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GRA Commends Pentecost Convention Centre For Exemplary Tax Compliance

Amidst Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) relentless efforts to enforce compliance and tackle VAT violations among businesses, the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) stands out as a shining example of tax compliance, earning commendation from the Authority.

The GRA presented a well-deserved citation to the facility’s management on July 28, 2023, in recognition of this exemplary feat.

Pastor Prince Odoom, the Manager of PCC, received the citation on behalf of the Centre and expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Authority for the recognition.

He further assured that the Centre would continue to contribute its quota to the nation’s development by upholding Christian values and principles, which includes dutifully fulfilling their tax obligations.

Located at Millenium City near Kasoa in the Central Region, the purpose-built Pentecost Convention Centre boasts impressive conference spaces, including 5000 and 3000-seater capacity auditoriums, along with dining halls, a state-of-the-art laundry facility, and a water treatment plant.

The Centre also has service shops like grocery and barbering salons.

The Centre gained widespread acclaim during the CoVID-19 pandemic when it served as a treatment and isolation center, offering its facilities to the government of Ghana.

To further boost tax revenue and promote infrastructural and social projects, the GRA launched the Ghana Revenue Authority Engagement with Religious Leaders, seeking religious leaders’ support in tax education and encouraging their followers to fulfill their tax obligations to the state.

Pentecost Convention Centre’s success sets an example for faith-based communities to strengthen members’ sense of responsibility as citizens, fostering greater tax compliance and supporting the Authority’s efforts to mobilise revenue for the state.

It is also worthy of mention that the Centre was previously honoured by the Kingdom Equip Network for its exceptional facilities and role as a hub of Christian spirituality.

PENTECOST NEWS

A-Lang Worship Centre Organises Special Service For BECE Candidates web

A-Lang Worship Centre Organises Special Service For BECE Candidates

The Schools Outreach Ministry (SOM) of A-Lang Worship Centre in the Odorkor Area of The Church of Pentecost has organised a special service for final-year students preparing to sit for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The event, which took place at the Doxa Auditorium on Sunday, July 30, 2023, aimed to prepare the students spiritually, psychologically, and physically for the examination.

The service was chaired by the Resident Minister, Apostle Dr. Christian Tsekpoe, who was also one of the speakers for the event. Other speakers were Mrs. Olivia Tsekpoe (Wife of the Resident Minister), Elder Kwame Owusu Ansah (a retired Educationist), and Deaconess Priscilla Koranchie (a teacher).

Using Proverbs 14:12 as a foundational text Apostle Dr. Christian Tsekpoe, who is also the Head of Department for the Pentecost School of Theology and Mission (PTSM) at the Pentecost University, encouraged the students to approach the exams with confidence.

He also advised them not to take any opportunity in life for granted and to see the exams as one of such opportunities they have been given.

He interspersed his presentation with his personal testimonies and life experiences to encourage the students to remain focused regardless of the challenges life throws at them.

The other speakers also touched on time management, rules and regulations for the examination, as well as the need for the students to trust and rely on Jesus in every endeavour.

After the presentations, the Resident Minister led the congregation to pray for the candidates.

All 45 candidates who took part in the service comprised members of A-Lang Worship Centre, students of St. Lutterodt Academy, and members of Santa Maria English Assembly.

To the glory of God, four of the students, including a Muslim, responded to the altar call to accept Christ as their Lord and personal Saviour.

The candidates were each presented with a mathematical set, a necessary tool for the examination.

In all, 65 people participated in the event, including Elder Isaac Danful (Assistant Odorkor Area Chaplaincy Ministry Leader and English Assembly Presiding Elder), Elder Eric Ogoe (District SOM Coordinator), Deaconess Esther Danful (Assistant District Evangelism Ministry Leader), Brother Gideon Okyere (English Assembly Youth Ministry Secretary).

Report by A-Lang Worship Centre Media Team.

