Posts in category: MPWDs

The Women’s Ministry of the Mamponteng District in the Old Tafo Area of The Church of Pentecost has held a special feast for persons with disabilities (PWDs) of the Physically Challenged Action Foundation at Offinso on Monday, January 2, 2023.

The representatives of the eight local assemblies in the district showcased their meals, which were inspected by the District Minister, Pastor Stephen Ayerakwa Gyan, and his wife, Gladys, together with Deaconess Mavis Addai (Old Tafo Area Women’s Leader) and Deaconess Vida Appiah (District Women’s Leader), after which the 150 inmates of the Home were served.

Aside from the dinner, the Church also presented some items worth GHC 2,500.00 to the Home, among which were wax prints, clothing, underwear and panties.

According to Pastor Ayerakwa Gyan, the gesture was in response to the charge in Matthew 25:40, and also to fulfil the Church’s Vision 2023 agenda of “Possessing the Nations,” which seeks to influence every sphere of life with principles and values of the kingdom of God. He called on all and sundry to get the PWDs involved in the New Year celebration to make them feel part of the society.

The Founder of the Home, Mr. Sylvester Yaw Barima Antwi, appreciated The Church of Pentecost, especially the Mamponteng District Women’s Ministry for the wonderful benevolence. He asserted that such acts create space for social interaction, and are closely entwined with definitions of the self-esteem for the disabled in society.  

He appealed to the masses for support as the established school of the Foundation needs funds to install electricity to aid teaching and learning.

Deaconess Mavis Addai (Area Women’s Leader) commended the Mamponteng District Women’s Ministry for such a pleasant occasion with PWDs. She stressed the need for the Women’s Ministry in the various Areas of the Church to imbibe the 2023 theme of “Repositioning the Local Church for Maximum Impact in the Nations.”

On her part, Deaconess Vida Appiah (District Women’s Leader), also acknowledged the effort of the Local Women’s Ministry Leaders and Presiding Elders of the Mamponteng District. She assured that more of such visitations will be embarked upon in 2023 to embolden the confidence of the vulnerable in society that someone cares for them.

Report by Dennis Owusu & Emmanuel Nana Nsiah

The Mampong Area of The Church of Pentecost has organised a praises and worship festival with persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the Area. 

The event, which was spearheaded by the Area’s Ministry to Persons with Disabilities (MPWDs) Committee, was purposely held to give thanks to God for His care and love throughout the year 2022.

In his opening remarks, the Mampong Area Head, Apostle Samuel Kwabena Asare, encouraged participants to be steadfast in Christ no matter their peculiar challenges since Jesus’ love for them is beyond comprehension. 

He advised them to focus on their innate abilities and potentials rather than their inabilities. 

Pastor Richard Asare-Drah, the Area MPWDs Coordinator, charged participants, parents and other stakeholders to take good care of their relatives with disabilities due to their uniqueness. 

The well-patronised event featured a worship session, individual testimonies, a talk on personal empowerment, and success stories of some PWDs, among others. Participants included persons with mobility or physical disabilities, visual impairment, hearing impairment and mental health challenges.

As part of the programme, all participants were refreshed with meals and drinks. 

Present at the event were Area MPWDs Committee members, some ministers and District MPWDs Coordinators. 

Report by Overseer Osei Mensah

The Mampong Area of The Church of Pentecost has organised a praises and worship festival with persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the Area. 

The event, which was spearheaded by the Area’s Ministry to Persons with Disabilities (MPWDs) Committee, was purposely held to give thanks to God for His care and love throughout the year 2022.

In his opening remarks, the Mampong Area Head, Apostle Samuel Kwabena Asare, encouraged participants to be steadfast in Christ no matter their peculiar challenges since Jesus’ love for them is beyond comprehension. 

He advised them to focus on their innate abilities and potentials rather than their inabilities. 

Pastor Richard Asare-Drah, the Area MPWDs Coordinator, charged participants, parents and other stakeholders to take good care of their relatives with disabilities due to their uniqueness. 

The well-patronised event featured a worship session, individual testimonies, a talk on personal empowerment, and success stories of some PWDs, among others. Participants included persons with mobility or physical disabilities, visual impairment, hearing impairment and mental health challenges.

As part of the programme, all participants were refreshed with meals and drinks. 

Present at the event were Area MPWDs Committee members, some ministers and District MPWDs Coordinators. 

Report by Overseer Osei Mensah

The Prestea-Himan District in the Bogoso Area of The Church of Pentecost has organised a free medical health screening exercise for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and the aged within Prestea and its environs.

The event, which was initiated by the Ministry to Persons with Disabilities (MPWDs) committee of the district, took place on November 2, 2022, at the Krutown-Nsuekyir community ground.

