Posts in category: Moving With Gs

Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, has urged church leaders to avoid destroying the brand of the church but purposely uphold and bequeath it to the next generation.

“Do not destroy the foundation of The Church of Pentecost brand, teachings and culture, rather improve on the brand for the next generation,” Apostle Kumi-Larbi said.

He said this on Monday, February 20, 2023, during the opening of the 2023 Kaneshie Area Ministers and Officers’ Retreat (Apostolisation) at the Kaneshie Central Auditorium.

Speaking on the topic, “Deepening The CoP Brand For Maximum Impact,” the General Secretary said that the move to reposition the church in this generation is a clarion call to deepen its brand as a church.

Discussing the CoP brand, Apostle Kumi-Larbi said that apart from the covenant that God has established with the church, other things that guide officers and ministers on how to conduct themselves and lead the church are the tenets of the church, core values, church culture, and rules of conducts.

He iterated that these activities have given the church a unique and enviable brand which ought to be guarded jealously, saying, “All members of our church must brand themselves accordingly.”

He added: “As custodians of the church, you are to jealously guard and protect the virtues and core values of the church from one generation to the other.”

According to him, it is evident that this distinctive character of the church has contributed to building a strong church through selfless service, sound biblical teaching, good leadership and succession, evangelism and discipleship, sacrificial giving, fellowship and discipline.

“Do not be too concerned about the leadership and succession of the church for each one is working their salvation with fear and trembling,” he stated.

He charged the leaders that the policies of the church which are the principles of action used to help achieve their goals, can be changed but the core values and rules of conducts do not change. He, therefore, admonished them to avoid substituting the brand of the church for anything.

The Church of Pentecost traces its origin to the ministry began by Rev. James McKeown in 1937, which culminated in the establishment of the Gold Coast Apostolic Church in 1953. When the Gold Coast attained independence and became Ghana, the Church became known as Ghana Apostolic Church. On the first day of August 1962, the Ghana Apostolic Church adopted the name “The Church of Pentecost” as its new name.

PENTECOST NEWS

“If the generosity and selfless giving of our forebears have brought The Church of Pentecost (CoP) to its current status, then we can only reposition The CoP by emulating or exceeding their sacrificial giving and generosity towards God’s work.”

The above statement was contained in a presentation made by the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at the recently-held Sekondi Area Ministers and Officers’ Retreat (Apostolisation) which took place at the Apostle JWD Cudjoe Memorial Temple, Ketan.

Speaking on the topic, “Sacrificial Giving and Tithing,” Apostle Kumi-Larbi, using Proverbs 21:13, 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, Galatians 6:6-10 as Bible references, defined sacrificial giving as a divine attribute of God that graciously shares with humankind and giving out of your essential budget for a specific course.

He explained that giving is undergirded by the two principles of gratitude and stewardship. According to the General Secretary, gratitude brings out the sense of appreciation that we have for something or someone, especially human beings, giving to God because they want to express their thankfulness for all that He has done.

“When we come to the presence of God, let us be careful not to grumble because if you are grateful of what he has done for you; there is no need to complain,” he stressed.

Expounding the second principle, that is stewardship, Apostle Kumi-Larbi explained that Christians are stewards and caretakers of God’s creation, therefore, they are accountable to God for the application of the talents, resources, and opportunities He Has entrusted to them.

“The percentage of the resources we offer to God and to charitable causes is something we will account for and be rewarded for,” he added.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi, however, observed that one practice that is gradually dying out in the Church is the noble act of members genuinely and willfully giving to support ministers of the Church.

“Members of the Church must uphold this practice of sacrificial giving in the Church, for one of the brand elements of the The Church of Pentecost is giving without being forced or coerced. This brings glory to God, and there is more blessings in giving than receiving,” he stated.

He also advised Church leaders at the local assemblies to be faithful in paying their tithes, teach members to give wholeheartedly, and constantly remind the members to bring all their tithes to the Church.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi also encouraged members to love one another and to extend their acts of generosity and selfless giving to needy members in the Church.

PENTECOST NEWS

The General Secretary of the Church of Pentecost (COP), Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has charged the ministers and officers of the Church to deepen their knowledge and understanding about The COP brand to help enhance and jealously guard it.

“Let us make The Church of Pentecost brand stronger, and teach our members to love and become more interested in the Church,” he stated.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi gave this charge on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, during the evening session of the 2023 Sekondi Area Ministers & Officers Retreat (Apostolisation) at the Apostle J.W.D Cudjoe Memorial Temple at Ketan.