Abakrampa District Dedicates 2 Church Buildings web

Abakrampa District Dedicates 2 Church Buildings

The Cape Coast Area Head and Coordinator for the Central Regional Coordinating Committee (CRCC) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, dedicated the church buildings of the Abakrampa Central and Essaman assemblies, both in the Abakrampa district.

The Central Assembly church building was originally constructed in 1984 by Apostle D.Y.A Owusu (now of blessed memory). However, in 2019, the decision was made to re-roof, remodel, and extend the old building to include a Children’s auditorium, three washrooms, and an office.

The church building was funded through Area and District grants, as well as contributions from members.

The Essaman Assembly church building, on the other hand, was largely funded through the Community-Based Church Building (CBCB) initiative of The Church of Pentecost headquarters.

Dedicating the buildings, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi commended the Abakrampa District for starting and completing the church buildings with zeal, sacrifice, and commitment.

He also praised the District Minister, Pastor Thompson Anane, and his wife, Genevieve, for personally donating over GHS 22,500.00 to support the Central Assembly building project.

Preaching on the theme “Repositioning the Church for Greater Glory and Impact in the Last Days” at the dedication service, Pastor Ernest Boakye Anto, the Kissi District Minister, urged the members to be strong in faith to reposition the Church for maximum impact.

“The church is one big family, and therefore we should be there for each other,” he said.

He said that for the church to be glorious and have a greater impact, members must rely on the word of God, establish family altars in their homes, engage in aggressive evangelism, and lead holy and godly lifestyles.

He also stressed the importance of extending evangelism to persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the target groups of the Home and Urban Mission (HUM).

Report by Cape Coast Area Media Team.

Achimota Area Women's Ministry Donates To Three Nations WEB

Achimota Area Women’s Ministry Donates To Three Nations

The Women’s Ministry in the Achimota Area of The Church of Pentecost has donated seven bales of the Women’s Ministry cloth to the Church’s external branches in Malawi, Guinea Bissau, and Lesotho. 

The items were presented to the International Missions Office at the Church’s General Headquarters at La, Accra, on Tuesday. 

The Achimota Area Women’s Ministry Leader, Deaconess Esther Jones Sarfo, said the ministry was touched after watching McKeown’s Missions Week documentary and decided to embark on the gesture. 

“The cloth aims to promote the Women’s Ministry in these countries and encourage youth participation in its activities,” she stated. 

The Senior Administrative Manager in the Missions Office, Mrs Victoria Kumi-Woode, received the items on behalf of the International Missions Director, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, and expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the ministry for the gesture. 

She assured that the cloth would be distributed fairly to the beneficiary nations and urged other Areas to follow suit. 

Present at the presentation ceremony were the Achimota Area Head, Apostle David Tettey Tekper and his wife; the Director of the Women’s Ministry, Deaconess Philomina Mireku; the Director of Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS), Elder Richard Amaning, the Achimota Area Women’s Executives, and some members of the ministry.

PENTECOST NEWS

Pastor Wettey Quaye Retires After 30 Years Of Active Service web

Pastor Wettey Quaye Retires After 30 Years Of Active Service

The Trade Fair District of La Area of The Church of Pentecost has successfully organised a retirement service for Pastor Benjamin & Mrs Patience Wettey Quaye after serving the church in various capacities in six districts, including Kwapong, Saltpond, Tema North, Agogo, Fiapre and Trade Fair.

A glorious service held in his honour at the Trade Fair Central Auditorium on Sunday, July 30, 2023, was attended by people from all walks of life. Among them was the former General Secretary of the church, Apostle Dr Alfred Kodua (Rtd.). With him were Prophet J. E. Ameyaw (Rtd.) and Apostle Matthew Larbi Wettey (Rtd), among other ministers of the church.

Also in attendance were the Member of Parliament for La Dade-Kotopon, Honourable Rita Naa Adoley Sowah and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Rev. Hon. Solomon Kotey Nikoi, as well as some Assembly Members in the La Dade-Kotopon Municipality.

