National Creation Care Conference Tackles Ghana's Environmental Crisis

National Creation Care Conference Tackles Ghana’s Environmental Crisis

The Church of Pentecost is collaborating with other Christian organisations to tackle Ghana’s environmental crisis at the maiden National Creation Care Conference currently ongoing at the Crystal Palm Hotel in Accra.

The three-day conference, which officially commenced today, Monday, May 22, aims to develop a national Christian framework, policy, and plan to safeguard the environment and address climate change-related issues.

The destruction of Ghana’s natural resources, including illegal mining, deforestation, and pollution, has reached an alarming level. Consequently, the conference seeks to mobilise the Christian community, representing a significant portion of the country’s population, to take action and become a positive force in addressing environmental challenges.

During his speech at the event, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to combat the nation’s environmental challenges.

He expressed excitement about the potential impact of the forum, stating, “As a denomination, we eagerly look forward to joining forces with all denominations to pursue an Environmental Care Campaign that will transform our nation, Ghana.”

He called on Christians to recognise their responsibility as stewards of God’s creation and highlighted the importance of caring for the environment and the consequences of neglecting this divine duty.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi noted that The Church of Pentecost, under the leadership of Apostle Eric Nyamekye, instituted the Environmental Care Campaign as part of the Church’s five-year strategic vision (Vision 2023) four years ago to address Ghana’s environmental challenges. Through clean-up drives, tree-planting initiatives, and recycling plastic waste, the Church has made significant progress in raising awareness and taking practical steps towards preserving Ghana’s environment. He, therefore, called for unity among denominations and institutions to maximise the impact of these efforts.

The General Secretary further noted that religious leaders have a vital role in this endeavour because they have a unique opportunity to regularly engage with their congregations and equip them as agents of transformation in all aspects of life.

Concluding his speech, Apostle Kumi-Larbi reiterated The Church of Pentecost’s commitment to environmental care. He further expressed hope that the conference would provide the impetus for the wider Christian community to implement sustainable practices to ensure a cleaner and greener Ghana.

The National Coordinator of the Environmental Care Campaign and Agormanya Area Head of the Church, Apostle Samuel Gakpetor, also gave a presentation on the prevailing environmental challenges and their impact on lifeforms in Ghana at the conference.

His presentation shed light on critical issues affecting the country’s ecosystems and called for urgent action to address them. He also identified unsustainable agriculture practices, poor land use planning, water, land, and air pollution, inadequate waste management, and urban sprawl as critical environmental challenges facing the country with far-reaching consequences if left unaddressed.

The National Creation Care Conference, a first of its kind, provides a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and expertise to develop a comprehensive Christian response to environmental challenges.

Participants from various organisations, including The Church of Pentecost, A Rocha Ghana, Akrofi Christaller Institute, Challenge Enterprises of Ghana, and World Vision Ghana, have gathered to come up with practical ways to mitigate Ghana’s ecological crises and promote sustainable practices.

Outcomes from the discussions and workshops at the conference would be used to develop a national Christian framework for environmental care to shape future initiatives and inspire collective action to protect Ghana’s environment for future generations.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Church of Pentecost Calls For Collaborative Efforts To Enhance Food Security In Ghana - Websize

The Church of Pentecost Calls For Collaborative Efforts To Enhance Food Security In Ghana

The Church of Pentecost has called for collaborative efforts to enhance food security in Ghana, emphasising the importance of addressing the four dimensions of food security: physical availability, economic and physical access, food utilisation, and stability over time.

Speaking at the Ghana Food Security Conference being jointly organised by the Jospong Group of Companies, Asian African Consortium and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, in a speech delivered on behalf of the Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, acknowledged the challenges facing food security in Ghana, including undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies, which persist across all life stages.

He also highlighted poverty, climate change, rapid urbanisation and population expansion, and poor infrastructure as significant threats to food security in the country.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi referred to the 1996 World Food Summit’s definition of food security, which emphasises the need for all people to have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food for an active and healthy life. He stressed that all four dimensions of food security must be fulfilled simultaneously for food security objectives to be realised.

He commended the Jospong Group of Companies, led by Elder Dr. Joseph Siaw-Agyapong, for their mission to improve people’s lives and introduce the unique idea of public and private sector collaboration for food sufficiency.

