Posts in category: Moving With IMD

The Aflao Area of The Church of Pentecost on Sunday, August 28, 2022, held a colourful service at the Shekinah Temple in Aflao to officially farewell their Area Head, Apostle Peter Kofi Dzemekey, and his family, who have been transferred to the Asokwa Area in Kumasi. 

The farewell service was officiated by the International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, who was present with his wife, Mrs Deborah Agyemang Bekoe.

Present to grace the occasion was the National Head of the church in Burkina Faso and Executive Council Member, Apostle Ousmane Patinde Zabre.

Others were Apostle Joseph Danzerl and his wife (Kete-Krachi Area Head), Pastor Seth Dwamena Asante and his wife (Nkwanta Area Head), Apostle Edina Komi Agbavitoh (retired) – former National Head of Togo, as well as a delegation of ministers from neighbouring Togo, led by their National Secretary.

Achievements

Having been transferred from Akim Oda Area to the Afloa Area in 2018, together with his wife, Mama Faith, Apostle Dzemekey is credited to have worked very hard with the help of the Holy Spirit to grow the membership of the church in the Aflao Area from 35,368 to 45,507, thus winning about 10,139 souls within four years; increased tithes and Missions Offering of the Area by about 100% and 95% respectively.

Through his instrumentality, the Area has opened 64 local assemblies and created four districts in the past four years.

During his tenure, the Area has also seen great infrastructural development in the areas of mission houses, church buildings, school projects, among others, as 18 church buildings and eight mission houses have been dedicated, two buses acquired for the Aflao Pentecost Preparatory School (PPS), and also established a well-functioning credit union (PENCU) for the Area.

Sermon

Speaking at the service on the topic, “On Holy Ground” based on Exodus 3:1-5, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe stated that there are two things that can help believers to stand on holy ground – a place they can meet God. These, he said, are one’s location towards God and having a good motive in doing the work of God. 

He indicated that Moses saw the spectacular burning bush because he located himself at a good place as he moved his flock towards the far side close to the mountain of God, Mt. Horeb.

He added that Moses had a good motive while tendering the flock of his father-in-law, saying, “When your motive and location is good the Lord will open the heavens for you.”

Quoting from Luke chapter 5 and John chapter 21, the International Missions Director posited that unless one goes to the far side near God, one cannot access the glory of the Lord.

“If you want revival, change your location and position towards God and you will hear from Him,” he said.

He stressed that Moses qualified to stand on the holy ground because he had a good motive and strategically positioned himself.

The IMD added that standing on the holy ground calls for Christians to remove everything that destruct them from catching the attention of God. This, he said, was the reason why God instructed Moses to remove his sandals; the very sandals he wore and run away from Egypt, representing fear and sin.

Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe asked Apostle Dzemekey not to entertain any fear in his new station because the Lord has gone ahead of him.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Like the prophet Samuel, who spent all his life serving in the house of God, so is Prophet James Osei Amaniampong, who, right from school, was called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost, some 41 years ago.

His glamorous retirement service took place at the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Asokwa in the Asokwa Area, Kumasi on Sunday, August 21, 2022. It was attended by people from all walks of life, including chiefs and queens in the Ashanti Region and beyond, loved ones, ministers and members of the church from Ghana and other countries.

Officiated by the International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, the event was graced by the immediate past Chairman of the church, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah; the immediate past IMD, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo; the National Head of the church in the USA, Apostle Michael Agyemang Amoako; the immediate past Women’s Ministry Director Mrs Grace Lucy Yeboah Asuama, and the Finance Board Chairman of the church, Elder Prof. Stephen Owusu Kwankye.

Others were the Minister of Education, Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum; the Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Hon. Patricia Appiagyei, among other government functionaries.

Sermon

In a short but powerful sermon, the IMD, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, spoke on the topic: “The Chosen Staff,” based on Numbers 17:8.

He explained that even though the call of God is there for all persons, a few ones are chosen by God for a specific task.

He posited that since God sees and knows beyond what human beings can see and know, He selects people He has deposited some unique grace to execute His work, saying, “God does not show favouritism, yet He has a choice.”

