Posts in category: Moving With Gs

The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, says the church’s agenda of possessing the nations for Christ could be realised within the shortest possible time if an effective follow-up ministry or system is put in place by all the local assemblies.

Addressing participants of the ongoing Evangelism Conference (EVACON 2021), organised by the Evangelism Ministry Directorate at the Kaneshie Central Assembly auditorium yesterday, Apostle Kumi-Larbi stated that Follow-up is the best way to bring the biblical principle of multiplication back into the church. 

He defined follow-up as the process of gaining an audience with individuals that had already been won to Christ, and training and bringing them to a place of mature fellowship with Christ and service in the church. 

The General Secretary also noted that the follow-up ministry aims to integrate new converts into the church, keep them enlisted, build them up spiritually, and teach them to win others to Christ. 

According to him, due to the lack of follow-up and discipleship process, most souls won are lost again to the world, whilst a lot of church members also seem ignorant of the basic doctrines of the Church.

“This is why there are many lukewarm and backslidden members on the church’s register,” he lamented.

He believes that by adopting a more effective follow-up system, the church could multiply its numbers and facilitate the vision of possessing the nations, stressing that, without ‘follow-up’, spiritual multiplication will not happen.

Throwing more light on the concept of ‘Spiritual Multiplication,’ Apostle Kumi-Larbi said the concept basically involves four stages – evangelising (teaching others to receive the gospel), following up on converts (teaching them to observe all the commands of Christ), reproducing (training new Christians to begin to teach others) and multiplying (mature converts now making disciples who would, in turn, teach others)

Apostle Kumi-Larbi further noted that unlike spiritual addition, which only involves leading people to Christ, spiritual multiplication involves leading people to Christ, then developing them until they are leading others to Christ.

He said by employing both the spiritual addition and spiritual multiplication approaches, the Church would witness unprecedented growth across the globe.

“Suppose you develop just one truly ‘multiplying Christian’ each and if each year those ‘multiplying Christians’ develop one more ‘multiplying Christian’, in two years,  there would be four, in five years, there would be 32, in ten years, there would be 1,024, in twenty years, there would be 1,048,576 and in thirty-three years, there would be 8,589,934,592 disciples,” he revealed.

He, however, added: “If  you simply baptised 1,000 souls a year, in thirty-three years, there will only be 33,000 and not all will become ‘multiplying Christians.’“

The General Secretary, therefore, called on church leaders to put in place new converts classes in their respective churches and put experienced leaders or teachers in charge to teach the converts sound Biblical doctrines and also offer good them counsel and support them in prayer as they deal with initial challenges in their Christian journey. 

He also urged them to establish follow-up teams with mature Christians as leaders and ensure that the leaders supervise the visitation and work of the team.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi, however, noted that effective follow-up demands much time and commitment to meet the holistic needs of the Christian converts.

He also added that follow-ups should be undertaken with the goal of assisting the new Christian to be filled with all the fullness of God, to be rooted and grounded in love; united in the local church, and to, in turn, reach out to others and disciple them for Christ.

The Evangelism Conference (EVACON) is a biennial event organised by the Evangelism Ministry of The Church of Pentecost to equip Evangelism Ministry Leaders at the various levels of the church in discharging their mandate effectively. This year’s event is under the theme: “A Revived Church in an Aggressive Evangelism and Informed Intercession” (Ezekiel 37:1-10).

PENTECOST NEWS

The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, on Sunday, October 24, 2021, commissioned and dedicated a sickbay constructed by the Pentecost International Worship Centre, Odorkor (PIWC-Odorkor) at the Church’s premises.

The facility, described as a first of its kind in The Church of Pentecost, is one of the three legacy projects undertaken by the Church as part of its week-long 10th-anniversary celebration.

The facility, which comprises a consulting area, nurses’ station, and a dispensary, has been named the ‘Pastor Jonathan Kofie Sick Bay’ in honour and memory of the late former Resident Minister of the Church.