According to him, The Church of Pentecost sees this as a significant and timely initiative to help Ghana achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2: “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.”

The partnership between the Jospong Group and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was therefore timely, significant and crucial to addressing food security challenges, and expressed optimism that the collaborative efforts will lead to practical solutions and strategies to enhance food security in Ghana.

“By working together, scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders can make significant strides towards achieving food security goals and ensuring a prosperous and fruitful nation,” he said.

The 2023 Ghana Food Security Conference continues with sessions and discussions focusing on innovative approaches, research findings, and policies that will contribute to Ghana’s sustainable development of food security.

The conference, being held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, is under the theme: “Enhancing Food Security: The Role of Ghanaian Scientists.”

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The Church Of Pentecost Commends Jospong Group & CSIR For Food Security Conference

The Church of Pentecost has lauded the Jospong Group of Companies and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for organising the maiden Ghana Food Security Conference.

The conference, being held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, aims to address the issue of food security in Ghana and explore ways to enhance it through collaborating with Ghanaian scientists.

The event, themed “Enhancing Food Security: The Role of Ghanaian Scientists,” has brought together over 200 scientists, experts and stakeholders in and outside the country to discuss practical ways of improving Ghana’s food security situation.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, the General Secretary of the Church, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, commended Elder Dr. Joseph Siaw-Agyapong, Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, for his commitment to improving the lives of people and introducing the unique idea of strengthening public and private sector collaboration for food sufficiency.

According to the General Secretary, The Church of Pentecost sees the conference as a significant and timely initiative to help Ghana achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2: “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.”

He further noted that the objectives of the conference align with the Church’s five-year vision of “Possessing the Nations,” and therefore, assured Elder Dr. Siaw-Agyapong of the Church’s unwavering support in various ways to fulfil the food security vision.

“The Church of Pentecost believes that by equipping its members with the values, principles, and lifestyles of the Kingdom of God, we can actively contribute to the nation’s transformational development, just as Elder Siaw Agyepong and his wife, Mrs. Cynthian Agyepong (Chief Executive Officer of the Asian African Consortium), are doing in addressing food security challenges,” he said.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi, therefore, lauded the partnership between the CSIR, known for its mandate to drive national development through scientific and technological research, and the Asian African Consortium (AAC) of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC).

The African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development reports that around 1.5 million Ghanaians experience food insecurity, with undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies persisting across all life stages.

The 2023 Ghana Food Security Conference is expected to provide a platform for Ghanaian scientists, experts and stakeholders to share knowledge, strategies, and innovative solutions to deal with this worrying trend.

The conference’s objective is that these steps would be implemented to produce enough food to feed Ghanaians and even explore opportunities for food exportation.

PENTECOST NEWS.

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Apostle Gyau Obuobi Elected General Secretary Of The Church Of Pentecost

Apostle Samuel Gyau Obuobi, 53, has been elected as the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, succeeding Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, who served in the role for 10 years.

The nomination of Apostle Obuobi, who is the Asamankese Area Head of the Church, was confirmed by delegates at the Church’s 46th session of the General Council Meetings, held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

He secured an overwhelming endorsement of 1,256 votes, representing 99.6% of the 1,262 votes cast.

Profile of Apostle Samuel Obuobi

Apostle Samuel Obuobi is a Chartered Accountant who holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Master’s degree in Organisational Leadership and Governance from the University of Ghana, Legon.

He was called into full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 2004, beginning as a Resident Minister at Emmanuel Worship Centre in Dansoman Area while simultaneously serving as a lecturer at Pentecost University. Later on, he was transferred to Prophet M. K. Yeboah Worship Centre in the Odorkor Area, and subsequently assigned as Resident Minister at the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Asokwa, and later at the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Atomic, Accra. Currently, he serves as the Area Head of the Church in Asamankese.

Apostle Samuel Obuobi has also served on various boards and committees of the Church.