According to him, God intentionally selected Moses and his brother Aaron from the tribe of Levi, to lead the people of Israel.

He indicated that the elders of Israel grumbled among themselves due to the selection of Moses and his brother. Knowing this, God asked the elders of the land to bring 12 staffs from each of the 12 tribes of Israel to the Tent of Testimony and after daybreak, only the staff from the tribe of Levi, belonging to Aaron sprouted — budded, blossomed, and even bore fruits.

The IMD mentioned that unless one entres the Test of Testimony and meets God they can never see God and have a living testimony.

He gave four stages of life that people who meet God go through. According to him, they sprout and that no one can suppress them. They also bud, grow big and show signs of promise; blossom and finally bear fruits even in unfriendly seasons, just like the almond tree.

Profile

James Osei Amaniampong was born on April 8, 1957, as a twin at Mampong-Ashanti, to Madam Mary Afia Amaniampong and Nana Kwaku Duah Agyemang, the Gyaasehene of Ejura (both of blessed memory). He and his twin brother are the fourth of 11 siblings.

He attended Mampong Community Nursery School at Akyeremade and moved to the Mampong Presbyterian School for his basic education. As brilliant as he was, he gained admission to one of the most enviable schools at the time called St. Monica’s Infant Junior School. He later went to stay with his father at Yeji to continue his education at the Yeji Local Authority No.1 Primary School in class six.

He proceeded to the Tamale Technical Institute after which he continued at the Kumasi Polytechnic (now Kumasi Technical University) and read General Engineering with a specialisation in Ordinary Technicians Diploma (ODT) in Plant Maintenance and Work Services, in line with his ambition to enroll in the military after school.

However, he was called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost just after he had completed the Kumasi Polytechnic in 1981.

He was ordained into the pastorate in 1986, and was ordained as a Prophet of the church in 1995. He served as District Pastor in Mampongteng (1981-1986), Old Tafo (1986-1989), Darkuman (1989-1991), Madina (1991-1995) and Takoradi (1995-1998). Additionally, he served as the National Head of the church in The Gambia (1998-2003) and as Area Head in Sunyani (2003-2008), Dansoman (2008-2011), Odorkor (2011-2013), Teshie-Nungua (2013-2018) and Asokwa (2018-2022).

Prophet James Osei Amaniampong has held many positions in the church, including an Executive Council Member (2011-2021), Board Chairman of Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa-Fetteh (2013-2022), and Greater Accra and Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Committee Chairman, from 2015-2018 and 2018-2021, respectively. He was also the Planning Committee Chairman for the first Global Ministers and Wives’ Conference and the Ministers and Wives’ Conference from 2012 to 2019.

Testimonies

“Prophet Amaniampong has given a good account of himself as a committed and dedicated servant of God. In fact, we can simply describe him as a purpose-driven minister who always sought the overall growth of the Kingdom of God and The Church of Pentecost, in particular,” the General Council of the church in a testimony stated.

The General Council further stated: “His organisational and administrative skills were excellent. These were put to the test when he was appointed as the Planning Committee Chairman for the first Global Ministers and Wives’ Conference and the Ministers and Wives’ Conferences from 2012 to 2019 – a responsibility he discharged with perfection.”

Asokwa Area Pastorate also described Prophet Amaniampong as a results-oriented leader, mentor, and team player, who always challenges ministers to pursue excellence.

The Area Women’s Ministry, on their part, applauded Mrs Georgina Birago Amaniampong, for her support of her husband’s successful ministry.

In their response, Prophet Amaniampong and his wife were full of gratitude to God and The Church of Pentecost for giving them the opportunity to serve the church. He also thanked various individuals whom God brought their way to support their ministry.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, has admonished missionaries to eschew forcing their native countries’ cultures on the members of the nations they serve as missionaries.

According to Apostle Agyemang Bekoe, the only permissible are the policies and doctrines of the church, which are the main foundation of the church, saying, “Don’t force them to accept your culture, rather engage with theirs.”

Apostle Agyemang Bekoe said this on Monday, July 4, 2022, during the Orientation Course for Missionaries of The Church of Pentecost held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa-Fetteh. The orientation was being organised by the International Missions Directorate of the church.

