Combine Grace With Hard Work – Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah Advises Christian Leaders

Combine Grace With Hard Work – Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah Advises Christian Leaders

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“In The Church of Pentecost, if you are talking of people who have been the recipient of God’s grace, I have been one of them. I was called into the full-time ministry at age 22, ordained as a Pastor at age 25, appointed a Regional Head (Area Head) at age 30, called into Apostleship at age 32, and at age 34 elected as an Executive Council member. All these show that I have been a recipient of God’s grace, but I can also say that I have also worked very hard and toiled physically,” Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah (Rtd.), the immediate past Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, has revealed.

Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah who is also a former President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), called on ministers and wives to work very hard in ministry as they combine the grace of God upon their lives to make maximum impact in the nations.

He indicated that although the grace of God is available for every believer, one would have to work hard, have an intimate relationship with God, and set up personal policies and goals to be relevant in ministry for the ‘Possessing the Nations’ agenda.

Addressing participants at the 2023 Global Ministers and Wives’ Conference at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Gomoa Fetteh on Friday, January 27, 2023, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah said that there are certain principles and practices Christians have to adopt to help them grow holistically, hence the need to work hard and be diligent and also rely on the grace of God.

Speaking on the topic, “Combine Grace with Hard Work,” he touched on certain personal practices such as waking up early in the morning, exercising the body, having personal devotions, having quality time in prayer, studying the word of God and meditating on it daily, healthy eating, among others which, he said, should be encouraged and pursued earnestly by Christians.

He recalled a scripture in 2 Timothy 2:15 which was one of his guiding principles, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

“I was challenged by this scripture to study the Bible and other books and even went to the extent of contacting some friends to teach me things I had no knowledge about in certain fields of disciplines to make me a better person,” he said.

He added that another scripture that helped him in his ministerial life is 1 Corinthians 14:40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

He revealed that this scripture propelled him to follow all church policies to the letter and motivated him to do ministry in a decent and orderly manner bearing in mind that God expects him to be unique in everything he does.

The immediate past Chairman further mentioned that Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord and have been called according to his purpose,” armed him to be confident that in whatever situation he found himself (whether good or bad) since the Lord who has called him is always with him, He will work all things for good according to His purpose.

“It is important that you become conscious of the Lord’s presence abiding with you as a Christian even to the point that you trust and believe Him in every situation you find yourself,” he said, adding, “You may face challenges in ministry but you must keep on trusting the one who has called you.”

Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah highlighted some ministerial principles that will help active ministers and those on retirement to help them make maximum impact.

He admonished them to know their strengths and weaknesses and ask for help if need be for maximum impact. He called on retirees to check their zeal otherwise it may cause trouble, while urging church leaders to pray and prepare for all activities, saying, “Be sensitive to what goes on at church and be reminded that unless the Lord has called you into glory you need to learn on a daily basis.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Promote Visitation In The Local Church – Apostle Anane Denteh Tells Church Leaders web

Promote Visitation In The Local Church – Apostle Anane Denteh Tells Church Leaders

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The Director of the Men’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost (PEMEM), who doubles as an Executive Council Member of the Church, Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh, has urged church leaders to promote visitation in the local church since it is one of the most important and expressive ways the Church offers care and compassion to members in real-life situations.

According to Apostle Anane Denteh, visitation in the local church could be promoted not only in times of crises but also in times of celebrations and good news such as weddings, outdooring, graduations, and visiting students.

“Besides, it is also our divine responsibility to look for persons who are shut off from the church’s fellowship due to old age, health challenges, or facing various kinds of hardships that may require the attention of other persons,” he stated. 

Apostle Anane Denteh gave this admonition on Friday, January 27, 2023, at the 2023 Global Ministers and Wives Conference (GMWC’23) of The Church of Pentecost at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh near Kasoa in the Central Region of Ghana. 

Presenting on the topic, “Visitation in the Local Church,” he emphasised that when church leaders promote visitation in the local church, there is godly fellowship, care for one another, brotherly love and members begin to bear each other’s burdens.

He, therefore, stressed that Christians must grasp that the love of Christ is the basis of our pastoral care ministry of which visitation is a part. 

“The purpose of these visitations is to look for persons who cannot attend church services or fellowships due to old age, health challenges, or facing various challenges that may require the attention of others. This could be among members, local leaders, and other leaders of the Church,” he said.

