Posts in category: Church News

The Aflao Area of The Church of Pentecost, led by the Aflao Area Head, Apostle Michael Agyen Brefo, has successfully organised the second edition of its 40-day fasting and prayer event, dubbed Rehoboth.

This year’s edition, themed “Repositioning the Local Church for Greatness” (Genesis 26:12, 22), took place from Wednesday, October 4, to Sunday, November 12, 2023. The program commenced on Tuesday, October 3, starting at the local assembly level, progressing through ministries and districts, and concluding at the Area level.

Throughout the 40-day period, various topics were covered, including “Re-Digging Our Wells of Spirituality,” “Holy Spirit Empowerment,” “Sacrificial Giving and Tithing,” “Marriage & Family Life,” “Covenant Renewal” (Assurance of Salvation), and “Enough Room to Prosper.”

In his closing message shared on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at the Aflao PIWC-English auditorium during the climax of this event, Apostle Michael Agyen Brefo explained Rehoboth as a place of abundance, prosperity, greatness, and enlargement. He added that Rehoboth is the place where destinies are transformed, and grace and favor abound.

“As we have entered Rehoboth, we are to note that it is the place where man receives God’s divine revelation and visitation. Constant fellowship with God and true worship are the means by which one can experience this divine visitation,” he stated.

He encouraged Christians to learn from Isaac’s experience, emphasizing that the patriarch forgave his enemies and reconciled with them even though he was unjustly treated in the land of the Philistines. “Even though Isaac’s enemies troubled him, he was determined to maintain hard work and commitment to his vision, which brought him success,” he stated, stressing, “We must, therefore, speak positively to our situations with the assurance that God is with us to bless.”

He admonished the congregants to pray for God’s grace to locate them wherever they are to enjoy His favour continually.

The Area was blessed to have seasoned men of God and Spirit-filled speakers such as Apostles Johnny Peprah (Assistant Registrar, STML, Pentecost University) and Anthony Ahalivor (Rtd.) among others gracing the programs.

Members in the Area were ushered into a season of refreshing, with many sharing countless testimonies about God’s blessings and deliverance in their lives throughout the fasting and prayer period.

Report by Pastor Francis Lamptey (Aflao Area Reporter)

Apostle Dr. Col. Benjamin Godson Kumi-Woode, the Board Chairman of the Chaplaincy Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, has emphasised that every Christian has a mandate to model Christ-likeness in their personal, public, and professional lives. 

Exhibiting a Christlike lifestyle, according to him, is what would challenge the hearts of the unbelieving world and bring them to the saving knowledge of Christ, thereby leading to the transformation of the world.

Apostle Dr. Col. Kumi-Woode, who is the Director of Religious Affairs, Ghana Armed Airforces Headquarters, conveyed this message on Friday during his presentation on the topic: “Implications of the Church Unleashed for the Chaplaincy and Workers’ Guilds in the Church” at the Heads’ fasting and prayer meeting held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa in the Central Region.

Drawing inspiration from Isaiah 60:1, Matthew 5: 13-16, and 1 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Apostle Dr. Col. Kumi-Woode underscored the divine mission of the Church as a collective body, called to Christ, moulded into Christ-likeness, and destined to be sent out as disciples, anticipating the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

He noted that the Chaplaincy Ministry and the Workers Guilds have a significant role to play in fulfilling the Church’s mandate of discipling nations for Christ.

Touching on the significance of the Chaplaincy Ministry as a marketplace ministry, he explained that the local church must be a place where members are trained and unleashed to offer pastoral, prophetic, and priestly ministry to draw people to Christ. 

“When this is done effectively, the church would have truly unleashed its members to be the salt and light of the world. The church will then be a city on the hill and the highest of the mountains, and the nations will flow to it,” he said.

He, therefore, encouraged church leaders to explore creative ways to send out equipped members for ministry in various organisations and institutions. 

Focusing on the Pentecost Workers Guild, he stressed the importance of fellowship, networking, and equipping to impact and transform various spheres with Kingdom values by forming various workers guilds in the local churches. These Guilds, he said, would serve as ethical compasses that would foster positive change in the workplace.

Apostle Dr. Col. Kumi-Woode further noted that the various professionals (workers) and chaplains would take up mentoring roles by providing godly counsel and insightful experiences with the younger generation. 

