Posts in category: Moving With Chairman

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, has urged Christians to serve God in truth and in holiness outside the church.

He stated that the Christian’s understanding of the church is misunderstood, even though churches are scattered all over the nation.

“People do not understand the purpose of the church. It is the church that will be used by God to achieve the possessing the nation’s agenda,” he said.

Speaking to congregants of the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) – Bolgatanga, on Sunday, February 27, 2022, on the 2022 theme: “Equipping the Church as an Army To Possess the Nations,” Apostle Nyamekye said that the purpose of the believer’s redemption is to worship God. He used Hebrews 13:20-21; Ephesians 4:11-12; 6:10-12 as scripture references.

He defined worship as “to bow” and “to serve,” indicating that Christians should not only fulfill the former and leave the latter. Rather, they should serve God outside the church after bowing to Him in the church.

“Worship is not just to bow and adore God, also, it is to serve Him,” he stated.

According to the Chairman, the body is supposed to be the sacrifice that Christians give to God (Romans 12:1-2). Therefore, whatever they do with their bodies is a worship to God.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy to offer you bodies as a living sacrifice, pleasing to His service,” he stated and added: “The real worship is what you do with your body.”

He, however, noted that when God is not pleased with one, He will never be pleased with what is in his/her hands. He advised Christians to be mindful of how the body is used daily in the church and outside of it.

He further admonished Christians to eschew separating their working lives from that of the church because whatever they do is a form of worship to God, and must be done to the glorification of God.

“If our lives become our testimonies, that is purely based on the righteousness of Christ, it will certainly make our evangelism easier. Let the world see the Bible in you,” he urged.

He further revealed that Christians, being God’s ambassadors, must allow themselves to be used as agents of God because they have been equipped as a church to possess the nations.

“We are equipping ourselves as an army so that we will be able to withstand the enemy with the armour of God,” he emphasized.

The Chairman of the church ended the Bolgatanga and Bawku Areas 2022 Officers’ Retreat (Apostolisation) in the Upper East Region on Sunday.

Throughout the week he addressed officers and members of the church in the Bolga, Navrongo, Siniensi zones (Bolgatanga Area), and the Zebilla Zone (Bawku Area) about the theme of the church for the year.

PENTECOST NEWS

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman, The Church of Pentecost, has paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Zebilla, Naba Azumbilla Aboya Ndago III.

The visit took place on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at the Chief’s Palace, Zebilla, in the Upper East Region.

With the Chairman were Apostle Eric Gyambibi Boateng (Bawku Area Head), Apostle ADP James Tetteh (immediate past Chaplain-General of Ghana Prisons Service and Resident Minister of Dzorwulu English Assembly), Apostle Daniel Nii Tetteh Tackie (Wa Area Head), Mrs. Abigail Tetteh Tackie (wife of Wa Area Head), as well as some ministers and elders in the Bawku Area of the church.

Apostle Nyamekye was welcomed by the elders and some youth in the community.

Naba Azumbilla Aboya Ndago III, in welcoming the Chairman, said that before The Church of Pentecost came to the community, there existed many churches, however, in a short while, the church has made tremendous growth and impact in the society.

“Don’t forget to pray for us,” he appealed to the Chairman, adding, “It is my hope for peace to return to Zebilla and its environs. The presence of the Chairman will bring hope, and peace in Zebilla.”

The chief further appealed to The Church of Pentecost to collaborate with the traditional authorities and build schools, hospitals, and clinics in the area. This, he, said will bring development and make the community benefit more from the church.

He pledged his readiness to give the church parcel of land for its development projects when the opportunity comes.

The Bawku Area Head, Apostle Eric Gyambibi Boateng, revealed that the church has built a clinic at Kultamise, constructed boreholes at the Zebilla mission house which is opened to the community, and currently constructing irrigation projects to help farmers in their farms as parts of its social services to the area.

In his response, the Chairman of the church said that it was expedient to call on the chief being the overlord of the town, adding: “We respect you as our leader so I have to pay homage to you before meeting my members.”

Talking about the peace of the area, the Chairman stated that it has been a long-standing issue. “I request that the youth would be advised to exercise patience, as we pray for the peace of Bawku and Zebilla,” he pleaded.