Pastor Benjamin Wettey Quaye was born on November 22, 1958, at Awutu Breku, to Opanyin Isaac Kwame Gyan and Maame Mary Ama Owude, of blessed memory. 

He began his basic education in 1964 at Awutu Offadaa Methodist Primary School and completed it in 1974. He enrolled at the Ho School of Hygiene and completed in 1982 as Rural Health Inspector. He wrote the General Certificate Ordinary Level in 1988. While pursuing the Advance Level in the first year at Ashanti Bekwai Workers College, he was called into the full-time ministry. 

He worked at the Ministry of Agriculture Crops Division at Somanya in a Mango Nursery and later at Senchi Ferry Agric Demonstration Farm in 1975. He was later employed at Juapong Textiles Limited as a machine operator in 1977. After completing the School of Hygiene in Ho, he was posted to Ashanti Bekwai Government Hospital in 1982, where he worked until his call to full-time ministry. 

In a sermon with scripture reference to Joshua 4:6-7, the La Area Head and Executive Council Member-Elect, Apostle Dr Dieudonne Komla Nuekpe, spoke on the topic: “What does this stone mean to you?”

He said after Joshua took over from Moses, he had to cross the river Jordan with the Israelites, and after they had successfully crossed to the other side, Joshua, by the instruction of God, ordered a member of each tribe to pick a stone as a memorial for the next generation. 

“It is not easy going through the process of life and ministry until retirement, and not everyone can cross Jordan to the end without casualties,” he said, adding, “In the case of Pastor Benjamin Wettey Quaye and his family, God has kept faith with them and will continue to remain faithful even in retirement.” 

Apostle Dr Dieudonne Komla Nuekpe stated that raising a memorial stone enables individuals to reposition themselves for victory now and in the future. Also, memorials are reminders and reassurance of God’s presence in an individual’s life. He stressed that it is the assurance of God’s continuous provision for one’s life. 

He referenced Joshua 4: 9, Numbers 8:24-25 and urged them to keep their faith in God, bear testimony about the Lord and become guardians and mentors to young ministers and the youth.

Apostle Dieudonne Komla Nuekpe concluded by referring to Psalm 71:17-18 and admonished them to continue to proclaim God’s goodness even in old age, and as they do that, God will continue to lead them.

Report by Gina Akua Padi.

6 Infantry Battalion Honours Pastor Isaac Deku & Family web

6 Infantry Battalion Honours Pastor Isaac Deku & Family

The 6 Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces in Kamina, Tamale, has honoured Pastor Isaac Deku, the Kamina Barracks District Minister of The Church of Pentecost, and his family, for their selfless service to officers and soldiers of the Unit.

The ceremony, held on Thursday, July 20, 2023, as part of the appreciation week organised for the outgoing District Minister and his family, had in attendance Lt. Col. Jeremiah Yao Agbeko Ankuyi (Commanding Officer of the Unit), Major Thomas Himneh (the Second-in-Command), SWO Kofi Mensah (the Regimental Sergeant), chaplains of various denominations in the Unit, and other key appointment holders.

Also present were some officers and soldiers of the 6 Infantry Battalion, as well as ministers, officers, and members of The Church of Pentecost.

Speaking at the event, Lt. Col. Jeremiah Yao Agbeko Ankuyi acknowledged the general difficulty there is in leading people, especially the flock of God, and praised Pastor Deku for his selfless efforts in making a distinguishing mark in his personal life and in the spiritual lives of the people in the Unit.

He concluded his speech with a prayer and well-wishes for the minister.

Abdul-Rahim Yamusah (the Garrison Imam), other officers of the Unit, and members of the Kamina Barracks District also took turns to eulogize the minister and his family.

As a token of their gratitude, the Commanding Officer led his officers and soldiers to present Pastor Deku and his family with a giant plaque of honor bearing the logo of the 6 Infantry Battalion and a citation.

