Posts in category: Moving With Chairman

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has asserted that the success of the “Possessing the Nations” agenda hinges on the church’s vibrant youth, with the adult membership providing guidance to ensure its success.

He, therefore, charged ministers and other church leaders at all levels to engage the youth meaningfully by loving and involving them in all church activities.

His exhortation, inspired by Joshua 13:1, is founded on the belief that it is the youth who possess the energy needed to take territories for the Lord.

Speaking on a three-divisional topic with “Building the Church of God” as its broad theme at a meeting with the Antwerp Zone of the Church in Belgium, Apostle Nyamekye emphasised that today’s youth must be assigned roles in the church’s operations because they represent the strength and greatest hope of tomorrow’s church.

While focusing on the first sub-topic, “Build the Church to Last,” Apostle Eric Nyamekye emphatically stated that building a lasting church requires intentional involvement of the youth at all levels of leadership. He noted, “The youth are the strength and greatest hope of tomorrow’s church.”

Consequently, he urged church leadership at all levels to nurture, love, and involve the youth in church programs to better position them to take over from today’s generation. He referenced a statement by E. Pinto: “The society that hates its youth has no future.”

“Let’s love them; make adjustments in our programs for them; involve them in the choir, choreography, recitations, and reading of the scriptures; let’s support them and adjust our programs sometimes to help them,” he said.

Referring to Judges 2:10, Apostle Nyamekye reminded the congregants of Israel’s failure to prepare their youth to take over from Joshua’s generation and its repercussions on the nation. He warned that the church could face a similar grim reality if today’s leadership fails to prepare tomorrow’s leaders.

“If we fail to do so, they will go through the back door. Let’s create interest in them and encourage them because we need to build the church to last,” he remarked.

The call to involve the youth in all activities of the church does not mean compromising the church’s treasured beliefs and core values. Quoting 1 Corinthians 3:9-14, he cautioned, “When we are building, let’s be mindful about how we are building and the quality of materials we use, knowing that fire will test it one day.”

“Let’s be mindful of the quality and integrity of the materials we use to build. We must remember that the churches we are building are not for self, but for God’s glory,” he stated.

“We need to know that leadership is not a marathon, but like a relay race, which has to be gauged and run to win; it is not a marathon. Leadership is about tomorrow.

“Human beings expire; we come into the world in phases, and we will go in phases. So, anytime we are building a church, we must be mindful of the materials we use and recognize the limits of what we can achieve in our generation,” he said.

Explaining why today’s church leadership must be futuristic in their operations, Apostle Nyamekye stated, “No generation possibly finishes the work because every day sinners are born onto this planet. Every generation comes with its own challenges, and it takes the people of the same generation to deal with the challenges of their generation.”

Referencing Deuteronomy 6 and Psalms 78, Apostle Nyamekye urged the congregation to ensure a proper handover to the next generation. “Let’s enjoy our local church, but let’s build a church that will last,” he added.

Beyond the church, he urged, “Pay attention to your family; they are your greatest asset. If you want your name to outlive you, bring your children to God. Let’s change our minds concerning the young people,” he concluded.

Report by David Tagoe, Antwerp

As criticism and cynicism against the Church become rife in some circles, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has underscored the need for Christians to ensure that the Church remains strong in contemporary times.

Speaking at the Antwerp Zone to members of The Church of Pentecost in Belgium, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, focusing on the first of three sub-topics, “Building to be Strong,” referenced Matthew 16:18-19 and said, “We need to build the Church to be strong so that not even the gates of Hades can withstand the forward march of the Church. The Church is not a weak entity; it is something so powerful.

“When you see a Church playing weak, it’s all because of a generation that is only churching. But the Church must rule the world so that heaven will partner with the Church and cause what we say to come to pass,” he stressed.

The Chairman described the Church as a community of holy people walking in love and advancing into the world with the gospel of salvation. These are not perfect people, but holy people because God is in them, walking in love so that the whole world will know God through them.

“The Church must be powerful enough to answer questions—the difficult questions. It should be able to meet needs and solve problems.

