Posts in category: HUM

The Effiduase Area of The Church of Pentecost has ordained 71 new officers, including two deacons and two deaconesses from the Birifor-Dagaare Mono-Ethnic Assembly in the Old Tafo Akim District created through the ministry of the Home and Urban Missions

The officers are Daniel Bal-Buara Suuresongyie (Deacon), Moses K. Asare (Deacon), Portia Deme Tuyin Ampelebe (Deaconess) and Lucy A. Bal-Buara (Deaconess).

The historic moment took place on Friday, August 5, 2022, during the Area’s monthly prayers, dubbed “Divine Encounter” at Ebenezer Assembly in Effiduase District. 

The service, which was officiated by the Area Head, Apostle Daniel Yeboah Nsaful, was his last service with the Area as he proceeds on transfer to Old Tafo Area in Kumasi.

Other dignitaries present included Mrs. Mary Yeboah Nsaful (wife of the Area Head), the entire area pastorate and their wives, and Apostle Fenning Obiri-Yeboah (Rtd.), former National Head of the Church in Nigeria, among others.

In his opening remarks, Apostle Daniel Yeboah Nsaful stated that the vision for opening the Birifor Assembly is to build an assembly that is culturally relevant to meet the spiritual, physical, social and psychological needs of the indigenous Birifor-Dagaare population within the catchment area. 

This, he said, is in line with the overarching vision of The Church of Pentecost, dubbed “Vision 2023: Possessing the Nations,” which birthed HUM. The HUM, among other things, has the mandate to evangelise and reach out to people groups who are yet to be reached or engaged with the gospel message of Christ as far as the evangelistic strategies and drive of the Church are concerned.

Speaking on the theme “God Bless You” with scripture reference from Numbers 6:25-27 as his parting message with the Area, Apostle Nsaful advised Christians to be steadfast and always give themselves fully to the work of the Lord because their labour in the Lord is not in vain. 

He charged the newly ordained officers to always stand in the gap for the Lord and be faithful to the charge they have pledged to as unpaid officers of the Church.

In an interview with PENTECOST NEWS, the outgoing Effiduase Area Secretary, Pastor Prince Odoom, who is the immediate-past Area HUM Coordinator, described the news as “refreshing” and revealed that the Birifor HUM Assembly, which started in 2021 with a total membership of 25 members, now boast a membership of 105 including children.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The School of Fulani Ministry (SCOFUM), initiated by the Home and Urban Missions (HUM) of The Church of Pentecost, organised a graduation ceremony last Friday for 10 Fulbe converts who had successfully completed their training in Christian discipleship, evangelism, and church planting.

The SCOFUM initiative is held in partnership with the Pentecost University to train, disciple, and empower Fulanis to evangelise to their natives and plant indigenous churches in their communities.

The graduation ceremony had Mr Foster Kobina Amoani, the Registrar of Pentecost University as the guest speaker. Apostle Emmanuel Agyei Kwafo (National HUM Coordinator) also graced the event.

Addressing the graduands at the event, Mr. Amoani congratulated them for successfully undergoing the training school. He also encouraged them to continue to educate themselves to better impact their families and society.

Apostle Emmanuel Agyei Kwafo, in a brief remark, urged church leaders to enroll more Fulbe converts in the school since the graduates are a good resource base for future church leadership and contribute towards the realisation of the “possessing the nations” agenda.

Present at the event were Pastors Samuel Ofori Gyimah (Ashaiman HUM Pastor), Joseph Taah Appiah (DR Congo National Head), Kwasi Bukari (Techiman HUM Pastor), Gabriel Owusu Akyaw (Koforidua HUM Pastor), Kwasi Bukari (Techiman HUM Pastor), Overseer Emmanuel Otchere Darko (SCOFUM Registrar), and Elder Dr. Lawyer Ken Aboah (HUM National Executive Committee Member). 

The next session of SCOFUM is slated for 2023. 

PENTECOST NEWS.

Probationary Overseer Abubakar Diallo Sulemana was commissioned into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost on Friday, making him the first Fulani minister in the history of the Church.

The historic moment took place at a commissioning service for the 2021/22 batch of ministerial students held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

Having been commissioned, P/Overseer Diallo and his wife, Mariam Diallo Sulemana, are now set for Nkwanta, where they would be stationed to serve God and the Church as the Home and Urban Missions (HUM) Pastor for the Volta & Oti sector.

