RECEIVING CELEBRITIES AND ‘SLAYBRITIES’ WEB

Receiving Celebrities And ‘Slaybrities’ In Our Churches: How Prepared Is The Church?

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The unveiling of the Vision 2028 document of The Church of Pentecost came with nine new special initiatives. One of the special initiatives introduced in the five-year working document is the Ministry to Celebrities. A celebrity is a person who has achieved a high level of fame, recognition, and popularity in a particular field, such as entertainment, sports, politics, or other areas of public interest. Celebrities often attract attention and admiration from the public due to their accomplishments, talents, or contributions to society. The word “celebrity” is a broad term and can encompass individuals known for their positive achievements as well as those who gain fame through controversy or scandal. A ‘Slaybrity’, on the other hand, refers to individuals known for their stylish appearance and influence on social media. In this article, I will walk you through the rationale behind the vision, scan through some celebrities in the Bible, celebrity by choice or chance, and how the church should prepare to receive these people in the church.

RATIONALE OF THE VISION

The Church aims to reach out to celebrities with the gospel and disciple and mentor them for societal transformation. Most celebrities and ‘slaybrities’ have thousands and millions of followers whose lives are being influenced by the content posted on social media handles. Reaching out to celebrities with the power of the gospel to transform their lives, and they, in turn, can also reach out and transform the lives of their followers through social media handles.

CELEBRITIES IN THE BIBLE

The Bible contains accounts of many prominent people who could be termed as celebrities due to the number of times their names were mentioned in the Bible and the continuous lessons drawn from their lives in our contemporary times. A few of these people include Adam, Eve, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Esther, Daniel, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul, Peter, Mary, Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist, and many more. However, the greatest celebrity the world has ever seen is Jesus Christ. From over two thousand years ago till now, all generations have known about Jesus Christ; millions of books have been written about Him, and countless songs have been composed and sung about Him. His name is always mentioned in sermons; we pray in His name, talk about Him, cast out devils and heal the sick through His name. His name and fame never die and fade from generation to generation. For all other celebrities and slaybrities, you are only relevant and acknowledged while still alive, and you keep on influencing society to keep you as a celebrity, but the celebrity status of Jesus Christ is everlasting.

BECOMING A CELEBRITY – BY CHOICE VS CHANCE

In our world driven by social media and the power of the internet, anyone at all at any moment in time could become a celebrity. While some people make deliberate and conscious efforts to become celebrities and ‘slaybrities’, others meet fame by chance and become popular through the unsolicited efforts of individuals that made them trend for something worthy of public attention. Until the body of Christ arises to the task of making efforts to reach out to celebrities, a lot may need spiritual nourishment and growth in Christ but may not be attended to because they have been cut off from religious gatherings.

HOW SHOULD THE CHURCH PREPARE?