Addressing the missionaries on the topic, “Missions That Defies Theories: A Case Study Of The COP,” the International Missions Director said that missionaries must learn to appreciate and embrace the indigenous culture of the resident nations, stressing that a good heart and mind must be developed towards this feat.

Reading from Hosea 2:14-15, Apostle Agyemang Bekoe stated that the people of Israel wandered in the desert and were punished when their hearts had strayed away from God. Nevertheless, he noted, the judgement of God became a symbol of new opportunity for them.

“God continually shows love amid judgement…there is reassurance, encouragement, and comfort,” he asserted.

He revealed that many emerging missionaries do not engage their missionary guides, and they fail to ask questions on their appointments for fear of being unnecessarily tagged as being too inquisitive.

Explaining the realities of being a missionary of The Church of Pentecost, he said that many begin the journey with complaints rather than the urge and the resolve to fix the challenges within their nations or areas of assignment.

“When your complaints exceed growth, you become a liability to the organisation,” he stated.

He urged the missionaries of the church to be agents of change, because they are being sent not to go and ‘party’ but to fix broken systems and structures, trigger growth, and to set things right.

He charged them to break grounds by breaking through genuine contacts while building solid administrative systems and structures.

Present at the orientation were Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi (General Secretary of the church), and Apostle Samuel Gyau Obuobi (Asamankese Area Head of the church).

PENTECOST NEWS

The park in front of the Ghana Institute of Languages (GIL), near the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) in Madina was overflowed with members of The Church of Pentecost from the Madina Zone of the Madina Area where they had gathered to climax this year’s Easter convention on Sunday.

The four-day convention which started on Thursday was climaxed on Sunday morning [April 17, 2022], where believers in high spirit turned out in their numbers, numbering over 5,000, as they danced and praised God for the victorious death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Officiated by the International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, who was present with his wife Deborah, the service was also graced by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asene/Manso/Akroso Constituency, Hon. George Kwame Aboagye.

Also present were Apostle Nene Ahorlu Ofoe Amegatcher (Rtd.), former Director of Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM), and the six ministers and their wives who constitute the Madina Zone, namely Pastor Patrick Kobina Bremansu (East Legon District), Pastor Enoch Odame (Egyir Paintsil Memorial Worship Centre), Pastor Nehemiah Adjartey (Madina District), Pastor Gideon Kofi Boadu Yirenkyi (Firestone Worship Centre), Pastor Joshua Yirenkyi-Smart Jnr. (Adjiringanor District) and Probationary Overseer Prof. Joseph Osafo Adu (Rhema Worship Centre), as well as the PENSA Travelling Secretary for the Madina Sector, Pastor Gabriel Nti.

Preaching the sermon on the topic, “The Spirit that Raised Jesus From the Dead” based on Romans 8:11, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe revealed that it was the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of God) that raised Jesus from the dead, but not the angel who was seen in Jesus’ tomb.

He disclosed that before the coming of the angel to the tomb, the Holy Spirit had already lifted the “unliftable” from the dead.

According to him, the Holy Spirit, who is a spiritual being (a bodiless spirit with no human flesh) is both human and God, and exhibits himself in two ways – the breath of God and the wind from the Lord – as revealed in Exodus 14:21, Numbers 11:31, Acts 2:1-2; Ezekiel 37:4-5.

The International Missions Director disclosed that the Holy Spirit does not expire and is forever active to quicken the mortal bodies of believers and restore them to their original states.

He indicated that when believers are clothed with the Holy Spirit, he is able to transform and give them hope and turn things around in their lives.

Apostle Agemang Bekoe after the sermon led the congregation in prayers which saw an impartation of various spiritual giftings to the members.

This year’s Easter convention in the Madina Area was held at five zones. The other zones are the La-Nkwantanang zone made up of La-Nkwantanang, Ashalley Botwe, Estate Worship Centre and Adenta Housing Down districts; Dodowa zone made up of Dodowa, Doryumu, and Oyibi districts; Oyarifa zone comprising Oyarifa, Oyarifa Worship Centre, and Oyarifa Salem districts, and Amrahia zone consisting of Amrahia and Ashiyie districts.