This refreshing news adds to the growing list of successes chalked by the Church under the five-year strategic vision of “Possessing the Nations,” dubbed “Vision 2023,” which birthed the Home and Urban Missions, among other ministries.

Through HUM, the Church is seeking to win and disciple the marginalised, unreached and unengaged people groups, such as the Fulani community, with the unadulterated word of God, giving them hope and transforming them into positive change agents for their communities. This venture has since yielded tremendous results in the Fulani community in particular.

Considered one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa, the Fulanis (Fulbes) are a Muslim-dominated community with a population of about 40,000,000 in more than 20 countries. 

“In our bid to ‘possess the nations,’ we cannot leave out the Fulani community with such a huge number. Fulanis are marginalised in most countries and seem to have conflicts with most indigenous people across Africa. HUM is, therefore, seeking to intentionally and strategically reach out to them,” Apostle Kwafo, the National HUM Coordinator, shared in an interview.

According to the National Coordinator, HUM has led more than 1,000 Fulanis to Christ in the last three years.

“As we speak, we have many Fulani converts as members of The Church of Pentecost; some of whom are ordained officers of the Church,” he said, adding that: “We keep recording these success stories because God has gone ahead of us in the ‘Possessing the Nations’ agenda,”

P/Overseer Sulemana served as a Field Assistant for the Home and Urban Mission before his call into full-time ministry last year.

Apostle Kwafo said their paths crossed when P/Overseer Diallo, then a Muslim turned Christian, was moving from Ghana to neighbouring Burkina to fellowship with a Fulani Church there.

Through the recommendation and help of a friend, Apostle Kwafo got in touch with Diallo, as he is affectionately called, and decided to bring him on board.

“After our meeting, we encouraged him to join The Church of Pentecost and created a space in the Church for him where he felt a sense of belonging. We also took him through discipleship and training to equip him to be effective in worship and service to God,” he said.

Apostle Agyei Kwafo believes that P/Overseer Diallo’s association with The Church of Pentecost is no coincidence but a divine orchestration since, through him, the Church has made significant inroads in the Muslim-dominated community with the gospel of Christ.

“Diallo joined at the right time when Vision 2023 was categorically intentional to reach out to the Fulani community,” he remarked.

Speaking to PENTECOST NEWS on the sidelines of the commissioning service, P/Overseer Sulemana expressed gratitude to God and the leadership of the Church for the investment made in him since he joined The Church of Pentecost.

He said the ministerial training has made him a better Christian and equipped him for a holistic ministry.

“I used to be more comfortable dealing with my people (Fulbes). However, through this training, I have become more confident and can now engage non-Fulbes. I have also learnt more about the Church from my colleagues. This has been very helpful, especially since I was not born into The Church of Pentecost,” he said.

P/Overseer Diallo is poised for the task ahead and now feels adequately prepared for the work of the ministry.

“I am very grateful that God chose The Church of Pentecost to be the channel through which the gospel would reach my people, and I could not be more honoured to be part of this story,” he said.

The newly-commissioned ministers, 127 in all, comprise 115 Ghanaians and 12 others from nine different countries (Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Gambia, India, Cape Verde and Madagascar)

The new ministers have successfully completed the first phase of their ministerial formation course at the School of Theology, Mission and Leadership (STML) of Pentecost University.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The National Coordinator of the Home and Urban Mission (HUM), Apostle Emmanuel Agyei Kwafo, joined the Goaso Area of The Church of Pentecost to plant trees in the Kinkasie Dagati community last Sunday as part of this year’s Environmental Care Campaign.

The event, organised under the auspices of the Goaso Area Head, Apostle William Kojo Edzorhoho, also commemorated Apostle Kwafo’s visit to Goaso Area. 

Some of the trees planted included coconut, mango, and orange. 

Apostle Edzorhoho encouraged members of the Church to be involved in planting trees in line with the strategic vision of the Church, dubbed Vision 2023, and to support the government’s “Green Ghana” campaign. 

He tasked the local assembly to take good care of the trees planted, water them and ensure their survival at all costs. 

In a short remark, Apostle Kwafo intimated that, as Christians, it is their responsibility to take care of the earth, which is their Father’s creation, keep a clean environment, and plant trees to replenish the depleted forest vegetation. 