He thanked the chief and his elders for the continuous cordial relationship that exists between them and The Church of Pentecost.

Responding to the request made by the chief, the Chairman pledged to support them in consultation with the Executive Council of the church.

Out of appreciation, Naba Azumbilla Aboya Ndago presented to the Chairman a designed smock woven specially for him.

The Chairman thanked him for the kind gesture and in return donated 10 pieces of plastic chairs, packs of bottled water, and drinks, to the palace on behalf of the church.

In an interview with PENTECOST NEWS, the Chairman stated that The Church of Pentecost has decided to partner the chiefs to possess the nations, hence the establishment of the Chieftaincy Ministry.

“As a church, we will not be able to do it all. We have intended to influence all the stakeholders, especially the chiefs. Therefore, my visit to the Chief of Zebilla means that we want to connect to the palace,” he iterated.

He added: “If we partner with him [chief] and his subjects, we will be able to extend the Kingdom of God in this territory.”

Apostle Eric Nyamekye was hopeful that the partnership between the church and the chief will continue. He prayed for the chief and the entire Bawku Area for the development of the land and for peace to reign.

The Bawku Area has its administrative seat at Bawku with 19 districts, 285 church buildings, and a total of 36,000 members. The Bawku and Bolgatanga Areas are the two areas of the church within the Upper East Region.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has entreated Christians to develop the culture of effective prayer to effect change in society.

Speaking on the topic, “The Prayer Ministry,” Apostle Nyamekye said that since 2017, the church has taken a stand to discourage the opening of new prayer centres, but rather maintain the existing ones.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye was speaking to ministers and wives from Bolgatanga and Bawku Areas in the Upper East Region on February 22, 2022.

“If we are stopping prayer centres, we need to create alternatives for the members, because they have needs that the Lord should intervene,” he stated.

Reflecting on Ephesians 5:18, he said that drunkenness produces boldness, likewise when filled with the Spirit of God, he gives revelations.

He further asked the ministers to always make room for prayer to be able to start prayer ministries and sustain them.

“Let your messages at prayer meetings be short and brief, else it will kill the morale of the members,” he noted.

According to him, ministers are gifts and blessings to humanity, moreover, people must look at them and say, “You have been a blessing to me.”

He revealed that people pray because they have needs. He, therefore, asked them to participate in all the ministries’ activities with their gifts, not just for a particular grace ministry.

In defining compassion with reference to Jesus, the Chairman said that “it is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.”

He admonished the ministers and their wives not to be callous, rather have compassion.

“The foundation of effective prayer ministry is compassion (love for humanity),” he noted, adding, “You cannot change or save anyone that you do not love.”

He iterated that it was important for believers to have an attitude of prayer, due to things that harass humanity such as sickness, poverty, and hopelessness.

“Compassion breeds intercession. If you are a minister and you cannot pray for your members, then you do not deserve to be a minister,” he admonished.

He further encouraged them to carry small notebooks that will serve as reference points for people with needs during their personal prayer periods. This, he said, is applicable to all believers as well.

Nevertheless, Apostle Nyamekye resolved that compassion makes good pastors and makes fasting easier. He added that when one is fasting, there should not be diversions.

“Try and concentrate on prayer and God to get the maximum from the fasting,” he added.

He reiterated that prayer ministry that inculcates good Word enhances prayer. He urged them to prepare well before leading the members and allow those also with the grace of prayer to lead too.

“My purpose is to strengthen you and encourage you to have faith,” he concluded.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has called on church leaders and parents to wholly embrace and ensure the successful implementation of the Jethro Initiative (JI) of the Children’s Ministry (CM), stressing that the novelty is here to stay.

Speaking at the official launch of the initiative yesterday, Apostle Nyamekye said that the JI is one of the major interventions of the Children’s Ministry approved by the Executive Council of the Church.

He said that the new world order, which is characterised by the increasing rise of secular humanism, lack of parental attention for children as well as the lack of capacity of most parents with respect to technology in nurturing of the present-day child, among others, has necessitated the introduction of the Jethro Initiative.

