From Divine Messenger To Comedian - Lessons From The Story Of Samson. WEB

From Divine Messenger To Comedian: Lessons From The Story Of Samson

Scripture References: Judges 13:1-5, 16:18-25

It is disheartening to witness the transformation of individuals entrusted with the gospel and the profound wisdom of God into mere performers or comedians. Instead of fulfilling their duty to save the lost, they have become entertainers on the pulpit, prioritising amusement over salvation.

Regrettably, it has become a prevalent trend among some Ghanaian preachers and acclaimed prophets to assume the role of comedians on both the pulpit and screens. Rather than focusing on saving souls, they choose to amuse. However, this should not come as a surprise, for when those appointed by God allow themselves to be consumed by worldly pleasures, they eventually lose their relevance and impact as messengers of God. Consequently, their ability to attract people to Christ diminishes as they gradually disconnect from the Holy Spirit, the primary source of effective evangelism.

In their attempt to mask their inadequacy as God’s messengers, they become philosophical orators, uttering words that please people but lack true substance. Unfortunately, our brother Samson can be considered among those who failed as God’s messengers.

Upon initial examination of the story of Samson in Judges 13, it becomes evident that Samson was born with a specific purpose: to save the Israelites (verse 5). As a Nazirite, that is, any man or woman who takes a vow to separate himself or herself unto the Lord (Numbers 6:1ff), Samson possessed a clearly defined mission, a divine mandate similar to the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5ff) and our Saviour Jesus (Luke 1:31-33). However, he allowed his love for a woman to supersede his earthly purpose. This led him to lose his connection with heaven, exposing his secret and falling into the hands of the enemies he was sent to destroy. Tragically, in Judges 16:25, Samson was called upon to perform for the Philistines and willingly complied.

How pitiful! Why should we, as messengers called to save people, become comedians to amuse them instead? May God grant us guidance. May our ministries never reach the humiliating point where our only contribution is entertaining people and making them laugh.

Let us be vigilant in our own lives, ensuring that we fulfil our calling and election with confidence before God.

Written by Overseer Seth Frimpong

God's Covenant With The Church Of Pentecost - An Evangelism Covenant WEB

God’s Covenant With The Church Of Pentecost: An Evangelism Covenant

At the inception of The Church of Pentecost (CoP), the Lord entered into a covenant with the Church, which was received through prophecies at Akroso in 1931, confirmed in 1940 at the Easter Convention in Winneba, and repeated at a general convention in Koforidua in 1948.

A portion of the covenant reads: “It is not because of how few or many you are in membership that I have chosen to covenant with you. I have done this out of my eternal purpose and goodwill for my church; the Church will grow into a Pentecostal Church where the gifts of the Holy Spirit will operate bountifully upon men and women; the Church will spread across the world, a great international church that will send missionaries to Africa and the rest of the world. That the Church will make disciples for the Soon-coming Christ….”

This evangelism covenant can be compared to God’s word to Israel in Isaiah 59:21 (KJV): “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” saith the Lord, “My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed,” saith the Lord, “from henceforth and forever.”

This covenant, as illustrated in the above scripture, is generational – “your seed and your seed’s seed forever.” Bringing this to our context as a Church suggests that God’s covenant with us must be passed on to future generations of CoP members.

It is worth noting that the covenant to make the Church a great International Pentecostal Church has been fulfilled, and now The Church of Pentecost is present in 151 nations worldwide. However, the Church cannot rest on its laurels. Instead, we should aim to possess all nations of the world and affect every sphere of society until the second advent of Christ.

Evangelism is vital and should be aggressive at the local church level, hence the need to reposition the local church for effective evangelism to achieve these goals.

WHAT IS EVANGELISM?

J.I. Packer notes in his book, “Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God,” that: “To evangelise is to present Christ Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, that men shall come to put their trust in God through Him as their Savior, and serve Him as their king in the fellowship of His Church.”

In other words, evangelism is the proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit by employing the use of accompanying or appropriate gifts of the Holy Spirit, specifically power gifts such as faith, miracles, and gifts of healing.

According to Mark 16:15, our Lord Jesus has entrusted believers with evangelising “all creatures/people” on the face of the earth. The command involves bringing the Gospel to every tribe, nation, and age group. This means that children must be included in our evangelism agenda.

Another critical factor in evangelism, as stated in Matthew 28:18-20, is that evangelism is a process and not an event. This process involves preparation, going, preaching the Gospel, baptising, follow-up, and new convert care. Until this is achieved, our evangelism mandate is not complete.