He also thanked the Area Head for the opportunity to be part of such an important event.

Present at the ceremony were Pastor Kwasi Bukari (HUM Pastor, Techiman Sector), Pastor Isaac Ekow Yarkwa (Goaso Area HUM Coordinator), Pastor Joseph Owusu Ansah Domfeh (Goaso District Minister), Pastor Samuel Arhin (Dadiesoaba District Pastor) and Naa Collins Anguo Kun (Chief of Kinkasie).

Also in attendance was the wife of Pastor Bukari, Magdalene.

Report by Pastor Samuel Arhin (Dadiesoaba District Minister)

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has dedicated the ultra-modern Aflao French Assembly church building, worth GH₵ 1,045,088.50 to the glory of God.

The about 800-seater auditorium has a children’s auditorium, eight washrooms, two offices, among other facilities.

The dedication ceremony was held on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the Shekinah Central Auditorium, Aflao in the Volta Region. The Chairman was supported by Apostle Dr. Dela Quampah, an Executive Council Member and Co-ordinator of the Volta and Oti Regional Coordinating Committee, who also doubles as the Ho Area Head of the church.

In a sermon, Apostle Nyamekye said that when God calls a leader, He equips and gives him a message for the work assigned to them.

“Officers are the constituency of the church that without them, the church cannot function well because of the vital roles they play,” the Chairman said.

Apostle Nyamekye iterated that the mandate of the church is for Christians to go out into the world as the light of the world to expel the darkness. Hence, the ‘Possessing the Nations’ agenda of the church.

“Every generation of Christians should be concerned with the values and standards that rule their world or determine their culture,” he stated.

He charged members of the church to arise and push away the gates of hell out of the world.

The Chairman of the church urged Christians to live in righteousness and holiness. He further urged that they carry the garments of priests in possessing the nations in their spheres of work.

He noted that the French church, which is one of the Home and Urban Missions of the church in the area, will allow Francophones living around to serve God freely, saying, “Everybody everywhere ought to love Jesus.”

The French Assembly started in 2019 with 18 members. It has developed over the few years into four local assemblies namely, Aveyiborme, Duta, Fihokope, and Aflao Central assemblies.

The sod was cut for the commencement of the church building on January 13, 2021, by Apostle Peter Kofi Dzemekey, Aflao Area Head.

On his part, Torgbui Adzonugaga Amenya Fiti V (Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area) and member of the church, commended the church for the various developmental contributions in the area.

He then pledged his continuous support to the Home Missions of the church and called on the Chairman to open more branches in the area.

Present were the Aflao Branch Manager of Ecobank and some members of the Aflao Area Security Guild.

Also present were Apostle Peter Kofi Dzemekey (Aflao Area Head), Apostle Isaac Tetteh Judah (Sogakope Area Head), Apostle Lare Banimpo Jules (National Head of Togo), Apostle Joseph Osei-Wusu Brempong (Former Area Head for Aflao), the pastorate from Togo, Aflao Area, Sogakope Area and Ho Area.

The French District, led by Pastor Jeremie Atakpa, has a total membership of 371, comprising 311 new converts, representing 84% of the total membership.

The Chairman of the church is on a working tour of the Aflao and Sogakope Areas from Monday, June 20, 2022. He is expected to end his tour on Thursday, June 24, 2022.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The first batch of students, comprising 10 Fulani members of The Church of Pentecost has completed the maiden School of Fulani Ministry (SCOFUM), under the Home and Urban Missions (HUM) of the church.

The 34-day intensive residential training was done in collaboration with the Pentecost University (PU). The students were trained holistically in carefully selected topics such as practical ministry, homiletics, soteriology, Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, Church History, Marriage and Family Life, and Personal Devotions, among many others.

The passing out ceremony which took place at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Brofoyedru in Kumasi on April 22, 2022, saw the closure of the school, awaiting the admission of the next batch of students. The closing ceremony was performed by Pastor Thomas Ayamboya (HUM Pastor, Kumasi Sector) on behalf of Apostle Dr. Christian Tsekpoe and Apostle Emmanuel Agyei Kwafo, Chairman and National Coordinator of HUM, respectively.

The 10 Fulani converts who have all been baptised in the Holy Spirit have since been released for 2-weeks block placement in seven different Areas of the church.

