Posts in category: Top Stories

Pentecost University, together with five distinguished world-class Universities (Warwick, UNIBO, LULEA, BIUST, ILMENAU), have been awarded a total of €2.69 million for its premium research into the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cyber-Physical Systems, Robotics, Laser technologies and Life Cycle modelling for eco-efficient manufacturing of electric vehicle (EV) components.

This award from the European Commission Horizon-MSC-2022-DN-01-01 for the Pentecost University Consortium places the University ahead of its competitors in value- driven research and practical engineering education in Ghana.

In signing the grant documents, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, said the grant has come at an opportune time to support PU to pioneer the development of novel technologies in the design of EV manufacturing processes across battery and fuel cells lines.

The VC added that the grant would also support bright PhD candidates in this area. On his part, the Director of International Digital Centre, PU, Mr. Isaac Kuma Yeboah, said the University won the grant with a total score of 98%, which exceeded the threshold of 70%.

This, he explained, is a clear demonstration of the new and high competencies built by PU over years. Engineering research and innovation at PU received a massive boost when the University got administrative approval for five practical-based Bachelor Engineering (BEng.) programmes earlier this year.

This is in line with the University’s agenda to be a hub for industrial research and problem solving.

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Amarmoley District Minister of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Jacob Asare, has advised Christians to reflect on the words of Jesus on the cross and apply them to their daily lives.

According to him, the words of Jesus hold great significance and should, therefore, not be taken lightly.

Pastor Asare made this submission during the recently-held Easter Convention of the Amamorley Zone in the Anyaa Ablekuma Area at the Amamorley Methodist School Park.

Speaking on the topic: “The Significance of Seven Words of Christ on the Cross” and using various Bible references including Luke 23:34, Luke 23:43, John 19:6, John 19:28, John 19:30, and Luke 23:46, Pastor Asare stressed the importance of Christ’s words to everyday Christian living.

“For instance, in Luke 23:34, Christ preached forgiveness and urged Christians to have a forgiving heart. Forgiveness was so important to Christ that He taught His disciples how to pray a forgiving prayer”, he said, adding: “In John 19:6, Christ’s words, ‘Woman, behold thy son,’ demonstrated His concern for His family and friends. He made provisions for His mother, Mary, by leaving her in the care of John.”

Pastor Asare further noted that Christ acknowledges every form of relationship He has with us and that He is ever ready to be with us.

The District Minister also revealed that Christ’s words in John 19:28, “I am thirsty,” were not a request for water but rather a thirst for righteousness.

According to him, Christ’s blood had to be shed to quench that thirst so that we could be called righteous. “In John 19:30, when Christ said, ‘It is finished,’ He meant that He had accomplished the purpose for which He was called to die so that we could be saved,” he narrated.

Pastor Jacob Asare further explained that because of Christ’s finished work, Christians should not be afraid of anything that is of this world.

He noted that in Luke 23:46, Christ’s words, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” signified that even in death, He acknowledged that He was not on His own, but had a higher authority whom He served.

Pastor Asare, therefore, urged Christians to do the same by acknowledging God’s sovereignty in their lives.

After the sermon, Pastor Kennedy Yeboah led the congregation in some short moments of prayer and infilling of the Holy Spirit.

This year’s Easter Convention saw a large turnout of people from different walks of life, eager to participate in the various sessions that were held throughout the four-day convention.

The convention, which was held under the theme “By His Wounds You Are Healed,” was held from Thursday, April 6 to Sunday, April 9, 2023, and featured seasoned speakers who shared their insights on different aspects of the theme.

Among the speakers were Apostle D.K. Noble Atsu (Rtd.), Apostle A. E. K. Ekuban (Rtd.), Pastor Kennedy Yeboah, and Elder Frank Osei.

Report by Amamorley Media Team.

The Aflao Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Michael Agyen Brefo, has assured Christians that faith in Christ Jesus is their greatest gain.

He made this assertion during the Good Friday morning service on April 7, 2023, while exhorting members of the Church at the Anloga sub-zone.

Speaking on the topic “Divine Exchange for Maximum Impact” with scriptural reference from 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Romans 3:24-25, the Aflao Area Head declared that Christ Jesus, through His death on the cross of Calvary, has exchanged the loss of Christians into a massive gain.

He explained that man’s disobedience to God led to sin and its consequences. Sin brought disgrace, death, and fear of the devil upon all mankind.

However, God’s abundant provision of grace, evidenced in His sending of Jesus Christ into the world to atone for the sins of mankind, has brought divine exchange. In the sense that the debt of the sinful man was paid by Christ. The love of God was so deep that the righteous Jesus died for the unrighteous human being.

He stated that “It is impossible for someone to die for the ungodly, but God demonstrated his love for all humanity that while we were yet sinners, he sent Jesus Christ to die for us.”

Expounding the background to his message, he stated that had Christ not come, there was no way sin and its generational effect on the human race could be atoned for. In God’s own wisdom, the only remedy for this canker was the shedding of blood. Consequent to God’s redemptive plan, he called Abraham (the father of the Jewish nation) with the notion that through the ‘Seed’ of Abraham, all nations of the earth shall be blessed. He explained that this ‘Seed’ was Jesus Christ.

Before Jesus’ incarnation into human history, God through the Mosaic covenant, instituted the Old Testament worship as a shadow of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. In the Jewish worship, the chief priest makes atonement for the people once a year using the blood of bulls and lambs. This act of atonement as established by God was to enable His people to get closer to Him. However, the Old Testament worship was faulty in the sense that it brought condemnation, discrimination and also placed a yoke on the people.

