Posts in category: Moving With IMD

The International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, has called on heads of the church to make every effort to take the gospel of salvation to every part of the world.

He said although The Church of Pentecost has done creditably well in taking the gospel to the nations as it currently has its presence in 109 nations across the globe, there are still about 159 unreached nations yet to be possessed by the church for Christ.

“There are still more lands to be possessed. We should not rest on our laurels; we need to move as fast as possible to possess every land of the world for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” he stated.

Apostle Agyemang Bekoe revealed this when addressing National/Area Heads at the 2021 Heads’ Meeting of the church on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa.

Speaking to the topic, “Possessing the Nations Agenda – The Missions Perspective,” the IMD said that out of the 159 unpossessed nations, eight are in Africa, 30 in Asia, 56 in Europe, 23 in North and South America, 20 in the Caribbean, 21 in Australia/Oceania and disputed Antarctica.

Per the church’s five-year strategic vision of Possessing the Nations, it intends to capture at least 40 of these unpossessed nations for Christ by the end of the year 2023. The ambitious agenda, he stated, requires a more concerted effort by all stakeholders so that the overarching vision of the church would be realised at the end of the period.

Touching on some of the implementation strategies needed to drive the missions aspect of the Possessing the Nations agenda of the church, Apostle Agyemang Bekoe mentioned 22 thematic areas that his office has developed to help achieve the agenda.

These include planting churches in prime areas in the nations, increasing soul winning and creation of more districts, training ministers in the diaspora to be missions-minded aside providing ministry to people largely of Ghanaian descent, aggressive ministry to the homeless, drug/drunk/sex addicts, encouraging the establishment of more Pentecost International Worship Centres (PIWCs) in the nations and training of leaders at all levels.

Other strategies include establishing more French-speaking churches in the English-speaking West African countries and vice-versa, introducing French programmes on the church’s television station – Pent TV to reach out to the Francophones, establishing Pentecost Students and Associates (PENSA) in the nations, and strengthening the affiliation with PENSA International to recruit students and alumni as volunteers for social work and evangelism..

PENTECOST NEWS.

The International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, has donated 30 thermometer guns to three bodies at the Head Office of the church to help them observe the COVID-19 protocols in their operations.

The beneficiary institutions are Media Ministry which had five, Pent TV which received 20, and PENSA International which also had five.

Presenting the items, Apostle Agyemang Bekoe noted that the package was just the beginning of more good things to come since the Missions Office considers the beneficiary institutions as strategic partners in the missions’ drive of the church.

“As part of Vision 2023, the Youth Ministry and for that matter, PENSA International has become a strategic partner to Missions, not only them but Pent TV and the Media Ministry. So, we decided to give them these items so that they can observe the covid protocols in line of duty,” he said.

In response, the Youth Director, Pastor Ebenezer Hagan, on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the IMD for the kind gesture, saying, “We really cherish the gesture, and we are going to equip ourselves with it as we move out to possess the nations.”

PENTECOST NEWS. 

Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, an analytical chemist trained at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has been inducted into office as the new International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost yesterday.

His induction service which took place at the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Atomic in Accra, coincided with the farewell of his predecessor, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, who successfully handled the office for ten good years, the inauguration of the reconstituted Missions Board to oversee the missions’ enterprise of the church, as well as the induction of Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh (Executive Council Member) and Elder Evans Ayim (Deputy Evangelism Ministry Director).

The service was officiated by the Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, assisted by the General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, and other members of the Executive Council.

The event was attended by some Area/National Heads of the church across the globe, traditional leaders, representatives of para-church organisations, and members of the church from far and near.

The Chairman administered the induction charge to the new IMD after which he was prayed for to formally assume office.

In his acceptance speech, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe thanked God for His grace upon his life and family. He also thanked the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost and the Executive Council for the confidence reposed in him to serve the Kingdom of God and the church.

He craved the indulgence of all and sundry to pray for him and his family to fulfill the task given to them and never to disappoint God and the church.

The new IMD paid a glowing tribute to his predecessor, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, for the sterling performance exhibited during the 10-year tenure as the International Missions Director.