He stated: “Over the last 50 years, a lot has been done by the church to nurture godly children. However, the changing times creates more challenges and, thus, the need for a review and shift in approach. This new dispensation calls for a new type of Christian children and a new approach to the raising of our children.”

“JI is intended to raise godly transformational future leaders; make the study of the word of God fun and innovative as well as nurture and maintain the love of children for church attendance and participation,” he further stated.

The Jethro Initiative, which has as its slogan “Nurturing unto Godliness,” is an extra-curricular programme of the Children’s Ministry aimed at complementing and strengthening the activities of the Sunday Schools in building the foundation of children in Christ and His word and entrenching them on the need to walk in the Faith.

According to the Chairman, JI would also help create an opportunity for effective evangelism among children in their communities, inculcate a high sense of civic responsibility and patriotism in them; promote their holistic growth and development, encourage them to learn social skills, resilience, resourcefulness and empathy, and promote teamwork and unity.

He was also hopeful that, through this initiative, the “Possessing the Nations” agenda would remain relevant and sustainable from generation to generation, particularly to the next generation of Christians.

To achieve the intended JI objective, the Chairman urged CM workers to have a closer relationship with God in this renewed effort to raise and nurture godly children. He also advised them to update their knowledge in current trends and happenings in order to meet the social, spiritual, emotional and intellectual needs of the children.

Apostle Nyamekye, thus, reiterated that children are the most vulnerable members of society and therefore require special attention to guide, guard and nurture them into responsible, mature and effective Christian adults who can transform their spheres of influence with Kingdom values and principles.

“All stakeholders in child development like parents, the church and the community must, therefore, get involved as we seek to promote the holistic growth and development of our children,” he charged.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, has called on all ministry leaders in the Church to effectively execute their roles with excellence.

According to Apostle Nyamekye, great leaders do not succeed alone, but behind them is a supporting team.

The Chairman said this on Friday, February 18, 2022, at the closing session of the National All Ministries Report Reading at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa-Fetteh, near Kasoa.

Speaking on the topic: “Three Things That Make One Effective,” Apostle Nyamekye indicated that God was with David and he [David] had people who supported him too. He said that David was a man of skill, good attitude and character.

“People talk about the leader because he is the face of the institution, but behind a good leader are a team of leaders playing the supportive role,” he revealed.

He further urged supporting leaders to manage, grow, and develop what has been entrusted to them effectively.

In explaining the three things that make one an effective leader, Apostle Nyamekye stressed that skills, attitude, and character are pivotal.

He noted that one’s skill, aptitude and practice come from their knowledge which enables them to perform a task well. He, therefore, charged all ministry leaders to be skilled at their work in possessing the nations.

“With skills, you acquire knowledge and gain for yourself through your actions and efforts,” he stated, adding that the skilled leader should be diligent.

On attitude, the Chairman stated: “Attitude is your response to happenings around you as a leader. It could be positive or negative – could be threatening or relaxing.”

Apostle Eric Nyamekye indicated that attitude draws people closer or repels them from a leader and causes people to either love or hate the leader. He, therefore, admonished church leaders to watch their attitudes in the discharge of their duties.

In explaining character, the Chairman said that it is the aggregate of features, and traits that form the individual nature of some persons, especially with reference to behaviour or personality, and may carry a suspicious character.

He advised the ministry leaders to build positive characters,  saying, “Character is the foundation upon which our ministry or life is built. It is the real man behind the ministry, and impregnates the ministry work.”

Apostle Eric Nyamekye ended by entreating the various ministries in the church to collaborate and effectively work together to achieve excellence.

Prophet David Kankam Beditor, Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Committee and Area Head of Ashaiman, led the participants in a time of prayer.

In attendance were Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe (International Missions Director), all Ministry Directors (PEMEM, Women’s Ministry, Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Evangelism Ministry, Schools Outreach Ministry (SOM), Home and Urban Mission (HUM), Chaplaincy Ministry, Chieftaincy Ministry, Ministry To Persons With Disabilities (MPWDs)), Area Ministry Leaders, and representatives from the various ministry committees.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has urged church leaders to be deliberate in equipping their members with the Word of God at all levels, including children.