He is married to Mrs. Korkor Obuobi, and they are blessed with three children.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Untold Story Of The Outgoing General Secretary Of The Church Of Pentecostdd

The Untold Story Of The Outgoing General Secretary Of The Church Of Pentecost

Whoever thought that a street boy, perched in a tailoring kiosk in Suhum Amponsah Market with his well-known drunkard father, and whose mother was the daughter of a chief fetish priest, could be saved and have the opportunity to be schooled and become a Minister of the Gospel? Isn’t it sheer grace? Who is this person? How did he come out of obscurity and attain prominence? Indeed, with God, all things are possible. The man in perspective is the indefatigable Apostle Ing. Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, the outgoing General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, who has served the Church, God, and the country in that capacity for the past ten years.

Apostle Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi is not ashamed of his ugly and hopeless past, from which only the mighty hand of God could snatch him and give him an expected end. No wonder this man is so passionate about evangelism and soul-winning. Whenever he mounts the stage to preach, he narrates where God took him from and where he is now. His testimony is so touching that it leaves most of his listeners weeping and eager to hear more.

Through him, his drunkard father, and his idol-worshipping mother, came to the saving knowledge of Christ. Today, he can pride himself on building a formidable and well-respected Christian family.

46th General Council Meeting Elections

In the next few days, The Church of Pentecost will elect a new General Secretary to replace Apostle Kumi-Larbi at the upcoming 46th Session of the General Council Meetings. This meeting will take place from May 3rd to May 5th, 2023, at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region. The event will have His Excellency Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, as the Special Guest of Honour.

This piece does not attempt to speculate in any way about who will become the next General Secretary of the largest Pentecostal/Charismatic Church in Ghana. Rather, it seeks to eulogize the achievements of the hardworking outgoing General Secretary and his life experiences. Additionally, it will highlight the position of the General Secretary, which is regarded as the second-highest position within The Church of Pentecost.

How it all began

In 2013, when the “gentle giant,” Apostle Dr Alfred Koduah ended his second five-year tenure as the General Secretary of the Church, the then Chairman of the Church, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, noticed a young Apostle named Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, who was in charge of the Asamankese Area of the Church at the time.

Looking back over the past ten years, the general consensus among the Church populace is that Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah could not have chosen a better person, as Apostle Kumi-Larbi has exceeded all expectations.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi served under Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah for five years and has worked with the current Chairman and newly elected President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Apostle Eric Nyamekye, for the past five years. With tenacity, enthusiasm, and zeal, Apostle Kumi-Larbi has carried out the implementation of the Church’s Vision 2023 of the ‘Possessing the Nations’ agenda.

Chairman Eric Nyamekye sometimes wonders whether the General Secretary even sleeps since he is always on the move to ensure the realisation of the vision. In one of the events organised by the Church in November last year, Apostle Nyamekye virtually wept when he introduced Apostle Kumi-Larbi and indicated that he [Kumi-Larbi] would be attending the annual conference for the last time in his official capacity as the General Secretary of the Church.

Election of the General Secretary

The Church of Pentecost is touted for its excellent governance structure, which has enabled the Church to endure the test of time and emerge as a prominent, thriving global Church.

Chapter 3 of the Church’s Constitution outlines the Administration of the Church, which specifies the various administrative structures and how the Principal Officers (Chairman, General Secretary, and International Missions Director) and other key officers are selected.

Article 14 of the Constitution sets out the qualifications for the General Secretary as a mature Minister of the Church with a good standard of education. The General Secretary’s duties include: managing the Church’s correspondence, being accountable to the Chairman for the Head Office Administration,  serving as an ex-officio member of all Boards and Committees, holding the official seal of the Church and reporting to the General Council on the Headquarters Administration’s performance.

The Church of Pentecost’s method of selecting its key officers has upheld the Church’s sanctity, unity, and rapid and sustainable growth. The Church does not have elections or contests for higher positions or offices. Instead, suitable persons are chosen to occupy leadership positions in the Church through a ‘calling’ (nomination), subsequently affirmed through a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ voting system. This selection method eliminates lobbying and campaigning, which typically results in factionalism and disunity as has been the case in some churches. In Acts Chapter 1:12-26, Peter and the other Apostles prayed before selecting Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot. Similarly, in The Church of Pentecost, people are called/nominated to occupy higher positions upon careful consideration and reflection through prayers.