He re-echoed the church’s missions’ enterprise as enshrined in the 5-year strategic vision dubbed Vision 2023 of the church. It states: “We shall be committed to restrengthen our missions’ front and exploring other strategies to enable us increase our presence in the nations. Our target is not just to be present in a nation, but that our presence will be felt as we impact the land with values and principles of the Kingdom of God.”

This, he said, will be his focus, adding that, “we know that the God of our fathers, who is also our God today, shall enable us to expand the frontiers of the missions enterprise while consolidating the gains made so far.”

Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe was called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 2006 and stationed at Breman Brakwa from 2007 to 2010 and later in Winneba from 2010 to 2012 as district overseer and pastor respectively. He was called into missions and headed the church in Uganda from 2012 to 2019. While in Uganda, he served as the Co-ordinator of the East African bloc Regional Co-ordinating Committee. He was recalled to Ghana in 2019 and headed the Haatso Area of the church in the Greater Accra Region, a position he held till his current appointment.

He holds an Msc. (Analytical Chemistry) and Bsc. (Chemistry) degrees from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. He also holds an MA (Theology) degree from the Akrofi-Christaller Institute, a certificate in Theology from the Pentecost University, and a certificate in Basics in Biblical Greek from Zondervan.

Prior to his calling into the full-time ministry, he taught Chemistry at Kumasi Academy and also used to be an Assistant Examiner in Chemistry for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

Apostle Agyemang Bekoe is married to Deborah, and they are blessed with four children.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Pastor Joshua Baffoe Ennin, 36-year-old young, vibrant, and enterprising minister of The Church of Pentecost who lost his life a few weeks ago was laid to rest last Saturday, March 27, 2021, at Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.

The late pastor until his untimely death which occurred on February 27, 2021, after a short illness, was the resident minister of the Obuasi branch of the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC, Obuasi). He left behind a wife, Mrs. Sarah Ennin, and three young adoring daughters.

At the burial and memorial service held at the Anglogold Ashanti School Park at Obuasi, mourners, mostly ministers and members of the church, friends and loved ones, and family members could not hold back their tears as they wept in bidding him farewell.  

The solemn service was officiated by the International Missions Director (IMD) of the church, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, aptly assisted by Prophet James Osei Amaniampong (Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Committee & Asokwa Area Head), Apostle William Boakye Agyarko (Obuasi Area Head) as well as other Area Heads in the region and from other parts of the country.

The IMD on behalf of the Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, and the Executive Council, expressed his condolences to the bereaved family for their painful loss, which, he said, has created a vacuum in the family that would be difficult to fill.

Apostle Gyesi-Addo, however, thanked God for giving Pastor Joshua Ennin as a gift to the family using him to do great work in the church within the relatively short period that he spent on earth.

According to him, it is not the number of years that one spends on earth that matters, but the impact that they make in the lives of others.

In a sermon, the Madina Area Head of the church, Apostle Martin Seth Appiah, spoke on the topic: “When the flesh appears, the voice must disappear” – Matthew 3:1-3; 11:10.

He explained that God has placed something special in the hands of every born-again believer and He expects them to work with it. He mentioned that God has also marked a specific time for every believer within which they are supposed to work and end their earthly assignment. As soon as they finish their work, he said, God whisks them away. “The death of such vibrant believers becomes very difficult for humans to understand it,” he indicated.

Apostle Appiah disclosed that Prophet Isaiah who prophesied about the birth of Christ in Isaiah 9:6 also prophesied about John the Baptist, who was also called a “Voice” in Isaiah 40:3.  

“Comparing Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:3; 11:10 and other scriptures, the common name used to refer to John was the ‘Voice.’ The main task for the ‘Voice’ was to be a forerunner of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

According to Apostle Appiah, when John was born and attained age 30, he began his work by telling the people of Israel about the coming Messiah. So John by destiny and in God’s plan was to give way when the Word becomes ‘Flesh’ as in John 1:1, he revealed.

“Like John the Baptist, Pastor Joshua Baffoe Ennin knew that he was to end his ministry here at Obuasi after three years just as he told his wife. His zeal for God was like John the Baptist, because he would call spade a spade, white, white and black, black. He never joked with the word of God and he preached it with all his strength at all times.

“Those who have a shorter time on earth execute their task in haste because there is a greater prize waiting for them in heaven.