“The Church should be a real Mount (Obadiah 1:17), able to receive sinners and, with the power of God, transform sinners into saints,” he said.

As an equipping centre, Apostle Nyamekye said God must be in the Church, as His presence is crucial to the Church.

“The Church must not be an ordinary ministry; God must be in our midst. When we meet, we must be able to smell the presence of God. If we want to experience His presence, we must carry His presence into the Church. The lifestyle of members of the Church must change for the watching world to know that God is in His Church.”

He continued, “The Church we are seeking to build is made up of those called out to be part of the community called the Church so that they would be able to transform their world.

“God calls us out and calls us together for a purpose: to become a community of His own people. But it is not enough for the community to meet; they have to advance into the world with the gospel of salvation,” he concluded.

Report by David Tagoe

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, paid a historic visit to the Church’s branch in Luxembourg on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

The visit was part of his broader tour of some of the external branches of the church across Europe, following the successful organisation of the Pentecost Conference 2024 in Oberhausen, Germany.

The Church of Pentecost broke grounds in this landlocked country bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany, in October 2022 and has since been making remarkable strides, attracting a diverse congregation that includes indigenes.

The church members, led by Evangelist Sika Kwame, the National Head of the Church, warmly welcomed Apostle Nyamekye and his wife, Mrs. Mary Nyamekye. The excitement was palpable as the congregation eagerly anticipated the Chairman’s message to them.

In his address, Apostle Eric Nyamekye highlighted the crucial role of the Holy Spirit, describing Him as the “power of the Church.”

He urged the members to strive to build a church of relevance and influence by addressing/solving problems and ministering to the needs of the people.

After the address, the church leaders together with some of the members took Apostle Nyamekye and his entourage on a tour of the vibrant town.

Luxembourg, although one of the smallest countries globally, is renowned as a burgeoning business hub attracting people from neighbouring countries for various opportunities.

Apostle Nyamekye’s visit did not only reinforce the church’s mission efforts, but also inspired its members to continue their impactful work in Luxembourg and beyond.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Following the successful conclusion of the maiden edition of the Pentecost 2024 Conference in Oberhausen, Germany, on May 18, 2024, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has paid a working visit to the Church in Belgium.

This visit was part of a working tour to various churches in Europe to assess their progress and encourage them to continue their Kingdom work tenaciously, as the church seeks to possess the nations.

On Tuesday (May 21) night, the Chairman, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Mary Nyamekye, met with the Antwerp Zone of the church, which includes Gent, Brussels, and Mechelen.

After participating in the opening prayer, worship, and songs of praise, the lectern was handed over to him. Unlike Apostle Paul, who told the church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 3:1 that he could not address them as spiritual because they were still worldly, it was plaudit after plaudit for the church in Belgium.

“As I sat through the opening prayer, praises, and worship till now, I have realized that you are a mature church,” he remarked,

He also paid glowing tribute to the officers of the church, noting that the gathering was predominantly officers.

He commended them for their commitment, emphasising that the church owes its presence in 170 countries across the globe to the untiring and remarkably commendable efforts of its officers.

“We want to thank God for your lives and pray that God meets you at the point of your need,” he remarked.

In response, there were shouts of “Amen,” and delight was clearly visible on the faces of the officers in the congregation.

After commending them for their efforts, Apostle Nyamekye then challenged the Church in Belgium to dare to expand their territory, as there are more cities and towns yet to be covered.

“We still have to see to the expansion of The Church of Pentecost. Sit down and map Belgium again. Let’s cover every city; sit down and begin to map Belgium again and target the next town and city.

“When you decide to move and you are deliberate and strategic about it, God will grant you space in the cities and towns. Don’t first look at the resources, but obey the command. Hold onto this faith, and by the time we come here again in the next two years, you will have covered a lot of cities and towns.

“We are encouraging you to dare to move to the next cities and towns in Belgium for Christ,” the Chairman noted.

While urging the leadership of the Church to dare to expand, he advised the young people in the church to offer themselves for full-time ministry or bi-vocation, saying, “There are people who still need the Lord, so we have to offer ourselves to help those who need the Lord to know the Lord.”

