The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has said that blessing is fundamental to Christians, saying, “All of us have been blessed, what is needed is a change of mindset to appropriate it.”
Apostle Nyamekye made this statement on Friday, December 16, 2022, during the Closing Ceremony of the Head Office Management & Staff Retreat held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.
Delivering a sermon on the topic, “Priestly Blessings” based on Numbers 6:22, Apostle Nyamekye said that God blessed the Israelites because His name was upon them.
“Blessing is God’s idea for His people, right from creation. When man sinned against God, He cursed the serpent but did not curse man,” he added.
Quoting from Galatians 3:13, he stated: “Christ redeemed us so that the blessing given to Abraham might come upon us.”
According to Apostle Nyamekye, God is the source of blessing, and as Lord, He has authority, control, and power over all things, both seen and unseen, and every name, stressing that “God is the owner of the earth that is why He is Lord over all.”
Apostle Nyamekye noted that God’s blessings involve long life, good health, prosperity (fertility), peace, and His presence.
He disclosed that with the first priestly blessing, ‘The Lord bless you and keep you’ Christians receive the protection of God, and are guarded and delivered from the evils of life, wicked spirits, wicked people, and wicked places in life.
On the second priestly blessing which is ‘The Lord cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you,’ he pointed out that Christians receive favour from above without working for it.
He further mentioned that the third priestly blessing which is “The Lord lifts His countenance upon you and give you peace,” makes a believer be noticed, and receive peace and protection of God.
“We need to respond to the priestly blessing by shouting ‘Amen.’ You need a blessing mentality to achieve this through shouting, ‘Amen.’ Live in full obedience to the Lord who has the power to bless,” he stressed.
The closing ceremony coincided with the retirement of nine staff who have served the organisation in various capacities for several years.
PENTECOST NEWS
9 Headquarters Staff Retire
It was a moment of joy and celebration as nine gallant workers of The Church of Pentecost General Headquarters retired from active service on Friday, December 16, 2022.
The colourful ceremony which took place at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa in the Central Region, was the high point of this year’s Head Office Management and Staff Retreat.
The retirees are Mrs Joseph Ako Nunoo (Senior Accounts Officer, who served for 39 years), Mrs Josephina Aryee Hyde (Senior Accounts Officer, who also served for 39 years), Mr Emmanuel Eshun (Deputy Chief Driver, 29 years), Mr Benjamin Kweku Sam (Senior Security Officer, 28 years), and Mr Yaw Otchere Somuah (Deputy Chief Driver, 26 years).
The rest are Mr Albert Kwaku Hammond (Senior Audit Officer, 26 years), Mr Opoku Kwarteng (Senior Security Guard Grade I, 14 years), Mr Samuel Appiah (Janitor Grade III, 13 years), and Mr John Wuloh (Security Guard Grade II, eight years).
As part of the ceremony, long service awards were presented to staff who have served for 10, 20, and 30 years.
PENTECOST NEWS
Aflao Area Donates Motorbike To Salo District
The Aflao Area of The Church of Pentecost has donated a brand new Haojue HJ125-8 motorbike worth GHS13,700.00 to the Salo District of the Church.
The motorbike was presented to the Salo District Minister, Overseer Seth Asamani Wettey, at a brief ceremony held on Friday, December 9, 2022 at Agbevekope in the Agbozume District. Among those present was the pastorate of the Aflao Area.
Presenting the donation on behalf of the Area, the Aflao Area Head, Apostle Michael Agyen Brefo, stated that the Area’s decision to support the District was as a result of the mobility challenges faced by the District Minister, which he (Area Head) witnessed at firsthand during his recent familiarisation tour to Salo District.
“The District Minister’s personal pick-up truck, which he had been using for official duties, has broken down for several months making it very difficult for him to visit members, especially those in the outstation assemblies,” Apostle Brefo explained.
The Area Head was, therefore, confident that the intervention would come in handy and aid the smooth running of the District.
Overseer Wettey, in response, expressed profound gratitude to God for meeting the District’s urgent need through the Area. He also thanked the Area leadership for the timely intervention and kind gesture.
The District Minister further assured his benefactors that the motorbike would be used for its intended purpose, and that a high maintenance culture would be adopted to prolong its lifespan.
Report by Pastor Francis Lamptey (Aflao Area Reporter)
Airport Assembly’s New Church Auditorium Project Begins
The New Tafo Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Prophet Samuel Tetteh Doku, has cut a sod for the construction of an ultra-modern church building for the Airport Assembly in the Yennyawoso District of the Church.
The sod-cutting ceremony, which was performed on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at the project site was witnessed by Pastor Charles Oduro (Yennyawoso District Minister), Elder Charles Opoku (Presiding Elder) and a cross-section of officers and members of the Airport Assembly.
