Principal Officers Brewed In The Pot Of The Children’s Ministry WEB

Principal Officers Brewed In The Pot Of The Children’s Ministry

by with No Comment ArticlesChildren's MinistryTop Stories

The just-ended 46th session of the General Council Meetings of The Church of Pentecost has left memorable events worth recounting. If there had ever been a time the Children’s Ministry has been given prominence, it was at that meeting. Aside from the many children who were recognised by the Chairman for excelling in their various fields of endeavour, our indefatigable Director, Pastor Professor William Otoo Ellis, was recognised for putting up and donating a state-of-the-art Children’s Resource Centre to the church and for introducing various flagship initiatives and activities in the ministry. Again, our affable Patron, Prophet David Kankam Beditor, also successfully ended his five-year meritorious service as an Executive Council Member of the church.

And oh, the bombshell that shattered and continues to reverberate in the minds of many is that the children membership of 1,120,524 at the end of 2022 makes up 31.1% of the total church membership. This gave rise to a call by leadership to pay closer attention to this critical mass. And lest I forget, God performed a miracle of raising the dead through a child.

As I sat through the proceedings and watched the elections of our principal officers, the Holy Spirit struck a chord in my heart. I could clearly draw a line of semblance that tied all the three Principal Officers-the Chairman-elect, the General Secretary-elect and the International Missions Director-into one bundle. That is the fact that they have all had a taste of the Children’s Ministry!

During the closing session of the Maiden Foundation Builders Conference held by the Children’s Ministry at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the Chairman of the church, testified of his conversion and early Christian nurturing through the Community Good News Club, which is currently an appendage of the Children’s Ministry.

Again, a cursory search of the background of Apostle Samuel Gyau Obuobi, the General Secretary-elect, reveals that he was born after 12 years of no issue after marriage to Pastor Fred T. Obuobi, the oldest surviving retired Minister of The Church of Pentecost. History has it that a 12-year-old girl who had just received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at a prayer meeting at Adeiso gave a prophetic word that his parents would give birth to a son and that they should name him Samuel. A year later, the prophetic word came true at their new station, Shama, and they named him Samuel Kwabena Nyamekye Gyau Obuobi. As a son of a Pastor, he no doubt immersed him in the Children’s Ministry.

From the grave vine, our current International Missions Director, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, is also a son of a Deaconess in the church. There is, therefore, a high percentage chance of being introduced to the activities of the Children’s Ministry at a tender age.

One peculiar thing about the wives of these revered principal officers of the church, too, is that they all had had a taste of the Children’s Ministry. Oh, is it not heartwarming, too, that most ministerial candidates are young people who have gone through the mill of the Children’s Ministry?

God chose Abraham as his confidant, and He will not hide anything from him because He says concerning him in Genesis 18:18 that “… Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him” just as The Church of Pentecost is today.

The strategy he knew Abraham would employ, as recorded in Genesis 18:19, was “… he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

God’s choice of Abraham bore great fruit when he went out to deliver Lot and his family and others with men trained from his household, just as the church is raising great men and women born and breed from her fold to champion the “possessing the nations” agenda. Genesis 14:14-16 states that:

“14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then he brought back all the possessions and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.”

In the church today, where getting the adult members to embark on evangelism and other activities is becoming increasingly complex, our surest bet in getting the engine of growth running is paying more attention to the Children’s Ministry. Their young hearts are ready fertile grounds that can hold and nurture the seeds of the future of the church. Again, their hearts are malleable; for that matter, any change we hope to effect in the nations could start with them (Proverbs 22:6).

What should we do then? More investments should be made in human resource and capacity building, financial, infrastructural and material into the ministry. Again, appointing people with the heart of children at all levels to man CM activities and programs should be taken seriously. Furthermore, more accountability should be sought from leadership at all levels concerning how issues concerning children are handled. Supervisors at all levels must demand the same accountability from leadership in winning and retaining children, Holy Spirit Baptism, children’s attendance to Sunday School, and teens baptised and transferred to the youth ministry, among others. This should be done with the same alacrity as the adult membership. Finally, mentorship opportunities should be given to the children. With the introduction of the Jethro Initiative, more is being done in this direction. Still, can leadership at all levels intentionally visit the children and share their life experiences? Can we intentionally identify and bring together the alumni of the Ministry in all fields to inspire these little ones?