Commissioning the facility, Apostle Kumi-Larbi commended the leadership of the Church for the project and encouraged other churches to emulate the laudable initiative. He said that the facility would provide medical care for members and also serve as a place where first aid could be administered before an ailing person is taken to the hospital.

The wife of the late minister, Mrs. Regina Kofie, who was also present to witness the ceremony, expressed gratitude to God and the Church for making the project a reality. She also thanked the leadership of The Church of Pentecost for the tremendous support her family has received since the demise of her husband.

Speaking on the topic: “Building Glorious Gates for a Glorious Church” during the Sunday Service before the commissioning, the General Secretary stressed on the need for Christians to examine their lives and repair any ‘broken gate’ that would oppose the collective goal of building a glorious church.

Using Nehemiah 3:1-32 and Nehemiah 12:39 as scripture references, Apostle Kumi-Larbi explained that when the time came for the Israelites to return to Jerusalem after years in exile in Babylon, they came in three batches. The first batch was led by Zerubbabel, who helped to build the temple of God. The second was led by Ezra, who restored the worship of the Lord, whilst the final batch was led by Nehemiah, who saw to the rebuilding of the 12 gates of Jerusalem.

He, therefore, inferred that in building a glorious church, Christians must first understand that their bodies are temples of the Most High God and refrain from ungodly acts that do not bring glory to Him. He further noted that, just like Ezra, Christians must also restore their worship life by ensuring that the relationship between them and God remains cordial at all times.

Dwelling more on the rebuilding of the 12 gates, the General Secretary said that broken gates expose an individual to the attacks of invaders (the devil and his cohorts). For this reason, every Christian must be conscious about repairing any ‘gate’ in their life.

He further noted that Nehemiah was able to mobilise his comrades towards a common goal, and together, they were able to construct all the 12 gates in a record time of 52 days. This, according to him, was because everyone was involved in the work.

“To build a glorious church and be able to accomplish what God has planned for us, there must first be the mobilisation of the people, then ensure that everyone understands and catches the vision, and also, we must all be prepared to put our hands to the wheel,” he charged.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi noted that the first gate to be repaired by the Israelites was the Sheep Gate. He explained that it represents the altar of sacrifice, stressing that, the Christian journey is a life of sacrifice. “The Church we see today is a result of the sacrifices made by our forebears. On the other hand, the sacrifices we are making today would be assessed by future generations,” he noted. He, therefore, urged believers to first offer themselves as ‘living sacrifices’ to the Lord and be willing to offer their resources (time, money, skills etc.) in advancing the Kingdom business.

The next gate to be fixed was the Fish Gate, which, he said, represents evangelism (soul winning). He said that the evangelistic aspect of the church is needful because God has called believers to make them “fishers of men.”

Expounding on the old gate, also known as the Jeshanah Gate, which was the third to be repaired, Apostle Kumi-Larbi said that Christians must hold on to the sound biblical doctrines that the forebears have bequeathed to the church and not allow themselves to be swayed by false doctrines.

According to the General Secretary, the Valley Gate, which represents suffering and humility, also signifies that the Christian life comes with suffering. In view of this, Christians must be prepared to suffer for the sake of the gospel and also humble themselves to serve each other.

The Dung Gate, on the other hand, represents sin and self-cleansing. This, he explained, stresses the need for Christians to do away with sin, and strive to work on their weaknesses.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi also noted that the Fountain and East Gates represent the Holy Spirit and the second coming of Christ, respectively. Explaining further, he said that Christians must rely on the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance in all their endeavours and must also be mindful that the ultimate goal of the Christian life is to make it to heaven.

