Posts in category: Church News

The Sefwi Bekwai Area Counselling Ministry of The Church of Pentecost organised has a day’s seminar for members of the Wassa Dominase District’s Counselling  Team and officers in the District.

Speaking at the seminar which took place at the Dominase Central assembly auditorium on Sunday, April 21, 2024, the Area Counselling leader and Ashiam District Minister, Probationary Overseer Emmanuel Quaison, called on the participants to embrace the Counselling Ministry since it is very dear to Jesus.

He spoke on the topic, “Unleashed to Serve in the Counselling Ministry” based on Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 11:2, John 4:7-26, Proverbs 11:14, and Galatians 6:1-2.

According to him, in Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus Christ was referred to as the ‘Wonderful Counsellor’ highlighting that among all counsellors, Jesus is exceptional. This, he explained, underscores the importance of the Counselling Ministry.

He disclosed that Jesus with his counselling prowess, as captured in Isaiah 11:2, provided solutions to those who sought his help.

Probationary Overseer Emmanuel Quaison indicated that through counselling, Jesus was able to help the Samaritan woman in John 4:7-26 to find peace and a lasting solution to her problems, saying, ”It was a turning point in her life.” 

He called on counsellers and officers of the church to avail themselves for people to share their challenges with them and help find solutions to their challenges.

“Members of our community are currently struggling with various challenges, and all they need is someone to share their burdens with. As stated in Proverbs 11:14, in the multitude of counsellors, there is safety,” he said.

He added: “It is our responsibility as Christians to support and help bear one another’s burdens. By actively engaging in our counselling ministry, we can bring back those who have fallen away, increase participation in the Lord’s Supper, and ultimately increase church attendance. This aligns with our mission of possessing the nations.”

Elder Michael Mensah, the Programs Coordinator, in a presentation on topic: “Basic Christian counselling skills,” highlighted the need for proper training of counsellors to prevent the breach of ethics, guiding the job and lost of trust from counselees.

Pastor Richard Osei, the Wassa Dominase District Minister, expressed his deep appreciation to the counselling team for their excellent work and pledged to organise another session.

He noted that proper counselling training would greatly benefit church members and help them address the various issues they may be facing.Report by Probationary Overseer Emmanuel Quaison

The annual national-level Trainer of Trainers program aimed at equipping the laity in The Church of Pentecost, dubbed ‘Lay Leaders Training School – LLTS,’ is currently underway at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) in Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa. About 400 participants, drawn from 77 Areas of the church in Ghana, are attending.

At the opening ceremony, the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost (CoP), Apostle Samuel Gyau Oboubi, who officially opened the school, reminded church leaders of the urgent need to spend quality time studying the word of God, implementing it in their lives, and teaching it to others for the transformation of spheres. Apostle Oboubi underscored the need for Christians to live by the truth of the word of God, and that the only way to achieve this is by studying and obeying what the word teaches.

Reading from Ezra 7:10, the General Secretary emphasised being intentional about the study of the scriptures and deliberate about applying them to life and teaching them to others. He indicated that Ezra took time to study the scriptures and set his heart to do what he found in them.

‘It is important to study or know the word of God, but to apply it to your life is key,’ he stressed to the participants at the training school.

Referencing the attitude of the Bereans in Acts 17, Apostle Oboubi revealed that the Bereans were not comfortable with just what they were told but went ahead to examine daily to ascertain if the things they were taught were true. He bemoaned the practice where people elevate the words of their pastors above the Bible. He expressed that whatever any Christian leader teaches must first be examined in the light of Scripture before being accepted.

Touching on the great need for the study of the word of God and its application to life, Apostle Oboubi espoused that the word of God does not only contain life but it is life.

‘The Spirit gives life, and the word of God is Spirit and it is life! As you study the Scripture, you engage daily with life in all of its diverse meanings,’ he enthused.

‘God expects us to know His word as His children so that we model our lives by it. This becomes more imperative as we assume leadership positions at all levels because God counts on us to instruct others in His word,’ he observed.

He reminded the participants that their gathering was meant for study and not for fanfare or relaxation.

‘This meeting is for study, so spend time and discipline yourself to study. Be determined to obey what you receive, and don’t sit on what you study, teach it to others so that it trickles down to everyone,’ he concluded.

In his welcome address, the chairman of the National Discipleship and Leadership Development Committee (NDLDC), Apostle Dr. Samuel Kojo Gakpetor, encouraged the participants to start implementing the lessons they are taught right after the five-day ToT so that during the Area level Lay Leaders Training School, they will not only go to teach but have testimonies and evidence of what they will instruct others.

He reiterated the important place lay leaders hold in the scheme of the church. He mentioned that the heartbeat of leadership is that at the end of the school, participants will be equipped and poised to replicate it at the Area to local Assembly levels for the benefit of every church member. He reminded the participants of the huge investment the church, at both national and Area levels, was making to ensure their participation and the smooth running of the school and pleaded with them to justify the investment.

‘The level of your “yieldedness” is very important to serving God. Yield to the Holy Spirit as you go through the lessons so that you will be impactful when you go back to your Areas,’ he encouraged.

This year’s ToT has participants drawn from 77 Areas of the church in Ghana. This is made up of about 400 people comprising 188 pastors, 40 overseers, 106 elders, and 2 ministers’ wives. Others are four (4) deacons, 53 deaconesses, and seven (7) others.

The national-level ToT kickstarts a chain of training sessions that will result in equipping church leaders at various levels with the aim of impacting the entire church populace with the nuggets of the lessons for the unleashing mandate of the church. Topics being treated this year are ‘Summary of Vision 2028 and Implementation at the Local Level’; ‘The Church Leader’s Personal Growth and Development’; ‘The Place of Pentecost Workers’ Guild and Chaplaincy Ministry in Vision 2028’; and ‘Unleashing Agents of Peace for Election 2024.’