The 20-member medical from the Prestea Government Hospital, led by the Nurse Manager and Hospital Administrator, Mrs. Florence Agbeko, screened the patrons for various health conditions such as Hepatitis B, Typhoid, HIV/AIDs, Ear, Eye, Teeth, Mental Health and Malaria. They also administered medicines and vaccines at the event. 

In all, a total of 188 persons, including those with leprosy as well as visual, auditory and speech impairments, patronised the event.

Some PWDs and aged persons were enrolled on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), whilst others had their expired NHIS cards renewed.

Speaking in an interview with PENTECOST NEWS, the District Minister, Pastor A. T. Nartey, said that PWDs must receive equal access to better healthcare and life in Christ like everyone else.

“Disability is not inability. Every soul God has created matters, so we should show love to every person no matter his or her status because our God is a God for every person,” he said.

He further stated that physical disability is not by choice and could, therefore, happen to anyone else. He, therefore, made a passionate appeal to members of society to do more to empower and seek the welfare of PWDs rather than presenting them with “handouts.”

“Instead of feeling sorry for them and giving them foodstuff and used clothes, let us help them access better medical care, quality education and grant them business opportunities so that they can also be independent,” he said.

Mrs. Florence Agbeko, on her part, thanked the Church for undertaking such a wonderful initiative. She also advised parents against hiding relatives who are suffering from physical disabilities.

Some PWDs also commended the Church for the event and called for more such exercises in the future.

Present at the event were Elder William Gyetuah (District Secretary), Elder Francis Archer, (MPWDs District Secretary), Deacon Mark Cudjoe (MPWDs District Organizer), Deaconess Doris Amoo (District Women’s Leader), as well as some officers and members of the Church. 

Report by Elder Francis Archer

The Ministry to Persons with Disabilities (MPWDs) of The Church of Pentecost, in partnership with Joni & Friends and Covenant Family Care Missions, Ghana, has provided assistive devices to about 213 persons with disabilities (PWDs). 

The exercise is in fulfilment of the ministry’s vision to project the love of Christ to PWDs by granting them opportunities to actively participate in the Kingdom business and thereby facilitate their full inclusion in society.

The assistive devices include wheelchairs, crutches, zimmer frames, and white canes. 

The MPWD is a ministry of The Church of Pentecost birthed under her five-year strategic vision, dubbed Vision 2023. It seeks to build a strong ministry to persons with disabilities (PWDs) through effective evangelism and discipleship, as well as create an enabling environment to promote their spiritual, emotional and personal growth in order to impact the church, their communities, and nations.

Joni & Friends is an organisation in the USA which envisions a world where every person with disability finds hope, dignity and their place in the Body of Christ. 

Covenant Family Care Missions, on the other hand, is a subsidiary of Covenant Family Community Church in Accra that evangelises to persons with disabilities in Ghana.

Report by MPWDs Media Team

The Takoradi Area of The Church of Pentecost has held a day’s seminar for the Takoradi community and its environs to promote the full inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the church and society.

The seminar, which took place on July 9, 2022 at the A.T. Nartey Memorial Temple, Takoradi, was attended by ministers and their wives, presiding elders, officers, MPWDs committee members, district ministry committees and MPWDs volunteers across the area.

Addressing the gathering at the event on behalf of the Takoradi Area Head, Prophet Samuel Tetteh Doku urged members to demonstrate love towards persons with disabilities.

The main facilitator for the training, Pastor Alexander Nyame (National MPWDs Coordinator), outlined the church’s vision for the PWDs as captured in the five-year strategic vision of the church (Vision 2023) and challenged all to work towards the successful realisation of the vision.

Quoting from Genesis 1:26-27, he mentioned that PWDs are created in the image of God and, therefore, must not be neglected. Instead, he urged them to demonstrate love to them and lead them to Christ. 

The Takoradi Area MPWDs Coordinator, Pastor Christian Asiedu Budu, expressed his profound gratitude to Pastor Nyame for educating them on the plights of PWDs and the need to care for them. He further thanked the church for its continuous support for PWDs.

The topics treated during the training programme included “MPWDs At A Glance,” “Dos And Don’ts When Interacting With MPWDs,” and “Basic Ghanaian Sign Language.”

The seminar was attended by Pastor Stephen Okyere Acheampong (Area Secretary), Pastor Stephen K. Asuo (Area Executive Committee Member), Elder Daniel K. Quaye (Area Deacon), as well as a cross-section of the area pastorate and their wives. 

The National MPWDs Coordinator was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Evelyn Nyame, Moses Amankwaah and Christian Dadzie.

Report by Pastor Ernest Perbi-Asare (Takoradi Area Media Pastor)

The Ave-Dakpa District in the Aflao Area of The Church of Pentecost has supported Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs) within the district.

As part of their annual event, 16 PWDs members were given assorted food items and undisclosed cash amounts to support their livelihoods on Sunday, January 30, 2022.