These gifts, according to Lt. Col. Agbeko Ankuyi, would serve as a tangible expression of appreciation for the selflessness and dedication the minister and his family had demonstrated at the Unit.

Overwhelmed by the gesture, Pastor Isaac Deku, on behalf of his family, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the leadership and the entire membership of the Unit.

He also prayed that the ties between the Church and the Unit would deepen even more as they prepare to receive a new minister.

Report by Overseer Isaac Kwabena Tagoe (Assistant Area Reporter, Tamale)

Apam District Dedicates Historic McKeown Temple web

Apam District Dedicates “Historic” McKeown Temple

Sunday, July 30, 2023, was a historic day for members of the Central Assembly of the Apam District in the Winneba Area of The Church of Pentecost as they witnessed the long-awaited dedication of their church building.

The church building project, which has taken some 38 years to complete, has been aptly named “McKeown Temple” after the founder and first Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor James McKeown.

The colourful dedication service for the edifice was officiated by the Winneba Area Head, Apostle Samuel Otu Appiah, with assistance from the Apam District Minister, Pastor Bismarck Aidan.

In attendance were Mrs. Gifty Dansoah Appiah (Wife of the Area Head), Hon. Richard Gyan Mensah (MP for Gomoa West), Pastor T. K. Tandoh (Rtd.) and his wife, and Mrs. Diana Ofori Atta (Rtd.).

During the ceremony, Pastor Emmanuel Foster Asamoah, the Abasraba District Minister, delivered an exhortation on the topic “House of Prayer,” drawing references from Isaiah 56:7 and 1 Kings 8:28-52 in the Bible.

In his message, he emphasised the significance of the temple as a place of fellowship with God and urged everyone, especially Christians, to avoid actions that would distance them from the temple.

The event was also graced by the representative of the Chief of Apam, the Winneba Area pastorate and their wives, as well as members of the Winneba Area Executive Committee.

Report by Pastor Isaac Sunkwah Nekasen (Winneba Area Reporter)

Dawhenya District Donates To Children With Disabilities web

Dawhenya District Donates To Children With Disabilities

The Dawhenya District in the Tema Area of The Church of Pentecost has generously donated assorted items worth GH¢ 4,000.00 to 11 children living with various forms of disabilities in the district.

The project, dubbed “A Smile On A Face,” was initiated by the District Minister, Pastor Jonas Beddim, in collaboration with the District Children’s Ministry, with the aim of expressing God’s love to these vulnerable members of society.

Pastor Jonas Beddim, in a brief speech, encouraged parents of these children not to lose heart due to their conditions, assuring them that God has great plans for their lives.

The donated items included two wheelchairs, a clutch, provisions, and toiletries.

The parents of the children expressed heartfelt appreciation to Pastor Jonas Beddim, the Children’s Ministry leadership, and all donors for their kind gesture.

Report by Elder Bernard Kobbina Asiedu (Tema Area Assistant CM Leader)

Pastor Matthew Yeboah Retires After 37 Years In Ministry web

Pastor Matthew Yeboah Retires After 37 YearsIn Ministry

It was a joyous mood when members of The Church of Pentecost in the Kanda-Alaska District in La Area and beyond, family members, loved ones, and a cross-section of the ministers of the church gathered at the Dome of Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC)-Kokomlemle, Accra to witness the retirement service of Pastor Matthew Kwabena and Mrs Sarah Yeboah on Sunday, July 30, 2023.

Pastor Yeboah has served in the full-time ministry for 37 years. He served in seven districts; Jaman Drobo in Berekum Area, Samreboi in Tarkwa Area, Amoaya in Sefwi Wiawso Area, Jumapo in Koforidua Area, Asene in Akyem Oda Area, Ashaley Botwe in Madina Area, and finally Kanda-Alaska in La Area.