The PEMEM Director further noted that visitation has always been a crucial practice in Christianity and cited Acts 20:20 to demonstrate how apostle Paul engaged in house-to-house activities as one of his visitation models to the believers in the early church.

Apostle Anane Denteh, therefore, urged ministers and church leaders to always uphold this principle and be ready to stay connected with the members so that they could identify themselves with their needs and help them solve those challenges. 

He, however, cautioned that what transpires in visitation, whether house to house or wherever the visitation occurs, must be godly in nature and devoid of pursuing any rebellious behaviour against God’s church or a group of people.

“Negligence of the pastoral care, on the other hand, would incur the displeasure of God since all are duty-bound to carry out that aspect of divine obligation. This informs us of the importance of fostering visitation in the Church, particularly the local church, where the members are fundamentally accounted for,” he said.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Make Time To Address Grievances Of The Youth – General Secretary Tells Church Leaders

Make Time To Address Grievances Of The Youth – General Secretary Tells Church Leaders

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The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost (CoP), Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has made a passionate appeal to Church leaders to make time to interact with the youth and educate them about the core values, rules of conduct and other foundational beliefs of the Church.

According to the General Secretary, many of the grievances of young people in the Church could easily be addressed when ministers and church leaders engage more with them.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi said this yesterday when he addressed participants of the 2023 Global Ministers and Wives’ Conference (GMWC’23) currently ongoing at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

Speaking on the topic: “The CoP Brand: Rules of Conduct and Core Values,” the General Secretary emphasised the need for the older generation of members to painstakingly teach the youth about the foundational beliefs and practices that were bequeathed to them by their forebears.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi noted that observing the tenets, core values, church culture and rules of conduct inherited from the forebears has given the COP a unique and enviable brand.

“It thus behoves this generation to know, uphold and jealously guard these time-tested Pentecostal distinctive attributes as we seek to reposition the local church for maximum impact,” he said.

To preserve The CoP brand for future generations, Apostle Kumi-Larbi posited that church leaders should engage the youth to clarify any concerns or misgivings they may have regarding the Church’s governance system, The CoP’s way of expressing practical Christian life and ministry, as well as her cultural practices. 

“These values and beliefs are in tandem with God’s covenant with the Church, which predates the existence of The Church of Pentecost. I therefore plead with ministers and leaders of The Church of Pentecost at all levels to have time to engage the members, especially the youth; they have questions!” he said.

Apostle Kumi-Larbi also advised the youth to avail themselves to be mentored by the older generation and to seek clarifications on issues from appropriate authorities.

He buttressed his assertion by quoting item “G” of the Church’s Rules of Conduct, which reads: “During casual conversation at home or at work, do not speak disrespectfully or disparagingly about the Church and God’s servants. Make your concerns and grievances known to the appropriate authority for explanation or redress (3 John 9,10; Numbers 12:1-15).”

He advised the Christian youth to refrain from falsely accusing or castigating their spiritual leaders or persons in authority as it may have dire consequences, as seen in the cases of Miriam (Numbers 12:1-15) and Diotrephes (3 John 9, 10).

He reminded them that emphasis on the respect for authority, as well as prayer, the word of God and absolute reliance on the Holy Ghost, are among the variables that have contributed immensely to making The CoP a respected brand in the world.

“It is because of this culture that in 1998, Senior Apostles like S.K. Ansong, B. K. Arthur, D. K. Annan and the rest could subject themselves to the leadership of a young Apostle, Dr. Michael Ntumy, who was elected Chairman of our Church at age 40,” he said.

Concluding his message, Apostle Kumi-Larbi encouraged members, particularly the youth, to cooperate with the Church leadership in protecting and projecting The COP brand.

“For, I foresee that the glory of tomorrow’s Church is far more glorious than the Church today,” he said.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Encourage Small Prayer Groups In the Local Church – Apostle Antwi To The Clergyd

Encourage Small Prayer Groups In the Local Church – Apostle Antwi To The Clergy

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The Cape Coast Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, has charged the clergy to encourage small prayer group meetings within the local church to ensure great revival in the church.

“As Christians, we need to keep a close relationship with God by interacting with Him through His word and prayer,” Apostle Antwi said.

The Executive Council Member said this on Thursday, January 26, 2023, during the 2023 Global Ministers and Wives’ Conference, which is ongoing at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa-Fetteh, near Kasoa.