Can we start Children-Only Assemblies, where it is becoming difficult to get the adults? Nurture them well, and soon our membership will be skyrocketing. Can we encourage our children’s workers to give their best in training the children? Can we supply the needed resources to make their training smooth? Can we give the same attention, if not more, to the children just as we give to the adult? indeed, the future of the church will be secured, and we will continue to possess the nations from generation to generation. I believe these will help leave indelible marks in the hearts of our children as they seek to find their feet in our ever-changing world in all fields of endeavour.

In conclusion, for The Church of Pentecost to continue to exist and expand its frontiers in the Possessing the Nations Agenda, the Children’s Ministry must be seen as one of the surest conduits. Their young hearts are ready for the fire of the Holy Ghost. They must be built now rather than wait and embark on the arduous task of repairing them in their old age. After all, Frederick Douglas says, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”. Such post-destruction recovery ventures could only be termed AMBULANCE MINISTRY.

May the Lord continue to bless his church! May he raise men and women through the Children’s Ministry, who will take the nations by storm!

Written by Pastor Samuel Avornyo.

Cultivate The Habit Of Gratitude WEB

Cultivate The Habit Of Gratitude – Apostle Sanpha Urges Youth

by with No Comment Church NewsTop Stories

The Sierra Leone National Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Morie Sanpha, has called on the youth to always develop the habit of gratitude towards God in all situations.

“The very essence of human life depends on the Creator, God. Therefore, we have every opportunity to express gratitude for the strength and the gift of life bestowed upon us,” he emphasised.

Apostle Sanpha made the call during his visit to Pentecost Students and Associates (PENSA) on Thanksgiving and Communion Sunday at Pentecost University in Accra on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

According to the National Head, thanksgiving is a form of prayer that can evoke supernatural interventions from God.

He explained the concept of thanksgiving using the acronym “AGGA,” which stands for Acknowledgement, Gratefulness, Gratitude, and Appreciation.

Drawing from biblical references such as 1 Thessalonians 5:17-24, John 11:38-41, Genesis 2:7, and James 1:17, he elucidated that as God is the source of life, He expects nothing less than appreciation, gratitude, and gratefulness from His creation.

Speaking on the theme, “The Power of Thanksgiving,” Apostle Sanpha stressed the need for Christians to always acknowledge God as the source of everything.

“The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear and appreciate Him,” he stated, adding, “The blessings of God are inexhaustible for those who demonstrate gratitude and gratefulness.”

He further indicated that when believers live with an appreciation towards God, He bestows special blessings upon them, as He is an infinite God who requires gratitude. He urged the students to refrain from covetousness and instead focus on appreciating God.

Expounding on the benefits of thanksgiving, Apostle Sanpha explained that it reveals the glory of God, thereby connecting Christians to Him as the ultimate source of life.

He emphasised that God’s glory encompasses His nature and beauty, stating, “We should not merely be believers, but students who give thanks to God, as it is through Him that we accomplish great things.”

Report by Knackpent Editorial, PENSA PU

Plastic Waste Menace In Ghana The Church Of Pentecost & Jospong Group To The Rescue

Plastic Waste Menace In Ghana: The Church Of Pentecost & Jospong Group To The Rescue

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What happens when the plastic bucket we bought from the Makola Market becomes old and breaks into pieces? What happens when we no longer need plastic bottles after drinking its content? What happens to our broken plastic chairs and washing basins? The good news is that plastic waste can be recycled and granted a new lease on life.

Plastic waste has become one of the most severe threats to human nature. According to the Geneva-based International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), by 2015, 60% of all plastics produced had become plastic waste. Plastic waste has become “ubiquitous,” found in the air, soil, freshwater, and the sea. Plastic waste in the oceans and seas off the coast of Africa has increased from an estimated 4.4 million tonnes in 2010 to 17 million tonnes in 2022. According to the World Economic Forum, Ghana generates 840,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, and only 9.5% of that figure is collected for recycling.

To tackle this issue, The Church of Pentecost and the Jospong Group of companies have partnered to help segregate plastic waste at home before it reaches the final disposal sites, drains, and oceans. The ongoing plastic waste project between the Jospong Group of Companies and The Church of Pentecost, which started a couple of years ago, is gathering momentum. Under the program, church leaders educate their members to segregate their plastic waste from other forms of waste and forward them to aggregators who will, in turn, sell them to UPPR Ghana Limited.