The historic service, which climaxed the 10th-anniversary celebration of PIWC-Odorkor, was attended by Apostle Dr. Christian Tsekpoe, who represented the Odorkor Area Head, Pastor Felix Okyere Anti (Resident Minister, PIWC-Odorkor), Mrs. Roberta Aseyoro (Wife of the Odorkor Area Head) and Mrs. Gifty Anti (Wife of the Resident Minister)

The service also had some past members of PIWC-Odorkor present, including the Director for the Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS), Elder Richard Amaning.

The weeklong anniversary celebration, which featured a Prayer Marathon, Music and Drama Night and a Time with Uncle Ebo Whyte, was under the theme: “Building Glorious Gates” (Nehemiah 3:1-32).

PENTECOST NEWS

The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has entreated Staff at the Headquarters of the church to strive to be different in everything they do, having found themselves working in a Christian organisation.

He advised them to set high standards in godliness and in moral excellence so that no one would have anything against them.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi said this in an exhortation when addressing the Management and Staff Seminar of The Church of Pentecost Headquarters on Thursday, September 16, 2021, at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa.

Speaking on the topic: “But As For You,” taken his main Bible passages from 1 Timothy 6:3-11; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 2 Peter 1:5-11, he explained the reasons why Apostle Paul admonished his spiritual son Timothy to set himself apart and pursue things that are noble and of excellence.

He asserted that Timothy was a “man of God,” and for which reason he could not indulge himself in vices as any ordinary person would do.

According to the General Secretary, a man of God is one who has committed himself completely to God and His calling. Such, people, he stated, have no choice but to be different and pursue excellence in all things, saying, “The man of God’s overriding desire is to follow God’s direction.”

He indicated that for people of God to keep to the standards of God and make impact in society, they must have a heart after God’s own heart like David (Acts 13:22) and must obey His commandments. “The only requirement to be a man of God is to have a heart aligned with God’s heart, then the man of God will be molded by God to be and to do what God desires,” he stressed.

Just like Paul advised Timothy, Apostle Kumi-Larbi admonished believers to flee from vices and pursue virtue. Explaining virtue as the moral characteristics of a person that are universally deemed to be good, he mentioned that the Christian moral life is one that seeks to cultivate and practice virtue.

“Virtuous people do the right thing, as determined by what they believe is right or wrong. No one is born with fully developed virtuous character traits. Instead, we are all born with ‘virtue potential,’” he said, adding, “Virtues don’t develop on their own; they need to be cultivated. A virtuous life is living by your highest standards and values. Not because you want to impress people or get attention, but because you know in your heart it is the right thing to do.”

PENTECOST NEWS.

The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has charged pastors and officers of the church to jealously guard the Pentecostal fire that the forebearers of the church have bequeathed the church.

“There is something in this church that we must seriously guard, and that is the fire (power) that keeps the church running,” he said, adding, “We really need fresh oil to keep the fire in us burning always.”

Apostle Kumi-Larbi made the call at the maiden orientation for resident pastors of Pentecost International Worship Centres (PIWCs) and their wives, executive committee members and presiding elders at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa on Friday September 10, 2021 on the topic: “Keeping The Fire On The Altar Burning.”

Quoting his Scriptures from Leviticus 6:8-13; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4, among others, the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost took the participants back to the early days of the church where visible signs and wonders were prevalent whenever people gathered to pray.  

He stated that God continues to perform signs and wonders in the church today though many Christians are not experiencing it, simply because the fire that propels the miraculous appears to have been quenched by many believers through their actions and inactions.

He charged both ministers and officers of the church to make every effort to ensure that the fire that they came to meet in the church does not die out.

“The fire that we came to meet in the church must be kept burning. When the baton is given to you, you dare not let it fall. You must run with it until you get to the finishing line and hand it over to the next generation.

“This call upon your life is a noble task; it is a task to ensure that the fire in the church is maintained. When we as ministers and officers are on fire, members will come to church in high expectation and they would love to come to church always,” he stressed.

He added: “God has given us something and we dare not bring unauthorized fires – human experiences, schemes and other mechanical methods to adulterate it and to quench it.”