The process for selecting the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost involves several steps as outlined in Article 14 (3) of the Church’s Constitution. The process begins with the 15-Member Executive Council, led by the Chairman of the Church [after prayerful consideration], presenting a candidate from the list of eligible candidates to the Electoral College for open discussion and secret ballot. The Electoral College is made up of Members of the Executive Council, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, National Heads, and Area Heads. The Electoral College will then conduct a secret ballot election, supervised by an Electoral Commission appointed by the Executive Council, with the candidate elected by a simple majority. Finally, the candidate elected by the Electoral College will be presented to the General Council, the highest decision-making body of the Church, for approval by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present and voting.

The elected General Secretary, like the two other Principal Officers of the Church, will serve for a term of five years and may be re-elected for a second term only, i.e., he cannot be elected to hold office for more than two terms.

During this two-term tenure, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi has done an excellent job handling the Church’s affairs. Due to his front-line involvement in pursuing specific national agendas, he is well-respected among Ghana’s ecumenical bodies.

The personality of Apostle Kumi-Larbi

Apostle Kumi-Larbi is a man known for his high level of integrity and is highly esteemed by both ministerial and non-ministerial staff at the Church’s Headquarters. He has a humble disposition, respects everyone, promotes team spirit, exhibits level-headedness, maintains good human relationships, demonstrates ingenuity, and takes work seriously. Anyone who has interacted with him will forever remember these qualities. He adopts an open-door administration, listens attentively, and addresses all issues brought to his attention promptly. Apostle Kumi-Larbi is not interested in using his position to lord over others, knowing that power can corrupt. His prayer has always been to occupy the Office as a Christian and to leave as a Christian without blemish. Fortunately, his prayer has been answered, and he is leaving the Office with clean hands.

Profile of Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi

Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi was born on 24th December 1964 at Asamankese in the Eastern Region to Mr Samuel Opare Kumi and Madam Florence Akosua Odi, both from Abiriw-Akuapim and of blessed memory.

As an engineer by training, he started schooling at Suhum Presbyterian School and obtained his Middle School Leaving Certificate in 1979. He then continued his education at Koforidua Secondary Technical School. He passed the GCE ‘O’ level examination in 1984 and proceeded to the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC, Legon) for his GCE’ A’-Level certificate in 1986.

During his pre-university National Service, he taught for one year at the Suhum Presbyterian JHS (from 1986-1987).

He subsequently gained admission at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and graduated with a BSc. (Hons) degree in Civil Engineering in 1991. During his post-university National Service, he taught at Takoradi Polytechnic, now Takoradi Technical University, from 1991-1992.

In 1995, he was awarded an OSW Scholarship to pursue an MSc degree in Infrastructure Planning at the University of Stuttgart in Germany. He completed the program in 1997. Additionally, he has finished the School of Theological Education by Extension (STEE) program at Pentecost University and has been awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. He is currently a member of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (MGhIE).

Work Experience

He worked with Twum Boafo and Partners, a Consulting Engineering firm in Ghana (1992 to 2000), during which he engaged in Structural, Civil Engineering and Road Design and Construction Works. His experience in road works includes pavement and geometric designs, hydrological studies and the design of drainage structures. He was also involved in the design and supervision of some significant projects in the country, including serving as a Resident Engineer for the Rehabilitation and Completion of the Accra and Kumasi sports stadiums for the CAF-Under 20 Youth Soccer Tournament (1998-2000), Design and Resident Engineer responsible for the construction of the SSNIT flats at Tema Community 5 and Ho (1992-1995), Assistant Design Engineer involved in the Feasibility Studies for the Reconstruction of Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange-Mamfe road (1994-1995); he was involved in the structural design and detailing for a warehouse and offices for VRA at Aboadze Thermal Plant site office, Takoradi (1999) and a Consulting Engineer for The Church of Pentecost projects (1993 to date).

Call into full-time Ministry

Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi was called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 1999 and has since served as District Minister for Kojokrom, Awoshie and Michel Camp districts. He was appointed an Area Head in 2011 and was responsible for the Asamankese Area. He was called into the Office of Apostle in 2013 and elected as the General Secretary in 2013.

Marriage

He is married to Mrs. Rose Ama Dansoa, and they have been blessed with four sons.

Interest

Apostle is very passionate about evangelism, discipleship and selfless leadership with integrity.

By Fred Tettey Alarti-Amoako

About the Author:

The Author is a Senior Editor at The Church of Pentecost General Headquarters & a Communication Expert.

