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The Pentecost Students and Associates (PENSA) Ghana Conference 2023 kick-started on Monday, January 2, 2022, in grand style at three locations across the country – University for Development Studies (UDS) – Tamale; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST) – Kumasi, and the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) – Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa.

The conference, being held under the theme: “Repositioning The Youth For Maximum Impact In The Nations” (Colossians 2:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20), is expected to end on Thursday, January 5, 2022. It attracted tertiary students from all over the country.

Addressing participants, the National Co-ordinator of PENSA Ghana, Elder Samuel Nkansah, admonished the participants to have an urgency in their hearts to have a supernatural encounter with the Lord at the conference.

“Seek to have an encounter with God, an experience like no other. Make way for God to build you and be impacted to impact nations,” he stressed.

On his part, the Director of the Youth Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Ebenezer Hagan, noted that the conference promises to change young persons in order to impact the world.

According to the Youth Director, after the celebration of the 40^th Anniversary of PENSA, there was a need for the leadership of the Youth Ministry to expand the frontiers of PENSA, including the conferences. This led to the split of the conference into ‘Pre-tertiary’ and ‘Tertiary’ conferences.

He disclosed that the Pre-tertiary Conference in 2022 had in attendance 52,000 students.

“Expect God in this conference. I want you to know that a lot will depend on you. God has taken your future to impact lives,” he stated.

Pastor Hagan thanked God for his mercies toward the Church and the country.

“Throughout the pandemics, wars, and economic hardships, Ghana has not been spared. But one thing has been constant, Christ has always been with us. Though we went through troubled times, the Lord was and is always with us. We hold on to Jesus because he is our hope in this life and the one to come,” he added.

He also thanked the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, and the Executive Council for their exceptional leadership.

Speakers for this year’s conference are the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye; Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi (General Secretary); Apostle Samuel Osei Asante (Patron, Youth Ministry); Pastor Ebenezer Hagan (Director, Youth Ministry) and Elder Samuel Nkansah Appiah (Co-ordinator, PENSA Ghana), among others.

In attendance at the Pentecost Convention Centre was the wife of the Youth Director, Mrs Priscilla Hagan, Pastor Kwadwo Obeng (Campus Pastor, University of Ghana-Legon), Pastor Frank Tandoh (Traveling Secretary, Kaneshie Sector), Pastor Michael Fiifi Bortsie (Traveling Secretary, Koforidua Sector) and Pastor Alex Adjani (Traveling Secretary, Upper Volta Sector).

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Goka Prayer Centre of The Church of Pentecost successfully held its annual New Year Prayer Festival on January 1, 2023, at Goka in the Berekum Area of the Church.

Led by Apostle Samuel Berko (Berekum Area Head) and the new Prayer Centre Management, the event was attended by thousands of people from all walks of life.

This year’s event was celebrated in grand style, touted by the chiefs as the most peaceful and victorious one in recent times.

Just a month before the Prayer Festival, Mr. Joe Daah, the former Centre leader separated himself from the Prayer Centre to set up his own group and vowed to observe the annual prayer festival in the town at the same time. According to the chiefs, there were tension and fears of clashes in the town. However, the hand of the Lord mightily brought peace, triumph and success to the Church.

Delivering the sermon at the event on the topic, “Walking with the Unchanging God in 2023” based on 1 Samuel 15:29; James 1:17; 2 Corinthians 1:9-20; Isaiah 14:24, Apostle Samuel Berko assured believers that there is great hope for Ghana and all those who walk with Jesus Christ in 2023, because all good and perfect gifts come from God who is dependable and a promise keeper.

The Area Head expressed great joy to the Lord for the success of the programme.

Apostle Samuel Berko announced the Executive Council’s decision to sever fellowship with Mr. Joe Daah due to his letter to resign from The Church of Pentecost to set up his own group.

More than 6,000 people attended this year’s prayer festival. Among them were the Chiefs and Queen mothers from Goka and the Suma Traditional Council; the Jaman North District Chief Executive and the Member of Parliament for Jaman North Constituency.

Others also came from the United States of America, Europe, some African countries and other parts of the world.

The Goka Prayer Centre annual New Year Prayer Festival was instituted more than four decades ago by Deaconess Sarah Donkor (founder of the Prayer Centre). As part of the annual prayer event, a mammoth durbar is held for Word ministration, prophetic declarations, sharing of testimonies, sacrificial offerings, and a triumphant procession through the principal streets of Goka township.

Report by Berekum Area Media Team.

Hundreds of members on Thursday attended the ‘Jericho Hour’ prayers organised by the Suame Area of The Church of Pentecost at the Aprepo District Central auditorium to climax the Area’s weekly prayers for the year.