The church intends to equip them as an army of God to possess the Fulani communities in Ghana.

Report by Overseer Emmanuel Otchere Darko (Registrar – SCOFUM).

The National Coordinator of the Home and Urban Missions (HUM) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyei Kwafo, has paid a two-day working visit to the Asamankese Area of the church.

As part of the visit which took place recently, Apostle Kwafo met with Ministers and their wives, Presiding Elders, and the “Nation Possessors Group”.

In his presentations, the HUM Coordinator noted that although the church is making strides in the realization of the vision of HUM, there is still more work to be done.

He expressed worry about the non-acceptance of the vision by a cross-section of the church populace. He advised ministers, officers, and members of the church to own the vision in order to achieve its goals.

Apostle Kwafo stated that the leadership of the church is seriously committed to the realisation of the vision of HUM. In January this year, for example, he said, the Headquarters invested about GHS 120,000.00 in the training of volunteers who will also train others at the grassroots.

Citing the role of prayer in all these, he requested the church to continually pray for the ministry to succeed in fulfillment of its mandate.

In a remark, the Asamankese Area Head of the church, Apostle Samuel Gyau Obuobi, pledged the Area’s fullest involvement in the activities of the ministry in the days ahead. He thanked the National Coordinator and his team for the good work they continue to do for the Lord.

The National Coordinator was accompanied by his wife; Mrs.Agartha Kwafo, the Eastern Regional HUM Pastor; Gabriel Owusu Akyaw, and the wife.

The Home and Urban Missions was birthed by the “Vision 2023” of the church. It has the mandate of targeting and winning expatriates, the unreached, African migrants, the marginalized, among others in society.

Report by Pastor Eliezer Yaw Arkoh-Larbi, Asamankese.

The Home and Urban Mission (HUM) of The Church of Pentecost has organised a leadership training programme at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Kumasi for HUM leaders at the various levels of the Church.

According to the National Leadership of HUM, the event was organised to build the capacity of the leaders by throwing more light the mandate of HUM and also providing them with the requisite knowledge about the various HUM target groups and how to engage them.

Topics treated at the programme by some acclaimed researchers and professionals include “Introduction to Leadership and Lean,” “Introduction to Discipleship,” “Home and Urban Mission,” “Effective Way to Evangelise Muslims,” “Missions and Missiology,” “The Unreached People Groups – Global and Ghanaian Context,” “Mental Health and Rehabilitation,” among others.

The participants were also given a talk on the 2022 theme of The Church of Pentecost: “Equipping the Church as an Army to Possess the Nations.”

The event brought together leaders from all parts of the country. Some recovered drug addicts and Islam converts were also invited to share their salvation stories with participants.

At the end of the training, some participants in an interview with PENTECOST NEWS said they had received deep insight into the ministry of HUM. They also pledged to put into practice all that they had been taught at the programme.

PENTECOST NEWS

The launch of the Aflao Area ‘Nation Possessors’ of The Church of Pentecost was successfully held on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at the Shekinah Temple in Aflao District.

The highly patronised event was organised under the auspices of the Area Home and Urban Missions (HUM). The determined and dexterous Nation Possessors from all the districts in the Area graced the special event.

Amongst those present at the event were Mrs. Faith Dzemekey (Area Head’s wife), Pastor Appiah Kubi-Annan (Aflao Area HUM Coordinator), District Ministers and their wives in the Area, officers and the members.

The Aflao Area Head, Apostle Kofi Dzemekey, seized the occasion to boost the morale of the participants and charged them to go out to possess the nations for our Lord Jesus Christ.

“The world is our field. We have been called out to go and possess the lost for our Master Jesus Christ,” he stated.

He added: “Possessing the nations demand aggressiveness and the Holy Spirit has given us the power subdue the devil and win the lost.”

Pastor Appiah Kubi-Annan, who preached on the topic, “Rekindling the strength in you as a warrior” Judges 6:11-12, admonished the participants “not to look down upon ourselves.

Like Gideon, he said that Christians have been given mighty power to possess the nations for Christ. He, therefore, urged those present to join the church’s vision and pursue it to the core.

The Area Nation Possessors Coordinating Team was inaugurated after which they were prayed for.

In all, 241 people participated in this special programme.

Report by Pastor Francis Lamptey (Aflao Area Reporter).