The Church of Pentecost’s 2022 theme, according to Apostle Eric Nyamekye, is “Equipping the Church as an Army to Possess the Nations.” with Biblical texts from (Hebrews 13:20-21; Ephesians 4:11-12; 6:10-11, adding that, the theme is centred on intentionally equipping the Church members as part of the overarching theme of “Possessing the Nations.”

The theme, he says, is intended to inspire the church to raise an army of Christians who are filled with the Holy Spirit and fully equipped with God’s Word to transform their societies with godly principles and values no matter where they were.

He reiterated that the Armour of God metaphor is intended to help every member understand the social, political, and spiritual forces that surround them through the lenses of scripture.

According to Apostle Nyamekye, the theme’s purpose is to provide members with the necessary fighting mechanisms, citing Ephesians 6:12.  He admonished church leaders to help their members understand that ‘equipping’ is the focus of everything they do (remote or in-person), whether it’s worship, preaching, or Bible study.

“When we talk about equipping, it is difficult work; therefore, leaders should be equipped in their closet through thorough preparations to be effective channels of blessing to the congregation,” he urged.

PENTECOST NEWS

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church Pentecost, has charged churches in Ghana and around the world to raise Kingdom-minded people and send them out into the world to transform their spheres of influence.

He stated that in the past, great men such as Moses, who was with the church in the wilderness, and religious/social reformers such as John Wesley and Martin Luther were raised to bring deliverance and transformation to the world.

He noted that these believers were then sent back into their spheres of operation to transform them with Kingdom principles, values, and lifestyles such as the principle of work and the dignity of labour, service, respect for all, honesty, kindness, love, faithfulness, truthfulness, forgiveness, contentment, humility, integrity in word and deed, and moral uprightness that qualify one as a people belonging to God.

“While in the world, the above Christians, who have been equipped by the church with skills and knowledge, use the most powerful method available to evangelise,” he said when he addressed the opening session of The Church of Pentecost’s 2022 Ministers and Wives’ Conference at Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa.

Although raising godly people to transform society around the world is a difficult task, Apostle Nyamekye believes God will make it happen if the church takes the necessary steps.

He added that: “when the Church realises its true identity and fulfills its function in this world, it will become the most powerful institution in this world.”

PENTECOST NEWS

Unpaid Officers of The Church of Pentecost, who are the custodians of the church at the local level, have been advised to continue with their services to God and church since their efforts in the Lord would not be in vain.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, gave the assurance when addressing Officers in the Teshie-Nungua Area on Wednesday evening [January 12, 2022]. The meeting, which was attended by Elders, Deacons and Deaconesses in their numbers as well as ministers and their wives in the Area, took place at the Fred Stephen Safo Memorial Temple at Nungua-Nshorna in Accra.

The Chairman revealed that God always rewards faithful service and that anyone who does something good for God and His church receives the appropriate blessings from Him in due course.

Taking his main scripture reading from Matthew 19:27-29, he postulated that Apostle Peter’s question to Jesus about their rewards for following Him was legitimate, else Jesus would not have answered him.

Also reading from Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 25:14-30; 2 Corinthians 8:20-21, he entreated officers of the church to continue to serve with a faithful and honest heart so as to attract God’s manifold blessings into their lives.

Quoting from Exodus 18:21-22, he eulogized officers for being indispensable pillars around which The Church of Pentecost has been built. He held that the church has grown to this enviable height due to the selfless services of officers.

The Chairman however charged them to strive to develop their skills (ability to teach), attitude (the best way to react and respond to issues), and then their character. This, when done, he stated, would make officers of the church more capable, effective, and efficient for the task.

To help sustain the inner joy in doing the work of their Master (Psalm 100:1-2; Nehemiah 8:10), Apostle Nyamekye stressed the need for officers to continue to build themselves up in the Lord by committing themselves to constant prayer and the study of the Word.

The meeting, which was hosted by the Area Head, Apostle Wilberforce Nkrumah Agyeman, was also used for intercessory prayers for officers, the vision of the church, and the nation.