  • Avoid discriminatory and unguarded comments: Sometimes, a lot of efforts are made to win souls, but we lose them through the backdoor of discriminatory and unguarded comments. The very things we say about people, the ‘holier than thou’ attitudes we put up, and the comments made about people and celebrities can signal a friendly and welcoming spiritual atmosphere or a hostile one. Let your tongue draw all men to Christ but not drive them away.
  • Teach to prepare the minds of the church: As pastors and church leaders, we have a lot of work to do. It takes time for people to understand and fully embrace new directives and offer maximum support. A lot of teaching and orientations need to be done to ensure that the ministry to celebrities and ‘slaybrities’ will serve its purpose.
  • Who handles the new members and new converts classes? As we aim for excellence in ministry, it is important to have a critical look at those assigned to handle new converts and new members’ classes. The caliber of people that handle these classes, as well as the level of their knowledge and expertise, is very critical. First impressions and the quality of knowledge given to people to ground them in Christ are very important. New and better ways of receiving new converts and first-time visitors should be explored and improved.
  • All-Inclusive Gospel Agenda:Over the years, The Church of Pentecost has earnestly pursued an All-Inclusive Gospel Agenda to reach out to all people without discrimination, regardless of their background, race, social status, and past experiences. The Church of Pentecost operates with the belief that the message of the cross that brings salvation, love, and redemption is meant for all people. This concept promotes inclusivity and the understanding that the transformative power of the Gospel is available to all people. In Christ, everyone’s soul counts and matters in the Kingdom of God.
  • Embrace the City Church Concept: Celebrities and ‘slaybrities’ may not feel comfortable worshiping with churches that meet in the classroom and churches without standard modern facilities and technological advancements. They will not be able to ‘slay’ and take quality pictures in beautiful environments for their social media handles. The City Church concept, when embraced, will not only pursue an aggressive evangelism agenda but can also sieve and cut off the excesses witnessed in local church settings, which could put off celebrities and expatriates. Most expatriates and celebrities have traveled widely and expect a certain standard of infrastructure and quality service to meet their needs and expectations. In the city churches, time management, standard church services, and ‘quality sermons’ from the pulpit will be the icing on the cake.
  • Avoid and Manage Embarrassing Situations: It is important to note that the name and fame of some celebrities and ‘slaybrities’ are not commensurate with their wealth and financial status as projected on social media. Living a fake life got many people into the limelight, but one cannot fake when reality stares you in the face. Some of these people may not be as rich as they present themselves. The leadership of the church should be careful and led by the Holy Spirit to not put celebrities in embarrassing situations during fundraising. This could prevent them from coming to church so that they will not be exposed and become an object of mockery.
  • Formation of Celebrity and Professionals Guild: In life, people love to flow and mingle with people of their kind. Forming celebrity and professional guilds will enhance a sense of belonging, foster proper networking, offer support to one another, deploy the skills of professionals when needed, plan for celebrity outreach programs and enhance spiritual growth and development among like-minded people. It may be an awkward feeling to visit any church, and you may not be able to find anyone of your status and level of education. ‘Big Boys’ love to be in the company of ‘Big Boys’ and Celebrities, and ‘Slaybrities’ also love to fellowship with their very own, for they easily understand themselves.

CONCLUSION

Vision 2028 is an all-inclusive vision and cuts across all spheres of life. As a church, let us extend our arms open to all people and keep our doors open to welcome and receive all who seek spiritual nourishment, guidance, and a sense of belonging within the body of Christ. It is our core mandate to reach out to everyone with the power of the gospel, disciple and mentor, and then unleash them to transform their world.

Written by Overseer Ernest K. Akorli (Kpasenkpe District)

A New Wine In A New Wineskin A Case For The City Churches web

A New Wine In A New Wineskin: A Case For The City Churches

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It goes without an iota of equivocation that the 2024 Global All Ministers and Wives Conference, which was held from Monday, January 22 to Saturday, January 27, 2024, at the Pentecost Convention Center, has been one of a kind, unapparelled and unconventional. The conference was historic because it was a “servant to two masters”. It was to unravel the mysteries within the church’s Vision 2023 document and prepare it for Vision 2028, the church’s five–year working document. These two assignments were discharged with dexterity and finesse.

One cannot easily forget the ministrations that dripped stupendously from the throne room down the throat of the evergreen Voice of Pentecost and through to the itching ears of all and sundry. To say that the presentations from the various speakers were cutting-edge is to understate what went on throughout the sessions. All our fathers and speakers executed their assigned roles to the admiration of all.

As it was to be, our dear Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, took his turn to present to the Lord’s flock all that the Lord had laid on his heart for the church in the coming year. Participants agreed session after session that our chairman’s is a gift to global Christianity. One of his presentations on the “City Church Concept” cannot easily go unnoticed. Reminiscing all the slides from the presentation, one thing struck my heart, which is the focal point of this article. I realised that if the church really would stay relevant in the cities, especially in Ghana, then we cannot keep doing things the old way, something which our dearest chairman addressed throughout his presentation.

