Posts in category: Moving With Chairman

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has eulogised the outgone La Area Head of the Church, Apostle John Osei Amaniampong, saying that the retired minister has left a legacy of diligence, hard work, and faithfulness in ministry.

“Apostle Amaniampong is very respectful, submissive to authority and one whom you could always trust to uphold the policies of the Church. For some time now, I have found it very difficult to accept the fact that Apostle Amaniampong is retiring from active ministry because he is irreplaceable,” he said.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye gave this glowing eulogy today when he officiated a retirement service held in honour of the retired minister, his wife, Mrs. Mary Amaniampong, and children, at the Dr. Thomas Wyatt Memorial Temple.

The event, which was characterised by great joy and pomp, was a befitting send-off service for the man who had served God and the Church meritoriously for 33 years.

Apostle John Osei Amaniampong was called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 1989 and was first stationed at Aboso District. After five years of fruitful service, he served in Tarkwa District, from 1994 to 2000 and was later transferred to Asokwa District, where he pastored for six years.

Subsequently, he spent two years as District Pastor at Mamprobi District and then La-Nkwantanang District from 2008 to 2014, where he was appointed as an Area Head and assigned to the Dunkwa Area in 2014. In the year 2016, he was called into the office of Apostle in The Church of Pentecost. His final ministerial transfer came in 2018 and has since served as Area Head of the La Area Head until his retirement.

A testimony read on behalf of the General Council of the Church at the event, described him as “an embodiment of hard work and discipline and a project-oriented minister who saw to the infrastructural growth of the church in every station he served.”

Preaching on the topic: “A Worthy Steward” at the event with Luke 7:2-10 as his main scripture reference, Prophet David Kankam Beditor, the Ashaiman Area Head and an Executive Council Member of the Church, said that the Centurion would not have sought Jesus’ intervention for his servant if he did not have much respect for him (servant).

He said that the Centurion went out of his way to help his servant because the latter had some exemplary virtues that made him valuable to his master.

According to him, the servant had a right attitude, was diligent, hardworking, obedient, hardworking, trustworthy, and very serviceable.

He, therefore, urged Christians to demonstrate such commendable traits in their relationship with others, especially at the workplace.

Prophet Kankam Beditor further noted that in addition to the extraordinary faith exhibited by the Centurion, he also possessed some noteworthy traits which Christian leaders must strive to have.

He said that the Centurion was one who loved his nation and contributed towards the Church by singlehandedly constructing a synagogue for the Jews.

The Ashaiman Area Head also said the Centurion was compassionate and sympathetic towards his subordinates, was humble, and gave due respect to those in authority.

“The Centurion related well with the Elders of the Jewish people, this was why he was able to ask the Elders of the Jews to make the request to Jesus on his behalf,” he said.

Prophet Kankam Beditor, therefore, advised Christian leaders not to lord themselves over their subordinates but to treat them with love and respect.

The retirement service for the Amaniampongs drew many dignitaries from far and near, most of whom were active ministers as well as members of the Church. Amongst them were Apostle Emmanuel Ofei Ankra-Badu (Tema Area Head), Apostle Martin Seth Appiah (Madina Area Head), Apostle James Asare (Kasoa Area Head), Apostle ADP James Tetteh, and Apostle Abraham Swanzy (Chairman, Ghana Evangelism Committee)

Some retired ministers of the Church; namely, Apostle Rigwell Ato Addison, Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Anthony Owusu, Apostle Prof. Peter Ohene Kyei, and Apostle Michael Asiedu, also graced the event.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Church of Pentecost has set the pace by being the first institution to donate 30 pieces of laptops towards the University of Ghana’s ‘One Student, One Laptop Initiative’ at a short ceremony held at the Legon Campus, yesterday.

As part of its strategic vision to achieve world-class status, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana (UG) is leading the university towards ‘creating a culture that promotes research, teaching and learning, administrative processes and extension activities driven by technology and anchored in humanism’ for the benefit of all stakeholders.

In this regard, various initiatives are underway to enhance stakeholder experience through digitalisation. 

The Vice-Chancellor in relation to this identified the following three-pronged technology-driven initiatives to enhance the experience of students, faculty, and staff:  Classroom Modernisation, One Student One Laptop (1S1L), and Hot-Spot Comfort Zones.