The Suame Area Head, Apostle John Obeng Kesse, in an exhortation based on Galatians 2:20 and Ephesians 1:3-6, charged Christians to know that Jesus is the reason for their living, and for that matter, their ability to make maximum impact in the nations can only be achieved when they are grounded in Him.

Using the Apostle Paul as a case study, he mentioned that Paul accepted Christ and submitted fully to the knowledge of God. According to him, Paul appreciated the great grace God honoured him.

“The ultimate reason for the very existence of the Christian is the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” he disclosed.

He added that the Lord has promised all who come to the faith in Christ Jesus of His salvation package. He, therefore, admonished believers to have knowledge of the great works of Christ and to fully rely on Him for great benefits in the salvation package.

Apostle Kesse mentioned that though Christians walk through hard times, they are assured of God’s unfailing provision.

He explained that hard times are periods of the test of faith of the Christian and as they rely on Christ, the Lord will give them the grace to come out gloriously.  

He concluded his message by admonishing Christians to stay firm in the Lord since those that walk faithfully with Christ are always granted greater grace to traverse through every challenge they come across in life.

Apostle John Obeng Kesse encouraged members of the church to look forward to seeing greater things in their lives in the ensuing year even as they are grounded in the Lord for maximum impact.

Deaconess Maame Fosuah who is the leader of the Akrowa Revival Centre in the Buoho District of The Church of Pentecost led the congregation in a period of prayer.

Report by Suame Area Media Team.

The Twifo Praso Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle David Nii Addo-Pappoe, has stated Jesus Christ came into the world to bridge the gap between divinity and humanity which was created as a result of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.

He posited that God’s plan to send His Son into the world to save humanity was advanced when Adam and Eve disobeyed Him in the garden.

According to him, God gave a word of hope to the first man and woman that, the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent and that the serpent will also strike the heel of the seed of the woman.

“In God’s appointed time, He sent forth His Son Jesus Christ into the world in order to bring humanity back into His very presence, thereby bridging the gap between divinity and humanity,” he stressed.

Apostle Addo-Pappoe said this in a sermon during the Wassa Ateiku District Christmas convention which took place from 21^st to 25^th December 2022 at Wassa Ateiku Community Centre, under the theme: “God Became One of Us to Possess The Nations,” (Matt. 1:23). Other speakers included the District Minister, Pastor Paul Yaw Mensa and Apostle Joseph Albert Mensah (Rtd) – guest speaker.

Reading from Luke 2:8-14, Apostle Nii Addo-Pappoe further explained that the birth of Jesus Christ is very significant due it its numerous benefits.

He explained that through the birth of Jesus Christ, God has brought light into the world to show humanity the way back to Himself, saying, “Those who believe in His Son will never walk in darkness because Jesus is the Light of the world.”

The Twifo Praso Area Head further stated that Jesus has become the mediator between humans and God, and that He always intercedes on their behalf.

He concluded that God has made a provision for His free gift of salvation through the perfect sacrifice of His Son.

“God has given you the assurance of your salvation through His Son who dwells in you. Christ in you is the hope of glory,” he said, adding, “No matter the circumstance you may go through, be rest assured that since you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you are more than a conqueror.”

Report by Joseph Smiles Adu.

The Takoradi Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Yao Semenya Dogbe, has dedicated the Assakae District Mission House to the glory of God.

The building was dedicated on December 18, 2022. Present to assist the Area Head was District Minister, Pastor Ernest Perbi-Asare, and other ministers in the Area.

The District Secretary, Elder Saviour Obeng, in a brief history of the district, said the Assakae District was carved out of Apremdo District which was then headed by Pastor Pastor Philip K. Ackumey on August 16, 2019, with Pastor Ernest Perbi-Asare as the first District Minister.

He mentioned that an apartment was rented to accommodate the district minister and his family.

Sod Cutting

The then Area Head, Apostle Joseph Kwame Assabil (now retired), cut the sod for the project to commence on 10th October 2019, while the foundation stone was laid on December 23, 2020.

Sermon

Speaking on the topic, “The Faithfulness of God,” Pastor Daniel Antwi-Adjei of Tanokrom District admonished Christians to always see God as faithful and trust Him with all their hearts.

With references from Lamentation 3:22-23, 2 Timothy 2:13, and Psalm 121, Pastor Antwi-Adjei said that God’s faithfulness will continue to be with all those who trust in Him.

“If you trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean on Him, He will surely accomplish all that concerns your life in due time,” he indicated.

He used the opportunity to challenge Christians to emulate faithfulness in their day-to-day affairs in advancing the ‘Possess the Nations’ agenda.

The Assakae District Minister, Pastor Ernest Perbi-Asare, commended the leadership of the Church for the financial, spiritual and moral support towards the successful completion of the project.