WHY SHOULD CHRISTIANS EVANGELISE

• It takes an evangelistic-oriented member in the Local Church to be prayerful, committed, dependable and sacrificial in given

• The general covenant of God with believers (Isaiah 59:21) and specific covenant with the Church of Pentecost contains evangelism, discipling and possessing the nations. We must fulfil our part of this divine contract by preparing disciples for the soon-coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

• Jesus was a soul winner, and we must follow His steps – 1 Timothy 1:15; Luke 19:10; Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38.

• The harvest is great, the labourers are few – Matthew 9:37-38; Isaiah 6:8; John 4:35.

• We must obey the Great Commission. His last Command must be our first priority – Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-19; Luke 5:32.

• Everyone must hear the gospel before Jesus’ Second coming – Matthew 24:14; Romans 10:14.

• The blood of the unconverted will be demanded from us – Ezekiel 3:17-18; Ezekiel 33:6-8.

• The value of a soul. Gaining the whole world is less than the value of one soul. (Mk. 8:36-38). Countless angels in Heaven rejoice over one sinner who gets converted – Luke 15:10; Daniel 7:10

• Rewards and crowns for the soul winner both in this life and in the life to come – Daniel 12:3; John 4:36; 1 Corinthians 15:58, Luke 10:20

• The Power of God is demonstrated during Evangelism – Romans 1:16; Mark 16:17; Psalms 96:3.

• God adds to the church through evangelism. The Church grows through evangelism – Acts 2:47.

• Jesus is the only way to Heaven. John 14:6.

• Over 4,200 Religions and more than 500 Cults in the World, only Christianity has a Redeemer – Acts 4:12.

CONCLUSION

Delivering the State of the Church Address at the recently-held 46th General Council Meetings, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, reported that the Church membership as of 2022 was 10.7% of Ghana’s population. This is a significant number, and if every church member wins just one soul a year, the church’s membership could reach 50% of Ghana’s population in just three years.

However, achieving this requires the development of a culture of evangelism within local churches through the cultivation of knowledge, attitude change, and consistent practice. As we mark this year’s National Evangelism Week, I urge all ministers, ministers’ wives, officers, and members to make a concerted effort to win souls for Christ and fulfil the evangelism covenant God has made with The Church of Pentecost.

Written by Pastor Frank Awuah Fordjour

14 Years Of Cry Ends After Woman Delivers First Child web

14 Years Of Cry Ends After Woman Delivers First Child

Deaconess Christiana Baidoo-Gorman Armah and Elder Frank Armah, a devoted couple from the Downtown District of The Church of Pentecost in Kasoa, celebrated their long-awaited miracle after 14 years of longing for a child.

Their arduous journey through countless medical tests, medications, and even herbal remedies had left them feeling hopeless. Despite fervent prayers from Christian leaders, their dream of conceiving a child seemed unattainable.

However, their lives took a joyous turn when Pastor Andrews Owusu of Downtown District assumed his post as the district minister in 2021. Christiana, District Leader of the Children’s Ministry, shared their incredible story with Pentecost News, recalling the pivotal moment that altered their fate:

“A few months after Pastor Andrews Owusu joined our district, he invited my husband and me to the mission house. There, he assured us that God had answered our prayers and urged us to offer daily thanks in our prayers. Although skeptical, as we had encountered similar proclamations before, we remained faithful. And true to his word, God blessed us just weeks later, even when we had lost all hope.”

Christiana’s disbelief persisted even when her doctor confirmed her pregnancy during a routine check-up. She insisted on a second diagnosis, convinced it was an erroneous result due to her previous struggles. It wasn’t until her belly swelled with the miracle of life that she accepted the incredible truth.

On January 25th, 2023, precisely 14 years after their wedding anniversary, Christiana delivered a healthy baby boy at Ridge Hospital in Accra. The couple’s joy multiplied when their son was formally dedicated on April 22nd, 2023, in a ceremony officiated by Pastor Bernard Kwarteng of New Amanfrom District, representing the Downtown-Ofaakor Area Head, Apostle Dr. Benjamin Ali.

