Posts in category: Church News

A five-day mega prayer conference, dubbed “Gethsemane Hour,” organised by the Bethel English Assembly in the New Onyinase District of The Church of Pentecost, took place this year from April 9 to 14, 2024, at the Bethel English Assembly auditorium.

According to history, the Gethsemane Hour programme has been consistent for over five years and is organized six times each year. Whenever the Gethsemane Hour programme is held, there have been numerous testimonies and breakthroughs.

The theme for the second edition of the event was “Called Out of Darkness to Life.” Participants were taught the authority of the Christian as the salt and light of the world. Additionally, speakers of the programme asserted that the call of the Christian out of the world to His marvellous light is not for their advantage but for the benefit of those watching in the world.

The speakers expounded on the fact that darkness in the spiritual realm contains a lot of negativities, including moral depravity, a dead conscience, and total alienation from God, from which God has called believers into His marvellous light. It was also emphasised that Jesus’s proclamation to be the light of the world simply implies that He is the antidote to every darkness in the world.

The speakers for the second edition of the Gethsemane Hour were Pastor Richmond Mensah (Aworowa District Minister), Elder Richard Daleku, Elder Frank Yeboah, and Elder Thomas Addo. Also present were Pastor Joshua Amehlor-Jackson (New Onyinase District Minister), Elder John Asumadu (Presiding Elder), Elder Peter Kusi (New Onyinase District Secretary), and the local presbytery, among others.

Report by Bethel English Assembly

The Resident Minister for the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC)-Atomic, Apostle Anthony Mensah, has asserted that God has a word to deal with every situation His people find themselves in.

Apostle Mensah made this assertion on Friday, April 12, 2024, when he delivering a sermon at the morning session on the final day of the ‘Tarkwa For Christ Crusade.’

Speaking on the theme, “There is a word for the situation,” he explained that God intentionally allows His people to experience challenging situations because He has the power to save them.

He revealed that God uses three categories of words to save His people: the spirit word, the incarnate word, and the written word.

According to him, the spirit word is the word of God that is in Christians who have the Holy Spirit in them, and that word functions through them.

Touching on the incarnate word, he explained that it is the word of God that brings life to seemingly dead and hopeless situations, saying, “This word represents Jesus, who brought life and transformation wherever He went.”

Apostle Mensah noted that this word travels faster than light and nothing can stop it. Jesus demonstrated this by commanding healing instead of praying for it, he stated.

For this, he said, Jesus did not pray for healing; he commanded it.

Regarding the ‘written word,’ he explained that it is captured from the book of Genesis to Revelation and is written for the complete joy of His people as captured in 1 John 1:4

Apostle Mensah used the story of Jesus sleeping in the boat during a storm, as recorded in Mark 4:35-41, to illustrate God’s orchestration of challenges in believers’ lives.

He further asserted that Jesus was very much aware of the troubling situation the disciples were going through, but He deliberately ignored them until they would acknowledge that He has the power to calm the storms.

He explained that just like Jesus deliberately ignored the disciples in the stormy situation, God also orchestrates or allows His people to go through challenges, hoping that they will not try to handle the situation by themselves but hand it over completely to God so He turns the situation around for good.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Afienya District Minister of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Augustus Akonu, has said that the blood of Jesus stands out as unparalleled, offering a message of hope, salvation, and authority beyond comparison.

Pastor Augustus Akonu, who also serves as Chairman for the Afienya Zone in the Ashaiman Area, made this assertion when he delivered a message titled “We Have Come to the Superior Blood” at the recently held Easter Convention at the Accra Lorry Station.

Drawing from biblical references such as Genesis 4:9-11, Hebrews 12:22-24, and Hebrews 9:11-12, Pastor Akonu highlighted the unique qualities of Christ’s blood compared to that of Abel.

He stressed that Christ’s blood speaks better things even compared to the blood of a righteous man like Abel, indicating its superiority in life, strength, and power.

The Afienya Zone Chairman conveyed the idea that a person’s blood is inseparable from their identity, noting that even in death, one’s blood retains a connection to the individual.

By contrasting Cain and Abel’s story with the heavenly significance of Jesus’ blood, Pastor Akonu underscored the unmatched superiority of Christ’s blood, which speaks from Heaven.