Delivering a paper on the topic, “Encouraging Personal Devotion and Small Groups Prayer Meetings to Strengthen the Local Church,” Apostle Antwi defined a small group as a micro-community of three to twelve persons doing the Christian life deeply together.

“When you are few, you can expose yourselves to one another by sharing your weaknesses and strengths for support,” he said.

Using Matthew 4:18-22 and Luke 6:13 as scripture references, Apostle Antwi said that Jesus had a small group at the beginning of His ministry which enabled Him to minister within a framework of interpersonal relationship, saying, “This small group formed the basis or platform for His ministry to large groups.”

He added: “One of the trademarks of The Church of Pentecost is its dedication to prayer. The mantra: ‘Prayer is the work, and the work is prayer’ has been carried down from the Founder, Rev. James McKeown to the current generation.”

He disclosed that a typical assembly of the church had its doors open for any member to walk in and spend time before the Lord in prayer.

Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, therefore, called on the clergy to reflect on this fading core value and find appropriate ways to revamp it in an effort to strengthen the local church.

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Let’s Strengthen The Local Church for Greater Impact - Apostle Nyamekye To Church Leaders

Let’s Strengthen The Local Church For Greater Impact – Apostle Nyamekye To Church Leaders

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The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost (CoP), Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has said that the 2023 theme was intentionally chosen to strengthen the local church as the centre for mobilising and equipping church members for maximum impact in the nations.

The Chairman said this yesterday when he threw more light on this year’s theme: “Repositioning the Local Church for Maximum Impact in the Nations,” during the opening ceremony of the ongoing Global Ministers and Wives’ Conference at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

Apostle Nyamekye explained that the effort to reposition local church for more impact despite the many gains made by The Church of Pentecost over the years is an indication of the Church’s thirst and hunger for excellence.

“So, let us put behind us the glories of the yesteryear and strife to attain the goal for which Christ has called us,” he stated. 

The Chairman, therefore, advised the ministers to embrace the theme with passion and zeal to achieve the intended objective.

“As ministers of a church that seeks to reposition itself, we need to first reposition ourselves to be able to effectively reposition the local church. This can only be a reality when we are well-grounded and well-positioned in the very things we want our members to know and do,” he said.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye also revealed that to achieve the desired set goals under the 2023 theme, a pattern of teaching would be adopted, guided by these selected topics: “The Local Church as a Family, The Local Church Upholding the Value of Godliness, Sacrificial Giving and Tithing, the Local Church in Evangelism and Visitation in the Local Church.”

The other topics are: “Raising Family Altars to Strengthen the Local Church: Lessons from the Puritans, and Encouraging Personal Devotions and Small Group Prayer Meetings to Strengthen the Local Church.”

In addition to the selected topics, the Chairman stated that the first three months of the Bible Study sessions have been dedicated to studying the rules of conduct and core values of the Church, as a means of strengthening the local church and deepening The CoP brand.

Concluding his presentation, Apostle Nyame stated that the Church leadership intends to use the 2023 theme to make the local assemblies ready to combat every thought, argument and pretension that set itself up against the knowledge of God and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Fear God For Maximum Impact In The Nations – Apostle Dr. Walker Admonishes Ministers

Fear God For Maximum Impact In The Nations – Apostle Dr. Walker Admonishes Ministers

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An Executive Council Member of The Church of Pentecost, who doubles as the Area Head of Tarkwa, Apostle Dr. Daniel Okyere Walker, has admonished the clergy to carry the fear of God for maximum impact in the nations.

According to Apostle Dr. Walker, the Holy Spirit manifests Himself in various ways in the local church, where sinners are constantly being saved and added to the church. 

“It is time to make a maximum impact by stoking the fire of the Holy Spirit in bigger proportion through the fear of God,” he stated.

He made this admonition on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at the opening of the 2023 Global Ministers’ and Wives’ Conference, organised by the church, at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa.

Delivering a presentation on the topic, “Stoking the Fire of The Holy Spirit, Living In the Fear of God in the Local Church,” the Western and Western North RCC Co-ordinator said that Jesus told the disciples to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit before doing ministry.

“Being baptized by the power of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were equipped and repositioned to go into the world,” Apostle Dr. Walker iterated.

He disclosed that one major characteristic of the early church that had made a major impact in their communities, nations, and wherever they went was the fear of God in the church.

Defining the fear of God, he noted that it is having a deep respect, reverence, and awe for God’s power and authority. He, therefore, urged the clergy to honor God with their lives in such a way that they would not do anything in word or deed to displease him.