Akin to the New Wine and the Old Wineskin metaphor, as found in Luke 5:27 – 39, Matthew 9:14 – 17 and Mark 2: 18 – 22, we cannot keep applying what works in less endowed towns to ministry in the city. Jesus’ parable of the new wine and the old wineskin reveals an age-old challenge of how each generation attempts to preserve old traditions for posterity. One of the challenges Jesus dealt with during his earthly ministry was confronting archaic traditions and old Jewish ceremonial forms and practices, which were incompatible with His message about the Kingdom of God (Shenk 2005). Consequently, Jesus’ parable meant that new generations must have fresh reflections on their theological formulations and traditions. I think our dear chairman is making an equal appeal as far as the city ministry is concerned.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, 2022 represents a peak in Ghana’s share of Urbanization with a significant percentage increase to 58.62%. A population may be defined as urban, depending on the size (population or area) or population density of the town or city coupled with available social amenities and other infrastructural developments. Looking at the rate of increase, it is expected that Ghana will have not less than 85% of its population in the cities in the next ten years, barring any change in rural life.

THE WAY FORWARD

Coupled with the thoughts above and the fact that much of the church’s strength in all indicators is urban–driven, ministry in the urban centres must be given a second look. Among many things the revered man of God postulated, the under-listed could guide urban ministry to achieve its intended purposes:

  • To improve quality pastoral care, we must downsize the number of Assemblies under a minister’s care. The bigger the district, the less the supervision
  • City churches must be time–conscious. Many things could be done in a succinct yet Spirit–filled way. For example, we must control the number of announcements which flood every Sunday service. Hitherto, announcements alone could take a whooping one hour. One way to achieve this is to write the announcements in the announcements’ book and not give them extempore
  • The citing of churches is also very necessary. Churches should not be situated too far from accessible roads and pedestrian visibility
  • We must pay attention to the quality of our services and ensure that we put much training and rehearsals into each session. We must also give contextual relevance to whatever we do during church services
  • The Music department must be well-resourced. They must also have time to pray so that they do not only come to the stage to “perform” but to “minister’ to specific needs as well
  • The Media Ministry of the churches must be well–empowered to improve the visibility of our churches. As much as possible, messages should be projected on screens as well, and all digital platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and others should be explored for the church
  • The district minister must, as a matter of urgency, visit these churches regularly and impact them positively
  • Sermons preached on Sundays must be apt, sharp and straight from the throne room in order to have a lasting impact on the members, some of whom come to church only on Sundays for obvious reasons
  • Leaders must pay attention to the protocol and hospitality department in our bid to keep old members as well as “Church – shoppers”. The age-old practice where New Comers are made to stand up to tell their mission of attending services is gradually becoming obsolete
  • We must endeavour to livestream most of our services to enhance visibility
  • Bible study and Home Cell leaders, as well as preachers for Sundays, must appear prepared for each session in order not to spark mistrust from the members, especially those visiting as first–timers
  • Owing to the vast area of the city, we must keep proper records of members and newcomers in order to enhance pastoral care. In the city, the principle for owning a member is that “He who has the member on Sunday owns the member”. Many nominal members have only their names or ‘shadows’ in churches but owe allegiance to other churches
  • The appointment of leaders to these churches must be well thought through, especially officers who will oversee the day-to-day administration of the church
  • The principle of “The Discipleship” mantra should be relooked. Members could be divided into groups and given shepherds to supervise their movements in the pen. This would ensure that the “backdoor” is tightly shut
  • The pastor and the laity must be all things to all people. The city is cosmopolitan in nature. Hence, leaders must, like Apostle Paul, become “all things to all people”. When necessary, they must be dynamic in nature and ministry. They should operate in all the five–fold ministry as the case may call for. They must become disciplinarians when needed and shepherds when duty calls. The needs of the members vary vastly, and a slight negligence would be catastrophic

CONCLUSION

Our dear chairman, through the instrumentation of the Holy Spirit, has intimated for the umpteenth time that the city holds a chunk of our strength. In view of this, the Pareto principle comes in very handy. This principle opines that, for many outcomes, roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes. In other words, a small percentage of causes have an outsized effect. Such is the case of the City Churches and, hence, a clarion call to give these churches a second look.