Briefing the church about the project, Professor Gordon Awandare, Chairman of the Implementation Committee, who doubles as the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs, UG, indicated that the school seeks strategic partnerships from individuals and corporate bodies.

“We are reaching out to corporate bodies interested in participating in this, for the purpose of advertisement. Companies can adopt a classroom and modernize it,” the Pro VC said.

Professor Amfo lauded the church for the kind gesture and assured that the laptops would be fairly distributed to needy students who merit it.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, pledged the continuous support of the church towards the project as a move to assist students in their academic laurels.

The Chairman also used the opportunity to congratulate the Vice-Chancellor on her appointment as the 1^st Female Vice-Chancellor for the University of Ghana. He further encouraged her to trust in God in the discharge of her duties to achieve greater things in office.

Apostle Nyamekye then introduced the appointed Resident Campus Minister for the university, Pastor Kwadwo and Mrs. Eunice Obeng, to the management and urged the leadership of the university to support his pastoral activities on campus.

With dwindling governmental support due to competing national needs, Management of the University of Ghana seeks the support of benevolent donors from within and outside the University to finance the initiatives.

PENTECOST NEWS

A delegation from The Church of Pentecost in Togo, and its parallel church executives on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, paid a visit to the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye.

Led by the National Head of the Church in Togo, Apostle Lare Banimpo, they were received by the Finance & Administration Director of the Church, Apostle Lawrence Otu-Nyarko, at the Church’s General Headquarters in Ghana.

Among the delegation from Togo were Apostle Adeje K. Antoine (Outgoing President), Apostle Kokou M. Degbo (Out-going Secretary), Apostle Akpagana Cephas (National Executive Member, COP Togo), Pastor Samuel A. Obouribe Lawson (President-elect), Pastor Daniel K. Dogbovi (General Secretary-elect), and Pastor Kossi Bafoudam (National Executive Member, COP Togo).

Delivering the purpose of the visit, Apostle Adeje, the outgoing President of the parallel church said that they came to express their appreciation to the Chairman and the Executive Council of the Church for sending representatives to their Council meetings. 

He also used the opportunity to inform and invite the Chairman to the induction and farewell service for the President-elect and outgoing President of the parallel church slated for August 27, 2022.

In his response, Apostle Nyamekye congratulated Apostle Adeje for ten years of meritorious service to the church. He pointed out that one of the successes of a leader is to hand over to another successor.

The Chairman also lauded the efforts of the immediate-past Chairman of the church, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah (Rtd.), and the former National Head of Togo, Apostle Ousmane Zabre, for ensuring a strong co-existence between the two churches.

“Two is better than one, therefore, instead of considering a merger between the two churches, make the conscious effort to work together to possess Togo for our Lord Jesus,” Apostle Nyamekye admonished.

He further congratulated the President-elect, Pastor Samuel A. Obouribe Lawson, and charged him to stay strong in the Lord to in order to effectively discharge the task given to him.

Also present were Pastor Gideon Kofi Boadu-Yirenkyi, Personal Assistant to the International Missions Director, and Mrs. Abigail Amponsem, French Translator, International Missions Office.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Christian parents have been charged to spare no effort to live exemplary lives in words and in  deeds for their children to emulate.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, who gave this charge in a live televised sermon last Sunday on PENT TV, stressed the need for parents to be practitioners of what they say as such will have a positive influence on the lives of their children, saying, “Young people expect their parents to live a life consistent to what they profess.”

Referencing a quote by Albert Schweitzer, a German theologian, who once said: “There are only three ways to teach a child. The first is by example; the second is by example; and the third is by example,” Apostle Nyamekye said that an exemplary lifestyle of parents is one of the best ways to instruct children (1 Peter 5:2-3).

He further noted that a consistent religious pattern of behaviour in the home is a vital key to successful spiritual adjustment. 

“The attitude we portray in the home as parents is a true reflection of our real self,” he said with reference to a quote by D. L. Moody, who once said: “A man ought to live so that everyone knows he is a Christian and most of all, his family ought to know.”

Speaking on the topic: “Relating To Distant Grown-up Children,” as part of his series on ‘Raising Family Altars,’ Apostle Nyamekye stated: “There is the need to underscore at this point that even when children are grown-up and are miles away from home, they need to be discipled.” According to him, discipleship is not limited to only Bible Study, but through prayer as well. 