“I empathize with the pain of infertility and sincerely hope no woman has to endure it. Today, I am filled with joy, and my husband shares in this happiness. We are eternally grateful to God for finally answering our prayers. All glory belongs to Him,” she stated.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Church of Pentecost Calls For Collaborative Efforts To Enhance Food Security In Ghana - Websize

The Church of Pentecost Calls For Collaborative Efforts To Enhance Food Security In Ghana

The Church of Pentecost has called for collaborative efforts to enhance food security in Ghana, emphasising the importance of addressing the four dimensions of food security: physical availability, economic and physical access, food utilisation, and stability over time.

Speaking at the Ghana Food Security Conference being jointly organised by the Jospong Group of Companies, Asian African Consortium and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, in a speech delivered on behalf of the Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, acknowledged the challenges facing food security in Ghana, including undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies, which persist across all life stages.

He also highlighted poverty, climate change, rapid urbanisation and population expansion, and poor infrastructure as significant threats to food security in the country.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi referred to the 1996 World Food Summit’s definition of food security, which emphasises the need for all people to have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food for an active and healthy life. He stressed that all four dimensions of food security must be fulfilled simultaneously for food security objectives to be realised.

He commended the Jospong Group of Companies, led by Elder Dr. Joseph Siaw-Agyapong, for their mission to improve people’s lives and introduce the unique idea of public and private sector collaboration for food sufficiency.

According to him, The Church of Pentecost sees this as a significant and timely initiative to help Ghana achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2: “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.”

The partnership between the Jospong Group and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was therefore timely, significant and crucial to addressing food security challenges, and expressed optimism that the collaborative efforts will lead to practical solutions and strategies to enhance food security in Ghana.

“By working together, scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders can make significant strides towards achieving food security goals and ensuring a prosperous and fruitful nation,” he said.

The 2023 Ghana Food Security Conference continues with sessions and discussions focusing on innovative approaches, research findings, and policies that will contribute to Ghana’s sustainable development of food security.

The conference, being held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, is under the theme: “Enhancing Food Security: The Role of Ghanaian Scientists.”

PENTECOST NEWS.

Websize-26

The Church Of Pentecost Commends Jospong Group & CSIR For Food Security Conference

The Church of Pentecost has lauded the Jospong Group of Companies and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for organising the maiden Ghana Food Security Conference.

The conference, being held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, aims to address the issue of food security in Ghana and explore ways to enhance it through collaborating with Ghanaian scientists.

The event, themed “Enhancing Food Security: The Role of Ghanaian Scientists,” has brought together over 200 scientists, experts and stakeholders in and outside the country to discuss practical ways of improving Ghana’s food security situation.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, the General Secretary of the Church, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, commended Elder Dr. Joseph Siaw-Agyapong, Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, for his commitment to improving the lives of people and introducing the unique idea of strengthening public and private sector collaboration for food sufficiency.

According to the General Secretary, The Church of Pentecost sees the conference as a significant and timely initiative to help Ghana achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2: “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.”

He further noted that the objectives of the conference align with the Church’s five-year vision of “Possessing the Nations,” and therefore, assured Elder Dr. Siaw-Agyapong of the Church’s unwavering support in various ways to fulfil the food security vision.

“The Church of Pentecost believes that by equipping its members with the values, principles, and lifestyles of the Kingdom of God, we can actively contribute to the nation’s transformational development, just as Elder Siaw Agyepong and his wife, Mrs. Cynthian Agyepong (Chief Executive Officer of the Asian African Consortium), are doing in addressing food security challenges,” he said.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi, therefore, lauded the partnership between the CSIR, known for its mandate to drive national development through scientific and technological research, and the Asian African Consortium (AAC) of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC).

The African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development reports that around 1.5 million Ghanaians experience food insecurity, with undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies persisting across all life stages.

The 2023 Ghana Food Security Conference is expected to provide a platform for Ghanaian scientists, experts and stakeholders to share knowledge, strategies, and innovative solutions to deal with this worrying trend.

The conference’s objective is that these steps would be implemented to produce enough food to feed Ghanaians and even explore opportunities for food exportation.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Stakeholders Gather To Enhance Food Production & Combat Food Insecurity

GHAFSEC 2023: Stakeholders Gather To Enhance Food Production & Combat Food Insecurity

The Ghana Food Security Conference 2023 (GHAFSEC) is underway at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) in Gomoa Fetteh. The conference, being broadcast live on Pent TV and Metro TV, has brought together a diverse group of stakeholders in and outside Ghana to address the country’s critical issue of food security.