Speaking on the topic, “Be Grateful As An Equipped Soldier” (Luke 17:12-19), Pastor Eric Osei, District Minister of Ave-Dakpa, said that Christians must demonstrate acts of appreciation to God by taking care of the needy.

He stated that after Jesus had healed the ten lepers who requested help from him, only one of them went back to the Lord to thank him for his kind gesture. This, he said, should not be the attitude of any soldier in the army of God.

“In our present situation, when we give to the needy, we are expressing our gratitude to God for his unmerited favour bestowed upon us,” he noted.

He then urged Christians to exhibit love to one another, since it is also an act of love towards God.

After the exhortation, the members were taken through a time of prayer and thanksgiving.

Elder Fred Obed Asamoah, the District Coordinator for the Ministry to Persons with Disabilities (MPWD), advised beneficiaries to be regular at church, and always pray for those who have been supporting them.

Present were some members of the District Executive Committee, Local Coordinators of the ministry, and some members of the church.

Report by Pastor Francis Lamptey, Aflao Area Reporter.

The Frami District in the Cape Coast Area of The Church of Pentecost has held a day’s seminar for the Frami community, and its environs aimed at promoting the social inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The seminar, which took place on 14th August 2021 at the Frami Central Assembly auditorium, was attended by traditional leaders, members of the district as well as the community folks.

Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator for Ministry to Persons With Disabilities (MPWDs) of the Church, Overseer Alexander Nyame, called on the members to demonstrate love towards persons with disabilities in the church and the entire community.

Quoting from Genesis 1:26-27, he mentioned that such people are also created in the image of God and, therefore, must not be neglected. Instead, he urged them to demonstrate love to them and lead them to Christ. 

He further outlined the church’s vision for the PWDs as captured in the five-year strategic vision of the church (Vision 2023) and challenged all to work towards the successful realisation of the vision.

Overseer Alexander Nyame, on behalf of the Church and the MPWDs, donated five wheelchairs and four clutches to church members in the Frami and Dominase District as well as some individuals from Abrafo and Bremang communities.

Overseer Appiah, on behalf of the Frami District, donated a gari-processing machine to the District MPWDs Committee to be used to generate money to support the livelihood of the PWDs in the district.

The Chief of Abrafo Odumase, Nana Amoateng III, expressed his profound gratitude to the Frami District Minister, Overseer Daniel Appiah, for organising such an insightful seminar for members, chiefs, and the community to educate them on the plights of PWDs and the need to care for them. He further thanked the church for its continuous support for PWDs.

The seminar was attended by Pastor Felix Zee-Shi (Dominase District Minister), some District MPWDs Coordinators in the Cape Coast Area, members of Frami and Dominase districts, chiefs, Queen mothers and traditional leaders from Frami, Abrafo-Odumase, Mbem and Bremang communities.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Ministry to Persons With Disabilities (MPWDs), a specialised ministry of The Church of Pentecost, has donated items valued at GH¢16,795.00 to the Wa School for the Blind and 10 wheelchairs to some Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Wa and Tumu Areas of the church.

Among the many items donated were 50 white canes, two audio Bible listening devices, 10 bags of 50kg rice, five maxi bags of maize, five gallons of 25 litre oil, three boxes of tin fish, three boxes of tin tomatoes, three cartons of milk and 230 packs of cooked food.

Making the presentation to the Wa School for the Blind on Saturday, April 10, 2021, the National Coordinator of MPWDs, Overseer Alexander Nyame, stated that the gesture was part of the Church’s Vision 2023 agenda of “Possessing the Nations.”

He stated that students in specialised institutions do not pay fees and that the donation from the Church was to compliment the government’s effort and to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to them.

Rev. Grace Amoako, the Headmistress of the school, described the donation as timely. She was full of praise and appreciation to God and The Church of Pentecost for the gesture.

The Girl’s Prefect of the school, Barikise Mumuni, who was also delighted about the gesture, prayed for God’s blessing upon the church.

In an exhortation, Overseer Benjamin Teye Djabanor of Tanvaare District spoke on the topic, “The Mystical Love and Will of God for Us.” Reading from Ephesians 1:7-12 and 1 John 5:11-12, he established that the mystical love and will of God for humanity can only be found in Jesus Christ. He, therefore, challenged the students to give their lives to Christ.

In a related development, the MPWDs National Coordinator, on Friday, April 9, 2021, presented wheelchairs to individuals with various degrees of disabilities to aid their mobility. In all, a total of 10 wheelchairs were donated to PWDs in Sombo, Nandom, Eremon, Lawra, Kunfabiala, Babile, all in the Upper West Region.

By the grace of God, 11 persons were won during the presentation of the items to the PWDs. Five were won during a wheelchair presentation at Lambussie and another six at Wa School for the Blind.

Present were the Wa Area Head, Apostle Daniel Nii Tetteh Tackie, and some ministers in the Area.

Report by Pastor Gordon Ansah, Wa.