Reading from 1 Peter 1:1-2; James 1:1-3, and Colossians 1:9-10, the Chairman explained how the early apostles followed up on the distant believers with letters and prayers as a way of encouraging and discipling them. Likewise, he urged parents to get in touch with their children who are far-off home and check on their relationship with Christ. This, he said, could be done virtually.

“The contemporary communication technology has made this much easier; distance should no longer be a barrier to discipling our grown-up children who are miles away from home. We can have virtual meetings with them,” he indicated.

Apostle Nyamekye revealed that young people expect a lot from their parents, which according to him, include understanding, patience, listening ears, sincerity, rebuke, consideration, positive models, correction, guidance, playfulness, attention, success, and wisdom. He, therefore, urged parents to ensure that these expectations are met to encourage the children to voluntarily come and enjoy the fire that has been lit on the family altar.

The Chairman also charged Christian parents to let their marriage and family life portray the beauty of Christ to the world.

“As Christians we should reflect Christ in our marriage and family life. In so doing, we would set a good example for the world to emulate, and that is our target; and to prove that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the way, the truth and the life,” he concluded.

Report by Emmanuel Nana Nsiah

Tears of joy filled the eyes of Pastor Aaron Yaw Kyei, the Ashaiman Lebanon District Minister of The Church of Pentecost, and his wife, Mrs. Beatrice Kyei, as they bowed out of active service after 37 years of fruitful ministry to the glory of God.

Pastor Aaron and Mrs. Beatrice Kyei, accepted the call into full-time ministry in April 1985, at Tarkwa through the recommendation of Prophet J.K. Ennum, and have served faithfully with the backing of the Holy Spirit.

Together, they served in Sefwi Akontombra, from 1985 to 1990; Tease Kwahu in Afram Plains, from 1990 to 1995; Nungua, from 1995 to 2001; Akim Oda, from 2001 to 2007; Ashanti Bekwai, from 2007 to 2012; Bantama in Kumasi, from 2012 to 2017, and Ashaiman Lebanon, from 2017 to 2022.

A retirement service was held on Sunday, July 31, 2022, at the James McKeown Temple, Ashaiman Estate.

The service was officiated by the Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye. He was assisted by Prophet David Kankam Beditor, the Ashaiman Area Head of the church, who doubles as an Executive Council Member and Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Committee Chairman.

In a sermon on the topic, “Discretion Will Protect You,” with 2 Samuel 20:1-22 as a scriptural reference, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the church said that despite the troubles of Israel at that time, Sheba, a troublemaker and rebel, was still careless and produced trouble.

The Chairman, however, noted that a wise woman with wisdom eliminated Sheba, and saved the whole town from death and destruction.

“The way God can deliver you from destruction is for wisdom to dwell in your heart,” he stated, saying, “If wisdom does not dwell in you, you cannot live in fulfilment of your ministry or be a good minister.”

He urged all leaders to exemplify Pastor Kyei who lived and acted with wisdom of discretion throughout his ministry, a rare trait quality he lauded him for having.

Apostle Nyamekye further admonished all and sundry to always be careful of what they had to say (the choice of it and content); where they say it (the setting); how they say it (the packaging); and when they say it (the timing).

The General Council described Pastor Kyei as a person who has a passion for evangelism and soul winning. They further noted that he effortlessly introduced Christ to everyone he came across in fulfillment of the Great Commission.

The Ashaiman Lebanon District Women’s Ministry of the church revealed that Mrs. Beatrice Kyei was affable, easy to approach, humble and a woman with admirably great respect for all and sundry, adding: “she exhibits all characteristics of a virtuous woman as projected in Proverbs 31.”

The Ashaiman Lebanon District further elaborated that the five-year tenure of Pastor Aaron Yaw and Mrs. Beatrice Akua Kyei saw massive growth and development in the church.

In their response, Pastor Aaron and Mrs. Beatrice Kyei thanked the church for its immense support and contributions to them throughout their 37 years of service.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has charged Christian parents to make a concerted effort to raise their children in a godly manner for God’s service.