Prominent figures such as Apostle Eric Nyamekye (Chairman, The Church of Pentecost), represented by Apostle N.Y. Kumi-Larbi, Elder Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong (Executive Chairman, Jospong Group of Companies), Mrs. Adelaide Agyepong (Chief Executive Officer, Asian African Consortium) and Prof. Paul P. Bosu (Director-General of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), among several others are taking part in the event.

In his address, the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, highlighted the country’s current challenges of food insecurity, including undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies.

He, therefore, commended the initiatives of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), the Asian African Consortium (AAC), and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in driving collaboration and innovation towards ensuring food sufficiency.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi also assured JGC/AAC and the CSIR of the Church’s unwavering support in ensuring that the shared dream becomes a reality.

He cited the biblical example of Joseph in Egypt, who successfully implemented a stockpiling system to ensure food security during times of drought and expressed optimism that the conference would achieve its intended objective.

Elder Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, representing the Jospong Group of Companies, emphasised the significance of the venue’s religious atmosphere and the gathering of experts from academia and industry in addressing food security. He also highlighted the attempt of successive governments to address the issue but to no avail while acknowledging the key role of scientists and researchers in dealing with the challenge.

Dr. Agyepong, therefore, expressed Jospong Group’s commitment as a private sector entity to collaborate with scientists and researchers in tackling food security challenges.

He drew parallels to their successful waste management endeavours and stated his outfit’s readiness to support the translation of innovative research in the food sector into practical applications.

According to him, food insecurity contributes to Ghana’s high inflation rate and called for the government’s support in dealing with this once and for all, and reiterated Jospong Group’s willingness to serve the research community and collaborate on all fronts.

In her statement, Mrs. Adelaide Agyepong also expressed gratitude to the participants and highlighted the crucial role of science, research, and development in driving innovation and productivity in the agricultural sector.

She emphasised that agriculture continues to be the backbone of the Ghanaian economy, providing a source of income for about 45% of the population.

Mrs. Agyepong further acknowledged the presence of foreign partners from Thailand and Nigeria at the conference, noting that their expertise and experiences in rice production would enrich the discussions. She also stressed the need for immediate measures to enhance food production to combat rising food prices and the risk of increased food imports.

Prof. Paul P. Bosu, Director-General of CSIR, on his part, emphasised the importance of the partnership between the Jospong Group of Companies, the Asian African Consortium, and CSIR in addressing Ghana’s food security concerns.

He highlighted the need to establish inter-institutional technical teams and develop action plans to enhance the production of selected commodities such as rice, jute, maize, soya bean, tomato, and onion.

Prof. Bosu also underscored the significance of efficient coordination, accountability, and financing at the local level to transform Africa’s food systems.

The Ghana Food Security Conference 2023 serves as a crucial platform for stakeholders to engage in discussions and collaboration to enhance food production in the country.

The goal is to bridge the gaps in Ghana’s food security situation through innovation, investment, and sharing best practices. With the participation of local and international partners, the conference provides an opportunity to develop actionable plans, establish timelines, and allocate resources for sustainable food production in Ghana.

As the conference continues, it is hoped that the discussions and partnerships formed will pave the way for a more secure and prosperous future, ensuring that Ghanaians have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to lead active and healthy lives.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Anyaa-Ablekuma Area Donates To Missionsweb

Anyaa-Ablekuma Area Donates To Missions

The Anyaa-Ablekuma Area of The Church of Pentecost, led by Apostle William Ohemeng-Kwakye, has made a significant donation to support missions work in and outside Ghana.

The donated items received by the Yendi, Sawla, and Tumu Areas included 105 pieces of half-piece cloth, 30 pieces of two-yard cloth material, 3 pieces of kente, 6 pieces of lace, 11 pairs of shoes, 16 pieces of women’s scarves, and 10 bedsheets.

The Anyaa-Ablekuma Area also purchased and donated four motorbikes to different areas for evangelistic purposes.

The Tempane District in Bawku Area also received a Royal motorbike, while the Sankpala District in Tamale Area was gifted a Haojue motorbike. The Aglakope District in Hohoe Area and the Jinavore District in Sawla Area were each provided with a Royal motorbike. In addition, the area donated a cash amount of GHȼ20,000.00 to the Zoipe District in Ho Area for the purchase of a tricycle.

The Anyaa-Ablekuma Area has also extended its benevolence beyond its borders. The area provided financial support to the external mission in Guinea Bissau, with a generous cash amount of GHȼ20,000.00 given to aid the purchase of essential evangelistic equipment.

