Posts in category: Church News

Pastor Justice Adane Twene, the Afienya Estate District Minister of The Church of Pentecost, has advised Christians to use their influence to promote the kingdom of God.

Pastor Twene made this call at the climax of this year’s Easter Convention, which was held from April 5th to 9th, 2023, at the district’s Central Assembly auditorium. The event, themed: “Why Do You Look for the Living Among the Dead? He Is Not Here, He Is Risen” (Luke 24:5-6), was well attended and brought people from different walks of life.

In his sermon titled “Characters Around the Burial and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ,” with Luke 24:2-6 and Matthew 27:1-57 as scripture references, the District Minister highlighted the many lessons that can be learned from some characters around the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These, he said, include Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, Mary Magdalen, the Apostles, and the other disciples of Christ Jesus.

Speaking about Joseph of Arimathea, Pastor Twene described him as a member of the Jewish council, a good and righteous man who had not consented to their decisions and actions but was looking for the kingdom of God.

“He was also wealthy and influential and used his position and influence for the benefit of Christ and the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Christ, and when it was given to him, he wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which had been cut in the rock,” he said.

Pastor Twene urged Christians to emulate Joseph of Arimathea and use their position, influence, power, and office for the benefit of Christ and the welfare of the Church.

He stressed that if the Church can possess the nations, believers must influence the world in every sphere of life with Kingdom values and principles.

The District Minister further emphasised that Joseph of Arimathea did not hide or compromise his faith, did not consent to the decision to execute Jesus Christ, and openly defended his faith. He urged believers to contend for the faith and stand their ground when opposition and adversities arise in their Christian journey.

Pastor Twene advised believers to be loyal and people of integrity no matter what they face as Christians.

According to him, Joseph of Arimathea was sacrificial, committed to duty, available, and responsible. He pointed out that no one told Joseph of Arimathea to go for the body of Christ, but he took the initiative himself.

“He sacrificed his time, wealth, influence, and tomb to give Christ a befitting burial,” he said.

Pastor Twene, therefore, encouraged believers to sacrifice their wealth, skills, talents, and resources for the advancement of the Kingdom.

He also advised Christians, especially church leaders, to be responsible, available, and dutiful.

Pastor Twene explained that being responsible is having an obligation to do something, being dependable, keeping promises, and honouring commitments. Responsible people are accountable, answerable, reliable, and available.

He also urged Christians to emulate Nicodemus’ love and compassion as well as Mary’s humility to influence their spheres.

Report by Afienya Estate District Media Team.

The Kwadaso Area Head of The Church Of Pentecost, Apostle J.B.K.Tawiah, has urged Christians to be motivated by the death of Jesus Christ to serve God better.

He stated that since Christ offered a great sacrifice by going through a painful death, believers must give their best for Him instead of complaining about the little services they render.

“Nothing we do can compensate for the great sacrifice made by the Saviour,” he said.

Apostle Tawiah was speaking in the Kwadaso Zone during an Easter Sunday Service that climaxed this year’s Easter Convention, which took place from Wednesday, April 5th, to Sunday, April 9th, 2023.

During an exposition on the theme, “Jesus Christ, The Resurrection and the Life,” which was referenced from John 11:25 and Philippians 3:10, Apostle Tawiah mentioned the death of Christ meant a lot to Christians.

Addressing over 9,000 members drawn from eight zones, under the topic “The Power Of The Resurrection,” Apostle Tawiah stated that Jesus Christ predicted His own death, as stated in Luke 18:31-34, and that it was God’s ordained plan to make Christ die so as to save sinners from sin and its consequences.

Reading from Philippians 2:7-8, he intimated that Christ voluntarily offered to forgo his heavenly benefits by emptying Himself and taking on the position of a servant, even though He is God.

“Christ became poor that believers would be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). He also sacrificed the glory He had, which is why He prayed that His Father would restore it to Him (John17:4-5). Christ accepted to take up human limitations, suffering, and ill-treatment as recorded in the verses of Isaiah 53,” he said.

Apostle Tawiah further outlined some of the key benefits of Christ’s death, including reconciling humankind back to God (Ephesians 2:13-14;1 Peter 3:18), revealing God’s character of love (Romans 5:8;John 3:16;John 15:13), and justice (Romans 3:25-26), canceling the legal demands and the written code that stood against mankind (Colossians 2:14-17;1 Peter 2:24), justifying and making righteous (Romans 4:5;5:9), and providing all we need for life (Romans 8:32;Philippians 4:19).

On Christ’s resurrection, he stated that there was a conspiracy and the giving and taking of bribes to make false claims that Jesus’s disciples stole His body (Matthew 28:11-15). Nevertheless, Christ rose and showed Himself to many as evidence that He had triumphed over death.

Apostle Tawiah used the incident to advise Christians in particular and Ghanaians in general to eschew corrupt practices that wreck societies and nations.

