Posts in category: PENTSOS

A two-day retreat has been organised for managers, teachers and non-teaching staff of the Pentecost Preparatory schools in the Sawla Area.

The maiden event, which is a brainchild of the Area Head, Pastor David Amankwaa, took place at the Sawla English Assembly church auditorium on January 9, 2023. It was under the theme: “Repositioning Our Schools, the Role of Teachers.”

The purpose of the programme, according to Pastor Amankwaa, was to allow the participants to wait upon the Lord for fresh strength, take stock of the past year and plan for the New Year.

Addressimg the participants, the Sawla Area Head said teachers (educators) have a significant role to play in the Church’s vision of transforming society with Kingdom principles and values, dubbed “Vision 2023.”

He, however, noted that to be effective agents of transformation, they ought to be first transformed by having a personal encounter with Christ and building an intimate relationship with Him.

Using Acts 6:1-8, and Colossians 3:23-24 as Bible references, Pastor Amankwaa explained that the first-century church recorded tremendous growth in population within a short time because the leaders of the church – the 12 apostles – were spirit-filled and spirit-led.

He said that the apostles relied on the Spirit of God in every decision they took, including the appointing young men to wait on tables and meet the daily needs of the widows in the church.

He, therefore, urged the participants, particularly the managers of the schools, to always pray for divine direction and insight when taking decisions.

He also advised them to efficiently execute their administrative duties with diligence.

The Sawla Area Head cited the story of Moses and Jethro in Exodus 18:25-27 to stress the need for the leaders to delegate and share their workload.

“There is strength in diversified unity, and this must be effectively harnessed by the leaders to the advantage of the schools,” he advised.

The Area Head also encouraged the teachers to add value to themselves by striving to further their education, saying: “A man’s ministry is an outflow of himself, so you can only give what you know as a teacher.”

Ending his submission on a high note, Pastor Amankwaa commended the staff of the Sawla and Bole Pentecost Preparatory schools for recording a 100% pass in their first attempt at the Basic Education Certificate Exams (BECE).

He, however, challenged them to aim at single digits in this year’s exams.

The participants, 53 in all, were also taken through bookkeeping and other administrative functions as part of the retreat.

Report by Sawla Area Media Team

A gari-processing centre constructed by Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS) at Nyambong in the Nkwanta South Municipality in the Oti Region of Ghana has been commissioned.

The facility was commissioned by the Ho Area Head and Executive Council Member of the Church, Apostle Dr Dela Quampah, during a special ceremony held yesterday. Apostle Quampah was assisted by Pastor Seth Dwamena Asante (Nkwanta Area Head) and Elder Richard Amaning (PENTSOS Director).

The agro-processing centre initiative, according to Elder Richard Amaning, is among many community-development interventions by PENTSOS funded by The Church of Pentecost under her strategic vision, dubbed “Vision 2023.”

He further stated that the project is a social enterprise project of PENTSOS with the overarching goal to enhance the livelihood and income of beneficiaries especially women and youth while contributing to improving food security in Ghana.

“The processing centre would support directly over 100 gari processors into producing quality gari under improved and hygienic conditions and also encourage farmers into large scale cultivation of cassava in the project catchment area,” he said at the event.

The PENTSOS Director also commended the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the Executive Council, and the National PENTSOS Board for the support in making the project a success.

The centre, constructed at a cost of GHS 122,250.00, has a store room, an office, a stainless steel grating machine, Hydraulic and manual pressers, sifters and brick oven with chimney, and a stainless-steel roasting tray.

Gari is a fine to coarse granular flour of varying texture made from cassava tubers.

The popular Ghanaian food item is currently the most commercialised cassava product in the country and continues to increase in production due to the increasing urban demand and export market potential.

In a brief exhortation at the commissioning ceremony based on Ecclesiastes 10:19, Apostle Dr. Dela Quampah admonished members to work hard and make use of the processing to make money, make investment to support their children and future, and to appreciate God’s goodness through their tithes and offering.

The Ho Area Head also inaugurated a seven-member steering committee drawn from the Church and the community to manage the facility.

Present at the commissioning ceremony were Nana Obiako Akola (Chief of Nyambong), Hon. Bright Lingwa (Chief Executive of Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly), the Nkwanta Area pastorate, officers of the Municipal Assembly, the Assembly Member, community elders, and church members.

Also in attendance were officials of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) led by Mr Awudu Mubarak (MoFA Director for Nkwanta South Municipality)

PENTECOST NEWS.