He explained that the blood of Jesus bears a superior witness, overpowering any opposing force or judgment.

Using the example of a woman caught in a sinful act facing condemnation under the law, Pastor Akonu illustrated how Jesus’ voice of compassion and forgiveness silenced the accusers, underscoring the unique power of Jesus’ blood to bring grace and redemption.

The Afienya Zone Chairman highlighted the superior voice of Jesus’ blood, drowning out doubts and negativity, reinforcing the faith and drowning out conflicting voices or doubts. I am running a few minutes late; my previous meeting is running over.

Pastor Akonu shared a personal experience, expressing how the loud and authoritative voice of Jesus’ blood dispelled uncertainties and opposition, leading to a stronger and unwavering faith.

He further expounded on the superior power and authority inherent in Jesus’ blood, emphasising its priceless nature that cannot be bought or sold.

Pastor Akonu addressed the influence of ancestral blood in heritage, suggesting the transformative power of applying Jesus’ blood to establish a new narrative and break generational curses, ushering in blessings and protection for his family.

Concluding his message, Pastor Augustus Akonu stressed the unparalleled potency of Jesus’ blood, surpassing all other influences and ancestral ties.

He expressed a firm commitment to rely solely on the power of Jesus’ blood and the transformative impact it brings, heralding a shift from ancestral curses to ancestral blessings and a resolute faith in the unmatched authority of Jesus, the man-born God.

Pastor Augustus Akonu articulated that while much is said about blood, the message and impact of Jesus’ blood stand out as unparalleled, offering a message of hope, salvation, and authority beyond comparison.

Report by Afienya Estate District Media Team

The Church of Pentecost, as part of the Vision 2028 agenda, has in recent years committed itself to embarking on a digital transformation to adapt its operations to the modern global digital revolution.

The Information Management Department of the Head Office of the Church has taken proactive steps towards achieving the Church’s vision for digital transformation by 2028. Under the leadership of Pastor Paul Odai Laryea, the IT Manager of the Church, the department has initiated series of comprehensive residential training workshops for all Area IT Coordinators in the Church.

On April 9, 2024, the first phase of the training began with 66 Area IT Coordinators in the Northern Sector of the Church held at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Brofoyedu, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The three-day intensive training which ended on April 11, 2024, was designed to provide participants with both theoretical insights and practical skills to equip them with the necessary proficiency in utilising PentDigital Resources, including the Enterprise Resource Planning System of the church (PENTERP), Church Management System (PentChMS), Geographical Information System (PentGIS), Document Management System (PentDMS), and IT Policy. The training was to enable participants to effectively train others within their respective Areas and Districts.

The initiative underscores the commitment of the Church in embracing digital technologies and adapting to the evolving landscape of modernisation to curb the challenges that come with the traditional approaches to information management. By empowering Area IT Coordinators with the requisite knowledge and skills, the Church aims to streamline its operations, enhance efficiency, and foster a more interconnected community in line with its overarching vision of Possessing the Nations.

Pastor Paul Odai Laryea, in his opening address, explained the rationale for the digital transformation agenda in The Church of The Pentecost. He noted that as the Church has evolved into a global Pentecostal Church with presence in over 170 different nations, adopting a comprehensive approach by fully leveraging on modern technological capabilities to enhance the delivery of its vision and mission is crucial. Hence, the need for the ongoing digital transformation, that is, the integration of digital technology into the life and operations of the Church.

The IT Manager reiterated that digital transformation is not only about technology but also about people management.

He ended his presentation by reminding the participants to understand and fully embrace their crucial role in harnessing the potential of technology to advance the mission and objectives of the Church.

Other facilitators at the workshop include Pastor Francis Nyarko Koomson (Ashanti Regional IT Coordinator), Overseer Nicholas Dei-Kumi (Archivist) and Elder Ebenezer Arhin Mensah (Senior Accounts Officer at the Headquarters).

The second phase of the training will take place from April 16 to 18, 2024, for the Southern Sector at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region.

Report by Overseer Isaac Kwabena Tagoe (Member, Tamale Area IT Team)