He specially thanked Elders Eric Obeng Agyemang (District Finance Chairman), Richard Osei Prempeh (District Executive Member), Samuel Afriyie Kumah (District Estate Chairman), Samuel Essoun Koomson (immediate past District Executive Member) as well as Deaconess Vivian Dora Koramah Marfo (District Assistant Women’s Leader) for their diverse financial support towards the project.

Present at the ceremony were Mrs Rosina Dogbe (wife of Takoradi Area Head), Nana Quasie Essem IV (Chief of Whindo), Mrs Sarah Perbi-Asare (wife of the district minister) as well as some ministers and their wives in the Takoradi Area.

Report by Assakae District Media Team.

Forty prison inmates convicted of various crimes in Ghana have been released after The Church of Pentecost paid the fines for their incarceration.

The Chairman of the church’s Prison Ministry, Apostle ADP James Tetteh, made this known during a four-day Re-integration Conference recently held by the ministry at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

The freed prisoners attended the conference and shared their moments of joy with the participants at the conference. They joined in dancing and singing praises to God.

Explaining the Church’s gesture, Apostle James Tetteh said the prison ministry is about sharing the word of God with the prisoners without neglecting their personal needs.

Speaking on the topic, “Doing an effective prison ministry”, he said the church has decided to intensify its efforts in the prisons because many prisons do not have chaplains while false religions and cults are reaching out to prisoners.

“We must therefore get there first,” he charged the participants.

The Chairman of the Prison Ministry said the gospel offers prisoners God’s forgiveness of sins, and also gives inmates new values and perspectives in life. The gospel also offers coping mechanisms and strategies to deal with difficult situations and emotional instabilities.

To this end, he said the church aims to provide legal aid to prisoners and also support their welfare, reformation and rehabilitation.

The conference held from December 5 to 10, 2022, also brought together professional counsellors and experts in reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration who took the Prison Ministry Committee members and other Prison Ministry workers drawn from the various Areas of the church through sessions, so they can appreciate the dynamics involved in relating with prisoners.

The participants held a group discussion on “How to Improve The COP Prison Ministry For Maximum Impact” and “What is your understanding of the offender’s social reintegration process?”

All the ex-convicts went through personal counselling sessions led by Dr. Charity Kuwornu.

Intensive prayer sessions were held with the ex-offenders. During the Holy Ghost session led by Pastor Supt. Moses Animah (Secretary of the Prison Ministry), all 29 of the released inmates present at PCC,  received the baptism in the Holy Spirit to the glory of God.

In an interview session with Pastor Supt. Moses Animah, the Secretary of the Prison Ministry Committee, he explained that the conference was done in pursuance of the (Vision 2023) agenda of The Church of Pentecost, dubbed “Possessing the Nations,” aimed at instilling godly values and principles in every sphere of society.

The inmates, though isolated from the larger society have not been left out.

The Church has been concerned about their transformation and has made so much investment in that regard.

He expressed appreciation to the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost and the leadership of the Church for the kind gesture as well as the continued love the Church has shown to inmates and the Ghana Prisons Service as a whole.

The Church has already completed of a state of art two Camp Prisons at Ejura and Nsawam (Ejura and Nsawam Pentecost Reformation Centres) with two at various stages of completion to help reduce overcrowding in the prisons as well as assist in the inmate’s reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration process.

The Secretary of the committee said the conference has shaped the ex-convicts for a successful re-integration into the larger society.

Contacts were made with their families for them to be received with joy as they reunite with them.

Each of the former inmates received an undisclosed amount of financial support to start a business or enterprise as they begin their reintegration.

Apostle James Tetteh took the opportunity to introduce the other members of the Prison Ministry Committee. They are Elder James Nyann, Elder Richard Amaning (PENTSOS Director), Elder Augustine Sarpong, Elder Kumah Isaac and Deaconess Mrs. Juliana Owusu.

Pastor ASP Thomas Owusu Brefo, Elder ADP Charles Ameyaw and Deaconess Eunice Obeng are co-opted members of the committee.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Odorkor Area of The Church of Pentecost donated some items to the Nsawam Medium Security Prison yesterday.

The items included bathing soap, washing soap/powder, bathroom slippers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bags of rice, beans, gari and cooking oil.

Presenting the items on behalf of the Area, Pastor Kwame Pipim, the Area Prisons Ministry Committee Chairman, said the donation is in line with the five-year strategic vision of The Church of Pentecost (Vision 2023: Possessing the Nations), which, among other objectives, seeks to partner the government of Ghana in ensuring the practical reformation of prisoners.

The Chaplain of the Prison, Pastor ASP Thomas Brefo, who received the items on behalf of the inmates, commended the Church for its continued support to the Prisons Service and also thanked them for the timely gesture

Present at the brief presentation ceremony were Elder Oti Boateng (Area Prisons Coordinator) and Mrs. Florence Pimpim (Wife of the Area Prisons Committee Chairman).

PENTECOST NEWS