Posts in category: Moving With Chairman

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. 

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.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has stressed that Christmas is not for recreational purposes, but a season for Christians to remember the foundation of the faith, retell the redemption story, and renew their commitment to Jesus Christ, who is the saviour of the world.

In a Church circular issued last Friday, the Chairman observed that although Christmas is celebrated globally and for centuries, the religious festivity has always come under attack with some people questioning its relevance to Christianity.

According to him, some people hate Christmas because of its Christian basis; others hate it because they feel obligated to celebrate it, while others resent the thought that Jesus is the Son of God. 

He further noted that some Christians dislike church conventions and meetings organised in the Christmas season because they “disrupt” their holiday plans. Whilst others point out that Jesus was probably not born in December and that there is no biblical suggestion about the celebration of His birth.

“But brothers and sisters in the Lord, are we better off to ignore Christmas? Does the actual date of Jesus’ birth determine one way or the other whether His birth is honoured?” he quizzed.

Apostle Nyamekye explained that Christmas is not really for individual families but the Church; the family of God. It is, therefore, proper that the “family of God” meets in this season to celebrate the birth of Christ together; telling of His goodness and proclaiming Him to the world, he added.

He further stated: “It does not matter if those who do not know our God do not serve and celebrate Him, but we, the people of God, will celebrate Him now and forever. For we know how much He is worth to us.” 

The Chairman advised Christians and Church members, in particular, to use the season to celebrate Jesus Christ and to share the amazing story of His birth to the world.

In wishing Church members a glorious New Year in advance, Apostle Nyamekye advised them not to allow the setbacks they faced in the year to weigh them down; instead, they should take advantage of the lessons learned and use them as springboards into the future.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ, a true and most wonderful story ever told.  It all began on the day that God came in the flesh, the day the son of God was born by a virgin named Mary. The excitement and the wonder that greeted His conception, birth and dedication is incomparable.

A multitude of the heavenly host appeared, praising God. His birth drew both Jews and Gentiles together. The shepherds who were Jews and Magi from the east – Gentiles came to pay homage to Him. An old woman, Elizabeth, who was said to be barren, conceived because of His coming. A baby in the womb leapt for joy and was filled by the Holy Spirit at the sound of Mary’s voice. Zechariah describes His birth as God’s visitation on earth. Simeon’s departure to glory was deferred till he saw Him born. Simeon described Him as the Lord’s salvation which God had prepared in the presence of all the peoples. This is truly the most wonderful story ever told. 

PENTECOST NEWS

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has urged Christians, particularly Church leaders, to serve the Lord diligently in order to obtain divine blessings.

Admitting to the challenges that come with Christian service, the Chairman encouraged church leaders to remain resolute in faith and serve the Lord with gladness, stressing, “God is a rewarder, but He does not just reward anyone; He rewards faithfulness!”

Apostle Nyamekye said this on December 8, 2021, during a meeting with ministers and officers of the La Area at Dr. Thomas Wyatt Temple as part of his working tour of the Greater-Accra region.

He noted with scriptural references to Hebrews 11: 6; Hebrews 13:7 and Job 5:8, that officers are great pillars of the Church, who assist full-time ministers in the day-to-day administration of the Church at the local level. The good news, he indicated, is that the officers offer their services to the Church at no cost. 

“The Church of Pentecost may not be capable of paying all of you for your tireless efforts, but the God, who called you and whom you serve, will reward you accordingly,” he said.

The Chairman assured them that anyone who walks closely with God and serves Him diligently would never be disappointed because God rewards those who are faithful.

He, however, observed that often people situate God’s blessing to the amount of money one has or the luxuries they can afford. But this is not always so because God’s blessings are far more worth than what money could buy, he explained.

He stated: “The blessing of God is more than just having money; it may come in different forms. The favour of God, for instance, opens many doors and grants us access to divine health, peace of mind, and other essential things that money cannot buy. Sometimes, the Lord rewards our service to Him by granting our children wisdom and a good retentive memory to enable them excel in their academics and attain educational heights that we can only dream of.”

He, therefore, advised the officers to take a cue from their forebears who served the Lord wholeheartedly and received divine blessings that transcended generations.

The Chairman said that every role one plays in the Church is significant and must not be overlooked since they all contribute to the growth of the Church. He also advised the officers not to seek “financial incentives” from the Church but look on to God to reward them for their good works.

Apostle Nyamekye also read Ezra 8:23-34 to charge the officers to be faithful to their call and strive to give a good account of the “sacred” human and material resources entrusted to their care.

The Chairman further called on the ministers to bridge the gap between them and their officers by genuinely seeking their welfare.

He also advised the ministers to take particular interest in the Children’s Ministry, saying: “You have not been made a pastor or leader over the adults alone, but over the children as well.”

Apostle Nyamekye said that since children and the youth are the Church’s largest constituents, church leaders should endeavour to give them more opportunities for service in the Church. 

Report by Gina Akua Padi

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, as part of his working visit to the church in Benin, has met with officers of the church in the Kploukanme and Zogbo Areas in Benin. The meeting was also attended by ministers and their wives in the two regions.

Addressing them, Apostle Nyamekye quoted from 1 Samuel 12:8 and explained that God always listens to the cry of His people when they ask for a leader. He, however, said that it is difficult to determine God’s criteria in selecting a leader since He chooses anyone He wills.

“God puts His best gifts in the church, and we are the church of God. Therefore, no one is useless in the house of God,” he said.

He added: “God selects a leader who has a particular gift He needs at a point in time.”