Touching on the fear of God in the local church, the Executive Council Member charged the clergy to obey God’s Word; sacrifice unconditionally; have compassion for others; refrain from evil; keep the commands of God; walk in the ways of God, and love God and serve Him with their heart and soul.

“Ministers must avoid amassing wealth for themselves at the expense of sacrificing wholly to God,” he said, urging, “We want to reposition the church such that apostles, pastors, and members will fear the Lord and would not condone sin.”

Apostle Dr. Walker further explained that when we talk about fearing God it does not only involve having deep reverence or respect for God, exercising careful obedience to His word, but being sincerely afraid of God.

He charged the active and retired ministers gathered across the globe to keep themselves holy and pure, wearing the righteousness of Christ to lead other members in righteousness and holiness in the church.

“When the fear of God is in operation in the church, the fire of the Holy Spirit is rekindled always, and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit becomes prominent,” he posited.

PENTECOST NEWS.

Prioritise Evangelism – Elder Dr. Aboah Charges Ministers

Prioritise Evangelism – Elder Dr. Aboah Charges Ministers

by with No Comment Church NewsEvangelism MinistryTop Stories

A Trustee of The Church of Pentecost, Elder Dr. Ken Aboah Esq., has charged Christians to make evangelism a personal lifestyle in order to reach more people with the gospel.

He explained that the greatest obstacle to evangelism is Christians who do not share the gospel, attributing this phenomenon to the absence of the love of God in the life of the believer.

Elder Dr. Aboah who is also a National Executive Committee (NEC) Member of the Evangelism Ministry gave the charge when he spoke on the theme: ‘The local church in Evangelism” at the 2023 Global Ministers and Wives’ Conference currently underway at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa.

He posited that when Christians preached the gospel with the power of God, backed by the Holy Spirit and prayers, nobody can thwart the plans of God in making the hearers of the Word come to the saving knowledge of Christ.

“The only good news in the world today is that Jesus died to save sinners, and this must be preached daily. Don’t let one day pass by without sharing the gospel,” he reiterated.

Referring to God’s covenant with The Church of Pentecost coupled with his personal evangelistic ministry, Dr. Aboah bemoaned the gradual emerging trend of altar calls not being made during church services in some local assemblies of the church.

“We have to make sure to hand over to our children the tenets in the covenant; and the key factor for the growth and sustenance of the church around the globe is aggressive evangelism,” Lawyer Aboah stated.

To this end, he appealed to the ministers and their wives to continuously preach on the second coming of Christ (eschatology). He emphasized that the unreached people in the world could be reach with the word of God through deliberate prayers, planning, preparations, and presentation of the gospel.

Elder Dr. Aboah further called for more financial investment in the evangelistic drive of the church and members undertaking such endeavours.

He used the opportunity to recommend the Schools Outreach Ministry, the Church on the Ocean (reaching out to seamen, fisherfolks) and Prayer Evangelism (scheduling prayer sessions for specific groups) and Festival Evangelism as emerging forms of evangelism which has great impact worthy to be undertaken for maximum results.

PENTECOST NEWS

Prof. Otoo Ellis & Family Build Children Resource Centre

Prof. Otoo Ellis & Family Build Children Resource Centre

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The Children’s Ministry Director of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Professor William Otoo Ellis, together with his family, have built an ultra-modern Children Resource Centre for the Church at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa.

A short dedication and commissioning service was held on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, during the Heads’ Session of the Global Ministers’ and Wives’ Conference 2023.

The resource centre was dedicated by the Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye. He was supported by the General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, the International Missions Director, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, and other members of the Executive Council.

Handing over the keys to the church, Pastor Prof. Otoo Ellis, a former Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), thanked the leadership of the church for giving the land for the project, saying, “We thank the leadership of the church, especially the Chairman for giving us the opportunity to contribute to God’s work. It is a great honour.”

According to Pastor Prof. Otoo Ellis, the idea of getting a resource centre became pertinent after a national vision tour of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ministry where children workers needed to be focused on and trained and equipped.

“We did a lot of consultation and I met the leadership and my family. Today, we have this edifice to the glory of God,” he disclosed, adding, “This facility represents gratitude to the living God, not forgetting the many people we consulted and motivated us to finish this project.”

Dedicating the edifice, the Chairman, Apostle Nyamekye stated: “We want to thank you, Pastor Prof. Otoo Ellis once again, for this show of love. We pray that others will emulate this so that we will be able to commit back to the church the many that we have received from God and the church.”