Report by David Tagoe, Antwerp

In a remarkable display of community-driven development, various assemblies, districts, areas, and nations under The Church of Pentecost undertook a series of impactful initiatives to uplift the lives of people in their respective communities.

These interventions, which were taken across Ghana and other nations across the world, showcased the church’s unwavering commitment to grassroots development.

The Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, disclosed this in his State-of-the-Church Address (SOCA) delivered at the opening ceremony of the 18^th Session of the Extraordinary Council Meetings at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa in the Central Region on Wednesday.

According to the Chairman, the interventions which covered a variety of socio-economic spheres of life included the constructing and commissioning of an ultramodern Children’s Ward at the Kade Government Hospital, costing GH¢ 370,642.55.

The Ashaiman Area in the Greater Accra Region also gave the Ashaiman Police Barracks a facelift by painting the entire building for GH¢30,000.00, and also supported the Akuse Prisons with GH¢5,000.00 to commence renovation works.

For employment and economic growth, the Adansi District in the Assin Foso Area completed and commissioned a Coconut Oil factory for the Adansi Atwereboana community, costing GH¢95,000.00.

Across various districts, the church has undertaken numerous infrastructure projects, including the construction of boreholes, bus stop shelters, drainage systems, and information centres, he pointed out.

The church’s community development efforts extend beyond Ghana’s borders. Various districts in the United Kingdom, United States of America and Canada, supported charity organisations with food and clothes donations to be given to the homeless and persons in care homes.

He added that in Guinea Bissau, the church collaborated with the medical team from the Ghana Armed Forces of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Force, to organise Free Medical Screenings for church members and the surrounding communities in the West African country.

African countries like Guinea Bissau, Kenya and Nigeria benefited from the church’s educational development projects where several schools have been constructed in those countries.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Church of Pentecost continues to grow by leaps and bounds as new persons are daily won for Christ through the church.

As of December 2023, the church, which is one of the leading classical Pentecostal churches in the world, has a total membership of 3,864,355 in Ghana alone, representing a growth of 7.4% of the previous figure, resulting in a total membership of 4,534,644 worldwide.

‘This represents a significant proportion of the 2023 estimated Ghanaian population of 34,121,985, with the Church’s membership accounting for 11.3%’.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, who doubles as the President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), disclosed this during his State-of-the-Church Address (SOCA) at the opening ceremony of the 18^th Extraordinary Council Meeting at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, on Wednesday, May 1, 2028.

Apostle Nyamekye was full of praise to God and acknowledged the grace of God upon the church that has pushed it to remarkable progress. He urged the church populace to continue to galvanise efforts to ensure that numerical growth is translated into transformed people at all spheres.

The Chairman was also grateful to the clergy, laity and the entire membership of the church for their individual and corporate efforts at ensuring the church continues to grow in leaps and bounds to the glory of God. He observed that the efforts of the members and the leadings of the Holy Spirit are pivotal in ensuring growth and relevance of the church in society.

Apostle Nyamekye called on the members to work at daily maturity in Christ and live lives worthy of emulation to be practical examples of the gospel they preach.

‘Our sincere prayer is that our growing numbers will continue to contribute to the realisation of our mandate to transform every sphere of society with the values and principles of the Kingdom of God as we unleash the whole church for this purpose,’ he concluded, adding, ‘We humbly attribute this growth to the grace of God.’

PENTECOST NEWS

The Church of Pentecost is making strides in providing quality theological education for its ministers, laity, and the Christian community. From the operations of its higher educational institutions, the church aims to better equip them for their mandate to possess the nations.

The Church believes that spirituality, coupled with marked scholarship, is crucial in meeting the diverse needs of its members. In a time when new Christian expressions and growth are needed to address emerging world orders and solve real-life global challenges, this emphasis on education is paramount.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, highlighted the Pentecost University, the Birmingham Christian College (BCC) in the UK, the Pentecost Biblical Seminary (PBS) in the USA, and the Pentecost Francophone Theological Bible School (PFTBS) in La Cote D’Ivoire as leading institutions in providing quality theological education. These institutions promote cross-cultural learning and offer global perspectives to enrich students’ educational experiences.