Written by Pastor Bright Amankwah (Dawhenya District, Tema Area)

Sin Weakens Your Moral Authority As A Minister – General Secretary web

Sin Weakens Your Moral Authority As A Minister – General Secretary

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The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Gyau Obuobi, has advised ministers not to entertain any form of sin as it would have an adverse impact on their ministry.

According to him, leading a sinless (holy life) is a basic requirement of a minister and is also non-negotiable.

As ministers, God has set us apart from sin. When you are a minister who lives in sin, it weakens your moral authority to the extent that you cannot confront sin, and this will cause your downfall,” Apostle Obuobi said yesterday when he met with Ministers and Wives of the Dansoman Area as part of this year’s Apostolisation (Ministers and Officers’ Retreat).

Speaking on the topic “The Four Levitical Functions”, with Deuteronomy 10:8 as his foundational text, the General Secretary explained that in the Old Testament, the Lord chose the Levi tribe to serve as priests. However, in the New Testament era, He does not just select a family as ministers; instead, from every nation and tribe,

He calls His people into the kingdom work. He further noted that just like the prophet Amos (Amos 7:14-15), God does not choose the qualified but instead chooses those whom the world despised and uses them for His glory (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

“We must, therefore, not take our calling for granted. We must always appreciate God for what He has made us,” he charged.

Apostle Obuobi indicated that in choosing people to serve as priests, God sets them apart from sin to lead a life of holiness.

Buttressing his point with Exodus 28:36-37, he said that this is the reason why the turban of the Priest of Israel had the inscription “Holiness to the Lord,” saying: “As a minister, the first thing people should see when they meet you is holiness.”

Touching on the four Levitical functions, the General Secretary explained that, just like the Levitical priests, God has called ministers to carry the ark of the covenant, stand before Him, serve Him, and bless others in His name.

Explaining further, he said that the Ark of the Covenant represents the presence of God, and therefore, it is expected of every minister to be a carrier of God’s presence at all times. “The minister must carry the presence of God (the ark) into every service to bring life to it,” he said.

Apostle Obuobi stated that this could be achieved by adequate preparation through prayer, waiting on God, engaging God’s word, and leading a righteous life, saying: “Dirty hands don’t carry the ark.”

“By the ark, the Jordan ran away from the presence of the Israelites; by the ark, Dagon (the god of the Philistines) fell and got broken into pieces; by the ark, a distinction is created between the people of God and others,” he added.

He said that the second Levitical function of the minister is to stand before the Lord, which implies spending time in prayer.

He noted that ministers must be intercessors and intercede for the church and nation, the sick and afflicted, the family, and others.

He, however, stressed that prayer should not only be about putting one’s challenges and problems before God but fellowshipping with Him.

The third Levitical function Apostle Samuel Obuobi posited was service. He noted that ministers have been set apart to serve the Lord with all their hearts and to do so with gladness.

“We must note that our service to God is an aspect of our worship, and worship is both adoration and service,” he stated.

The General Secretary ended his presentation with the fourth Levitical function, which he said was to bless in God’s name.

He said that ministers are anointed and must be cautious about their utterances. As a result, they should always pronounce blessings on their congregants and refrain from “cursing” them, emphasising that: “We have been called to bless and not to curse.”

PENTECOST NEWS.

Follow Systems, Adapt To Change – Chairman Advises Church Leaders web

Follow Systems, Adapt To Change – Chairman Advises Church Leaders

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The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has urged church leaders to embrace change and adhere to established systems to propel the church forward. 

He made this call during the Ministers and Wives session of the Takoradi Area Apostolisation service.

Apostle Nyamekye, in his sermon, emphasised the importance of understanding the dynamics of systems.

He stated: “To comprehend events or processes in any ministry, we need to understand how people work together.”

He further explained that a system is any group of people in regular contact with each other and that all organised human entities exhibit unique dynamics governed by their own rules and interactions.

The Chairman delved into the principles governing systems, stating, “Any action taken by a person in the group will have an effect throughout the entire system.”