To keep the fire in the tent of tabernacle burning at all times which represented the presence of God in the midst of the Israelites, Apostle Kumi-Larbi said God commanded the priests to maintain it and never allow it to go out.

“God instructed them to remove the ashes, carry them outside the camp to a clean place, add fresh firewood and also arrange the burnt offerings every morning to keep the fire burning always. To ensure that the fire on the altar is kept burning always requires hard work,” he said.

Stating the reasons why God commanded the priests to maintain the fire on the altar, Apostle Kumi-Larbi revealed that the burning fire on the altar was to remind the people of Israel that God was with them. It also reminded them of the role the fire plays in sin offerings of the people, saying, “The fire shows the mercies of God that takes away our sin and shame and restores us into right standing with God.”

Touching on the possible killers of the fire, the General Secretary identified the failure to remove the ashes and the failure to add more wood to the fire as the main cause.

“The ashes are the byproducts of our offerings and works in God, thus our past experiences. We don’t have to rely on them; we should forget about them and look for fresh ones. We need fresh anointing for each today. We cannot rely on yesterday’s anointing to confront today’s challenges,” he said.

According to him, the wood that ignites the fire are oxygen, heat, fuel and the chemical reaction, saying, “Oxygen represents prayer, fuel represents the word of God, heat represents the Holy Spirit, and the chemical reaction is Christian fellowship since iron sharpens iron.”

Stressing on prayer, he indicated that when oxygen (prayer) is fueled by the word of God, the fire will definitely come.

Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi concluded his presentation by asking pastors and officers to serve the Lord with passion and allow people to see the light in them and feel the heat. “Repairing the broken altar is a prerequisite for igniting the fire of God,” he stated.

PENTECOST NEWS.

It was all joy as people from various parts of the country met at the Ashaiman Estate District Central Assembly of The Church of Pentecost on Sunday, July 25, 2021, to witness the retirement of Pastor Samuel Asare-Konadu and his wife Agnes, after serving for 37 years in active pastoral ministry.

The service, which was officiated by the General Secretary of the church, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, was graced by both retired and active ministers, including Apostle James Nana Ofori (Mankessim Area Head), Apostle Emmanuel Ofei Ankra-Badu (Tema Area Head), and Apostle Emmanuel Kwesi Acquah (Resident Minister of Pentecost International Worship Centre, Kokomlemle), among others.

Eulogizing Pastor Asare-Konadu, the General Secretary narrated how the former has been helpful to him and his family, especially during his early days in ministry at Kojokrom in the Western Region.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi revealed how Pastor Asare-Konadu taught him the rudiments of ministry, which, he said, have helped him to be well-grounded in ministry. He, therefore, thanked God for preserving his life and successfully bringing them to the end of the active service.

Preaching the sermon on the topic, “Ending The Race In Victory” based on 2 Corinthians 2:14, Genesis 41:50-52, the Tema Area Head, Apostle Emmanuel Ofei Ankra-Badu, said that the Christian journey is a race and that it is important for every believer to cross the finishing line.

Using Joseph as a case study, Apostle Ankra-Badu said that although Joseph faced a lot of persecution from his brothers when he shared his dreams with them, he was able to fulfill his destiny because he did not allow their evil acts to destruct him as he was able to overcome it.

For Christians to finish their race victoriously, he entreated them to be focused and take every step to forgive and forget those who offend them in order to have a clear conscience to embark on the journey.  

He thanked God for helping Pastor Asare-Konadu to cross the finishing line gloriously.

Various testimonies applauded Pastor Asare-Konadu and his wife for their selfless service in the house of God.

The General Council described him as cool and collected, humble, open-minded, simple, and very accommodating, saying, “He has developed a reputation for being detail-oriented, serious, reliable, and down-to-earth minister of the gospel.”