He urged Christians to live above reproach wherever they found themselves in society.

The Kwadaso Area Head also touched on the source of the resurrection power, which is from God the Father (Acts 2:23, Acts 10:40), Christ Himself, since he made declarations to that effect (John 11:25, John 10:17-18), and the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11).

He assured believers that the resurrection power is still available to revive all aspects of our lives and prayed for Church members to receive the power of the resurrection in order to lead meaningful lives.

This year’s Easter Convention, held in four zones, included, for the first time, one for PIWC and all English Assemblies in the Area.

It was graced by some royals in the Area, including Nana Antwi-Agyei Brempong II (Atwima Hene), who is an Elder of the Church.

Also present were the Member of Parliament for Kwadaso Constituency, Hon. Prof. Kingsley Nyarko, the MCE of Kwadaso Municipal Assembly, Hon. Agyenim Boateng, and some other officers from the Assembly.

Nana Antwi Agyei Brempong, in a brief remark, admonished the people to be good citizens and eschew corruption and other social vices that would disturb the peace of the traditional area and the entire nation.

He also expressed appreciation to The Church of Pentecost for helping to lead royals into the saving knowledge of Christ, something that was hitherto unheard of.

Both the Member of Parliament and the Municipal Chief Executive appealed for prayers for the state and the government to be able to overcome the economic and other challenges confronting us as a nation.

This year’s convention was well-patronised as members turned out at the various centres in great numbers to celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection.

To the glory of God, many souls were won and baptised in water by immersion. Others also received Holy Ghost baptism and instant healing.

Report by Kwadaso Area Media.

“Jesus Christ; The Atoning Sacrifice For Our Sins” – (1 John 2:2) was the theme for this year’s Easter Convention organised by the New Tafo Area of The Church of Pentecost.

Held simultaneously in three zones, with the Pentecost International Worship Centre, New Tafo (PIWC-New Tafo) hosting all the English Assemblies within the Area at its auditorium, the 5-day event was opened with festival of 11 lessons and passion songs on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

Speaking on the topic: “The Power of His Resurrection” on Resurrection Sunday [April 9, 2023] to climax the convention at the New Tafo Zone at the New Tafo Division School Park, the Area Head, Prophet Samuel Tetteh Doku, said that any individual who believes in Christ Jesus experiences the resurrection power and that same power enables the believer to live life of unimpeachable rectitude and integrity.

Focusing on Philippians 3:10 and Romans 8:11 as his scriptural references, the New Tafo Area Head explained that just as the resurrection of Jesus equips believers with power, so the crucifixion enables them to put to death their old sinful nature and should remain nailed to the cross (Galatians 5:24), saying, “Before you can live a meaningful Christian life, you must first go to Calvary to be crucified.”

“You cannot know the victory of the resurrection without crucifixion,” he stressed.

Prophet Tetteh Doku mentioned the Resurrection Sunday experience and the Pentecost Sunday experience as types of the resurrection power. 

Differentiating between the two, the New Tafo Area Head stated that “the Resurrection Sunday experience is about the new birth (John 20:22), whilst the Pentecost Sunday experience is about the power to do the work of God.” 

“So, when Christ Jesus breathed on the disciples to receive the Holy Spirit after His resurrection, He wanted them to go through the new birth,” he explained.

According to him, the Resurrection Sunday experience was not enough, hence the Pentecost Sunday experience, where the ascended Christ poured out His Spirit on the believers to be empowered (Acts 2:1-4).

Prophet Samuel Tetteh Doku stated that whoever encounters the resurrection power lives a transformed life. He, therefore, advised the gathering to live a life in keeping with repentance, saying, “One way we can prove the resurrection of Jesus Christ is by living a changed life.”

He further gave many instances, both in the Bible and in the lives of individuals to prove the existence of the resurrection power.

The man of God also admonished Christians to be very circumspect in their utterances and avoid the use of disparaging comments, especially on their children because words are powerful, and should never be uttered carelessly since they could have an adverse impact on the listener or hearer. In the place of unwholesome talk, he advised them to always utter gracious words that would edify themselves and those around them.

As part of the service, some officers due for retirement were introduced to the congregants.

The event recorded a total attendance of 3,830, with many souls won to the glory of God. Thirty-four persons received the Holy Spirit baptism with initial evidence of speaking in tongues.

Report by Emmanuel Nana Nsiah

The Effiduase Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Stephen Okyere Acheampong, has admonished Christians to reposition themselves for the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ.

Speaking on the Resurrection Sunday [April 9, 2023] to climax this year’s Easter Convention of the Effiduase Zone of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Acheampong, who had his sermon titled, “Jesus, The Son of God is Coming Again” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 2:19; Acts 1:11; Hebrews 9:28), stated: “Jesus has been here before to bear the sins of the world and will come back with salvation for all who are eagerly waiting for him.”