PENTECOST NEWS. 

“The heart is a very delicate organ to human existence because it pumps oxygenated blood to all parts of the body. When the heart dies the human being also dies.

“In the same way, spiritually your heart must be guarded and protected from the enemy. Any believer who does not protect his or her heart is prone to the enemy’s attacks.”

These were the words of Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, the International Missions Director of The Church of Pentecost, during a sermon he delivered at the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Kaneshie on Sunday, February 27, 2022.

The IMD stated that the mind is the battleground, and once the believer gives in to the thoughts of the devil, he [Satan] will take hold of his heart. That is why believers need to guard their hearts, he stated. 

“You need to guard your heart. Start running away from sin because it is dangerous to fight the enemy in his own territory. If you fight him on his turf, you will lose the battle. When you go to the mountain of God and fight him there, you will win the battle,” he said.

Reading from Proverbs 4:23 (Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it), he stressed that the heart and the mind are connected, and that anytime the Bible talks about the heart, it is also referring to the mind.

“The heart is the mind, the mind is the heart, and the two are in the soul of man. The heart of man is the mind of man and the mind of man is his thoughts. The thoughts and the mind are encapsulated in the brain. The mind and the heart together form the soul of a man,” he disclosed.

Speaking on the topic, “The Breastplate of Righteousness,” the IMD chose his main scripture reading from Ephesians 6:14 (Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place).

According to him, the armours represent God’s strength that he gives to the Christian once he/she is saved, and that once the believer puts them on they exhibit God’s strength.

Explaining the text, he stated that there is a connection between righteousness and holiness, saying, “Holiness is encapsulated in righteousness; once you are holy, you are also a righteous person.”

He indicated that imputed righteousness which is God’s righteousness that he shares part with the saved, just like the other armours of God, must be put on by the believer.

“The decision to put it on lies with you. You can decide not to put it on, it is your own prerogative,” he said.

He added: “We have many believers who have actually placed their armours aside. There are also those who have the armours in place, but they do not know how to use them.

“We must be a church that is equipped, prepared and trained and able to use the full armour to face the enemy.”

Touching on what to do to guard the heart, he asked Christians to constantly make a deliberate effort to renew their minds (Romans 12:2).

“Society is suffering because we are not able to discipline our thoughts. Once we are not able to discipline our thoughts our conscience becomes dead. Once your conscience is dead your heart becomes evil and you cannot stop sinning. It would take the grace of God to live right,” he added.

Also present at the service were the wife of the IMD, Mrs. Deborah Agyemang Bekoe; the Resident Minister, Pastor Emmanuel Paa Sekyi Yirebi and his wife Priscilla, as well as Pastor Samuel Yankey of Anyinasuso District in the Tepa Area, among others.

PENTECOST NEWS. 

The International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, has challenged officers of the church to mobilise their members to build every broken gate in the local church to make the place dynamic.

He indicated that when Nehemiah realised that the walls and gates of Jerusalem had broken down, he mobilised some like-minded groups to help him repair all the 12 damaged gates so as to restore the fortunes of the city.

Apostle Agyemang Bekoe was speaking at the just-ended Kaneshie Area 2022 Officers Retreat (Apostolisation) at the Kaneshie Central Auditorium.

Treating the topic, “Mobilising the Squads to Repair the Gates of the Church” (Nehemiah 3:1-32; 12:39), he stated that for the local church to become an equipping centre, where people could be trained, mentored, and unleased to make an impact in society, leaders have onerous responsibility to ensure that every member is given a role to play in the church.

The first gate, the Sheep Gate (Nehemiah 3:1) was repaired by the High Priest and the priests. This gate, he said, represents the gate of sacrifice. He stated that before Jesus Christ was crucified, he had to pass through the Sheep Gate to Golgota.

In the church, the gate of sacrifice should be repaired by leaders so that people can render sacrificial services free of charge without demanding any financial reward.