“There is a mystery behind the death of Pastor Joshua Ennin. No devil or witchcraft can kill us. His work on earth has just come to an end and he must go quickly. There is another church in heaven (the triumphant church) and Joshua is needed there.

“Joshua came as a voice. The flesh has come and the voice must go and that is why he is no more,” he disclosed.

Profile of Pastor Joshua Ennin

Pastor Joshua Kofi Baffoe Ennin was born on May 11, 1984, in Accra to Mr. Peter Kofi Ennin and Millicent Sey, both of blessed memory. He completed basic school in the year 2000 at Christ Mission School, Kwashieman. He then proceeded to Swedru Senior High School and studied Business and successfully completed in 2003. He became the Student Representative Council (SRC) President in his final year. He had a diploma in Special Education from the University of Education, Winneba, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Human Resource Option) from the University of Ghana, Legon.

He had his National Service at The Church of Pentecost Headquarters and served at the office of the then Chairman, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, where he worked till his call into the full-time ministry in 2012. He started his ministerial service at Nsawora District in the Sefwi Wiawso Area, serving four years and later at PIWC-Obuasi, where he passed away after serving for four years.

Various tributes read in his honour eulogized him for being a minister, husband, father, and Christian with a difference – a man whose zeal and passion for the work of God was unparalleled.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, has expressed grave concern that some preachers of the gospel are shifting their attention from preaching about salvation of Christ to acquiring worldly things.

According to him, instead of them to propagate the gospel of salvation and embark on evangelistic drive, many of them were unduly concerned with wealth acquisition and motivational messages at the expense of the unadulterated word of God. He wondered why some preachers have sought to replace evangelistic songs like ‘Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,’ ‘Hark the Voice of Jesus calling,’ among others with “Tomorrow by this time God will make a way” when they mount the pulpit to preach.

The IMD was of the view that the message of the gospel preacher should centre on eternal life for all who come to Jesus Christ and the wrath of God awaiting those who do not believe in Christ. “Pentecostals and evangelicals believe in the death of Christ that has atoned for the sins of mankind and so there is life after death; heaven and hell is real and this should be our message,” he said, adding that “we need to focus on reaching out to the ends of the world as missionaries of Christ.”

Speaking at the Adenta Estate Worship Centre (AEWC) in the Madina Area on Sunday March 14, 2021, to climax the 2021 McKeown Missions Week celebration, Apostle Gyesi-Addo intimated that to be sent as a messenger of God is to preach and proclaim Christ unto salvation and that is the mandate and responsibility of all believers (John 3:36; Luke 16:8, and Romans 10:13-17). He cited the story of Pastor James and Mrs. Sophia McKeown to drum home his point, stressing that they responded to the call to leave Europe for the Gold Coast, present day Ghana, in 1937 despite the challenges and frustrations for the sake of the gospel.

The IMD advised Christians to avoid undue rationalisation when it comes to giving to support the work of missions. “The gospel must be preached with its attendant social services. We need money to send missionaries, provide potable drinking water, build chapels, health centres among other interventions, and so your financial support is needed,” he emphasised.

Reading from Luke 16:8, Apostle Gyesi-Addo posited that unbelievers are able to sponsor all kinds of agenda without any reservation, yet Christians would always want to be shrewd by rationalising how much they are parting with for the sake of the gospel.

On behalf of the Chairman of the Church and the Missions Board, the IMD commended the AEWC for their immense contributions to the work missions. “Your performance over the years contributed to the calling of the late Elder George Amponsah to serve as a member of the International Missions Board,” he stated.

“Also, while serving as a missionary in Gabon, we consistently received telephone calls from members of this church every year. That was of great encouragement to us, and we believe that other missionaries would attest to this,” he said, adding, “For my last official Missions Week celebration as the IMD, I decided to come and fellowship with you, to commend and express our appreciation for your good works and to further urge you to continue in the good works.”

The Resident Minister, Pastor Eric Asare, on his part, was grateful to the IMD for his visit and encouragement. He said the AEWC was blessed with missions-minded members and so would continue to pray for them and contribute financially to the work of missions.

The AEWC recently received a citation from the Madina Area for emerging as the highest contributor of the McKeown Missions Week for four continuous years, thus from 2016 to 2020.