The Church of Pentecost has paid critical attention to environmental education and sustainable development. Church leaders are encouraged to educate their members to keep their communities clean, plant trees, and segregate their plastic waste from other forms of waste in the waste stream. Zoomlion Ghana Limited has taken a keen interest in improving the sanitation situation in the country for over 17 years. In 1998, the company introduced a Free Waste bin promotion in which thousands of households were given free 240-litre waste bins at no cost to help partly separate plastic waste from other forms. Additionally, the company initiated public education programs to educate the public on how to protect their health through proper waste separation, storage, and disposal.

“The Plastic waste menace is a huge challenge all over the world.,” says Mrs. Florence Larbi, Chief Operating Officer of the Environment and Sanitation Cluster of the Jospong Group. “Jospong Group and Zoomlion Ghana Limited have teamed up with The Church of Pentecost to help our dear nation Ghana manage the situation better by educating church members to separate their plastic waste from other forms at home. By this, the plastic will not go to the landfill but will be sent to the right places such as Jospong Group recycling and manufacturing plants such as the IRECOPS and UPPR Ghana Limited,” Mrs. Larbi explained further.

Various Jospong Group subsidiaries, such as the Universal Plastic Product and Recycling (UPPR) company as well as Zoomlion Ghana Limited, held various buyback events throughout the country from March 13th to 19th, 2023, under this year’s Environmental Care Campaign of The Church of Pentecost, which focused on Plastic waste. They bought tonnes of plastic waste from various districts of the church nationwide. The Coordinator for National Discipleship and Leadership Development Committee (NDLDC), Apostle Samuel Gakpetor, said the exercise is necessary to help the country rid itself of plastic waste while making good use of the plastics collected. Even after the environmental campaign, he called on all church members to continue collecting plastic waste for sale to Jospong Group.

He said, “Plastic waste is causing a lot of havoc around and negatively impacting the health of people, even in the country.” He, therefore, called on all church members to continue collecting plastic waste for sale to Jospong Group even after the environmental campaign. UPPR Ghana Limited was selected to partner with the church because the company has the requisite machinery to process the plastic waste into other usable items that will benefit society.

“UPPR is in the business of recycling plastics and adding value to them,” says Mr. Perumalsamy SureshKumar, General Manager of UPPR Ghana Limited, who piloted the buyback event in Bompata, Kumasi, and Ashaiman in Accra. “We have been doing this for the past ten years, manufacturing waste bins, chairs, bin liners, and other items for households, waste management companies such as Zoomlion Ghana Limited and other members of the Environmental Service Providers Association.”

“As a company, we firmly believe in supporting the United Nations in its quest to build sustainable cities and communities as stated in the Sustainable Development Goals number 11, as well as goals 14 and 15, which talk about ‘Life underwater’ and ‘Life on land,’ respectively. This can easily apply to plastic pollution on land and in the sea.

“Our primary focus is on PET bottles,” says Mrs. Sharon Lamptey, Head of Zoomlion’s International Business Development Unit. “We have intentions of adding more value to these PET bottles.

“Our interest is in plastics,” says Ms. Sophia Nana Kudjordji, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Jospong Group, adding, “We are excited to partner with The Church of Pentecost in this great venture for God and country.”

The global plastic waste management market is expected to grow from $35.25 billion in 2022 to $41.39 billion in 2026. Hopefully, the Jospong Group – The Church of Pentecost partnership will help Ghana’s economy thrive.

Written by Isabella Gyau Orhin.

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST WEB

The Church Of Pentecost: A Brand Worth Knowing And Defending

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The Church of Pentecost is undoubtedly a household name in Ghana. There is no dispute about this in academia (Asamoah-Gyadu, 2019; Amanze, 2019; Ogbuji, 2020; Gyau, 2021;) or the arcade of social life. With the church’s phenomenal growth and impactful influence in every sector of Ghana, it goes without mentioning that Christianity in this country cannot be studied or discussed without recourse to The Church of Pentecost.

As I analyse it, the church’s growth is threefold; numerical growth, visible infrastructural growth, and social responsibility growth. With the current population of 3.5 million (46th GCM Brochure, p. 19), it is undeniable that every household in Ghana from Abor to Zaare has a member of The Church of Pentecost. Again, the edifices of the church, by God’s infinite grace, tower magnificently from the hamlets to the cities.