The second gate was the Fish Gate (Nehemiah 3:3-5), which represents evangelism. He, however, said that when the Fish Gate was being repaired, the nobles of Tekoites did not put their shoulders to the work. Same thing is happening in the church today, he said, as ministers, officers and leaders do not involve themselves in personal evangelism, but usually send some particular group of people out while they stay indoors.

The third gate was the Jeshanah Gate or Old Gate (Nehemiah 3:6) which represents the old practices in the church. He was of the view that while the core values or practices of the church cannot be discarded in the 21^st century, leaders should blend them with modern trends so that the church would stay relevant to society.

Talking about the fourth gate, the Valley Gate (Nehemiah 3:13), Apostle Bekoe said that it represents suffering. He stressed the need to repair this gate of suffering since Christianity is not always smooth but also involves persecutions. He asked believers to endure hardships and be partakers of Christ’s suffering since their rewards are assured.

Revealing the fifth gate which was the Dump/Refuse Gate (Nehemiah 3:14), he said it represents sin. He asked officers of the church to repair that gate by nibbing sin in the bud anytime it rears its ugly head in the church no matter the people involved so that there will be sanctity in the church.

Repairing the sixth gate, the Fountain Gate (Nehemiah 3:16) which represents the Holy Spirit, he said that unless the Sin Gate is repaired the Fountain Gate cannot have its way.

However, talking about the seventh gate, thus the Water Gate (Nehemiah 3:26) which represents the word of God, he said the squad realised that it was still intact. This confirms the scriptures that all things will pass away but the word of God is forever settled.

On repairing the eighth gate, the Horse Gate (Nehemiah 3:27) which represents the gate of spiritual warfare, he said it was a gate where soldiers going for war dressed with their armour. He asked leaders to encourage the members to pray themselves so that they can stand against the schemes of the devil.

The ninth gate, the East Gate (Nehemiah 3:29) was closed for the return of the Messiah. This, he explained, represents the second coming of Jesus Christ. “We need to constantly remind our members about the return of our Lord Jesus Christ since this earth is not our permanent place of abode,” he added.

On the tenth gate, thus the Inspection Gate (Nehemiah 3:31), he said it was where soldiers going for war were inspected, and when they were returning from war, roll call was conducted and those who misconducted themselves at war were then punished, while those who fought well were also honoured. According to him, a day is coming where every work and action of believers will be examined and rewards given.

The eleventh gate, the Ephraim Gate (Nehemiah 12:39), represents fruitfulness and double portion. He said the local church should be centre of fruitfulness.

On the last gate which was the Guard/Prison Gate (Nehemiah 12:39), representing judgment day, he charged Christians to do their work well so that they will not face the wrath of God.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, has called on church leaders and officers to make the local church an equipping centre, where godly men and women would be raised to transform society.  

Speaking at the Kaneshie Area Officers’ Retreat (Apostolisation) on Tuesday, February 2022, at the Kaneshie Central Auditorium on the topic: “The Church as an Equipping Centre” – Matthew 28:18-20, he mentioned that the focus of the church now is disciple-making. This, he explained, is to intentionally teach, mentor, and equip people who come to Christ to live a Christ-like life to positively impact their spheres of life.

The IMD stressed that when members are well-grounded in Christ, they are then unleashed to their families communities, and workplaces to witness about their newfound life in Christ and the changes they have experienced as a result of their encounter with the gospel.

According to him, the more Christians go out and witness about Christ and the spotlight is thrown them, the better persons they become because it checks them from dabbling in sin.

Touching on some Kingdom methods of evangelism based on Matthew 13:24-28 (the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares) to drum home the need to make the local church an equipping centre, Apostle Agyemang Bekoe said that the devil always plants his agents in the church, hence the need to equip the members to be watchful and discerning to stand their grounds.

Quoting from Obadiah 1:17-21, he posited that there should be deliverance, holiness, and fire at the local church where members would access their possessions in Christ, stressing that “holiness must be our watchword wherever we find ourselves.”

Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe added that out of Mt. Zion shall be saviours, describing the local church as a place of raising saviours of the world who would transform their societies. He described the local church as Mt. Zion and the members as children of Zion.

He led the congregation through a time of intensive prayers after the sermon.

PENTECOST NEWS.