Report by Pastor George Osei-Asiedu

The Tepa Area of The Church of Pentecost has donated assorted items to the Kenyasi Camp Prison in the Ahafo Region.

The church presented about four bags of rice, half bag of sugar, half sack of onion, 15 bowls of gari, 10 bowls of beans, a box of carbolic soap, and one big pack of toilet rolls to the inmates, during a visit to the facility on Sunday, May 19, 2024.

Led by the Area Head, Apostle David Nii Addo-Pappoe and his wife, Faustina, the delegation, comprising the Area Secretary, Pastor Atta Agyapong and his wife (Acherensua District), Pastor Samuel Amponsem (Area Prisons Coordinator and Kenyasi No.1 District), Elder Tweneboah Koduah (Area Deacon), Pastor Peter Opkanul (Kenyasi No2 District), Pastor Micheal Arthur (PIWC-Tepa), Pastor Eric Gyabare Mensah (Hwidiem District), and Pastor Hayford Kontoh (Gyedu Ntotroso district), shared followship with the inmates.

Receiving the items, a leader of the inmates thanked The Church of Pentecost for remembering them and for sharing fellowship with them.

A Superintendent of Prison in-charge of Religious Affairs, Moses Adjavorn, on his part, appreciated the Tepa Area of The Church of Pentecost and its leadership for their kind gesture.

Report by Tepa Area Media Team.

Duayaw Nkwanta District in the Duayaw Nkwanta Area of The Church of Pentecost organised a One-Day Forum for the Tricycle transport industry, specifically the “Pragyia” Drivers Association, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The event aimed to promote safety on the roads of Tano North Municipality, particularly in Duayaw Nkwanta and its environs.

The church collaborated with the Ghana Police Service, the Duayaw Nkwanta Division, and the Driver’s Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) to support the budding tricycle industry in navigating the transport sector. Other stakeholders present included Donewell Insurance Company, the Revenue Department of the Tano North Municipal Assembly, and Fidelity Bank.

Pastor Emmanuel Osei-Akosah, the Duayaw Nkwanta District Minister, welcomed the stakeholders to the forum. He explained the rationale behind organising such an event, emphasising that the church’s vision to possess nations fueled the passion to create a platform for stakeholders to engage with drivers and ensure the safety of passengers in the municipality.

In his opening remarks, the Divisional Police Commander of Duayaw Nkwanta, ACP John Kus, described the emerging Pragyia business as a “necessary evil” due to the lack of legislation on the commercial use of tricycles, despite their significant contribution to the socio-economic activities of the municipality. He addressed issues such as the registration of tricycles, speeding, overloading, and improper parking. ACP John Kus stressed the need for tricycle owners to avoid engaging underage and unlicensed drivers.

Mr. Isaac Nyarko of DVLA Sunyani encouraged prospective buyers to ensure all taxes required by law are paid before purchasing tricycles. He noted that tricycles are registered as private vehicles, not commercial, due to the absence of relevant legislation. Mr. Nyarko reminded drivers to abide by the rule not to transport passengers beyond certain distances, highlighting that tricycles are registered to carry three people—two passengers and the driver.

Representing Donewell Insurance, Mr. Patrick Donkor advised drivers to obtain licenses before registering their vehicles for insurance. He outlined various insurance packages available for tricycles and reiterated that they are registered as private vehicles.

During the question-and-answer session, drivers raised several concerns, including the lack of designated stations or spaces for passengers to board. A total of 102 members of the Pragyia Drivers Association participated in the forum. Pastor Emmanuel Osei-Akosah led fervent prayers for the drivers, and 25 drivers made decisions for Jesus Christ, including some rededications.

As part of the programme, the Eye Unit of St. John’s of God Hospital conducted free eye screenings for the drivers. Some drivers were referred for further treatment at the hospital. The event concluded with refreshments for all participants.

Report by Duayaw Nkwanta District Media Team

The New Tafo Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Prophet Samuel Tetteh Doku, has organised a key meeting with church leaders in the Area to deliberate on strategies and plans for advancing the church’s growth.

The meeting, held on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at the Ebenezer Assembly, F-Line, in the Buokrom Estate District, was attended by Presiding Elders, District Secretaries, and District Finance Chairmen.

Addressing the participants, Prophet Tetteh Doku read Exodus 18:13-23 and discussed the operational statistics of The Church of Pentecost, as outlined in the 2023 State-of-the Church Address (SOCA) recently delivered by the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

He charged all attendees, especially Presiding Elders, to ensure that their local assemblies each win at least three souls every month for Christ. He stressed the role of Presiding Elders as the representatives of the local churches and urged them to view their calling as a great privilege and honour.

The New Tafo Area Head provided guidance on activities necessary for spiritual and physical growth of the Church, such as soul-winning, Holy Spirit baptism, organising watch night services, fasting and prayers, and holding monthly presbytery meetings to assess the progress of the church.

He also encouraged the participants to warmly welcome new converts, new members, visitors, and to diligently address welfare concerns of members in their effort to close the back door of the Church.

Prophet Tetteh Doku further advised elders of the Church to dress formally, particularly on Communion Sundays.

Participants were given the opportunity to ask questions related to the church growth, with some receiving clarifications on the challenges they face in their leadership roles.

Present at the meeting were Elder Dr. Stephen Sarfo Kantanka (Area Deacon), Elder Akwasi Acheampong (Area Accountant), Elder Samuel Nana Karikari (Area Executive Committee Member), among others.

Report by Emmanuel Nana Nsiah