He also discussed the inherent resistance to change within systems, pointing out that “systems act to preserve themselves.” indicating the challenges leaders face in implementing change within established structures.

He emphasised the importance of adapting roles, rules, and rituals to support organisational change, asserting changing a system or an organisation’s culture takes commitment, persistence, hard work, and time.

Apostle Nyamekye stressed the necessity for leaders to internalise and embody the vision they seek to instil within their congregations.

The event, which began on February 6, 2024, is set to end on February 11, 2024. It was attended by the wife of the Chairman, Mrs Mary Nyamekye, Apostle Sylvester Arhin (Takoradi Area Head), Apostle Onyinah Gyamfi (Dunkwa Area Head), Apostle Emmanuel Kwesi Osei Fosu (Sefwi Bekwa Area), Apostle ADP James Tetteh (Sekondi Area Head), Elder Prof. Stephen Owusu Korankye (Finance Board Chairman), Apostle Ekow Badu Woode (Rtd) and Apostle Robert Ackon (Rtd).

Ministers and wives in the Sekondi and Takoradi Areas of the Church were also present.

PENTECOST NEWS

Doing Good Is Part Of The Gospel – Elder Dr. Ken Aboah web

Doing Good Is Part Of The Gospel – Elder Dr. Ken Aboah

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Elder Dr. Lawyer Ken Aboah, a National Executive Committee (NEC) member of the Evangelism Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, has advised Christians to engage in holistic evangelism by providing tangible help to others.

According to him, in proclaiming the gospel message of Christ, Christians must also demonstrate the love of Christ to unbelievers through meeting their felt needs.

Elder Dr. Aboah shared this insight today during his presentation on the opening day of Dansoman Area Apostolisation (Ministers Session) ongoing at the Mambrobi Central Assembly auditorium.

Speaking on the topic: “Holistic Witness to Transform the World,” Elder Dr. Aboah explained that “Unleashing,” in the context of Vision 2028, involves getting members out of the fortress of the church into their spheres of influence and transforming them while “Transformation” is the conversion of souls and the conversion of society through the Gospel.

He pointed out that the “Possessing the Nations” agenda aligns with the mission statement of The Church of Pentecost, which states: “We exist to establish responsible and self-sustaining churches filled with committed, Spirit-filled Christians of character who will impact their communities.”

He stressed that Christians should not only proclaim the gospel message but also be interested in impacting the communities in which they live. Wholistic Witness, according to Elder Dr. Aboah, is about reflecting and impacting communities with Christ’s whole Gospel for the whole person in an attempt to transform cultures and societies.

“Doing Gospel Work involves proclamation plus transforming politics, governance, social service delivery, disaster mitigation, economy, empowerment, environment, climate change, agriculture, food security, trade & investment, sports, academia, science, and development, among others,” he said.

He highlighted that Jesus lived a holistic life, a reason why his disciples were intellectually, spiritually, physically, and socially empowered. Jesus did not only proclaim the gospel but also demonstrated it through good deeds to many.

Elder Dr. Aboah emphasised that believers should focus not only on their eternal abode in heaven but also on making a positive impact in this world and transforming societies.

He advised believers to intensify their evangelism efforts and employ all means to draw humanity to Christ as souls perish. He urged them not to relent but to be aggressive in winning souls, stating: “We must do this until all the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

PENTECOST NEWS.

Transform Your Own World – Apostle Agyemang Bekoe Tells Members web

Transform Your Own World – Apostle Agyemang Bekoe Tells Members

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The International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, has indicated that church members are mandated under Vision 2028 to transform their world individually. 

He made this call on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at the opening session of the 2024 Apostolisation (Officer’s Retreat) in the Techiman Area when he spoke at the Ministers and Wives session at the Dwomor Central Assembly Auditorium. 

Apostle Agyemang Bekoe explained that under Vision 2028, not only are pastors directly in charge of ministry and transforming the world, but every single member of the church is mandated to take control of their spheres, which includes their homes, workplaces, and anywhere they find themselves for transformation.

Speaking on the theme, “A chosen people unleashed,” the IMD explained that a chosen people means selected people.