“In so doing, they will raise the next generation of professionals and young believers, enabling them to reach their full potential in career progression, societal impact, and their walk with God,” he added.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Flood Disaster Relief Committee of The Church of Pentecost, in collaboration with the Women’s Ministry, has donated assorted relief items to areas along the Volta lake affected by the recent flood caused by the Akosombo Dam spillage.

The beneficiary areas are the Sogakope, Agormanya, Atebubu, Kete-Krachi, and Afram Plains Areas of the church.

The National Coordinator of the Committee, Apostle Wilberforce Nkrumah-Agyeman, together with other members of the committee, including Deaconess Philomina Mireku (Women’s Ministry Director) and Pastor Emmanuel Appah (Finance and Administration Director of the church) presented the items to the Area Heads of the beneficiary areas at the sideline of the ongoing Heads’ Meeting at the Pentecost Convention Centre on Thursday for onward distribution to the affected persons.

The items worth several thousands of cedis comprised of toiletries, bags of rice, gari, gallons of cooking oil, and mosquito nets, among others, were donated from all Area Women’s Ministries across the country. Each area received a truckload of relief items.

It is worth mentioning that The Church of Pentecost on October 23, 2023, presented huge relief items worth several thousands of Ghana cedis to support flood victims at Mepe and Battor and adjoining communities in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region affected by the spillage of the Akosombo Dam, when a church delegation led by the church’s Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, and the General Secretary, Apostle Samuel Gyau Obuobi, visited the affected areas.

The truckload of items included several bags of rice, gari, sachet water, sugar, mattresses, blankets, cooking oil, soaps, toilet rolls, mosquito nets, beverages, sanitary pads, and many more.

During the visit, it was revealed that 23 church buildings of The Church of Pentecost were submerged in water in the Volta Region due to the controlled spillage of the Akosombo Dam. Additionally, various church facilities, including mission houses, notably in Mepe—one of the hardest-hit communities—have been engulfed by the floodwaters.

In the Sogakope Area, approximately ten assemblies in certain districts find themselves cut off from members’ accessibility. The impact of the floods is particularly severe in seven administrative districts within the Sogakope Area of the church.

These affected districts include Mepe District, where the church incurred the loss of six church buildings, including the official residence of the District Minister. Other impacted districts encompass Battor District (six church buildings submerged), Kpotame District (one church building submerged), Dedukope District (three church buildings submerged), Adutor (two church buildings submerged), Adidome (two church buildings submerged), and Tefle (three church buildings submerged).

The floods also displaced over 4,000 church members, with approximately 1,195 children among them, who have lost their homes, farmlands, and sources of livelihood due to this unfortunate incident.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Kentinkrono District in the Bompata Area of The Church of Pentecost held a retirement service in honour of five officers of the Church who dedicated several years in service to God and the church.

The glorious service, chaired by Apostle Victor Kwasi Asamoah (Bompata Area Head), took place at the Rev. Osgood Ennin Memorial Temple (ROEMT), Kentikrono-Nsenie, on Sunday, November 12, 2023.

The retirees, consisting of three Elders and two Deaconesses, were recognised for decades of meritorious service to The Church of Pentecost. Elder Seth Owusu-Nimako served for 17 years, Elder Edwin Osei Sekyere for 26 years, and Elder Kwabena Kwakye for an impressive 38 years. Additionally, Deaconess Elizabeth Botah served faithfully for 43 years, and Deaconess Gifty Oppong devoted 38 years to the Church.

The event saw the attendance of distinguished personalities, including Apostle Norman Appiah Danquah (Walewale Area Head), Pastor Ernest Kwabena Addo (Kentinkrono District Minister), Pastor Andrews A. Asamoah (Ayigya District Minister), and Pastor Emmanuel Twumasi (Asafo District Minister & Bompata Area Evangelism Leader).

Apostle Victor Asamoah delivered a profound message during the service on the topic “Looking for Christ’s Interest,” based on Philippians 2:20-22. He emphasised the great responsibility that comes with being an officer of the church and highlighted the rewards that await those who faithfully serve.

Encouraging the congregation to prioritise the things of the Lord, Apostle Asamoah cautioned against entrusting all resources, time, love, and mind solely into worldly pursuits. He reiterated the eternal value of dedicating all resources to the work of God.

Other individuals who also graced the occasion were Pastor Bright Asare (Tafo Ahenbronom District), Pastor William Quainoo (Ekwe District Minister, Axim Area), Pastor Silas Boateng (Rtd), Elder Francis Adusei (Bompata Area Deacon), Elder Nana Ohene Fredua Agyemang, Elder Joseph Hagan, and Mrs. Rita Adainoo, among others.