Pentecost Preparatory School Tema (PPS-Tema), one of the 105 institutions overseen by the Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS) Directorate, has acquired a 60-seater TATA bus to aid transportation of students to and from the school premises.

The new school bus, which is the first to be procured by PPS-Tema through its internally generated funds, would, among other benefits, also facilitate teaching and learning in the school.

The bus was dedicated on the day of Christmas (December 25, 2022) by the Tema Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Ofei Ankra-Badu, at a brief ceremony at the school premises.

The Area Head, in his remarks, commended the leadership of the school and the PENTSOS Director, Elder Richard Amaning, for the bold initiative, which, according to him, is consistent with the Church’s strategic vision of “Possessing the Nations” (Vision 2023).

In response, the Headmaster of PPS-Tema, Elder Anthony Onuro, thanked the Area Head and the PENTSOS Director for their support in facilitating the acquisition of the bus.

Present at the ceremony were a cross-section of the Tema Area pastorate and staff of PPS-Tema.

Established about 26 years ago, PPS-Tema continues to provide access to quality education to residents of Tema and its environs. The school currently has an enrolment of 1,200 pupils.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Wudoaba District in the Aflao Area of The Church of Pentecost has constructed an information centre for the Wudoaba community and its environs.

The centre, worth GH¢15,000.00, has been constructed for public announcement purposes and for the propagation of the gospel message of Christ.

“The project is also the Church’s contribution to the developmental needs of the Wudoaba community and its environs,” Pastor Godfred Tsatsu, the District Minister, further stated.

The facility, which has been fitted with state-of-the-art equipment, was dedicated by the Aflao Area Head, Apostle Michael Agyen Brefo, at a brief ceremony last Sunday.

Speaking at the ceremony, Apostle Agyen Brefo commended the leadership of the Wudoaba District for embarking on the community transformation project which is in line with the five-year strategic vision of The Church of Pentecost, dubbed “Vision 2023: Possessing the Nations.”

According to the Aflao Area Head, the Church, through this vision, seeks to influence every sphere of society with values and principles of the kingdom of God. He was, therefore, confident that the information centre would contribute meaningfully to the realisation of Vision 2023.

Present at the dedication ceremony were Honourable Collins Ababio (Assembly member for Wudoaba) and the Dzodze zone pastorate within the Aflao Area.

Report by Pastor Francis Lamptey (Aflao Area Reporter)

The Church of Pentecost, through her social services directorate, Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS), has constructed a limited mechanised water system for the Kpalworgu Community in the Wa East District of the Upper West Region.

The water system, which was constructed at a total cost of GHS 50,000.00, consists of a borehole, a 10,000-litre overhead storage tank, and two standpipes connected through a pipe network to deliver water to the Kpalworgu school, CHPS Compound, and other residents of the community.

A public standpipe with three fetching taps was also constructed for the Fulani community in the Area as part of the project.

According to the PENTSOS Director, Elder Richard Amaning, the project was started in 2019 but its completion delayed as a result of power extension challenges.

He further noted that, due to the limited number of boreholes fitted with hand pumps in the community, school children, health workers and the residents relied heavily on rainwater harvesting (which is seasonal) for water supply.

The water system would, therefore, provide relief to the community people, particularly pupils and patients, he added.

The facility, which adds to the growing list of social interventions undertaken by The Church of Pentecost in the last five years, was commissioned by the Wa Area Head of the Church, Apostle Daniel Nii Tetteh Tackie, during a special ceremony held last Monday.

Apostle Tetteh Tackie, in his speech at the event, indicated that the water system is in line with the Church’s five-year strategic vision (Vision 2023), which among other objectives, is focused on championing societal transformation.

Drawing some lessons from Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand to exhort the gathering, the Church’s Coordinator for Home and Urban Missions (HUM), Apostle Emmanuel Agyei Kwafo, said that the social needs of people must be on the heart of every government and institution, stressing that: “providing water to a community is as important as bringing them the gospel.”

Apostle Kwafo further urged the community people to live together in love, and not to waste resources since “every wasteful community is a poor community.”

The Wa East District Chief Executive, Dr. S. K. Mahama, a special guest at the event, thanked the Church for the great work done and lauded  the Church’s holistic approach to ministry.

“When you attend The Church of Pentecost, the Church does not only work on your spirit, but it also cares for your soul and body,” he said.

The representative of the Kpalworgu Chief at the ceremony also conveyed the chief’s gratitude to the Church as well as teachers and health workers for their significant contributions to the development of the community.