The church’s ever-present yellow, white and blue colours are seen at every junction and joint as one tours the nation. You cannot miss that The Church of Pentecost is truly ‘everywhere you go’. Furthermore, it is arguably the religious organisation taking social responsibility to another level. To buttress this, let me mention the prisons project, police stations project, irrigation project and the evacuation of Ghanaian citizens from Ukraine as a few of the many imposing show of commitment to affect human lives holistically – spiritually (spirit), psychologically (soul) and physically (body).

It would be odd if any Ghanaian reading this piece heard of The Church of Pentecost for the first time. However, this massive awareness of the church has not translated into knowledge of the church. This may sound a bit controversial, but I will attempt to defend this statement, suggest reasons and proffer solutions to this unfortunate situation that negates the excellent work the church is doing and creates an antagonistic reception of its important place in our social media discourses.

 According to Bekk and Ozturkcan (2018), brand awareness is ‘the degree to which a brand is recognised by potential customers and is associated with a particular product category or need’. Per this definition, I can conclude that The Church of Pentecost has huge brand awareness. Everyone knows it is a church, and for those who care to distinguish further, they know it is a Pentecostal church. Scholars posit that brand awareness can be measured by various indicators, such as brand recall (the ability to remember a brand top-of-mind) and brand recognition (the ability to identify a brand from others of similar nature) (Sharma, 2019; Natarelli & Plapler, 2020). Clearly, The Church of Pentecost enjoys this in good measure. Ask anyone to mention a Pentecostal church in Ghana, and the name The Church of Pentecost will come up.

Unfortunately, this is where it mostly ends up. Nothing or little is known of the brand in terms of its values, beliefs, operational focus, mission and vision. The result of this lack of critical mass of knowledge is the demonstration of this crux ignorance by the masses who elect for themselves to respond or react to news about the church. I have had the privilege of studying in three of Ghana’s renowned institutions of Communication Studies, even to the graduate level, and I have always felt embarrassingly intrigued by the knowledge people possess of The Church of Pentecost.

Much of the so-called knowledge of the church exhibited in casual conversations and during class discourse are either myths, ancient practices, or hearsay of mere mudslinging. For example, on three occasions in two graduate schools, professors said that The Church of Pentecost risked collapse once the older generation, who, according to him, form the majority of the church’s membership, dies because it has refused to reform. Another had boldly remarked that the youth were leaving the church in droops.

Not only were the above assertions untrue, but they also revealed how ignorant people could be when they believe something to be accurate and do not bother searching and researching. This situation is not unusual but unacceptable, especially when they are stated as facts, defended blindly or made publicly. Some researchers adduce that when people become aware of a brand but fail to seek further information on the brand, they form misconceptions and wrong interpretations of the brand (Walker Jr. & John W. Mullins, 2020). 

The solution is to seek knowledge rather than from the wrong sources. The Church of Pentecost is a church that has a defence for whatever she has believed, practised and lives for (2 Peter 3:15). Thus, she has authored so much on herself and opened her doors for researchers to the extent that there is no darkness but light for those who seek to know.

The Church of Pentecost recently held a very successful 46th Session of its General Council Meetings (the General Council Meeting is the church’s highest decision-making body). It was spirit-filled, the atmosphere of divine camaraderie, mutual concern and decisions making moments of radiating love. Even critics of the church will give her that unless their criticisms bother on enmity and envy.

During the grand opening session with over 5000 people in attendance, the Chairman of the church (the worldwide leader of the church), Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, gave an impressive state-of-church address which touched on every aspect of church life to the apt admiration of all including the guest of which was the Vice President of the Republic, Alhaji Dr Mahamadu Bawumia. So impressive was the delivery that all fraternal greetings touched on the great work the church has done. The Vice President of Ghana drew inspiration from that to admonish politicians to refrain from politics of lies and deception and major on data. The state-of-church address was so evidence-based that Dr Bawumia described it as ‘shedding so much light’.

Topical in the delivery by Apostle Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, was the amount spent by the church on scholarships for church members. He stated that an amount of Gh₵10,686.084.76 was sent in 2022 by Districts, Areas and ministries in Ghana together with the headquarters to sponsor educational pursuits by members. This excludes what individual ministers and church leaders at various levels did to assist members with their educational needs. Commendable as this is, critics of the church ran to ‘market’ with accusations of these scholarships going to ministers, their children or families.