“The Old Testament worship also led to slavery, death, curses, and made men rebels to God because it could not deal with sin and its effect. The blood of animals only made the Old Testament worshippers ceremonially clean on the outside, but it could not deal with the effect of sin within the innermost part of the human nature (Hebrews 8:6-8). God, therefore, sent his beloved Son Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity,” he emphasised.

He further noted that: “Jesus was sacrificed for our sins once for all. He paid our debt once for all. In fact, his death is our gain. He died that we might live,” Apostle Agyen stressed. “His one-time sacrifice has also taken away the yoke, curses, burdens, death, pains, and afflictions of those who put their trust in him,” he added.

With many other exhortations, Apostle Agyen Brefo admonished the teeming members not to make the sacrifice of Jesus be in vain. This is because Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. It is through righteous living that all people will come and appreciate the love

Apostle Agyen Brefo also pleaded with those who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord to continue to put their faith in Him and acknowledge Him as their Saviour and Lord.

Report by Pastor Francis Lamptey (Aflao Area Reporter).

Elder Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, the Presiding Elder of Pentecost International Worship Centre, Graceland (PIWC-Graceland), has urged  Christian entrepreneurs to align themselves and their businesses with the word of God and support the Church in advancing the Kingdom business.

“Our Church is very strong and solid and needs our support for Kingdom expansion. The women of old, such as Mary Magdalene, Susana, and Joana, supported the Lord Jesus with their substance and time,” he said.

Dr. Agyepong was speaking at the recently-held Teshie-Nungua Area Easter Convention at the Fred Safo Memorial Temple, on Sunday, April 9, 2022, which was themed “Jesus Has Paid It All.” 

According to him, The Church of Pentecost has grown over the years from the palm branches conventions at Winneba to over 159 nations worldwide.

“Even Ghana as a nation has only 56 embassies, but The Church of Pentecost, because of the word of God, is in over 150 counties. So do not belittle the word of God; whatever God has said will surely come to pass,” he said.

Elder Dr. Agyepong, who is also the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, explained that even on the day of resurrection, the three women carried spices intended to anoint Jesus’ body when they met an empty tomb and that was also a form of support to Jesus’ ministry.

He mentioned that Joana was the wife of Herod’s steward, and although her husband did not like Jesus, she invested in the ministry of Jesus, and the world remembers her all the time.

“When you give money to Jesus, your name will never be erased from this earth,” he emphasised.

He further noted that Joseph of Arimathea invested in Jesus by providing a tomb for his burial. Today, everybody who visits Jerusalem goes to the tomb, and research shows that the family of Joseph of Arimathea has been blessed immensely from his act of kindness.

“Have you thought about such a situation, where a rich man will go for someone’s body to bury it? Joseph realized that this was not an ordinary body, but a special body, a previous body, a dignified body. Let the power of the resurrection come into your mind,” he said.

Dr. Agyepong then threw light on the act of kindness by Zacchaeus, stating that after coming into contact with the Savior, he decided to give 50% of his wealth to the poor and pay back four times those he cheated in tax payment.

Elder Dr. Agyepong said that Zacchaeus, with all his wealth, was not saved; salvation came to his household only after he met Jesus, and his name is always mentioned in scriptures.

“Today, if your business is collapsing, salvation is coming to your business, Jesus is ready to meet you at the point of your need. It is not about what you will lose when you give to support the work of God but rather what you will gain,” he declared.

Report by Teshie-Nungua Area Media Team

The Ashaiman Area Head and Executive Council Member of The Church of Pentecost, Prophet David Kankam Beditor, urged believers to dedicate their time and resources to the kingdom of God, as Jesus Christ was the first to sacrifice His life for them.

Prophet Kankam delivered a sermon titled “Why Do We Celebrate Easter?” during the recently-held Easter Convention of the Afienya Estate District, which was held from April 5 to 9, 2023, at the Afienya Estate District Central Assembly auditorium.

The event was held under the theme, “Why Are You Looking for the Living Among the Dead? He Is Not Here, He Has Risen!” (Luke 24:5-6), and was well attended.

Quoting from Luke 24:1-7, Prophet Kankam explained that Easter is a time to remember the passion, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He emphasised that Christ’s sacrifice is the central theme of Easter celebrations. While the word “Easter” is not mentioned in the Bible, a foreshadowing of the event can be seen in the Bible, he said, adding that before Christ’s death, animals were used for sin sacrifices, and the Jews celebrated Passover.

Prophet Kankam listed the reasons for celebrating Easter, noting that it marks the period when Jesus Christ gave Himself and His life as a sin offering for humanity. As a result, believers must also be willing to sacrifice themselves, their talents, skills, and resources for the cause of Christ.

He further stated that the Blood of Christ, which was shed for the remission of sins, has granted them salvation and made them children of God.

The Ashaiman Area Head advised Christians to always give glory to God and worship Him in truth and spirit as children of God.

He also indicated that the celebration of Easter is still relevant to Christianity today as it proves that Christians serve a living God, strengthens their faith in the Lord, reaffirms the promise of eternal life, reassures them of God’s glory and wealth, and renews their hope of the resurrection.

“This is the confidence we have that if Christ resurrected, we will also resurrect,” he stated.

Report by Afienya Estate District Media Team.