Profile of Pastor Samuel Asare-Konadu

Pastor Samuel Asare Konadu, born 65 years ago at Asamang in the Ashanti Region, had his basic education at the Chiraa Urban Council Primary and Middle ‘C’ Schools in the Bono Region. He continued to Somanya Technical Institute to pursue a course in Automobile Engineering. He proceeded to Kumasi Polytechnic (now Kumasi Techincal University) and completed in 1981 and worked with the Public Works Department (PWD) upon completion.

He was called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 1984 and served in seven districts, namely Twifu Agona (1984-1990), Wa (1990-1995), Sekondi (1995-2001), Alajo (2001-2008), New Juabeng (2008-2013), and Ashaiman Chapel Square (2013-2021). In all, he served for 37 years. He has been on sick leave for a couple of years prior to his retirement.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Church of Pentecost has joined forces with the Ghana Police Service to plant trees at the National Police Training School, Tesano in Accra as part of efforts to green Ghana and preserve the environment.

The General Secretary of the Church, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, together with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. James Oppong-Boanuh, and members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), on Friday, June 11, 2021, planted commemorative trees at the Police Depot to mark the Green Ghana Day, which saw the planting of 5 million trees across the country.

In a speech to herald the exercise, the IGP said that the Police Service was planting 5,000 trees out of the 5 million trees at all police facilities across the country as part of their contribution to the Government’s Green Project.

The IGP indicated that the exercise was to be replicated at all police stations and facilities nationwide where all Regional, Divisional, and District Commanders, as well as Station Officers, were to plant a minimum of three seedlings each at their offices/stations. “Our officers commanding all the six police training schools will equally plant 50 seedlings each,” he added.

He disclosed that monitoring and reporting teams will go round to inspect the trees to ensure that they are nurtured and catered for so that they will grow to maturity.

“Our objectives are aligned to the objectives of the government in connection with the Greening Project, which is to embark on an aggressive afforestation programme to protect the forest and the environment, and to address the degradation of Ghana’s forest reserve and ecosystem, and also to achieve our goal of protecting our forest.

“For those of us in the Ghana Police Service, this will help us to beautify our police stations and offices, and especially our training schools which have large compounds,” he stated.

Speaking with PENTECOST NEWS, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi expressed his joy over the successful take-off of the project. “I am fulfilled and I feel relief because it’s a burden that our Chairman shared with us. Later when the Government came on board it gladdened our hearts, so we were waiting and praying that God will give us life to see it come to reality.

“This is our core duty given out by God to protect his creation. We are not just planting trees, we are encouraging ourselves to plant, water, and nurture and make sure that they grow. I have planted three trees today and I want to challenge every Ghanaian to endeavour to plant at least one tree either in your house, workplace, school and in the street. Wherever we find space let us plant it.

“So far we have not done well towards the environment looking at the way we are destroying our river bodies and littering around, with choke gutters all over. God gave us the environment to protect it, and it is about time Ghanaians sat down and realised that we cannot mess up our environment and still hope to live in it and enjoy good health. So as we have started today, let’s all come on board, brace this vision and rid our nation of filth.

“A real gentleman/lady is a person who does not liter. Please don’t put your rubbish on the ground; put it in your bag because it is your own waste. Let’s change our attitude and our environment will be clean and the air we breathe will be pure, and it will help us to live longer.

On his part, the National Coordinator of the church’s Tree Planting Project, Apostle Samuel Kojo Gakpetor, said that The Church of Pentecost started the tree planting exercise nationwide about two weeks ago. “Today being Green Ghana Day, we came on board the Government’s initiative to push the Green Ghana Day agenda. To God’s glory, we have seen massive involvement of our churches across Ghana.

“This is just the beginning. As we activate our consciences on the need to keep our environment clean, we pray that this is not just going to be a nine-day wonder. All of us should look out for opportunities to plant trees any day any time,” he said.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Church of Pentecost, as part of the Green Ghana Project, on Friday, June 11, 2021, planted trees at the Mantse Agbonaa, located in James Town, Accra.