Delivering a presentation titled “Deepening The COP Brand,” Apostle Kumi-Larbi iterated that as a church within its third or fourth generation, it is expedient for the members to go back to the forebears and ask them how the Church rose from obscurity to prominence while upholding its values.

Reflecting on Deuteronomy 32:7; 19:14; 27:17, and Proverbs 22:28, the Chief Scribe disclosed that over the years, The Church of Pentecost has built a Christ-centered brand with the core values, culture and rules of conduct handed to the current generation as a legacy from the forebears.

This brand, he noted has distinctively contributed to building a strong church through selfless service, sound biblical teaching, good leadership and succession, evangelism and discipleship, sacrificial giving, fellowship and discipline.

He, therefore, urged the members to make an effort to learn, uphold and jealously guard these time-tested Pentecostal distinctive attributes as efforts are made to reposition the local church for maximum impact.

“The CoP 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 a covenant between the Church and God. These things we love and cherish so dearly, therefore, everyone who comes into our fold must know and diligently apply on themselves,” he said.

He further noted that “although the Church began with people with little or no formal education, the Holy Ghost inspired them to create a brand which has made the Church unique, distinguished and respected in the world.”

Touching on the rules and conducts, Apostle Kumi-Larbi urged ministers as well as officers and members to ensure that appropriate messages are preached to suit every occasion, while taking into consideration the time used for such church programmes.

He further encouraged the ministers and officers to make much effort to ensure that members attend church services because it helps deepen their (members’) spiritual lives.

“Attending church programmes provides one the opportunity to study the word of God, pray for the needs and healing of believers and unbelievers, propagate the gospel of Christ, and share fellowship with other believers,” he said.

PENTECOST NEWS

The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost (CoP), Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has made a passionate appeal to Church leaders to make time to interact with the youth and educate them about the core values, rules of conduct and other foundational beliefs of the Church.

According to the General Secretary, many of the grievances of young people in the Church could easily be addressed when ministers and church leaders engage more with them.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi said this yesterday when he addressed participants of the 2023 Global Ministers and Wives’ Conference (GMWC’23) currently ongoing at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

Speaking on the topic: “The CoP Brand: Rules of Conduct and Core Values,” the General Secretary emphasised the need for the older generation of members to painstakingly teach the youth about the foundational beliefs and practices that were bequeathed to them by their forebears.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi noted that observing the tenets, core values, church culture and rules of conduct inherited from the forebears has given the COP a unique and enviable brand.

“It thus behoves this generation to know, uphold and jealously guard these time-tested Pentecostal distinctive attributes as we seek to reposition the local church for maximum impact,” he said.

To preserve The CoP brand for future generations, Apostle Kumi-Larbi posited that church leaders should engage the youth to clarify any concerns or misgivings they may have regarding the Church’s governance system, The CoP’s way of expressing practical Christian life and ministry, as well as her cultural practices. 

“These values and beliefs are in tandem with God’s covenant with the Church, which predates the existence of The Church of Pentecost. I therefore plead with ministers and leaders of The Church of Pentecost at all levels to have time to engage the members, especially the youth; they have questions!” he said.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi also advised the youth to avail themselves to be mentored by the older generation and to seek clarifications on issues from appropriate authorities.

He buttressed his assertion by quoting item “G” of the Church’s Rules of Conduct, which reads: “During casual conversation at home or at work, do not speak disrespectfully or disparagingly about the Church and God’s servants. Make your concerns and grievances known to the appropriate authority for explanation or redress (3 John 9,10; Numbers 12:1-15).”

He advised the Christian youth to refrain from falsely accusing or castigating their spiritual leaders or persons in authority as it may have dire consequences, as seen in the cases of Miriam (Numbers 12:1-15) and Diotrephes (3 John 9, 10).

He reminded them that emphasis on the respect for authority, as well as prayer, the word of God and absolute reliance on the Holy Ghost, are among the variables that have contributed immensely to making The CoP a respected brand in the world.

“It is because of this culture that in 1998, Senior Apostles like S.K. Ansong, B. K. Arthur, D. K. Annan and the rest could subject themselves to the leadership of a young Apostle, Dr. Michael Ntumy, who was elected Chairman of our Church at age 40,” he said.

Concluding his message, Apostle Kumi-Larbi encouraged members, particularly the youth, to cooperate with the Church leadership in protecting and projecting The COP brand.

“For, I foresee that the glory of tomorrow’s Church is far more glorious than the Church today,” he said.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Members of The Church of Pentecost (The CoP) have been advised to uphold and jealously guard the Church’s core values and rules of conduct to help safeguard the goodwill of the CoP brand.