This donation by the Anyaa-Ablekuma Area of the Church of Pentecost has been highly appreciated and commended for its commitment to supporting missions work.

The recipients of the donation have expressed their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the valuable contribution made towards their evangelistic efforts.

This generous act of kindness by the Anyaa-Ablekuma Area will go a long way in supporting the missions’ work and improving the lives of many people.

Report by Anyaa-Ablekuma Area Media Team

Dambai Junction District Organises Mass Wedding For 7 Couplesweb

Dambai Junction District Organises Mass Wedding For 7 Couples

The Dambai Junction District in the Nkwanta Area of The Church of Pentecost organized a mass wedding for seven couples in the church on Saturday, May 6, 2023.

The historic event, the first of its kind in the district, was heavily attended by members of the church as well as community folks.

The District Minister, Pastor Michael Osei-Frempong, who officiated the service, was full of praise for the couples for accepting to be part of the event.

The couples, all of whom had already undergone the customary rites, could not hide their joy for having their marriages blessed.

Delivering the sermon on the theme “Patience in Marriage,” with scripture taken from Galatians 5:22, Elder Jacob Danso advised the couples to exercise patience in their marriages to foster peace and harmony in their homes.

The programme was attended by high-profile personalities in the area, including Mr. Emmanuel Obonda (Krachi Nchomuru Constituency Chairman), Miss Linda Mensah Koranchie (Krachi Government Hospital), King David Nkabonam (Oti Regional YEA Director), Mr. Patrick Koranteng (Deputy Director YEA), Mr. Nketia Safo (NDC Constituency Secretary, Krachi East), Mr. Aduan Dranford (Family Head), Hon. Samuel Owusu (NPP, Krachi East), and Apostle Noah Adeti (Miracle Prayer Ministry).

The heavy downpour after the occasion was indeed indicative of God’s blessings on the marriages.

Report by Nkwanta Area Media Team.

Presentation to the chief imam

Women’s Ministry Of The Church Of Pentecost Supports Religious Leaders In Akosombo

The Women’s Ministry of the New Combine District in the Agormanya Area of The Church of Pentecost recently reached out to various religious leaders in Akosombo, donating stationery and other items to them.

Led by Mrs Esther Kesse, the wife of the District Minister, the team visited notable figures such as Togbe Avor, a renowned fetish priest in the area, as well as the Chief Imam and others.

During the team’s visit, Togbe Avor graciously interrupted his ongoing annual festival to receive the women. Surprised and touched to witness a Christian fellowship in his shrine, Togbe Avor expressed his gratitude and shared that even his own Christian family members had abandoned him since he became the fetish priest 19 years ago.

Togbe Avor’s appreciation led to a subsequent visit from District Minister, Pastor Martin Berko Kesse, accompanied by some elders, who presented him with a church diary as per his request.

Overwhelmed with joy, Togbe Avor confessed that The Church of Pentecost’s demonstration of goodwill would foster peaceful coexistence among religious leaders. He encouraged his followers and TV viewers to attend The Church of Pentecost.

The team then visited the Chief Imam at his residence in Akosombo, offering a hamper and various church souvenirs as a gesture of support. The Chief Imam praised The Church of Pentecost and emphasized that the women’s actions set an example of harmony among different religious groups.

He expressed his gratitude for the footprints left by the Women’s Ministry and shared that he regularly listened to the Pentecost Hour broadcast on the information centre in the town. He promised to encourage his Muslim brothers to tune in as well.

Finally, the ministry concluded their day by visiting Nene George Chawe’s palace, the Chief of Kokonor, in Akosombo. The chief warmly welcomed the team and requested a prayer service with his entire family. The Women’s Ministry then presented a hamper and various stationery items to the chief.

Impressed by the visit, the chief invited the church to fellowship with him and his family in the palace regularly.

Report by Esther Kesse.

RIDE ON THE WINGS OF THE GOSPEL WEB

Ride On The Wings Of The Gospel

We live in very exciting times. We hear of the amazing waves of souls coming to Christ, and the news gets better when it comes from places that were unreachable in the past, and where preachers were brutally prevented with many becoming martyrs.

All over the world, there are news reports of people encountering the Lord Jesus Christ in visions and dreams, especially in the worlds of other religions. These revelations are always about Christ leading the people to accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. Incredible as this may sound, it is also a sad commentary on us as Christians that perhaps we are leaving our core mandate of witnessing to the world undone, compelling the Master to practically set foot in the field He left for us.