He mentioned that the main purpose of his visit was to share the church’s vision with them because as officers, they are one of the main pillars of the church.

He stressed that The Church of Pentecost would not have reached almost every corner of Benin and other nations, numbering over 109 without the hard work of unpaid leaders of the church.

The Chairman then took the officers through the highlights of the five-year strategic vision of the church, dubbed ‘Vision 2023’ with the overarching theme, “Possessing the Nations.”

“To fulfill this vision, the Church’s leadership must embrace the process of bringing righteousness and light to the world’s systems (i.e. the family, government and politics, chieftaincy and culture, business and economy, education and science, sports, media and the world of entertainment) by equipping the church with kingdom values and principles,” he stated.

Reading Deuteronomy 7:1-2; 8:1; 4:5-7; Ephesians 3:10, Apostle Nyamekye brought to light that Israel was strategically and purposefully chosen by God to reveal His manifold wisdom and character to the world, thereby causing the other nations to return to God. In a similar context, he said, the Church, which is the spiritual Israel, has been given the mandate of fulfilling the intent of God in these times.

“Everywhere you are, you must be the hope of glory,” he stressed.

He explained that the overall goal of Vision 2023 is to raise a church where members go to possess nations by transforming every worldview, thought, and behaviour with values, principles, and lifestyles of the kingdom of God, thereby turning many to Christ.

The Chairman further explained that the nature of the Vision requires three strategic approaches to its efficient exhaustion. For each strategic approach, key areas of development are being addressed: Equipping members with the required resources. This approach seeks to empower and build up the local church through intentional discipleship.

The second approach is strengthening and realigning existing structures in the church to propel the transformation agenda. The key areas considered in this approach are the re-organization of the ministries, the introduction of Gospel Sunday, and effective Bible Study sessions in services. He said that the Home and Urban Missions (HUM) and the Ministry to Persons with Disabilities (MPWDs) have helped establish a lot of local assemblies in seemingly ‘forbidden’ places, saying, “If we can’t tell them to rise up and walk, we can lead them to Jesus and when they see Him, they will be like Him.”

He added: “The Schools Outreach Ministry is to basic schools, the Chieftaincy Ministry and Chaplaincy, among many others, are in full force and changing lives in the church in Ghana and must be implemented here too.”

The third approach, he mentioned, is transforming society. The key areas addressed in this approach include the deployment of members as agents of transformation and community transformation.

According to the Chairman, as part of the projects being undertaken under the third approach, the Church has purposed to build standard prisons, of which one has been commissioned at Ejura in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It will also embark on the Environmental Care Campaign, construct CHPs compounds, which have been adopted by the Government of Ghana as full-fledged clinics, tree-planting exercises and many more.

Concluding his message, Apostle Eric Nyamekye stated: “We are not to be only hearers of the good news but we must also join in possessing the nations for Christ. We must ask God to show us our part in this vision so that we can contribute our quota and become relevant in this generation.”

After Chairman’s presentation, the National Coordinator for the Home and Urban Missions (HUM), Apostle Emmanuel Agyei Kwafo, addressed the gathering on the progress being made on the field.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has advised Christian clerics to portray good character in order to have a positive impact on their ministry.

Apostle Nyamekye said this on Thursday when he met with ministers and wives of The Church of Pentecost in the Cotonou Region at the Zogbo auditorium as part of his working visit to Benin.

Speaking on the topic: “The Minister and his Ministry,” the Chairman said that God has entrusted His mysteries (His flock and sacred resources) to the clergy, adding that, they must faithfully guard them through prayer and fasting and ensure that they serve His intended purpose on earth.

Quoting 1 Corinthians 3:7, Apostle Nyamekye explained that the character of a minister is very critical in their ability to discharge their God-given mandate effectively.

He said that ministry is a ‘life-giving vocation’ because it is essentially about the outflow of divine life through mortal vessels. The effect of the flow of divine life, he said, is what causes a revival in the Church and the nations. 

He, therefore, noted that for revival to take place, God requires a special kind of people, particularly ministers, to avail themselves as vessels through whom the life of God would flow into the Church and the nations.

“Christ is looking for men who understand their calling and are willing to go all out and affect (impact) the nations,” he said.

Apostle Nyamekye also stated that ministers must lead godly lifestyles so that their followers (God’s children) could feed off them, stressing that, “the character of the minister should be able to influence a generation to focus on God.” 

He, therefore, urged ministers to regard church members as ‘special people’ bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ and called to a life of righteousness and holiness.

The Chairman said that due to the mandate the Lord has given to ministers, He is always ready to pour out His Spirit on them, pointing out that, it is incumbent on the ministers to make themselves available and always position themselves to receive from God to cause the desired effect in the nations.

He further advised ministers to be faithful and eschew dishonest gains, work on their hearts and selflessly serve the members as God expects. He also advised them to avoid selfish ambitions and not to lord over the members.

He charged the ministers to develop godly virtues and traits such as humility, gentleness, kindness, among others so that they would serve as worthy examples for others.

Apostle Nyamekye encouraged the ministers to be humble and live in harmony with one another.

“When you pursue these acts of humility in your administration, the Lord will lift you, and it would shield you from evil,” he said.

The Chairman was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Mary Nyamekye, as well as Apostle Peter Dzemekey (Aflao Area Head), Apostle Gabriel Kpokame (Guinea Conakry National Head), and Apostle Emmanuel Agyei Kwafo (Home & Urban Missions Coordinator).

PENTECOST NEWS