Apostle Nyamekye was speaking during the live broadcast of a Special Evening Service on PENT TV on Sunday, July 17, 2022, as part of his series on “Family – An ‘Endangered’ Institution.”

Dilating on the topic: “Raising A Family Altars,” with Samuel as a case study (1 Samuel Chapter 1), the Chairman narrated the circumstances surrounding the birth of Samuel and the effort his mother, Hannah, made to raise him for God’s service in fulfilment of her promise to God.

He explained that though Samuel was sent to Eli, the priest, to be trained, his mother’s effort cannot be overemphasised as she annually visited the boy and presented him a linen ephod on each visit in Shiloh, stressing that, “Samuel was a mother’s effort and a product of a godly woman.”

He opined that any time the mother visited Samuel, she might have told him that: “you are a priest so be like a priest.” This, Chairman said, stuck into the boy’s mind, and he became so desirous to be a priest to the extent that he slept beside the ark and did not allow himself to be influenced by the bad attitudes of Eli’s sons.

Like Hannah, Apostle Nyamekye urged parents to train their children in the way of the Lord to be used by God.

“This should be our pledge as parents to raise children that God gives us and present them back to Him for His service,” he said. According to the Chairman, through Hannah’s effort, Samuel grew to be a priest, judge and prophet for Israel. 

Examining the life of Samuel as a priest, a judge and a prophet, Apostle Nyamekye noted that Samuel was a busy man (1 Samuel 7:15-17; 16:13; 19:18).

The Chairman indicated that Samuel was endeared to the people of Israel because he brought true worship of God and revelation back to Israel in those days when revelations were so rare in Israel. He also restored order and sanctity in Israel, which hitherto was unruly for lack of a king (Judges 21:25), by giving them two great kings, and as a result, the people of Israel mourned him when he died (1 Samuel 25:1).

On the contrary, Apostle Nyamekye said, Samuel, who, being a great man of God and a faithful judge, could not train his children in the way of the Lord as his sons perverted justice by taking bribes after they had been appointed as leaders in Israel when their father, Samuel, had grown old which resulted in the demand of a king by the elders in Israel (1 Samuel 8:1-5). 

Chairman Nyamekye, therefore, underscored the necessity for Christian parents to prioritise raising godly children and making them live as a delight to the Lord.

“What are you leaving for the children?” he quizzed, adding, “It is not about buildings and cars; these are big toys. You need to leave a Christian legacy – something that has life because when you die, your name will live in your children.”

Apostle Nyamekye advised parents against being too busy and urged them to have time for their families as he attributed Samuel’s failure to train his children to his busy schedules, stressing that, “Your home should be the first church. The issue is not about you serving God, but you and your family serving God.”

Concluding his exhortation, Apostle Eric Nyamekye referenced a quote by Frederick Douglass, the founder of A.M.E Zion Church, who once said: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men,” and encouraged Christian parents to take a keen interest in training their children in the way of the Lord to be responsible adults (Proverbs 22:6).

Report by Emmanuel Nana Nsiah

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, has urged Christians to lead righteous lives in order to earn a good or great name.

The Chairman said this today when he exhorted participants of the ongoing National Prayer Conference on the topic, “The Authority In The Name of Jesus.”

According to Apostle Nyamekye, the things that are more valuable or desirable than great riches, include good health, wisdom, long life and peace, but the greatest among them is a good or great name.

“When your name is great, it opens doors of opportunities for you. So, a great name is a blessing. It opens doors and purchases for the bearer of the name (and even others associated with them) things that even money cannot buy,” he stated.

Reading from Philippians 2:6-11, Apostle Nyamekye explained that the authority in the name of Jesus was not only conferred on Him, but He earned it through His obedience, humility and death on the cross.

“Therefore, God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave Him the name above every name. Note that God did not give Jesus money or a crown; He gave Him a great name. This is because a name is not just for identification, rather, all a person is is vested in their name,” he said.

The Chairman further noted that the name of Jesus carries authority and is a strong tower for the righteous because it was conferred on Him by the Supreme Being Himself. He, however, reiterated that Jesus worked to earn the name conferred on Him.

He, therefore, advised Christians, especially church leaders, to conduct themselves well at all times so that their actions do not adversely affect their names and bring the name of the Lord into disrepute.

PENTECOST NEWS.