In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus revealed that all authority had been given to Him, and commissioned every Christian beginning from the disciples to ‘GO therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising…and teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…’. The resultant effect of Christ’s authority is our GOing to make disciples. The New King James Version of the Bible clarifies it; since Christ has the authority, we are equipped, boldened and entrusted, therefore, with making disciples of all nations. It is our assignment; when we fail God by keeping quiet, then Christ will bypass us to let ‘stones’ cry out (Luke 19:40) with the salvation message to a world in dire need of it (Romans 8:19). In preaching the gospel, we praise and please God with one of the highest kinds of worship we can give.

Jesus Christ will build His Church, with or without you and me. He will always have a remnant, but for those who do not ‘Go’ to make others disciples, this form of disobedient would have made them members of the gates of Hades, which try to prevail against the Church without avail (Matthew 16:18). Whenever someone comes to the saving knowledge of Christ and confesses Christ as their Lord and Saviour, they join Peter in making that confession of Christ as the Rock in Matthew 16:16 upon which the Church is being built. On this acknowledgement and acceptance, they automatically become additional human blocks laid on the Church Christ is building. However, before they become part of the building (make the confession), they must be moulded into blocks (preached to). This work is the responsibility of the co-labourers (Christians) and not the master (Christ).

As we mark Evangelism Week in The Church of Pentecost, this responsibility placed on us must drive us and carry us on to bring all other sheep outside the pen (John 10:16) through the only Way (John 14:6) into the pen (God’s Kingdom). Let us not relegate this task to visions and dreams of Christ to the unsaved. We must be seen on the ‘Go’. And as we go, we must reach all nations.

In the light of reaching all nations, the introduction of special ministries in The Church of Pentecost must be of interest to all Christians. These special ministries, such as Home and Urban Missions (HUM), Schools Outreach Ministry (SOM), Pentecost Workers’ Guild (PeWG), Ministry to Royals and Politicians, and Ministry to Persons with Disabilities (MPWDs), must be part of the fore-burner as we endeavour to reach all nations. These have become wings of the gospel we must all ride on to get the gospel going.

On May 13, 2023, the Okyeame (royal linguist) of Gomoa Jukwa in the Central Region of Ghana, Okyeame Kobina Akwando I, was laid to rest. As I sat through the burial service and heard the tributes read in memory of a man who was a Christian for just seven (7) months, I asked myself, ‘What if the gospel had not flown to this man?’

The introduction of the special ministries by Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, as part of the roadmap to achieving the church’s Vision 2023 mandate of possessing the nations, birthed a passion for embarking on ministry to the ghettoes and people living with disabilities in Swedru. The Lord blessed us, and an Assembly (local church) was opened for the hearing-impaired. One of the founding members of the Assembly was Sister Elizabeth Akwando, daughter of the late linguist. Through her, we got to know her family, which had all her siblings having a hearing impairment. Virtually the entire family except the Okyeame and his wife did not have the impairment.

The church took particular interest in their situation to offer any assistance we could. We also shared the gospel with the family; over time, Elizabeth’s life influenced her father and many household members to accept Christ. It is said that Okyeame Akwando I, a hard man to deal with, suddenly became sober and humane, and soon members of the royal family were influenced to accept Christ. Some members of the chief’s palace who had abandoned going to church soon started attending their former churches again due to the transformation they saw in Okyeame Akwando. This is the testimony of what preaching the gospel to just one soul can do. First, it was just Elizabeth, but today, the message has reached her entire family and the larger royal families of Gomoa Jukwa.

Every Christian is blessed with the mandate to ride on the wings of the gospel and get it to the world. When God saw the Ethiopian Eunuch searching the Scriptures, He sent Philip to preach the gospel to him, not angels or visions (Acts 8:26–31). Again, when the Centurion was visited by an angel for his devotion, he was asked to look for Peter (Acts 10:1–44). For ‘…how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14).

We have all been called to evangelise (Romans 10:15, Matthew 20:19). Let us gird our loins and get going. For we bear the gospel of peace on our feet (Ephesians 6:15). Those are “beautiful feet” (Romans 10:15); let us bring them to the world. Take a ride on the wings of the gospel, be a Philip and visit a confused world that needs to understand this Jesus you have (Acts 8:31). Hark the clarion call!

Written by George Osei-Asiedu