The General Secretary of the Church, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, gave this advice on Monday, January 23, 2023, in a presentation on the topic: “The CoP Brand – Rules of Conduct and Core Values of the Church” at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

Addressing the Heads’ session of the 2023 Global Ministers and Wives’ Conference (GMWC’23), Apostle Kumi-Larbi explained that churches and denominations are known by key distinctive attributes and core values. 

According to the General Secretary, the Church, being of divine origin but composed of humans, is characterised by Biblical ethics and ethos, which it is later identified as its culture.  

“Like every other Church, The Church of Pentecost has her own culture. Our foundational beliefs are at the heart of our theology. Over the years, The CoP has built a Christ-centred brand with our core values, culture and rules of conduct handed to us as a legacy from our forebears,” he said.

He noted that the distinctive character of The CoP was steadfastly created by the forebears through selfless service, sound biblical teaching, good leadership and succession, evangelism and discipleship, sacrificial giving, and fellowship and discipline. 

“It thus behoves this generation to know, uphold and jealously guard these time-tested Pentecostal distinctive attributes as we seek to reposition the local church for maximum impact,” he stated.

He further noted that these attributes do not only give The CoP an identity but also shape people’s perceptions about the Church, which greatly impacts her influence in society.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi mentioned evangelism, church planting, discipleship, mentoring, trustworthiness, practical holiness, prayer and fasting, punctuality, respect for authority, discipline, and the expectancy of the second coming of Jesus Christ, among others, as some of the long-cherished core values and practices of The Church of Pentecost that members must be taught to uphold.

To preserve the authentic Pentecostal experience of the Church for posterity, Apostle Kumi-Larbi advisedchurch leaders to emphasise to members the importance of manifesting the fruit of the Spirit in their lives, as well as participating in the Holy Communion.

“The CoP is a respected brand in the world and these are the various variables that affect The CoP brand,” he stressed.

The General Secretary revealed that in the spirit of preserving and promoting The CoP’s brand, the leadership of the Church, through the National Discipleship and Leadership Development Committee (NDLDC), has come up with Bible Study lessons for the first three months of the year (January to March) based on the core values to educate and instill these time-tested values in the members. 

He, therefore, called on ministers of the Church to actively participate in these sessions and ensure that they are effectively organised.

Commenting on the presentation, the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, posited that the core values and practices of The CoP are still relevant in the contemporary generation because they are premised on the unchanging word of God.

“In our bid to reposition the local church for maximum impact in the nations, it is incumbent that all Church leaders and members are taught and encouraged to uphold these core values and rules of conduct of the Church,” the Chairman added.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has advised Church leaders to make conscious efforts to build stronger relationships with the Christian youth through mentoring and discipleship.

According to the General Secretary, combining the knowledge and experience of the older generation and the strength and speed of the young generation is a sure bet for maximum impact. 

Apostle Kumi-Larbi said this yesterday when he addressed participants of the ongoing 2023 PENSA Ghana Conference at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus.

Delivering a presentation on the theme of the conference: “Repositioning the Youth for Maximum Impact in the Nations,” the Chief Scribe of The Church of Pentecost explained that this year’s theme seeks to underscore the fact that members, particularly the youth, are the Church’s greatest resource, and must, therefore be carefully nurtured, loved and equipped to push the “Possessing the Nations: agenda.

“Repositioning the local church, therefore, means creating the needed atmosphere for the youth to be built up and made sharper for the task of influencing society with the principles, values and lifestyle of the kingdom of God,” he said.

Drawing lessons from Paul and Timothy, Apostle Kumi-Larbi further noted that the duo’s relationship offers Church leaders and the youth a great example of how Christian mentoring and discipleship ought to be carried out.

He further explained that Paul and Timothy are worthy of emulation because they both exhibited the right attitudes needed for ensuring a successful mentoring relationship.

Buttressing his assertion, the General Secretary said Apostle Paul saw Timothy’s potential as a great spiritual leader and subsequently invested his whole heart into helping Timothy develop into the fullness of his calling. 

He, however, emphasised that Timothy also aided the process because he was humble, teachable, and proved to be trustworthy.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi, therefore, urged the youth to also avail themselves to be mentored even as Church leaders make the effort to reach out to them.

“Timothy’s commitment to the Lord was so strong that he allowed himself to be circumcised in order not to offend the religious Jews they would encounter (Acts 16:3). In fact, their relationship grew to the extent that Paul referred to him as ‘my son in the faith’,” he said.

On his part, he further stated, Paul exercised patience as he nurtured his young protégé to grow in wisdom and faith. 