I shuddered in disbelief when I saw various social media platforms smeared by such blatant falsehood. Apostle Nyamekye chose his words carefully, and only the uninitiated, mischievous or finger-happy (borrowed from trigger-happy) will rush to social media to make such a post. Before announcing this scholarship package that went to church members, the Chairman had informed the ardent reader or listener of the package that went specifically to ministers sponsored for further education or scholarship given to children of deceased ministers (46th GCM Brochure, p. 42).

This is so mind-boggling in this era of information. A simple rule is that before you write on a subject, you research (RESEARCH) because knowledge evolves, things change, and what appears at face value may have a deeper meaning. Whiles this piece is about the unfortunate trend of people taking The Church of Pentecost to the laundry when she is just coming out of the bathroom, it is a concern all social media users must address ourselves too. We have become too finger-happy as a people lately. We forward just anything and have become hugely guilty of spreading the misinformation of those who author such ‘viruses’.

On scholarship for educational pursuit for members, The Church of Pentecost has as a rule that ministers and their families do not qualify. There is a different category of support for such. Scholarship committees exist at various levels of the church that vet brilliant but needy and promising but needy people and make selections based on the availability of funds and quota system. This is so transparent that candidates who attend the vetting processes get to know themselves, and whoever is selected is announced at the Local, District and Area levels. Nothing is in the shadows. In fact, the names of those awarded scholarships, including where they schooled or are schooling, can be obtained on request anytime or day. Every report sent on miracles; financial commitments are purely data-based and verifiable.

Inasmuch as this harm of blind criticism, misinformation and disinformation is mainly the doing of outsiders who are not members of The Church of Pentecost, a handful come from disgruntled members who do this for only God knows why. This is a sad commentary because everyone associated with a brand is expected to be a brand ambassador. How can a church member be out there painting their ‘home’ with mud?

From my little experience studying branding, we have various brand ambassadors. There are reluctant brand ambassadors (unwilling but compelled by the situation), poor image brand ambassadors (people who have been discredited by their ills), disloyal brand ambassadors (people who represent a brand but use a competing brand), fun brand ambassadors (people who represent a brand for fun), and committed brand ambassadors (people who are die-hard and ready to promote the brand). All these types of ambassadors could be hired or do so pro bono. In a church, the pulpit and pew are automatic ambassadors, first of Christ and the church denomination. It is, therefore, awkward, a betrayal of trust and disloyalty to be anything more than a fun brand ambassador or committed brand ambassador.

We are called to be an army prepared to stand up for Christ and defend our faith. As the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost has reiterated severally, in The Church of Pentecost, if you do not know something or understand anything, you ask. I implore all members to seek to be well-educated on anything they do not understand and pursue that knowledge from suitable sources. Growing up in the church, we had this inquisitive and inquiring mindset, and the fathers were always there to help. I asked why we sit in church the way we do, why new coverts have to raise their hands when they say the sinner’s prayers, and why mothers must present their babies to the child’s father, who then gives the child to the officiating minister when the child is about to be christened. I have cited these examples because they look trivial, and very few ask about them, but I did and got educated on the church’s culture, traditions, practices, core values, etc. On the other hand, I had and continue to have fathers and mothers who will lend an ear anytime and explain all I need to know even today.

My humble suggestion, as I conclude, is that members should be both fun and committed ambassadors of The Church of Pentecost brand. It calls for getting all that we need to be aware and know of the brand and commit to educating others and doing it out of fun and pro bono. Do not wait until you are asked before speaking out for our Christ and church. In doing so, let us do so with seasoned language. Again, let those in leadership positions at various levels flex up a bit more and respond to all the questions, including the sarcastic ones, because denying them may push them to a smear campaign out of anger or to spite leadership.

For netizens and social media users, let us get our facts right. We are presented with a huge opportunity to interact, and we all need to ensure the platform is trustworthy, sanitised and worth investing our data in uploading or downloading content. Let me end by inviting you to accept the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Truth! And The Church of Pentecost is an able representative of this Truth. He saves, gives illumination and provides eternal life. May I invite you to fellowship with a local Assembly of The Church of Pentecost near you and experience Jesus and what we believe and practice for ourselves? Come with an open mind and a clear conscience; you will never regret it. I was once a sceptic, but today I have found peace with the Lord Jesus and a haven to fellowship with the saints in The Church of Pentecost. God bless you.