Report by AEWC Media/Publicity Team.

The International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo has urged Christians, particularly church leaders, to deem it imperative to revere the Lord at all times as it is a prerequisite for revival.

Apostle Gyesi-Addo said this during the Eastern Regional session of the ongoing Ministers and Wives’ Conference on Tuesday, January 25, 2021, held at the Central Tabernacle, Koforidua. He spoke on the topic: “Revival In An Atmosphere Of Reverence” with references from Leviticus 10:3; 19:30 and James 4:8.

In his exposition, the IMD talked about two key subjects – the Temple (Sanctuary) as a physical structure and the Temple (Sanctuary) as a spiritual structure. The temple or sanctuary, he explained, is a meeting place for the saints (believers). 

“God is always present wherever the saints gather. Consequently, wherever the saints gather becomes a holy place,” he said.

Touching on the temple as a spiritual structure, he said that “Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, they must glorify God in their bodies. The presence of God is always in the temple whether physical or spiritual, and He must be given/accorded the needed reverence.” 

He noted that the temple is the house of God and it symbolises His dwelling. Hence, temples are dedicated and sanctified for His use, adding that “a temple which is left unattended does not glorify God.”

The IMD reiterated that God is the owner of the church and a partaker of all church services, hence He must always be acknowledged in the midst of the saints. 

“God must not in any circumstance be provoked during worship by doing things that displease Him,” he cautioned.

Apostle Gyesi-Addo advised church leaders not to look down on anyone in the church and to desist from exchanging pleasantries with others while service is in session. He also urged other church workers, such as instrumentalists, to behave in a disciplined manner during services.

He also urged Christians, particularly church leaders, to be conscious of the presence of God during church services and to offer Him the honour due Him because reverence for God brings great revival. He concluded that when believers serve and worship God well, miracles, signs and wonders become byproducts; they follow automatically.

Report by ERCC Media Team

The International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, has entreated Christians to consistently yearn for the presence of the Holy Spirit who is the sustainer of the church and the believer.

“If the Spirit gives life, then what is our problem? Let us avail ourselves and yield to the power of the Holy Spirit; let’s give him time and the space to give us life,” he stated.   

Apostle Gyesi-Addo was speaking on Day-4 of the 2020 Heads’ Meeting on Thursday, December 3, 2020, on the topic, “The Spirit Gives Life” – John 6:63, to participants across the globe via zoom.

He asserted that if revival is bringing back to life, then there is none better to do that kind of work than the one who gives life – Jesus Christ. He however said that Jesus himself referred to the Holy Spirit as the one who gives life, because the Spirit is his direct representative on the planet earth.

The IMD explained that for Jesus to say that the Holy Spirit gives life means that the Spirit gives animation and vitality to the church. “He is the one who produces and supplies energy to the church,” he pointed out.

He used the story of the creation of man in Genesis 2:7 to explain his point. According to him, the account gives three scenarios – God forming the man from the dust of the ground; God breathing into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit), and the man responding to become a living soul.

According to the IMD, the first scenario depicts the church both at individual and corporate levels without the Spirit, saying, “The church without the Spirit is lifeless, cold, unexciting, lacks spiritual energy like the man formed without the breath of God.”

He added: “The church without the Spirit is like the body without the Spirit of God. But when God breathes into it, it will be revived.

“When Jesus said that, ‘I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail upon it,’ he implied that he will build a kind of church that has life such that the forces of evil shall not be able to stand against it. Jesus was sure of this because he knew that after his departure, the Spirit of God will come and breathe life into the church and will be with them forever. After his resurrection, he appeared to them and breathed upon them.”

Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo took the participants back to the early days of The Church of Pentecost when the church went through serious struggles following the splits and indicated that the fortunes of the church were turned around by the power of the Holy Spirit, which the leadership relied wholly upon. He said that the same God is still at work in the church and the lives of individuals.

To keep a constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14), he called on believers never to neglect the presence of the Spirit. He asked them to continue to enjoy the grace of Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

He also entreated the church to continue to pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit for new converts and noted that every believer must subject him/herself to the baptism in the Holy Spirit.   

PENTECOST NEWS.