He said that the second coming of Christ is so important that it has been established as one of the foundations of Christianity as most churches preach about it and many songs are composed about it to remind Christians of it.

According to the Effiduase Area Head, Jesus is the only one qualified to be the Saviour of the world because of his deity, virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, resurrection, ascension, abiding intersession and second coming to judge the living and the dead, saying, “This is the bedrock of our faith.”

On what to do while waiting for Christ’s second coming, Pastor Acheampong encouraged Christians to reposition themselves by showing unalloyed love, devotion and commitment to God and the thing of God; wholeheartedly do God’s work without complaining to store up treasures in heaven; live by the word of God, not what men say; lead holy life by shunning evil; help one another; spread the good news about Jesus and his salvation; ensure that they and their families will not be left out; help and support the work of God, and love and desire his coming.

Present to grace the service were the New Juaben North Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Comfort Asante, and the Chief of Asokore, Nana Antwi Panyin II.

Report by Ezekiel Korletey

The Women’s Ministry of the Pentecost International Worship Centre, Navrongo (PIWC-Navrongo), on April 5, 2023, donated medical supplies worth GHS 6,000.00 to the Navrongo Central Prison.

The donation was a follow-up to a previous evangelistic visit the ministry made to the facility on March 31, 2023, in which 11 souls were won with eight baptised in water. As part of the evangelistic outreach, the ministry donated the following items worth GHS 2,000.00 to support the facility: gari, sugar, washing powder, liquid soap and 30 bags of sachet water.

During the evangelistic outreach in March, a sick inmate was prayed for after which the District Women’s Leader, Deaconess Abasimi, who is a Physician Assistant, prescribed medication for him. However, the members of the ministry were informed that the prison infirmary had run out of medicine for some time. The situation moved members of the ministry to solicit support to remedy the situation. With personal cash contributions from members of the ministry and the generous donation of other people, drugs worth GHS6,000.00 were purchased for the facility.

A.S.P. Eric Koba who received the medicines on behalf of the Regional Command expressed his gratitude to the Women’s Ministry for the speedy response to their plight.

“Your church leadership is really doing well in practicing what the Bible entreats everyone to do, especially with your enormous support to prisons over time,” he added.

An inmate who is the leader of the Prisons Christian Fellowship expressed gratitude to God for using the Women’s Ministry to answer one of their major prayer requests.

Upper East Prisons Regional Commander, ADP Yakubu Abugrago, expressed his excitement with the huge donation and said: “This is the first of its kind ever since I assumed office and the fact that it is coming from women is what dumbfounds me.”

The Regional Commander used the opportunity to plead for more support in terms of logistics to train the inmates with vocational skills to help them earn living as they reintegrate into society after serving their respective terms.

“Again, I want to say thank you for taking away my shame. Now, I don’t need to hide from my nurses,” he added.

As part of the visit, Elder Solomon Bayie encouraged the inmates with a sermon titled: “Be a Changed Person” based on Jeremiah 7:1-3.

He stressed the need for them to reflect on the goodness of God in their lives and allow themselves to be transformed by the Spirit of God.

Report by Harriet A. Asante.

Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh, the Director for the Men’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost (PEMEM), has urged traditional rulers to allow God to lead them because He is interested in the transformation of the palace.

Apostle Anane Denteh, who is also the National Chieftaincy Ministry Coordinator and a member of the Executive Council of The Church of Pentecost said this when he participated in the Easter durbar organised by the Chiefs and people of Nyagbo Sroe traditional area in the Afadzato South District in the Volta Region.

The PEMEM Director, the special guest of honour at the event, joined the Chief of Nyagbo Sroe, Togbe Owusu IX, at the durbar amidst the drumming and dancing of Nyagbo Pagya.

The Nyagbo Pagya traditional dance is performed by warriors and the Asafo company who go ahead of the chiefs during war or special occasions.

The people of Nyagbo Sroe call themselves Bàtrùgbù and speak the Tùtrùgbù language, one of the Guan-local dialects spoken in the traditional area.

The durbar saw a display of the rich culture of people in the area.

In his exhortation, Apostle Anane Denteh preached on the topic, “God is Interested in the Palace” with scriptural references from 2 Kings 19:14, 15; 2 Chronicles 32:7, 8; 20, 21.

He said that God is interested in whatever goes on in the palace and that is why the Bible is replete with principles about the chieftaincy institution.

He narrated the story about the threats of the Assyrian king, Sennacherib against Judah and the response of King Hezekiah, the king of Judah.

The PEMEM Director explained that King Hezekiah consulted the prophet Isaiah for divine intervention.

In their desperation, “both King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah cried unto the Lord, and Judah was delivered from the hands of the Assyrians,” he noted.