“Paul spent much time teaching him and even addressed two books of the New Testament to him. Paul also introduced Timothy to the joys and the difficulties of missionary life while encouraging him not to allow others to disregard him because of his comparative youthfulness,” he said.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi further indicated that the duo’s relationship also underlines the importance of the older generation discipling the younger ones.

He said that through discipling, Paul painstakingly nurtured Timothy to become a pillar in the early church and thus helped to propagate the gospel message at the time.

“In the story of Paul and Timothy, we learn that discipleship is standing shoulder to shoulder in the work of the Kingdom, iron sharpening iron; encouraging, rebuking when necessary, and sharing a common burden for a lost world,” he said.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi advised Church leaders to regard the youth as equal partners in the work of ministry and to harness the gifts, talents and potentials for maximum impact in the nations.

He also admonished the Church members, particularly the youth, to wholly embrace the tenets, values, practices and the ethos of The Church of Pentecost.

“Like every other Church, The Church of Pentecost has her own culture. Our foundational beliefs are at the heart of our theology. We have our governance system, and our way of expressing practical Christian life and ministry.

“These cultural practices are in tandem with God’s covenant with the Church, which predates the existence of The Church of Pentecost. As a church denomination, we love and cherish these practices so dearly. Hence, everyone who comes into our fold must know and diligently apply themselves to them,” he charged.

The annual PENSA Ghana Conference., organised under the auspices of the Youth Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, is the biggest youth conference in the country.

Dubbed the “Impact Makers Conference,” this year’s event, which officially kickstarted yesterday, is being held concurrently at three separate locations, namely; Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus and University for Development Studies (UDS) campus.

Speakers of the event are Apostle Eric Nyamekye (Chairman), Apostle Samuel Osei Asante (Patron, Youth Ministry) and Pastor Ebenezer Hagan (Director, Youth Ministry), among several others.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, has advised Christians to make the Church a place where true worship and affectionate love among brethren can be greatly felt.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi said this yesterday when he joined members of the Danquah Worship Centre in the La Area of The Church of Pentecost for the first Sunday service of the year 2023.

In his sermon titled: “Discerning the Body of Christ,” the General Secretary explained that the Church is a group of believers or disciples of Jesus Christ who are related through consistent gathering and membership in a Christian denomination that serves as their spiritual family for nurturing, guidance, support and ministry or service (Ephesians 4:12-16).

He also described the Church as the household of God made up of all those who have been redeemed and sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ, stressing that, as members of God’s household, Christians must value and treat each other with love. 

Apostle Kumi-Larbi further posited that Christian churches exist because of the love of Jesus, and they grow with the love of every believer strengthening the family of God. 

“Each follower of Christ is part of God’s universal family, and as children of God, we enjoy His fellowship through the life of every believer,” he said.

According to the General Secretary, fellowship is a gift from God to help the believer enjoy their faith journey with like-minded people. He said that, through Christian fellowship, the believer is able to help, encourage, strengthen, teach, and comfort other Christians – and receive the same from them.

Referring to Acts 2:42, Apostle Kumi-Larbi highlighted the strong bond that existed between the early Christians, who devoted themselves to “teaching, fellowship, prayers, and breaking of bread.” 

He explained that early believers willingly shared what they had with their brethren to the point that they had no needy persons among them, and, thus, urged contemporary Christians to emulate this “great display of brotherly love.”

The General Secretary also urged Christians to share each other’s burdens by comforting the afflicted, encouraging the disheartened, visiting the sick, and praying for those who are weak or struggling in the Christian faith. 

“Every follower of Christ carries a burden for His kingdom, and these loads become lighter when shared,” he said.

Touching on the spiritual significance of the Church, Apostle Kumi-Larbi noted that, beyond fostering healthy relationships among brethren, the gathering of Christians has spiritual implications for God’s mission on earth.

“Every Christian is like a stone, and the Church is the spiritual house that God is building. The Lord Jesus is the foundation of this spiritual temple. He is a great stone. Every Christian is a small stone built upon the Lord Jesus to become the temple of God and the habitation of God,” he explained.

He further noted that Christians, as living stones, are therefore being built up to become “God’s spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5).

“The purpose of our being built up as a spiritual house is to form a collective priesthood that is continually offering spiritual sacrifices to God,” he added.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi, therefore, called on Christians to lead righteous and holy lives at all times to make their bodies acceptable sacrifices that God could use for His purpose.

He also advised them not to speak disparagingly about the Church and God’s people as this brings the Church, and extension, God’s name, into disrepute.

“Rather, make your concerns and grievances known to the appropriate authority for explanation or redress, he advised.

PENTECOST NEWS.