To enhance their reputation and expand the scope of accredited curriculum/programs, the Chairman disclosed that the Conseil des Instituts Théologiques d’Afrique Francophone (Council of Theological Institutes of Francophone Africa) has initiated the accreditation process for PFTBS.

He also announced that PBS, the training centre for clergy, lay leaders, and members of the Church in North and South America, has obtained an operating license from the NJ Board of Education (OSHE) and an “Applicant Status” from the Accreditation Board of Higher Education (ABHE), with a final approval expected after a campus visit scheduled for August 2024.

Moreover, he mentioned that Birmingham Christian College in the UK has been officially registered by the Office for Students (OfS) in the United Kingdom, representing a significant milestone and enhancement to the college’s reputation.

PENTECOST NEWS.

God continues to manifest his great power through miracles in The Church of Pentecost as many people receive divine healings from various ailments and supernatural interventions and breakthroughs in life.

The eyes of the blind were opened, the paralysed walked, cancerous cells were healed, and couples were blessed with children after many years of marriage, among many other miracles recorded in the church in 2023.

‘The year has been marked by significant healings, deliverances from Satanic oppression, and numerous other miracles attesting to God’s presence in the church,’ said Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the church, as he delivered the State-of-the-Church Address at the official opening of the 18^th Session of the Extraordinary Council Meetings at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa in the Central Region on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

The State-of-the-Church Address captured major happenings in the church in the 2023 calendar year.

Mentioning a few of the spectacular events in his report, Apostle Nyamekye disclosed that in the Pankrono District in Kumasi, a professional teacher (name withheld), who had been suffering from mental illness and wandering on the streets for seven years, was prayed for by the church and received instant healing. He has since been baptised in water and now fellowships with the Pankrono Central Assembly of the church.

A female medical doctor and her husband, who is an elder of the church at the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Sakumono in Accra, who had tried all medical means to have a child but to no avail, finally gave birth after 20 years of marriage through consistent prayers.

A 40-year-old woman at Kwame Danso in the Atebubu Area was miraculously healed from afflictive uterine fibroid during a prayer session held on Friday, June 9, 2023. She had earlier been booked for surgery, but the fibroid which was mass growing within her uterus disappeared after the prayers.

In Argentina, an Argentine member of the church who was down with a stroke, which disfigured her face, had a touch by the power of God. She went through many medical procedures and took different forms of medication, but never got healed. However, after many prayers by the saints, the Lord God delivered her, and she is very fine with a straight face.

In Australia, two young boys, ages five and six, who were deaf and dumb, were healed when the church prayed for them. They can now hear and speak perfectly.

Madam Rosi Rangel of the church in Brazil, who had earlier been diagnosed with cancer, was declared cancer-free after the church had prayed for her during a half-night service. In a follow-up examination, there were no cancer cells found in her body.

Maria da Graca Centeio Sao Filipe, who lives in the Fogo District of Cape Verde, through divine intervention was healed from bone pain she had suffered for five years. She was unable to walk or perform any task by herself. Despite undergoing various medical treatments, she was unable to find any relief. However, on June 28, 2023, she chose to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour. After being prayed for, her health was fully restored within a day, and she resumed her normal daily activities despite being incapacitated for five years.

In Israel, an 8-year-old Sunday school girl was run over by a speeding vehicle in her Tel Aviv HaTikva neighbourhood on November 13, 2023, but walked away unharmed to the glory of God.

On Thursday, June 29, 2023, at about 10:40 pm, Pastor TCHONTO Kaferkadè of Togo, together with two youth members, were attacked by armed robbers on the Dassoute-Tampialim road. The pastor and his companions began to pray in tongues. Then the robbers trembled and threw the keys of the motorcycle they had seized back at them, then left them. By the grace of God, the Pastor and his companions returned home safe and sound.

To God alone be the glory for continuously performing more signs and wonders in his church. Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, is still in the miracle-working business; it will be your turn if you only believe in him.

PENTECOST NEWS