Apostle Denteh urged traditional rulers to always seek God’s counsel in every step they take in their traditional leadership just as King Hezekiah did because God is interested in seeing that the values and principles of His kingdom are prominent in the palace.

He advised traditional rulers not to leave the church out of the developmental agenda of their communities, adding that “The Church of Pentecost is a friend to the palace and that is why it has established a ministry to the chieftaincy.”

Addressing his people, Togbe Owusu IX said that the durbar is to raise funds for developmental activities in the area.

Outlining the projects, Togbe Owusu said the community needs money and support for a water project, rehabilitation of the road leading to the community from Saviefe-Agokpo, a vocational school, and many others.

He called on the people of the community to participate in the development of the place.

Togbe Owusu was grateful to the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, for permitting a delegation of eminent apostles of the Church to grace the durbar.

He was also thanked the Lord for lifting one of the sons from Nyagbo Sroe, Apostle Fred Tiakor to the office of an apostle of The Church of Pentecost. To him, the people of Nyagbo Sroe do not take that glory for granted.

Apostle Anane Denteh was accompanied by Apostle Moses Ahiakor, the Hohoe Area Head, Apostle Fred Tiakor, the Asante Bekwai Area Head, who is also a native of Nyagbo Sroe, and Elder Kaakyire Kwaku Asante, the Media Coordinator of PEMEM.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Suame Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle John Obeng Kesse, has asserted that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the only accredited Saviour of the world.

He has, therefore, called on all and sundry to believe and receive Jesus as their Saviour, stressing that there is forgiveness of sin for all who believe in Him.

Apostle Obeng Kesse said this during the climax of the Suame Zone 2023 Easter convention on Sunday, April 9, 2023.

According to the Area Head, Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the only one who has been given accreditation, which is the official license endorsed by Heaven to operate as the Saviour of the world.

Quoting from Revelation 5:1-14, he stated that an announcement was made in Heaven for someone worthy to break the seals and open it. And that no one in Heaven or Earth or under the Earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.

“The Bible says that it was only Jesus, the lion of the tribe of Judah, who has triumphed and was worthy to break the seals and open it,” he disclosed.

Apostle Obeng Kesse stressed that Heaven has endorsed Jesus’ credibility as the only Saviour of the world.

He continued that Jesus’ credibility was not conferred on Him, but He worked for it by paying for the sins of the world through His precarious death on the cross.

Quoting from John 14:6, he said Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one goes to the Father, except through Him.

The Suame Area Head said that Jesus paid the sacrifice for sin and conquered all principalities and powers through the forgiveness of sins.

“The heart of Christianity is forgiveness and so we must forgive one another just as Christ forgave us,” he said, adding, “The blood of Christ met the demands of the law, making Him the perfect saviour of the world.”

Another thing that proves that Jesus is the accredited saviour of the world, he stated, was His resurrection from the dead.

Apostle John Obeng Kesse concluded by saying that believers are all one people in Christ and that there should be no division among them, saying, “We must love the Lord for what He has done for us and we must love our country for all the benefits we enjoy as a nation.”

In attendance were Mrs. Eunice Owuradua Kesse (wife of the Area Head), Elder Dr. Nana K. Gyasi (CEO of Nana K. Gyasi Company Ltd), Pastor Peter Mensah Yanney (Suame District Minister), Pastor Alex Asare (Bohyen District Minister) as well as their wives.

To grace the occasion was the MP for the Bantama Constituency and Minister for Works and Housing, Hon. Asenso-Boakye.

Report by Suame Media Team.

Overseer Francis Amuzu of The Church of Pentecost(CoP)-Kuwait, has noted that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has given Christians the power to overcome the demands of the flesh.

He made this statement yesterday during the climax of the 2023 Easter Convention at the CoP-Dubai auditorium.

Speaking on the topic: “How our Christian Life is Repositioned through the
Death and Resurrection Power of Jesus Christ” P/Ovr. Amuzu emphasised that through Christ’s victory, Satan’s greatest weapon has been defeated, and believers are now set free from the power of sin and death (Revelation 12:10, Colossians 2:14-15)

P/Overseer Amuzu also noted that Christ’s death and resurrection has given believers the power to overcome the demands of the flesh, enabling them to conquer the fleshly desires that once held them captive.

He highlighted that Christ’s resurrection gives believers a motive to live in purity.

“As God’s children, believers are called to live a pure and righteous life, which is made possible through the power of Christ’s resurrection.” He revealed.

Overseer Amuzu further stressed that the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus has given believers the greatest hope of all.

“Through Christ’s victory over death, believers can have confidence in their salvation and look forward to eternal life with Him,” he said adding: “The transformative power of Christ’s death and resurrection serves as a powerful reminder of the hope and victory that believers have in Him.”

Report by The CoP Dubai Media Team.