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CACI-Chairman Pays Courtesy Call On Apostle Eric Nyamekye

The newly elected Chairman of the Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI), Apostle Samuel Amponsah-Frimpong, paid a courtesy call on the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, today at the Church’s General Headquarters in Accra.

The visit, according to Apostle Amponsah-Frimpong, was to thank Apostle Nyamekye for honouring the invitation to preach at his induction service, congratulate him on his elevation to the presidency of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), and wish him well in his new mandate.

The CACI delegation was received by a four-member team of The Church of Pentecost, including Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, the International Missions Director, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, and the Finance and Administration Director (FAD), Apostle Lawrence Otu-Nyarko.

In his speech, Apostle Amponsah was full of praise for the leadership of The Church of Pentecost for the great work in advancing the Kingdom business in Ghana and beyond.

He said that although both church organisations have a chequered past, it was time to build bridges and forge ahead for the advancement of God’s kingdom. He explained that the Christ Apostolic Church, The Apostolic Church, and The Church of Pentecost all emerged from the ministry work of Pastor McKeown and Apostle Anim and are cut from the same cloth.

He said that the prophetic message received by early members that the Church would grow to become a big ocean had been fulfilled as all three churches have gone on to become great Pentecostal churches in their own right.

“I, therefore, see this as a divine move of God because today when you put the population of all three churches together, you can see that we have indeed become a mighty ocean,” he said.

He explained that it is now time for the Body of Christ to come together and make more inroads for the Lord. He said that both Christian organisations have a lot in common in their emphasis on holiness, soul-winning, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

“We share in Apostle Nyamekye’s passion for Christians to dominate the earth. This is the mandate we have been given as Christians to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, and in so doing, we will be filling the earth with the culture of heaven.

“The Church of Pentecost and the Christ Apostolic church must stand together always because the things that bind us together are more than our differences,” he said.

He indicated that his leadership is willing to collaborate with other church organisations, particularly The Church of Pentecost, and expressed that they are looking forward to honouring the invitation the CoP has extended to CACI to participate in its upcoming General Council meeting next month.

According to him, the meeting would serve as an opportunity to learn from The Church of Pentecost.

“As a member of the Ghana Pentecostal Charismatic Council (GPCC), we are well aware of the awesome contribution of The Church of Pentecost to the Body of Christ. The Church of Pentecost is a gem in Pentecostalism, and we accept it!” he said.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, on his part, thanked the delegation for the august visit. He also congratulated the new chairman and his executive on their election to serve the CACI at the highest level.

“The work of an Executive Council Member is very important, and that is why it is not by appointment but by election so that the people themselves would select who they prefer to serve them,” he said.

He urged them to do their best to live up to the confidence the church has reposed in them by always seeking the collective interest of the church over individual interests.

He advised them to pay attention to their policies and structures in order to build a strong church.

“You should not hesitate to amend their constitution and review their policies and practices to better serve the needs of the people. Otherwise, you would have an archaic constitution that does not serve the people’s needs,” he urged.

Apostle Nyamekye also advised them to always have in mind that they building a church – a community of holy people who walk in love and advance towards heaven – and not a mere social club.

“This means that for us, the most important thing is to ensure that the Holy Spirit does not desert our camp,” he added.

The Chairman welcomed the idea of both Christian organisations to forge closer ties and work together to build on the viable seed sown by their forebears.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi also took the opportunity to invite the CACI to the second edition of the All Ministers’ Conference (AMC2023), slated for September this year.

The visit concluded with an official group photograph of the leadership of both Christian organisations.

The CACI delegation also included Apostle Dr. Addai-Kusi (General Secretary), Rev. Stephen Acheampong (Field Director), Apostle George Peter Derry (Missions Director), Apostle Prosper Agbaglor (Evangelism Director), and Rev. Asumadu Kyeremeh (Director of Christian Education).

PENTECOST NEWS.

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Every Part Of Church Service Is Important- Apostle Kumi-Larbi Tells Christians

Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost (CoP), has emphasised that every aspect of the Church’s liturgy is important and, therefore, Christians should always arrive early for Church service and actively participate until the end.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi gave this advice today when he fellowshiped with members of the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Atomic. Continuing his serialised sermon on the topic “Deepening The CoP Brand,” the General Secretary expressed his concern that some Christians have made it a habit to skip parts of Church service by either arriving late or leaving early.