Present at the commissioning ceremony were a cross-section of the Wa Area pastorate, staff of the PENTSOS Directorate, principal officers from the Wa East District Assembly, community elders, the Fulani Chief, Church members and community people.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Pentecost Preparatory School, Madina (PPS-Madina) emerged overall winners of the 2022 Kathy Knowles Inter-School Reading Competition organised under the auspices of the Ghana Library Board for basic schools.

The Kathy Knowles Inter-School Reading Competition is an annual event that was initiated 10 years ago to encourage reading among basic school children within the La Nkwantanang and Ayawaso Municipalities.

This year’s edition of the reading competition was under the theme: “Reading, a Prerequisite for the 21st Century Learner.”

PPS-Madina edged past over 50 schools at the preliminary stages of the competition to qualify as one of the 10 finalists for the grand finale held at the Accra College of Education.

By dint of hard work, the PPS-Madina team were crowned champions at the end of the contest and were presented a trophy and stationeries. The team also received anniversary champagne and cake from the event organisers.

PENTECOST NEWS

Final-year students of the Pentecost Preparatory School (PPS) in Madina, Accra, have donated assorted items worth over GH₡ 2,000.00 to the Pentecost Hospital, Madina.

The items, which included baby garments, diapers, soaps, detergents, nose masks, hand sanitizers and boxes of drinking water, were handed over to the Pediatric Department of the Hospital, by the leader of the 2022 BECE Candidates, Miss Ewura Amma Obeng Tuudah.

She was assisted by Elder Martin Odoi Darko (Assisted Headmaster, PPS Madina), Mr Samuel Abu Fuseini (PENTSOS Tutor), and the entire final year students.

The Acting Director of the hospital, Dr. Mrs Barbara Swanzy-Asare, who received the items on behalf of the hospital and management, expressed sincere and profound gratitude to the school, especially to the final-year students for the kind gesture.

She commended the Headmaster and the staff for training the students in the area of charity and social responsibilities.

In an interview with Pentecost News, Miss Ewura Amma Obeng Tuudah said that their training was not only to attain academic achievements but to make an impact in society through charity and donations to the weak, needy and vulnerable.

“We pray that these items will touch the heart of patients, and serve as hope and blessing to them,” she added.

The Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS) Tutor, Mr. Samuel Abu Fuseini, who coordinated the donation, expressed his excitement about the move by the students.

“Every year, the Sunday before the BECE, the final-year students are taken to Church for prayers. This year, we decided to undertake a social responsibility project. In fact, we were surprised by how the various items were mobilized by the students,” he asserted. 

Report by Joshua Asamoah Darko, Madina.

Through its School Infrastructure Development Project, the Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS) has constructed a 3-Unit Classroom block for the Pentecost School Zongo Macheri located in the Krachi-Nchumburu District of Ghana and in the Kete-Krachi Area of the Church of Pentecost. The construction of the new classroom block received support from the Kete-Krachi Area and the Zongo Macheri District of the Church.

The Pentecost School, Zongo Macheri, was established in 1998 and currently has 283 pupils from KG to JHS level. The School has had challenges in the past, and especially during the rainy seaso; it was difficult for teachers and students to have classes. The JHS was using an old, dilapidated pavilion structure as a classroom. The primary School has been absorbed by the Government, while the Church privately manages the JHS.

The new 3-Unit classroom block, which commenced in 2020, was constructed at the cost of GHS69,533.00 (The Headquarters through PENTSOS provided GHS50,000 funding for the project while the Kete Krachi Area and the Zongo Macheri District supported with GHS19,533). 

The new 3-Unit classroom block will improve access for children in the Zongo Macheri community and nearby villages and the 283 pupils in the School. The project will, among other things, also contribute to increased enrolment in the School.

The Area Head, Aps. Joseph Danzerl and assisted by the Chief of Zongo Macheri, Nana Kofi Agyagne II,  commissioned the newly constructed classroom block on 10^th October, 2022.  At the commissioning ceremony were Ministers in the Kete Krachi Area of the Church.

At the commissioning ceremony, the Area Head said that the construction of the new classroom block was consistent with the vision of the Church of Pentecost, Vision 2023, “Possessing the Nations.” He commended the Chairman, Aps. Eric Nyamekye, the General Secretary, Aps. Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, the IMD, Aps. Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe and the PENTSOS Director, Elder Richard Amaning, for their support of the School. He acknowledged the support of all past Ministers of the Church in the Area and Zongo Macheri District. The Area Head, again, commended the Government’s support for the School and the relentless effort of the Head of the School, Teaching Staff, Parents like Elder Asamoah and Mr. Kwayaja, the past P.T.A Chairmen and Mr. Bawah, and others, for continuing to offer help to the School during the crises.

Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS), the social ministry arm of The Church of Pentecost, has organised a two-day leadership and financial management workshop for heads of its institutions.

The event, the first of its kind, was attended by heads of the church’s educational and health institutions from all over the country. Currently, The Church of Pentecost has 10 health institutions and 105 educational institutions.

Addressing the participants at the opening of the programme at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, on Thursday, October 13, 2022, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, spoke on the topic: “Missions and Social Transformation” – Matthew 28:19-20; John 17:18.

Explaining why the church is involved in social transformation, the Chairman said that the church is sent out into the world as an agent of transformation.

According to him, before the church can enter into the world, it must package itself such that the world will be able to receive it, just as God packaged Jesus Christ and brought him into the world through a woman, other than that if Jesus had come into the world in his celestial form, it would not have been possible for the world to receive him.

Apostle Nyamekye indicated that one way that the church is entering the world is through missions and social transformation, where the gospel is packaged and shown to the world in love.

“All these social interventions that we are doing is to package Christ to the people so that they can come to him and be saved,” he said.

He added: “For us as a church, we have been sent on a mission to transform the world, hence building the prisons, schools, hospitals, police stations, and potable water.”

He also said that as part of the church’s Vision 2023, members are being equipped with kingdom values and principles to change their spheres for Christ. He, therefore, asked believers to let their light shine to dispel every darkness in society.

Apostle Nyamekye called on the church to be concerned with what goes on in society, saying, “If we do not enter the world to change it for the better, the world can never change.”

In a presentation on the topic, ”Integrity of a Leader,” the General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, said that God has made Christians as the light and salt of the world to change the system and make it more godly.

He, however, wondered why Christians form about 72 percent of the Ghanaian population, and yet corruption, bribery, cronyism, nepotism, and wanton destruction of natural resources like water bodies and the land has become the order of the day.

Reading various scriptures of the Bible with Proverbs 10:9; Psalm 78:72 as his main texts, he noted that what the world needs is men and women of impeccable integrity.

“We need people of integrity in our institutions because corruption has become endemic in Ghana,” he said, adding, “If you are a person of integrity, you are fit for a purpose.”

Apostle Kumi-Larbi mentioned that integrity produces honour, truth and reliability as it deepens relationships and develops the confidence of others in a person.

A Trustee of the church, Elder Emmanuel Anane Boate, in a presentation on “Being a Leader in a Christian Organisation,” stated that the greatest problem of any organisation is lack of leadership since leadership has a great role in building institutions.

Explaining the concept of a Christian organisation, he said that it is an organisation whose statement of faith and values reflect the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ, stressing that they exist to promote the agenda of Christ.

He disclosed that those who qualify to lead Christian organisations should be committed and trustworthy Christians.  

The PENTSOS Director, Elder Richard Amaning, thanked the leadership of the church for their continuous support of the activities of the organisation.

Some of the topics treated were ‘Workplace Professionalism and Delivery of Service in a Christian Institution’ by Elder Prof. Tweneboah Koduah; ‘Building the PENTSOS Ecosystem’ by Elder Richard Amaning (PENTSOS Director); ‘Strengthening Internal Controls’ by Elder Firang Boakye (Audit Manager, Head Office); ‘Discipline as a mark of Leader’ by Apostle Lawrence Otu-Nyarko (FAD), and ‘The Head as a Mediator’ by Apostle Philip Osei Korsah (Director of Counselling Ministry).

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS), the social services arm of The Church of Pentecost, in partnership with ICM-Ghana (a Christian non-governmental organisation), has commissioned a state-of-the-art library facility at the Pentecost Preparatory School at Dunkwa-on-Offin.

The facility forms part of ICM’s School Library Improvement initiative aimed at instilling reading habits among pupils in Pentecost Schools in deprived areas.

The PENTSOS Director, Elder Richard Amaning, said in an interview with PENTECOST NEWS that the project will go on a long way to impact on the quality of teaching and learning across beneficiary schools.

ICM-Ghana is committed to setting up P.E.A.C.E Centres (Libraries) in the Eastern and Central regions of Ghana and to equip the pupils with leadership skills.

PENTECOST NEWS.