Report by Elder Immanuel Asamoah Maclean (FlashVisions)

Professor Emeritus Stephen Adei, former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), is urging Christian denominations to prioritise basic education due to its pivotal role in shaping the lives of children.

While acknowledging the commendable efforts of churches in higher education, Prof. Adei stressed the importance of early intervention in primary and secondary education. He cautioned against neglecting these foundational stages while focusing solely on university-level education.

Speaking on the topic ‘Raising Godly Families to Impact the Church and the State’ during the ongoing 2023 November Heads Meeting at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) in Gomoa Fetteh near Kasoa, Prof. Adei expressed concern about the infiltration of unchristian curricula and amoral textbooks in basic education. He attributed this phenomenon to external influences, particularly from decadent western societies leveraging financial aid as leverage.

According to Prof. Adei, the church should not only advocate for moral and spiritual content in basic schools but should establish its own Christian schools to create a Christ-centered educational environment.

“The focus on tertiary education at the expense of pre-university education was not the best approach,” he remarked, calling for a shift in attention.

Highlighting the societal consequences of neglecting basic education, Prof. Addai stressed that the failure to instill godly values in children has a lasting impact on society.

He urged the church to actively engage in basic schools, stressing the importance of catching children young to nurture them as emissaries of positive transformation.

Beyond education, Professor Adei turned his attention to the Christian home, urging Christians, especially ministers, to invest in building godly marriages at all cost.

He emphasised the central role of the family in God’s plan for salvation, asserting that the family is the institution the church can engage with seven times a week.

PENTECOST NEWS.

An Executive Council Member and Ho Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr Oliver Dela Quampah, has emphasised the need for Christians to demonstrate practical kingdom values in every facet of their lives.

According to him, the weak institutions and numerous unethical practices today are the product of deviant moral values like corruption, ingratitude, intolerance, irresponsibility and lack of self-control.

Apostle Dr Quampah made this known when he presented a paper on ‘Living by the values and the principles of the kingdom of God’ today at the ongoing Heads’ Prayer Meeting at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa.

He intimated that the syndrome of irresponsibility, notably the ‘blame game,’ is a trait humanity has inherited from their first parents, Adam and Eve.

“I believe the whole course of human history would have been different if Adam had taken responsibility for their actions and apologised to God when he sinned in the Garden of Eden. Eve also conveniently used the serpent as her scapegoat. Hence, the blame game has persisted in human history,” he argued and cited Genesis 3:3-13 to buttress his points.

Apostle Dr Quampah, who also doubles as the Coordinator of the Volta and Oti Regional Coordinating Committee, averred that courage and perseverance are needed to address and uphold the values and kingdom principles to make a difference in the bid to possess the nations.

He advised Christians to recognise the value exhibited by others and, more importantly, develop an appreciation culture and perpetuate the positive influence of humility.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Vice Chancellor of Pentecost University, Apostle Professor Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, has challenged Christians to be remoulded to live as a people of God.

According to him, God is looking forward to empowering and equipping his people for the work of ministry and, therefore, requires people who are prepared to be broken, melted, moulded and saturated to make a difference in this changing world.

Presenting a paper on the topic, “The Church as people of God,” at the ongoing November Heads’ meeting, comprising Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, National/Area Heads, Ministry Directors, VC/Principals and Deans of the church’s higher learning institutions, at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa, Apostle Prof Agyapong-Kodua intimated that “like broken particles of clay, we can be remoulded to live as the people of God.”

He added that “the quest to be remoulded should not be based on mere obedience to laws but on a life yielded unto God and saturated by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. 

“It is a life broken, melted, moulded and saturated by God that will make the difference God requires of us.”

The PU Vice Chancellor asserted that God desires a group he can call his people. He added that the church as the Holy City of God, the bride of God, the new Jerusalem, among other scriptural derivations, affirms that God’s call and invitation to humanity is not an afterthought but a carefully planned agenda beyond any advanced post-modern development. 

Apostle Agyapong-Kodua also admonished that the church, as a people of God, must do away with sinful desires because they distort their real identity as children of God. 

“Sin distorts God’s agenda of having a community that looks like him,” he said, adding that the purpose of the church is to live and showcase the righteousness of God to please him. 

PENTECOST NEWS