The one-storey building, which is estimated to seat more than 1, 200 people upon completion, comprises a youth auditorium, children’s hall, conference room, offices, washrooms, among others.
Prophet Tetteh Doku prayed for God’s blessings for the Church members so that the building is constructed within a record time. He, therefore, urged the officers and members to contribute massively towards the project to ensure its completion.
Report by Emmanuel Nana Nsiah
Andoe District Retires 10 Gallant Officers
The Andoe District in the Assin Foso Area of The Church of Pentecost has organised a retirement service for 10 officers who have served the church meritoriously for various years.
The service took place recently at the Andoe Central Assembly auditorium under the leadership of the District Minister, Pastor Daniel Kwame Darko.
The retired officers and their number of years of service are as follows: Elder Williams A. Baragbor, 43 years; Elder John Gyasi, 41 years; Elder Emmanuel Tetteh Kwaw, 38 years, and Elder George Sarpong Amoah, 36 years.
The rest were Deaconess Mary Antobam, 52 years; Deaconess Grace Afedzie, 46 years; Deaconess Paulina Dede, 36 years; Deaconess Comfort Sackey, 36 years; Deaconess Georgina Ofori, 35 years, and Deaconess Victoria Dede, 34 years.
Speaking on the topic, “Faith to Possess the Nations,” with Bible texts from Romans 10:17; 10:9 and 1 Corinthians 13:13, the Assin Nsuta District Minister, Pastor Freeman K. Ofori-Siaw, noted that faith is something man has not seen yet believes that it exists.
He added that it is through faith that believers are saved, because faith is the purchasing power for buying spiritual things. Through faith, he said, believers overcome all challenges that come their way.
“Whoever comes to the Lord to serve Him must believe that He exists and He is the ultimate and master rewarder. Without faith, no servant can go far with the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly,” he stressed.
Pastor Daniel Kwame Darko applauded the retirees for their selfless and dedicated services to God and humanity. He challenged the youth to follow in the footsteps of the retirees to enable them also serve their generations without grumbling.
“Today, you are celebrating your leaders for their hard work which has brought the church to this level. What are you doing to help expand the Kingdom of God to enable others celebrate you when you also retire from active service when your time comes?” he quizzed.
Each of the retirees was given a certificate of service signed by the Assin Foso Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Frederick Kwaku Andoh. They also received some handsome packages.
Report by Godwin Ayivor, Assin Andoe District Reporter.
Pledge Allegiance To God, Church – Christian Leaders Told
The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has advised Christian leaders to be loyal to God and the Church.
The Chairman said this in a homily he delivered when he met elders in the La and Teshie Nungua areas of the Church at the PIWC-Kokomlemle Dome, last Tuesday.
In his exhortation, Apostle Nyamekye commended the elders of The Church of Pentecost, who are unpaid officers, for their selfless and sacrificial service that has greatly contributed to the sustenance and growth of the Church.
With Acts 14:21-23; Titus 1:5 and Acts 20:17 as scriptural references, Apostle Nyamekye further highlighted the importance of elders in the New Testament Church.
The Chairman drew inspiration from David’s story in 1Chronicles 11:9-11 to stress the need for ministers and elders to work closely together for maximum impact.
According to the Chairman, King David’s greatness and success could be attributed to two things; God’s presence with him and the support from his (David’s) mighty men and the people of Israel gave him.
Apostle Nyamekye also indicated that David was a man who knew how to build and maintain strong supportive teams.
He opined that “great leaders do not succeed alone, rather they succeed because they have people who support them.”
“No leader is greater than his support team; for as the leader is, so is his support team,” he added.
Apostle Nyamekye also pointed out that every member of the church possesses some graces, gifts and talents (Romans 12:6-8), for this reason, no member of the body of Christ should be taken for granted.
These graces, gifts and talents, which are both natural and spiritual, he futher noted, must be harnessed for the common good of all (1Corinthians 12:7), and not for personal interests or self-aggrandisement.
“Since every individual in the Church has a certain level of grace, gifts and talents, Church leaders must learn to respect all and see every member as part of the support team,” he advised.
Apostle Nyamekye emphasised that all elders are coworkers in the house of God and have been called to a position of trust.
He, therefore, charged ministers and officers to discharge their duties with utmost loyalty because “loyalty is the hallmark of every supporting leader.”
Using Joab and Abishai as a case study to further butress his point, the Chairman explained that although Joab and Abishai were brothers and part of King David’s warriors, the former was disloyal to David while the latter was loyal to the king.
Joab’s disloyalty was seen in how he killed two army commanders of David without his knowledge. He (Joab) again proved disloyal when he killed the King’s son, Absalom, after the king had explicitly asked him not to.
Abishai, on the other hand, risked his life for King David, he saved the King when Ishbi-Benod wanted to kill him, and obeyed David’s orders even when they went against his personal wishes.