Drawing inspiration from 1 Peters 2:9, Apostle Agyemang Bokoe disclosed that when God chooses people, “they are hidden for a time but revealed after a time,” adding that, “The Church of Pentecost has gone through the hiding season and is now in the season of being revealed.” 

“Vision 2023 was the period God hid The Church of Pentecost, and Vision 2028 is the revelation period,” he said. 

He also stated that people whom God chooses are not ordinary people. He, therefore, called on ministers to make their churches extraordinary with the spirit of God present.

Another characteristic he noted is that chosen people do not fear the laws, dangers, and intimidation of the world, saying, “It doesn’t mean there won’t be fear or danger. But in the face of danger, courage is used.”

Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe admonished ministers to ensure that all their sermons and activities throughout the year align with the 2024 theme, “A people of God, unleashed to transform their world,” and Vision 2028 as a whole.

Present at the service were Apostle Isaac Nii Kotei Djani (Techiman Area Head and the RCC Coordinator for Bono and Ahafo Regions) and Prophet Samuel Tetteh Doku (New Tafo Area Head).

The Techiman Area Apotolisation is divided into two sessions. The morning sessions will be attended by ministers and their wives from Tuesday, February 6, 2024, to Friday, February 9, 2024, while the evening sessions will be attended virtually by officers, proposed and potential officers from various zones and selected districts.

PENTECOST NEWS 

Apostle Nyamekye, Family Build Mission House For Asokore District web

Apostle Nyamekye, Family Build Mission House For Asokore District

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The Chairman of The Chuch of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, and his family have funded the construction of a new Mission House for the Asokore District of the Church, in the Ashanti Region. 

Apostle Yaw Adjei-Kwarteng, Kwadaso Area Head and Executive Council Member, dedicated the new manse on February 4, 2024.

The journey to the new Mission House began in May 2022 after attending a funeral at the existing Mission House. He discussed the need for a new Mission House with the then District Pastor, Emmanuel Asamoah Aboagye.

A few months later, a piece of land was acquired at GHS 20,000.00. Apostle Nyamekye contributed GHS 21,000.00 to cover the cost of the land and its registration.

The construction officially began with a sod-cutting ceremony performed by Apostle Keneth Baffoe Antwi, Ejisu Area Head, on September 11, 2022.

Architect Elder Professor Duah from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) revealed the design details of the new Mission House. The 5-bedroom building includes two living rooms, a storeroom, and a guest room. 

The Obuase Area Head of the Church, Prophet David Kankam Beditor, delivered a sermon titled “Unleashed to Live a Life that Reflects God’s Kingdom Values to Transform Your World.”

Drawing some lessons from Matthew 6:33, Prophet Beditor reminded believers that the ultimate aim in life is to go to Heaven. He asserted that the Kingdom of God, found in Jesus Christ, has many principles that followers must adhere to.

Referencing Matthew 5:5-13, the Obuase Area Head highlighted the numerous blessings in the Word of God. 

He pointed out that living by God’s word attracts blessings and makes the Kingdom of God our possession. He urged believers to maintain a pure heart, a prerequisite for seeing God.

Drawing lessons from the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Prophet Kankam Beditor emphasised the themes of reconciliation and restoration. He noted that just as the father in the parable welcomed back his unworthy son, God expects his children to reconcile with others and help those who have strayed from the Kingdom of God.

Present at the service were the wife of the Chairman, Mrs Mary Nyamekye and their family, Apostle Yaw Agyei Kwateng (Ashanti Region RCC Coordinator/ Executive Council Member), Apostle Dr Deudenne Nuekpe (La Area Head/Executive Council Member), Apostle Peter Kofi Dzamekey (Asokwa Area Head), Prophet Samuel Tetteh Doku (New Tafo Area Head), Apostle John Obeng Kesse (Suame Area Head), Apostle Victor K. Asamoah (Bompata Area Head), and Apostle John Appiah Aidoo (Abuakwa Area Head). 