Written by Pastor George Osei-Asiedu

REFERENCES:

Agyei, T. B. (2019). Assessing the role of lay leadership in the Church of Pentecost, Parkoso local. Doctoral dissertation, Department of Theology, Faculty of Humanities, Christian Service University College, Ghana

Ansari, S., Ansari, G., Ghori, M. U., & Kazi, A. G. (2019). ‘Impact of Brand Awareness and Social Media Content Marketing on Consumer Purchase Decision’. Journal of Public Value and Administrative Insight, 2(2), pp. 5–10. https://doi.org/10.31580/jpvai.v2i2.896

Asamoah-Gyadu, J. Kwabena, Lindhardt, M., Adogame, A. ‘Sighs and Signs of the Spirit: Ghanaian Perspectives on Pentecostalism and Renewal in Africa’. 1517 Media. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1ddcnfx. Accessed 05 May 2023.

Bergkvist, L. Taylor, C. R. (2022). ‘Reviving and Improving Brand Awareness as a Construct in Advertising Research’. Journal of Advertising 51 (3): pp. 294–307. doi:10.1080/00913367.2022.2039886

Chun, T. Y., Lee, D. K., & Park, N. H. (2020). ‘The effect of marketing activities on brand recognition, brand familiarity, and purchase intention on the SNS of franchise companies’. Journal of Asian Finance, Economics, and Business, 7(11), 955-966. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2020.vol7.no11.955

Saydan, R.; Dülek, B. ‘The impact of social media advertisement awareness on brand awareness, brand image, brand attitude and brand loyalty: A research on university students’. Int. J. Contemp. Econ. Adm. Sci. 2019, 9, 470–494

Nyanni, C.O. (2020). ‘Changing lanes: Second-generation African Pentecostals in the United Kingdom’. Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association, 40(1), pp. 32-45

The Church of Pentecost. (2023). The Church of Pentecost – 46th Session of The General Council Meetings Brochure. Pentecost Press, 14-72.

White, Peter. 2019. ‘Missional branding: A case study of the Church of Pentecost’. Theologies Studies. Theological Studies 4: pp. 1–7.

Pentecost Press Honours Staff & Retirees web

Pentecost Press Honours Staff & Retirees

by with No Comment Church NewsTop Stories

Pentecost Press Limited (PPL), a subsidiary of The Church of Pentecost, honoured its hardworking employees and recent retirees at a colourful ceremony held in Accra.

Long-service awards were also given to those who have served the company for 20 and 30 years, respectively.

The event took place on Thursday, April 20, 2023, during the annual durbar of all staff at the Coconut Groove Regency Hotel, Accra. It was attended by the Board and Management of the Press.

In his address, the Board Chairman for PPL, Apostle Dr. Dela Quampah, congratulated the employees for a good business year in 2022.

“The Press is making excellent progress, and I want to thank God and the employees for that,” he said.

Apostle Dela Quampah also alluded to the Parable of the Rich Fool recorded in the book of Luke 12 and said that the man failed to acknowledge God and even the labourers who tilled his land and helped him with the harvest.

He credited himself with all the success. He said working for God is a challenging assignment, saying, “If God is your supervisor, it is a very challenging situation.”

He, therefore, called on all employees and management to coexist and work together as a family.

He also urged employees to communicate their issues to the Board through management at all times for redress.

“We will explain to you why we cannot honor certain demands if it is beyond us,” he said. Mrs. Comfort Keku received the overall Best Worker for 2022 award, while Mrs. Pearl Gawuga and Mrs. Gladys Tenor received the long-service awards for serving the company for 20 and 30 years, respectively.

Other employees were recognised for living exemplary lifestyles and for excelling in national writing competitions, among others.

The retirees included Elder John Menlah Arthur, a former Managing Director of the Press, who served for a total of 27 years; Elder Mark K. Eshun, who served for 25 years; Mr. Daniel Osei Adjei, who served the Press for 20 years; and Mr. Eric Odotei Sowah, who served the Press for 30 years. Elder Evans Osei Twum, who served the Press for about 30 years, and Mr. William Attivor, who served the Press for a period of 22 years, were also honoured.

“Throughout his tenure, Elder John Menlah Arthur proved to be an invaluable asset to the Press. He was known for his performance-driven innovation, astute business acumen, and sharp administrative skills,” the Press wrote about their former Managing Director.