The Chairman advised Church leaders to cultivate Abishai’s exemplary loyalty trait while asserting that loyalty is one of the paramount virtues needed in Christian leadership.
He explained that being loyal to God and the Church requires faithfulness, sacrifice, commitment, going the extra mile, effective leadership, defending the church and interceding for the church in prayer.
Apostle Nyamekye also admonished ministers and officers to refrain from maligning the Church and her leadership since it also an act of disloyalty.
In attendance were Apostle Alexander N.Y. Kumi-Larbi (General Secretary), Apostle Lawrence Otu Nyarko (Finance and Administration Director, CoP Headquarters), Apostle Professor Kwabena Agyapong Kodua (Vice Chancellor, Pentecost University), Apostle D.K. Nuekpe (La Area Head), Apostle Nkrumah Agyemang (Teshie Nungua Area Head) and Apostle Lt. Col. B.G. Kumi-Woode (Chaplain, Ghana Armed Forces) together with their spouses.
Report by Pastor Emmanuel Opoku Mensah
Palace Assembly Gets Musical Instruments
The Kaneshie Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Osei Asante, has dedicated a set of musical instruments for the Kwashieman Palace Assembly in the Area.
Items dedicated include a set of 5-piece drums, full range speaker, mixer, keyboard, keyboard combo, 30 yards speaker cable, a set of cordless microphones, two pieces microphone stand, two pieces cord microphones, three tambourines, jack-jack cable, among others. The instruments were purchased by the Kaneshie Area.
The first palace assembly of The Church of Pentecost located at the Kwashieman Chief Palace in Accra was inaugurated on September 25, 2022.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Apostle Asante, who is also an Executive Council Member of the church, read from 1 Chronicles 15:16, where King David placed value on the role played by the Levites who were appointed to make joyful sounds with musical instruments during the unveiling of the ark of God.
Apostle Asante encouraged members of the new assembly to continue to fulfill God’s mandate in the Possessing the Nation’s agenda.
In attendance at the dedication service were Overseer Anthony Kwadwo Obeng and wife (Kaneshie Area Chieftaincy Ministry Pastor), Elder Nana Impream VIII (Kaneshie Area Chieftaincy Ministry Chairman), Nii Ahiaku VI (Kwashieman Mantse), Pastor Emmanuel Agbeko (Kwashieman District Pastor), Nananom, Clergy from the Area and royal members of the assembly.
Report by Michael Asante, Kaneshie Area.
Stay With The Church of Pentecost – Apostle Agyemang Bekoe Urges
The International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, has urged staff, management, and members of the Church to stay with the Church because there is a ‘covenant’ covering all those who stay with the Church.
“God has a covenant with The Church of Pentecost and the covenant covers every member and staff of the Church automatically. If you stay with the church, you will enjoy the covering,” he stated.
Apostle Agyemang Bekoe said this on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, during this year’s Head Office Management and Staff Retreat.
Speaking on the topic, “Stay With Me,” using 1 Samuel 22:23 as his main text, the IMD said that David, even though anointed, was on the run while waiting for the appointment of God.
“There is always an intervening period between the anointing period and the appointment. The period tests your durability, patience, and endurance whether you can wait or not,” Apostle Agyemang Bekoe noted.
Running from his enemies, he said that David’s associates decided to follow him around. These people, he explained, were those who were in debt, in sorrow, and in distress.”
He added: “As we transition into 2023, for us to survive in the world, you would need a special food cooked in the presence of God.”
He further encouraged Christians to stay faithful to God without being lured by the things of the world. He, therefore, called on the members and the staff to stay and benefit from the preservation and protection of God.
PENTECOST NEWS
The Church of Pentecost Donates To Kumasi Central Prison
The Old Tafo, Bompata and Ejisu Areas of The Church of Pentecost have jointly donated food and other items worth GHC 47, 000.00 to the Kumasi Central Prison in the Ashanti region.
The kind gesture, which took place on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, was in pursuit of the five-year strategic vision of the Church (Vision 2023) to “Possess the Nations” by influencing every sphere of life with principles and values of the kingdom of God.
Presenting the items, which included 10 bags of rice, 2 bags of maize, 17 bags of gari, 7 boxes of carbolic soap, 120 tubers of yam, 16 pieces of salt, 16 boxes of bar soap, packs of toilet roll, among others, the Old Tafo Area Head, Apostle Yeboah Nsaful, said that the physical aspect of God’s work is to support the needy and the have-nots in the society.
He noted that the kind gesture being shown to the needy by Christian organisations, especially in this festive season, is geared towards demonstrating the love of God and extoling Christ Jesus to draw all men unto Himself.
“What we are seeing is in fulfilment of our corporate social responsibility to the government and Ghanaians. The work at the prisons requires money, and government alone cannot shoulder everything, hence the donation to complement government’s effort,” Apostle Yeboah Nsaful further expressed.