Also present were Apostle Samuel Kwabena Asare (Mampong Area Head), Apostle Daniel Owusu (Konongo Area Head), Apostle Fred Tiakor (Ashanti Bekwai Area Head), Apostle Samuel Edzii Davidson (Offinso Area Head), Apostle Gideon Obeng Darko Debrah (Atonsu Area Head), Apostle Daniel Nsaful (Old Tafo Area Head), Apostle Dr Ignatius Buertey (Asokwa PIWC Resident Minister), Pastor Emmanuel Asamoah Aboagye (Asokore District), Pastor Emmanuel Kyei Boate (Barekese District), Hon. Nana Ayew Afriyie (MP, Effiduase/Asokore Constituency), Elder Nana Amo Tobin (Tobinco Group of Companies), and Elder Nana K. Gyasi (Nana K. Gyasi Co. Ltd.)

PENTECOST NEWS

Yendi Area Head Calls On Ya Naa web

Yendi Area Head Calls On Yaa Naa

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The Yendi Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor James Magyam, paid a courtesy call on Yaa Naa Abukari Mahama II, the Overlord of the Dagbon kingdom, on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at the Gbewaa Palace.

The courtesy call, which was the second since the Area Head assumed office, was to wish the overlord a Happy New Year and also discuss some pertinent issues concerning the welfare of the kingdom.

The Yaa Naa was pleased about the visit and implored the church to continue praying for peace for his kingdom and the nation since the country would be going to the polls this year.

He acknowledged the role of the Church towards the development of the area, which it demonstrates through its annual environmental care campaigns.

Amongst the entourage were Pastors Martin Ossom Boafo (Saboba District), Peter Offei Addo (Yendi District), Anthony Adu-Gyamfi (Nadundo District), and Elder Morgan Aggor (Area Deacon).

Report by Pastor Martin Ossom Boafo (Saboba District)

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Vision 2028 Requires That We Foster Teamwork For Progress – Apostle Mike Etrue

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Apostle Mike Kwame Etrue, the Koforidua Area Head and an Executive Committee Member of The Church of Pentecost, has admonished Church leaders to foster teamwork in the light of the Church’s Vision 2028 to maximise growth.

Apostle Etrue, who also serves as the Eastern Regional Coordinating Committee (ERCC) Coordinator, said this in an exhortation to the Koforidua Area Presbytery of the Church during their End-of-Year meeting held on Friday, February 2, 2024 at the Central Tabernacle.

He explained that Vision 2028 of The Church of Pentecost, which has the overarching theme, Possessing the Nations II: Unleashing the Whole Church for the Transformation of their World with the Values and Principles of the Kingdom of God”, has ministry space for everyone, hence the need to foster teamwork for progress.

In a sermon entitled, “Fostering Teamwork for Progress,” the Area Head explained teamwork as work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole.

He emphasised that in unity lies strength and Church leaders must know this.

He intimated that Vision 2028 of the Church has several components such as Ministry to Celebrities, Ministry to Muslims, Chaplaincy, among others and this will require that leaders foster teamwork, as a single person cannot accomplish it all.

With reading from Genesis 11:4-5, the Eastern RCC Coordinator exegete that the people of Babel were heading towards human success simply because they were one and were building as a team, but unfortunately their goals and aspirations were contrary to the revealed word and plans of God for humans.

Apostle Etrue exhorted that when Christian leaders foster teamwork according to the revealed word and plans of God in Christ, their results will be great.

With further reading from John 17:20-23, Apostle Mike Kwame Etrue established that Jesus underscores the essence of teamwork hence prayed for the unity of the disciples.

He also added that the biblical basis for teamwork include the Holy Trinity (Genesis 1:26), and the collaborative leadership of Moses with Joshua, Aaron, and Caleb who shared in the load of leadership.

He also added that other biblical characters such as Nehemiah (Nehemiah 3), Ezra (Ezra 7:28), and Solomon (Eccl. 4:9-12) all exemplified teamwork.

The Area Head cited Luke 10 and illustrated that Jesus modelled teamwork in his earthly ministry and also mentioned that the early church did same (Acts 6:1-7; 11:19-30; 12:12-17; 13:1-13; 18:1-4).