Also present were Apostle (Lt. Col.) Benjamin Godson Kumi-Woode (Director Religious Affairs, Ghana Armed Forces), Apostle Lawrence Otu Nyarko (Finance and Administration Director of the church), and Prophet Fred Antwi (Baatsona District Minister) and their wives, among others.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost Worldwide, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has expressed grave concern about the clandestine move by some world leaders and powerful groups to suppress the celebration of Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. 

According to the revered cleric, “Satan is jealous about Christmas, so he is doing everything possible to expunge the name of Christ from Christmas and make it an ordinary holiday.  

“We are in a conflict situation because there are strong forces to cancel Christmas. It was the Europeans who brought Christianity to Africa, but today the same people are scheming to destroy it,” he said. 

He added: “There are certain individuals in the nations if they become president today, they will cancel Christmas the next day. So, as Christians, we need to be serious about the celebration of Christmas.”  

The Chairman, therefore, called on Christians to fully embrace Christmas and celebrate it as such as they gather together and proclaim the love of God to humanity through the offering of His Son Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world. 

Apostle Eric Nyamekye said this on Christmas Sunday when addressing members of the church in East Legon District of the Madina Area at the Peniel Assembly Auditorium to climax the 2021 Christmas Convention which was on the theme: “Jesus Christ – The Light of the World” (Isaiah 9:1-7). 

He took time to explain the essence of Christmas and how some powerful anti-Christian groups and individuals are planning to suppress its global significance and commemoration. 

He said that the annual celebration of Christmas brings glory to God, and that there is an inseparable connection between the glory of God and the birth of Christ. He added that the fact that non-Christians observe it brings glory to God and affirms the fact that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world and not just a founder of a religion. 

Because of this, he stated, Satan is struggling hard through some global institutions to take God out of the scene and make the period a normal holiday where people will make merry and enjoy themselves without recourse to Christ who is at the centre of the celebration.  

Apostle Nyamekye revealed that in December this year, the European Commission attempted and is still pushing hard to expunge the word “Christmas” and simply keep the period as “holidays” since they think that the word “Christmas” is offensive to non-Christians. This, he said, “is a tactical approach by the enemy to get Christ out of the minds of humanity.” 

Delivering the sermon on the topic, “The Magnificat” (Glory Be To God) based on Luke 1:46-55, 68; 2:29, he said that the Christmas story is the most beautiful and wonderful story ever told. The events heralding His birth – a virgin conceiving, a barren woman (Elizabeth) also conceiving, and angels announcing His birth – are all wonderful stories to be told. 

He said that the story was wrapped up in three prophetic songs of praise sung by three persons. Mary (Jesus’ mother) sang the first song called ‘The Magnificat’ (Magnifies) in Luke 1:46.  

The second prophetic song of praise called ‘The Benedictus’ (Blessed) was sung by Zacharia, father of John the Baptist in Luke 1:68, while Simeon, the old prophet, sang the third song called ‘Nunc Dimittis’ (Now Dismiss) in Luke 2:29 during the naming of Jesus. 

Focusing on ‘The Magnificat,’ Apostle Nyamekye revealed that Mary was chosen by God to bring forth the Messiah because she was a virgin and also feared God.  

He indicated that God’s mercies extend to those who fear Him in every generation. Reading from Psalm 34:11-14, he stated that the fear of God is connected to the obedience of God. 

“The fear of God is also about putting the will of God above ours, despite our feelings and perspectives on a matter,” he said. 

He added: “The acid test for a good Christian is in how much the fellow fears the Lord.” 

Apostle Eric Nyamekye advised believers to fear God and do His bidding to experience the mercies of God for their lives.      

The service was like a homecoming for the Chairman and his wife, Mary who once served as a District Minister for the district after their return from missions in South Africa. The Chairman and his wife received a tumultuous welcome from the members amidst cheers and shouts of praises. On behalf of his family, Apostle Nyamekye thanked them for their support and prayers which have helped him rise to the top. 

Present at the service were Apostle George Kwaku Narh (retired), and the host Minister, Pastor Patrick Kobina Bremansu, and his wife Gifty, among others. 

PENTECOST NEWS.