He cautioned against this practice, stating that people who do so are unaware of the spiritual implications of their actions.

“Just like at the pool of Bethesda, we do not know the exact time at which the angel of God will appear to stir up the water. So, arrive in good time before the start of service and take part in every activity until the benediction is pronounced,” he advised.

Expounding on the Rules of Conduct for CoP members, Apostle Kumi-Larbi said that The Church of Pentecost is a Christ-centered brand built with core values, culture, and rules of conduct bequeathed to the Church as a legacy from its forebears.

He explained that rules of conduct is a set of rules outlining the norms or standards, responsibilities, or proper practices of the members who form the Church.

According to the General Secretary, the Church’s rules of conduct are guidelines inspired by God and taught to the members through God’s ordained leadership for the equipping of the saints.

One of these rules, he noted, enjoins members to be in their seat in good time before the commencement of service and participate fully in every aspect of the service.

He noted that the rules of conduct are time-tested landmarks and a key aspect of the CoP brand and, therefore, urged every member of the Church to endeavour to know, uphold, and jealously guard them.

Some other rules of conduct for CoP members mentioned by Apostle Kumi-Larbi in his presentation are setting aside a period daily for personal quiet time in prayer and meditation on the Word (Matthew 6:6; Ephesians 18-20), and adequately preparing one’s self through prayer and meditation before coming to the house of God (Hebrews:15-16).

PENTECOST NEWS.

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Form Prayer Teams To Stoke Fire In The Church – Members Urged

Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, the General Secretary of The Church Of Pentecost, has called on members of the Church, particularly the youth, to form cooperative prayer teams to stoke the fire of the Holy Spirit in the Church.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi made the call during a sermon at the monthly prayer meeting dubbed: “Face To Face With God,” organised by the Kasoa Area of the Church, under the leadership of Apostle James Asare.

Speaking on the topic “Repositioning the Fire Tetrahedron in the Church,” the General Secretary emphasised the need to keep the fire burning in the Church.

Drawing from various passages including Leviticus 6:8-13, 9:24, 10-2, Acts 2:1-4, 2:42-47 and 1 Thessalonians 5:19, he explained that the Church needed to strengthen herself so that members could appreciate how far God had brought them.

He highlighted that stoking the fire was like the work of a boiler man in the past, who had the responsibility of ensuring that the fire kept burning.

He, therefore, urged youth in the Church to form prayer teams to keep the fire burning, noting that: “In The Church of Pentecost, we believe in cooperative prayer.”

Apostle Kumi-Larbi also emphasised the importance of prayer, the word of God, and fellowship in keeping the fire of the Holy Spirit ablaze.

He noted that prayer was like oxygen, and without it, the fire would be doused.

He further explained that the word of God was like fuel that ignites the fire and keeps it aflame. He, however, warned that Christians should not use the knowledge of this world to study the word of God.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi, therefore, encouraged Christians to continue to revisit the Word of God and to keep the fire burning for generations to come.

Concluding his sermon, the General Secretary called on the Christian youth to rise and engage in fervent prayers, including all-night prayer sessions, as this was the practice of their forebears.

“The Church of Pentecost has always been a church that believes in the power of prayer, and it is essential that Christians continue to pray together to keep the fire burning” he said.

The “Face To Face With God” monthly prayer meeting, organised by the Kasoa Area of The Church of Pentecost, provides an avenue for members to come together to pray and fellowship with one another. It is aimed at strengthening the faith of members and to promote the growth of the Church.

Present were Apostle James Asare (Kasoa Area Head), Apostle Samuel Antwi (rtd), Mama Rose Kumi-Larbi (wife of the General Secretary), ministers in the area, members of the Church and the general public.

PENTECOST NEWS.

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Jealously Guard God’s Covenant With The Church of Pentecost – Members Told

The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost (CoP), Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has said that God’s covenant with The CoP is sacrosanct and must be religiously upheld and bequeathed from one generation of Church members to the other.

“For the past 80 years, our forebears, being careful in observing the instructions in the Covenant, have given The CoP a unique and enviable brand which ought to be guarded jealously,” he said.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi made this clarion call when he delivered the first part of his serialised sermon on the topic: “Deepening The CoP Brand,” at the dome of the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Kokomlemle, yesterday.