He served as the Zonal Witness (Evangelism Ministry) Leader for Sunyani Area from 1987 to 1992, Witness Movement (Evangelism Ministry) Leader for Tarkwa Area from 1994 to 1998, Evangelism Ministry Leader for Sefwi Wiawso Area from 1999 to 2004 and Sefwi Wiawso Area Executive Committee Member from 2000 to 2004. 

He also served as Women’s Ministry Patron for Koforidua Area from 2005 to 2010, Koforidua Area Executive Committee Member from 2007 to 2010, and La Area Executive Committee Member from 2021 to 2023.

Prophet David Kankam Beditor, an Executive Council Member and RCC Co-ordinator for Greater Accra Region officiated the retirement service.

Speaking on the message titled, “Lessons from the unjust steward for maximum impact,” based on Luke 16:1-12 and Proverbs 21:20, among other scriptures, Prophot Kankam Beditor charged Christians to strive to receive good reports about their lives. He, therefore, implored them to avoid wastage and procrastination, use their resources generously to bring others to Christ, make good friends, be team players, be good stewards, and ask themselves necessary and relevant questions. 

In their final words, Pastor Matthew and Mrs Sarah Yeboah thanked all who played significant roles in their ministry. 

In attendance were Apostles Sylvester Arhin (Executive Council Member and RCC Co-ordinator for the Northern Regions), Prof. Adjapong Kodua (Vice-Chancellor of Pentecost University), Dr. (Col) Benjamin G. Kumi-Woode (Resident Minister for Burma Camp Worship Centre), John Osei Amaniampong (Rtd) – former La Area Head, Kingsley Addai (Resident Minister for PIWC-Kokomlemle), Seth Dwamena Asante (Nkwanta Area Head), among others.

Report by Daniel Tetteh, La Area Reporter.

PENTSOS Commissions Libraries In 3 Pentecost Schools web

PENTSOS Commissions Libraries In 3 Pentecost Schools

The Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS), in collaboration with its development partner, International Christian Ministries (ICM), Ghana, has commissioned libraries in the Pentecost Preparatory schools (PPS) at Akim Kwabeng, Agormany, and Akosombo.

PENTSOS is implementing the School Library Improvement project to enhance the reading culture among pupils in Pentecost Schools.

The Library Project also seeks to provide information to the academic community to support research and instructional programmes.

The project commenced in 2022 and targets reaching 50 Pentecost Schools with improved libraries to foster quality teaching and learning.

PENTSOS has so far established six libraries in selected Pentecost Schools and hopes to replicate the initiative in about 13 schools before the end of 2023 with its partners.

The Library Project aims to improve the reading culture of at least 2,500 pupils in Pentecost Schools in Ghana.

The estimated cost of the library project is GHS 70,000.00, covering the setup and value of books. The PPS-Akim Kwabeng library was commissioned on July 24, 2023, by the Suhum Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Patrick Aseyoro.

Speaking on transforming societies through reading good books, Apostle Aseyoro admonished the pupils to recognize that they are the light of this world.

Apostle Samuel Gakpetor, the Agormanya Area of the Church, speaking at the commissioning program on July 25, 2023, at PPS-Agormanya and PPS-Akosombo, advised the pupils to cultivate the habit of reading because it helps to improve one’s knowledge, creativity, and vocabulary.

“When we empty our pockets into our minds, our developed minds will fill back our pockets,” he said.

At the commissioning ceremony, the PENTSOS Director, Elder Richard Amaning, encouraged the pupils to take reading seriously to become better individuals, stressing that reading helps to improve one’s vocabulary.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rev. Philip Tutu, the Executive Director of ICM-Ghana, encouraged the students and schools to make good use of the libraries and mainstream library sessions into the full academic calendar of the school.

He further expressed ICM-Ghana’s commitment to partnering with PENTSOS to reach the last mile of Pentecost Schools without libraries.

In a related development, a new ICT laboratory, school bus, and a Sick bay were also commissioned at PPS-Akosombo. The newly commissioned library in PPS-Akosombo has been named after the outgoing General Secretary of the Church, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi.

PENTECOST NEWS.