The Press also lauded Mr. Eshun for his ability to empathise with colleagues during challenging times and further commended him for his optimistic outlook and popular dictum “Obeye yie” (Translated: It shall be well).

According to the Managing Director, Pastor Gideon Yirenkyi Amfo, this positive attitude helped employees navigate difficult times. In response, Elder John Menlah Arthur thanked the Press on behalf of all the retirees for the wonderful gesture.

“We are overwhelmed by your act of kindness and for remembering us even in retirement,” he said.

Report by PPL Media Team.

Akuse District Holds Maiden Adult Literacy School Matriculationweb

Akuse District Holds Maiden Adult Literacy School Matriculation

by with No Comment Church NewsTop Stories

The Akuse District in the Agormanya Area of The Church of Pentecost has organised a matriculation ceremony for 80 participants of the Adult Literacy School.

Speaking at the event which took place on Sunday, April 30, 2023, the Akuse District Minister, Pastor Jacob Kwakye Frimpong, noted that the Adult Literacy School, an initiative under Vision 2023, seeks to provide literacy skills to the public and reduce illiteracy levels in the nation.

He said the ceremony aimed to welcome and orient participants on the course outlines, rules, and regulations.

Highlighting the importance of the programme, Pastor Frimpong explained that the Adult Literacy School would give participants a chance to gain new skills and expand their knowledge.

He added that it would enable participants to reach their full potential by gaining confidence in their careers and workplaces, and further help them to read the Bible in multiple languages, interpret it accurately, and communicate more effectively.

The nine-month programme is in four major languages: English, Dangme, Twi, and Ewe, with Elder Stephen Adamnor (Twi Lecturer), Mr Modzifa Awucutse (English Language), Elder Edmund Lawer (Dangme), and Deaconess Celestine Boyo (Ewe), as facilitators.

The special guest and Headmaster of Akuse R/C Primary School, Mr Ayertey Amartey, commended The Church of Pentecost for the initiative and encouraged the participants to take the programme seriously.

Deaconess Georgina Amoni (Headmistress of Akuse R/C JHS) and Madam Lydia Kaletsi (Headmistress of Akuse Presby School) were in attendance.

Others were Mrs Cynthia Frimpong (wife of the Akuse District Minister), Elder Ezekiel Abban Teye (Agormanya Area Chaplaincy Assistant Coordinator), officers and members of the Church.

Report by Agormanya Area Media Team

Kaneshie Area Organises Seminar For Marriage Counsellorsweb

Kaneshie Area Organises Seminar For Marriage Counsellors

by with No Comment Church NewsCounselling MinistryTop Stories

The Kaneshie Area of The Church of Pentecost organised a one-day seminar for marriage counsellors to enhance their capacity and competence for maximum impact.

The seminar took place on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the Kaneshie Central Assembly auditorium, and featured four speakers, including Apostle Dr. Philip Osei-Korsah, the Director of The Church of Pentecost Counseling Ministry (COPCOM).

During his presentation, Apostle Dr. Osei-Korsah spoke on the topic “The Role of Prayer in Marriage Counselling and Resolving Disputes in Marriage.”

He emphasised the central place of prayer in marriage, the causes of spousal disputes, and conflict-resolution techniques.

Elder Prof. Stephen Ankamah-Lomotey, another speaker, gave a presentation on the “Qualities of a Counsellor.”

In his presentation, he noted that the character traits of a marriage counsellor include having a purpose, taking risks, perseverance, patience, and resilience.

“The character of every counsellor is very important as it sets an example for all clients,” he added.

Pastor Dr. Ebenezer Kpalam treated the topic “Presentation Skills for Marriage Counsellors.”

According to him, giving a listening ear is one of the vital aspects of the marriage counsellor in their line of duty.

He explained that the art of listening involves reflecting on words or facts presented by clients, their feelings, and body language. Conflict resolution is another essential skill that every counsellor must possess, he further noted.

Rev. Derick Emmanuel Koomsoon, the Director of Scripture Union Ghana, gave a presentation on the topic “What is a Christian Marriage?”

He noted that a Christian marriage is the marital union of two God-fearing Christian partners who hold their marriage ceremony and live their marriage life in accordance with the tenets of Christianity and the Church.

Also present at the seminar were Mrs. Elizabeth Osei-Asante (Wife of Kaneshie Area Head), the Kaneshie Area pastorate and their wives, and some Area Executive Committee members.