In his presentation, the General Secretary revealed that The Church of Pentecost is now in its third or fourth generation, and for this reason, the current generation must be abreast with the terms and conditions of the Church’s Covenant with God to uphold it and pass it on to ensuing generations.

“We are told God made a covenant with our forebears through prophecies, which were given by different people at different places and times. The first one, which was given in 1931 at Akoroso, was after nine years confirmed at Winneba in 1940 and again after eight years in 1948 at Koforidua,” he said.

Quoting Proverbs 22:28, he noted that the Covenant, among other things, has significantly contributed to building the enviable brand of The Church of Pentecost, hence the need for members to uphold it as “sacred, a no-go area and a boundary of the Church that should never be shifted.”

“In addition to the Covenant and the tenets, our forebears had some core values, as well as church culture, including the rules of conduct, which outlines the way members should conduct themselves, and these are virtues and values that must be jealously guarded and bequeathed from one generation to the other,” he added.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi also stated that these beliefs and practices of the Church are well-documented in various publications of The CoP in a bid to preserve them and make them known to members.

“They are documented in our Constitution, Ministers’ manual (tenets and rules of conduct), ministerial handbook (brief history, covenant, tenets and core practices – values and culture), diary (brief history, tenets and rules of conduct) and also on our Baptismal certificate (tenets),” he explained.

According to the General Secretary, the leadership of the Church, in line with this year’s theme, is resolved to intensify The CoP Brand (covenant, beliefs, core values and rules of conduct) so as to bring clarity to it, and thereby, cause members to become more interested in the Church.

“Like every other church, The Church of Pentecost has its own culture, its foundational beliefs at the heart of its theology, its governing system, and practical expression of Christian life and ministry, in addition to something special the Lord told us long ago, even predating the church’s existence; a covenant between CoP and God. These things we love and cherish so dearly, and everyone who comes into our fold must know and diligently apply themselves,” he said.

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The Church Of Pentecost Receives National Award

The Church of Pentecost was today presented a national award by the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for the instrumental role played by the Church in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The award was received on behalf of the Church by the General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, at a ceremony held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC). Apostle Kumi-Larbi was accompanied to the event by Apostle Samuel O. Asante (Kaneshie Area Head and Executive Council Member) and Apostle Lawrence Otu-Nyarko (Finance and Administration Director).

The National Honours and Awards 2023 was organised by the State to honour distinguished individuals and deserving institutions for their roles in the fight against the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic.

It will be recalled that The Church of Pentecost, at the height of the pandemic, donated vans to the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to help educate the citizenry on the COVID-19 virus as part of efforts to contain its spread.

The Church also donated numerous medical supplies, logistics and other personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and various health centres nationwide to augment the Government’s efforts towards ending the spread of the deadly virus.

Perhaps, the most significant contribution of the Church to the COVID-19 fight was the release of the multipurpose convention centre to the State as an isolation and treatment centre for persons infected with the virus and undergoing treatment.

These noble services of The Church of Pentecost did not go unnoticed as many Ghanaians took to their social media platforms to shower praises on the Church.

The rousing cheer that greeted the mention of The Church of Pentecost at the event, prior to the award presentation, was clearly indicative of how highly the country values and appreciates the Church’s contribution to the country, hence the national honour.

Speaking at the event, President Akufo-Addo was grateful to all who contributed to efforts in defeating COVID-19 in Ghana.

“Our relative success in winning the fight against COVID-19 is a testament to the tireless work of our researchers, scientists, advisors, public health managers, frontline healthcare workers, hospital staff, contact tracers, the security services, public and private sector agencies, faith-based organisations, and many others,” he said.

The awards ceremony also saw thousands of other Ghanaians and institutions receiving various awards, including some faith-based organisation such as the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC), etc.

The event also had in attendance the Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Chief Justice Kwesi Anin Yeboah, Inspector General of Police George Akufo Dampare and a host of other government officials and state functionaries.

It is also worthy of note that a significant number of distinguished individuals honoured at the event were members of The Church of Pentecost. We wish to congratulate them for the commendable feat and to encourage them to keep up the good work as agents of transformation and as good “brand ambassadors” of The Church of Pentecost.

PENTECOST NEWS.