-Kwakye said this in an exhortation on the theme, “Closing the backdoor of the local church for the maximum impact,” during the first day of the 2023 Heads’ Meeting of the church at the Pentecost Convention Centre. 

He indicated that the backdoor serves as the rear exit of a building, and usually, when people use it, they are hardly noticed. He stated that in the context of the church, the backdoor metaphorically refers to members of the church quietly severing fellowship with believers in the local church without notice. 

“It is a gradual process where persons withdraw from the church without notice or anyone’s concern,” he emphasised.

Apostle Ohemeng-Kwakye explained that those who leave the church quietly are usually newcomers, new converts and visitors who come for comfort, acceptance and close relationships but feel somehow ignored and thus filter out in dismay, rejection and pain. 

He, therefore, suggested that pragmatic spirit-led approaches be adopted to close the backdoor of the local church.

Dwelling on Luke 15:1–7 and John 10:3–5, he recommended close pastoral care and relationships with members at all levels to ensure members feel at home and belong to a community of believers where they count and are considered valuable. 

“One means to do so is to develop close relationships with the members,” he said, admonishing that though it seems difficult with other compelling assignments, ministers must frantically make it a practice as spiritual fathers of the members.

He expressed the need for spiritually edifying church services with sermons that address the needs and expectations of the people of God, stressing that one of the critical needs of the church today is spiritual leadership that is marked by regular visits and nurturing of the church members.

Apostle Ohemeng-Kwakye advanced that a proper welfare system in the local church to handle the material needs of members will propel growth and help to close the backdoor. 

He opined that though the church has a thriving welfare, there was a need to monitor the welfare structure in the local church, saying, “The needs of members go far beyond the local, they expect from Area and National howbeit minute.” 

He requested that the welfare packages that exist in the church should be explained regularly to members.

He stressed the need to enforce the existing standards of monitoring membership in the local church. He suggested that new members’ and visitors’ books be separately kept at the local church. He also called for regular seminars for new converts and new members to listen to them and address their needs.

He lamented the increasing abating of commitment of some lay officers. Therefore, he proposed setting up more worship centres with resident ministers in the cities to improve pastoral care.

“Let’s strengthen discipleship and follow up in the local assembly,” he concluded.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, on Monday, November 13, 2023, officially opened the 2023 November Heads’ Prayer Meeting at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa in the Central Region. 

The Heads Prayer Session is an annual meeting of all Apostles, Prophets, Area and National heads from the 151 nations worldwide to pray and fast for the church and discuss the church’s theme for the ensuing year.

Apostle Nyamekye, in his opening address, implored the participants to see themselves as representing constituencies, charging them to remember their obligations as ministers of God and fulfil them with great dedication to the glory of God.

He disclosed that the meeting will also unveil a new vision for the church – Vision 2028 – which is expected to elevate the church to a new level of growth as Vision 2023 draws to an end. 

The Chairman further used the medium to introduce delegates from sister churches in Togo and Benin: The Church of Pentecost in Togo and Faith Pentecostal Church in Benin. He explained that after years of animosity and mistrust, the two churches are now together in the spirit of unity to share fellowship to the glory of God.

The Chairman also acknowledged twelve heads and their wives who are expected to retire from active service in 2024.

They are: Apostle Derek Kwaning Mireku, Apostle Seth Kwaku Asomaning, Apostle Frederick Kweku Andoh, Apostle Kenneth Baffoe Antwi, Apostle Dr. Daniel Okyere Walker, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, Apostle Emmanuel Ofei Ankrah-Badu, Apostle Ilboudo Antoine, Apostle Agyei-Gyamera Alex, Apostle Appiah Joseph Kwaku, Apostle Tabi Sam Agyeman and Apostle Augustus Martey Asemnor.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Agormanya Area of The Church of Pentecost has collaborated with the Statistics department at the Church’s Headquarters to provide training for the area pastorate, district secretaries, and presiding elders in statistical reporting.

The one-day seminar, held on November 9, 2023, drew 188 participants from the 24 districts in the Area.

The Church Statistician and lead facilitator for the event, Elder Daniel Tetteh, spoke on “Effective and Comprehensive Reporting,” emphasising the importance of “membership due diligence” in reporting.

He advised that, for thorough, accurate, and comprehensive reporting, the church leadership at the grassroots, namely the local assembly, should strictly adhere to using the church register, maintaining proper record-keeping practices, submitting monthly reports, and ensuring the ratification of all reports by the local and district presbyteries.

According to him, the records provided play a crucial role in the decision-making processes of the church leadership.

Drawing from years of experience, he lamented that reporting errors often result from inefficient record-keeping, disregard for the standard statistical reporting format, and failure to meet deadlines for the submission of periodic reports.

He stressed the importance of removing “ghost” names from the church membership figures to maintain accurate statistical records.

Elder Daniel Tetteh further encouraged the use of meticulous follow-up mechanisms, intensive pastoral care, and shepherding to address membership attrition, which he referred to as the “back-door syndrome.”

Report by the Agormanya Area Media Team