Apostle Mike Etrue extoled the importance of teamwork and mentioned that results are multiplied, less stress for everyone, church growth occurs, increased joy is produced in the body of believers, and individual and group potentials are discovered.

The Area Head intimated that God’s plans has always been using role players rather than superstars.

He bemoaned situations where some Christian leaders ignore teamwork thinking soloing is easier with others having control issues and will dictate instead of taking ideas from the group. “Dictatorship results in stifled creativity”, he noted.

He also stated that some leaders in their bid to satisfy their personal ego needs ignore the group to sole leadership.

With further reading from Romans 12:5, he explained that the psychology of Teams has it that the Church is a body of Christ with different people and functions, hence the need to promote team work.

Apostle Etrue encouraged leaders to adopt creative strategies in the midst of challenges to keep the value of teamwork alive.

He also challenged the leaders to ensure that members are taught to understand Vision 2028 so that they can give their best towards its achievement.

Report by Koforidua Area Media Team

CoP Marriage Counsellor Wins Africa Influential Women Award web

CoP Marriage Counsellor Wins Africa Influential Women Award

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Mrs Francisca Amoah, commonly known in the Ghanaian media space as Maame Koma Addo, a deaconess of The Church of Pentecost in the Ashiyie District of the Madina Area, has received the Most Influential Woman Award in Africa (2nd runner-up).

Deaconess Francisca Koma Amoah was honoured following her impactful work as a marriage counsellor, her contribution to women’s empowerment and her mentoring of adolescent girls.

She received the award at the 2nd Women Achievers Awards held at Cresta President Hotel in Gaborone, Botswana, on December 16, 2023. 

The prestigious awards was organised by Gaolapelwe Matse-Mpete, the Founder of Women Achievers Awards (WAA), to recognise, acknowledge and appreciate women making significant commitments and tremendous contributions while fostering mentorship, coaching and empowerment programmes by equipping, uplifting and restoring hope for women, married couples and adolescent girls across the globe. Each honouree was required to mentor, coach, and empower young women for a year to become assertive and play constructive roles in decision-making that would affect their homes, societies, and lives. 

As one of the renowned marriage counsellors in Ghana, Maame Koma Addo hosts a popular television programme dubbed “Sɔ W’areɛ Mu” on CACI TV. She was the only Ghanaian who emerged from this category to receive the prestigious award. 

The Botswana National Deacon of The Church of Pentecost, Elder Alexander Ato Ghanney, who took the award on Maame Koma Addo, who was overwhelmed, commended her for making Ghana and The Church of Pentecost proud. He urged her to use this opportunity to possess the nations and transform her world.

Speaking to Pentecost News after receiving the award in Ghana, Maame Koma Addo expressed her profound gratitude to God for the global recognition. 

She thanked the leadership of The Church of Pentecost for their instrumental role, quality leadership, moral support, and holistic empowerment of members of the Church. 

Deaconess Francisca Koma Addo, acknowledging the organisers, bemoaned how children and some women frequently suffer in their marital homes. She pleaded with couples and all key stakeholders to learn how to create a conducive environment to promote healthy lifestyles by equipping individuals with godly values and biblical principles in the home and society.

She emphasised the need for stakeholder engagement, unity and holistic support among women to achieve their goals and succeed in their respective fields, saying, “Women leaders have unique perspectives and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society.”

Presenting and dedicating the award to the Madina Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Martin Seth, congratulated her for making the Church proud. 

He assured her of the consistent prayer and holistic support from the entire Area to go the extra mile as she has been equipped to transform her world by empowering, rescuing and restoring hope to women, married couples and adolescent girls experiencing myriad challenges in life. 

Deaconess Francisca Koma Addo is an Assistant Director at the Akuapem South Municipal Assembly, Chief Executive Officer of Maame Koma Foundation, Member of the Madina Area Chaplaincy Ministry and Ashiyie District Counseling Ministry of The Church of Pentecost. 

Report by Joshua Asamoah Darko.