He added that “from time to time, we will mobilise items and donate them to the prisons and other places which need the help of the Church.”
Rev. Superintendent Stella Ama Katso, the Regional Prisons Chaplain, on behalf of the Ashanti Regional Commander of the Prisons Service, thanked The Church of Pentecost for the wonderful gesture.
She further appealed to other faith-based organisations, individuals and other corporate bodies to come to their aid.
“I say a very big thank you to The Church of Pentecost for visiting us today. This will go a long way to put smiles on the face of our brothers.
“Your presence means a lot to them and at least they have hope that someone cares and prays for them. We are also calling upon other churches to emulate The Church of Pentecost and donate to us in this festive season,” she stressed.
Present at the brief presentation ceremony were a section of ministers and wives, the Old Tafo Area Prisons Ministry leadership, and other officers of the Church.
Report by Dennis Owusu & Emmanuel Nana Nsiah
Agormanya Area Holds Consultative Meeting With Chiefs, Queen Mothers
The Agorrmanya Area of The Church of Pentecost organised a consultative meeting with the chiefs and queen mothers within the Akwamu and Dorfo traditional areas last Sunday to identify challenges confronting their respective communities and proper strategies to solve them.
The event, dubbed “Royals Consultative Meeting,” took place at the Mckeown Temple in the Akrade District.
The meeting was chaired by the Agormanya Area Head of the Church, Apostle Samuel Gakpetor, with assistance from Pastor Jacob Kwakye Frimpong (Area Chieftaincy Ministry Coordinator) and Nana Kwaku Budu Akomea (Area Chieftaincy Committee Chairman).
Apostle Samuel Gakpetor, in his opening remarks, refuted the misconceptions about the Chieftaincy institution as an ‘unchristian” venture, advocating that: “Chieftaincy ought to be understood as a divine call to leadership.”
“This means that the opportunity to serve as a chief should be seen as a God-given opportunity one has received to provide leadership and serve his or her people,” he stressed.
He indicated that most of the time, chiefs and queen mothers strive without success to bring massive infrastructural projects like schools, health facilities, etc, to their communities.
Apostle Gakpetor further noted that, although such developmental projects are important, they are very capital intensive and, therefore, demand the support of government and other organisations to be undertaken.
“However, there are also several challenges within our communities, which could be easily attended to by the chiefs and queen mothers even as they wait on the government for support for bigger developmental projects. This is why the consultative meeting has been convened,” Apostle Gakpetor noted.
Speaking on the topic “Boldness to Confront Challenges” with reference to 1 Samuel 17:32;45-46, Pastor Jacob Kwakye Frimpong called on the chiefs to tackle the challenges in their communities with boldness.
He encouraged them never to ignore the problems faced by their community folks, but do whatever it takes to overcome them or minimise the impact on their subjects.
Pastor Kwakye Frimpong again encouraged them to draw on God’s strength and grace to confront the challenges that come their way.
Some of the challenges of the communities identified from the discussions were moral, environmental, health, educational, economic, and security issues as well as the apathy of community members towards communal labour and development.
From the deliberations, it became apparent that the identified challenges have both spiritual and character dimensions.
It was, therefore, agreed that the traditional rulers should partner with the Church, ministers, and other Christian leaders in their communities to periodically hold prayer sessions to intercede for the communities.
Again, they were encouraged to collaborate with the Church and ministers in their communities to use the available media platforms (i.e. information centres) and community durbars to organise systematic and extensive teachings on character formation and morality to benefit the community folks.
The traditional rulers were also encouraged to engage the clergy within in their various communities to help address the developmental challenges.
On the other hand, the ministers were advised not to overlook the challenges within their host communities, but to see them as opportunities for ministry and strive to address them.
Apostle Gakpetor noted that the new interventions introduced under the five-year strategic vision of The Church of Pentecost (Vision 2023) such as the Environmental Care Campaign, the Home and Urban Mission (HUM), and the Counselling Ministry must be diligently employed to arrest the identified challenges.
The Agormanya Area Head also proposed a roadmap and action plan for the traditional leaders to adopt and work with for six months, after which another meeting will be convened to assess progress made.
On behalf of all the royals present, Nene Tetteh Amoako IV, the Chief of Natriku in the Osudoku Traditional Area, expressed heartfelt appreciation to God and the Church for the meeting and pledged to work hard to effectively implement the proffered solutions.
The colourful event had in attendance Mrs. Grace Gakpetor (Wife of the Area Head), Mrs. Cynthia Kwakye Frimpong (Wife of the Area Chieftaincy Ministry Coordinator), and a cross-section of ministers and wives in the Area.
Also present were committee members of the Chieftaincy Ministry at the Area and district levels.
In all, 23 chiefs and queen mothers participated in the consultative meeting.
Report by Agormanya Area Chieftaincy Ministry.