Report by Joshua Heizel (Kaneshie Area Media)

Kuntunse District Ranked Best Performing District Of The Church Of Pentecostqw]

Kuntunse District Ranked Best Performing District Of The Church Of Pentecost

by with No Comment Church NewsTop Stories

The Kuntunse District in the Nsawam Area of The Church of Pentecost has been declared the overall best-performing district of the Church for the previous year.

The announcement was made by Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the Chairman of the Church, during the State-of-the-Church Address at the official opening of the 46th General Council Meetings of the Church.

Out of the 1,631 districts in Ghana under The Church of Pentecost, the Kuntunse District emerged as the top performer.

The second and third positions were taken by the Wassa Sampa District (Tarkwa Area) and Hwidiem District (Tepa Area), respectively.

The rankings were based on key operational indicators, including membership growth, net tithes paid, missions offering paid, and percentage changes in these metrics between 2020 and 2021.

Other indicators used for the ranking were adult souls won, outreach programs held, converts baptised in water and Holy Spirit, and many more.

The Wassa Afransie District in Bogoso Area, Kofi Badukrom District in Berekum District, Domeabra District in Downtown-Ofaakor Area, Uwumborgnan in Nkwanta Area, Akomadan and Abofour New Town districts, both in Offinso Area, and Nkwaeso District in Techiman Area placed 4th to 10th, respectively on the list.

The Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, congratulated Kuntunse District and other districts for their impressive performances and encouraged them to continue working hard to maintain or even improve their performances in the coming years.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Berekum Area Tops The Church of Pentecost Rankingweb

Berekum Area Tops The Church Of Pentecost Ranking

by with No Comment Church NewsTop Stories

The Berekum Area of The Church of Pentecost emerged as the top-performing administrative area of the Church in 2022.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the Chairman of the Church, announced this at the 46th General Council Meetings of the Church held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, held from May 3-5, 2023.

The Offinso and Obuasi Areas followed closely behind Berekum, retaining their impressive rankings from 2021. The Asankragwa, Dunkwa, Nkwanta, Kete-Krachi, Suame, Nkawkaw, and Yendi areas comprised the top ten.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye congratulated the areas for their outstanding performances and encouraged them to continue striving for excellence in the future.

The administrative areas, 76 in all, were ranked based on their performance in 17 Key Operational Performance Indicators (KOPI), including the number of outreach programmes held, adult souls won, Gospel Sunday morning souls won, Home and Urban Mission (HUM) souls won, Ministry to Persons with Disabilities (MPWDs) souls won, assemblies opened, and total adult souls converted and baptised in water and in the Holy Spirit.

Other KOPIs included average attendance at Bible studies, members attending home cell meetings, net tithes performance in quantum, missions offering performance in quantum, percentage of actual tithes over budget, percentage of actual Missions Offering over budget, and the percentage of change in membership between 2021 and 2022.

The Church of Pentecost commends these areas for their exceptional performance and looks forward to their continued success.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Church Of Pentecost Is Testimony Of What God Can Do web

The Church Of Pentecost Is Testimony Of What God Can Do – Anglican Bishop

by with No Comment Church NewsTop Stories

The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Ghana, the Most Rev. Dr Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, has described The Church of Pentecost as a testimony of what God can do, following the strides the Church has made over the years as a global church in terms of soul winning, church planting, among others.

“My experience of The Church of Pentecost is that the Church is a testimony of what God can do; breaking barriers when people say, ’No,’ God says, ‘Yes,’ because with God, all things are possible and I believe that is your testimony,” he said.

He encouraged the Church to maximize its efforts in advancing the Kingdom business.

“I want to encourage you to keep it up and to reposition yourself to take cognizance of it.”

Rev. Dr Cyril Kobina said this while delivering fraternal greetings on behalf of the Anglican Church of Ghana at the opening ceremony of the 46th Session of the General Council Meetings at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) at Gomoa Fetteh on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

He expressed delight in the successes The Church of Pentecost keeps chalking, which according to him, is highly commendable and worthy of emulation.

“We are learning lessons from you – lessons of taking church planting seriously; lessons of taking evangelism seriously; and lessons of not being complacent,” he noted.

The Most Rev. Dr Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith also called on all churches to unite and be the voice for the voiceless.

PENTECOST NEWS