Led by its General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, and the International Missions Director (IMD), Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, the church was joined by officials of Bible Society of Ghana and representatives of the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Council to plant a number of trees at the courtyard which is a popular spot for political and social events in the capital.

The General Secretary called on members of the church and Ghanaians in general to get involved in the national exercise by planting at least a tree. He urged them to ensure that their trees were watered and nurtured to maturity to protect the environment.

The Church of Pentecost, in collaboration with the Ghana Forestry Commission, is planting one million trees out of the 5 million trees targeted by the Government.

Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi planted the first tree, followed by the International Missions Director. Others who planted trees included the wife of the Chairman of the church, Mrs. Mary Nyamekye; the La Area Head of the church, Apostle John Osei Amaniampong and his wife; Madam Catherine Odjidja, Communication and Resource Mobilization Manager of the Bible Society of Ghana; Apostle Lawrence Otu-Nyarko, Finance and Administration Director of the church, and Apostle Samuel Kojo Gakpetor, National Coordinator of the church’s Tree Planting Project.

Earlier, the General Secretary led a team from the church and the Bible Society of Ghana to the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Council to seek the blessing of the chiefs for the exercise.

Report by Fred Tettey Alarti-Amoako (PENTECOST NEWS).

The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has encouraged church leaders to be passionate about doing the work of God.

Speaking on the topic, “Doing the Work of God with Passion,” at the Western Regional session of the ongoing Ministers and Wives’ Conference on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at the E. K. Kyei Memorial Temple, Tarkwa, the General Secretary advised ministers and their spouses to do the work of God with enthusiasm, interest and zeal.

“Passion is when a person has an intense enthusiasm, a craving for God and His work, with compelling emotions and feelings coupled with God-given desires that compels him or her to make a difference. 

“Passion is the fuel, a keen interest, a strong desire, a hunger, a thirst and a craving for God and His work. Passionate people are hardworking, and their output beats those with talent who fail to work on their talents through discipline and training,” he said.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi indicated that a person’s desire fueled by passion will bring about the greatest results in his life and ministry and the fire on his inside will affect everything on the outside. 

Expounding further, the General Secretary indicated that passionate people are always drawn to their passion, willing to sacrifice for it, express it everywhere and are unperturbed by critics.

Making references to Numbers 25:6-13 2 Samuel 6:12, 2 Samuel 6: 13,17, 2 Samuel 6:14-16, 2 Samuel 6:12-23; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 and Exodus 33:15-16, he revealed that because of his passion for the things of God, Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, turned God’s anger away from the Israelites. According to him, Phinehas achieved this feat due to his zealousness for God in dealing with unrighteousness among God’s people. 

Apostle Kumi-Larbi encouraged church leaders to be passionate about cultivating God’s presence daily, the Kingdom of God and its representatives on earth (Church), righteousness, lost souls, the Gospel, the ministry of prayer and the Word, and about excellence in ministry endeavours. 

He also revealed that the love of Christ is the catalyst for godly passion and that people who are passionate about God are active for Him. “They make time for God, whether that means getting up early in the morning to make that time possible or sacrificing some activity that they enjoy to do most,” he explained.

He further advised Christians to make choices that strengthen their fellowship with God and ask Him to give them the passion to do greater works for Him.

“As we develop a closer relationship with God, one of friendship and intimacy, our passion will grow, and as it does, doing the things He asks us to do will follow naturally,” he stated.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi further indicated that the passion of Christians would be manifested in their resolve or determination to follow God even at the peril of their lives, as was the case of some of God’s greatest missionaries who risked their lives and ministries for the sake of God’s promises, regardless of their emotions.

He concluded by admonishing Christians to do the work of God with passion and to be “crazy” for the Kingdom business in season and out of season.

Report by Western and Western North Regions Media Team