A citation was presented to Pastor Prof. Otoo Ellis and his family for the noble gesture in supporting the Children’s Ministry and the church.

The Children Resource Centre has a 200-capacity auditorium for training; six large rooms (with three being demonstrating rooms for ages 0-6, 7-9, and 10-12); a library, two syndication rooms for small group meetings; 10-capacity conference room, two washrooms, an office, and a reception area.

Joining the family were Dr. Mrs. Florence Otoo Ellis (wife of Pastor Prof. Otoo Ellis), his three children, his parents, Apostle and Mrs. Denson (former General Secretary of the Apostolic Church), among others.

PENTECOST NEWS

Be Zealous For The Lord – Apostle Adjei-Kwarteng

Be Zealous For The Lord – Apostle Adjei-Kwarteng

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The Co-ordinator of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Yaw Adjei-Kwarteng, has called on ministers of the gospel to be zealous for God, saying, “Ministry becomes a drudgery when there is no zeal.”

Apostle Adjei-Kwarteng, an Executive Council Member and Bompata Area Head of the church, charged Christian leaders to emulate the zeal of Jesus while cleansing the temple and the passion of Apostle Paul towards ministry to counteract every danger.

“How dared Jesus embark on the temple cleansing when he was not even a Levite? What was Paul’s observation leading to the call on Archippus to pay attention to his ministry? he asked.

Speaking on the theme, “Zeal, the virtue to reposition your ministry,” on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at the Heads’ Session of the 2023 Global Ministers and Wives’ Conference (GMWC) currently underway at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa, Apostle Adjei-Kwarteng explained that the zeal of Jesus led to the repositioning of the sanctity and the use of the temple and more importantly a paradigm shift from the temple (physical building) to his body.

The Bompata Area Head indicated that excellence and meticulous adherence to the word of God is evidence of zeal in one’s ministry.

“Zeal consumes the self, slothfulness, and inhibitions and releases exuberance, animation and energy in action,” he stressed.

He also mentioned love, godly jealousy, knowledge, and joy in the Holy Ghost as the four components of zeal that Christian leaders must yearn for to reposition their ministry.

He explained love to mean the earnest desire to know God; godly jealousy as being possessively concerned for the things of God; knowledge as a clear understanding of who God is, while joy means a wholesome desire and delight in carrying out one’s assignment.

“You cannot do proper ministry when you have lost your joy. Know that in repositioning the local church, the presence of God must be carried by men who are zealous for him and yet are knowledgeable of him since enthusiasm without knowledge is madness,” he stated.

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2023 Global Ministers & Wives’ Conference Begins At PCC

2023 Global Ministers & Wives’ Conference Begins At PCC

by with No Comment Church NewsMoving With ChairmanMoving With GsMoving With IMDTop Stories

The 2023 Global Ministers and Wives’ Conference of The Church of Pentecost began on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa in the Central Region of Ghana.

The annual fasting, prayers, and teachings event, being attended by about 4,000 ministers and their wives in Ghana, will be joined by other ministers of the church across the globe via zoom at designated places.

This year’s conference is under the theme, “Repositioning the Local Church for Maximum Impact in the Nations” – Colossians 2:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20.

Officially opening the conference on Wednesday morning, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost worldwide, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, was hopeful that the Lord would make His ways known to the participants, as they diligently seek Him with all their hearts.

“May God’s unerring Spirit lead this conference, and may the church be fired with holy zeal,” the Chairman said.

Touching on the theme for the year, he said it represents an intentional effort to strengthen the local church, as the centre for mobilising the grassroots and equipping them for the ‘possessing the nations’ agenda.

According to Apostle Nyamekye, “repositioning suggests that we have not yet arrived. Let us put behind us the glories of yesteryear and strife to attain the goal for which Christ has called us. We, therefore, need a constant, consistent, critical examination and retooling of the church for maximum impact in the nations.”

He added: “As ministers of a church that seeks to reposition itself, we need to first reposition ourselves to be able to effectively reposition the local church.”

This, he said, can only be a reality when ministers of the church are well-grounded and well-positioned in the very things they want their members to know and do. 

Apostle Eric Nyamekye challenged the participants to open up to the Lord and receive the various ministrations and find the best ways to pass them on to the local church to achieve the intended effect.

This year’s conference will end on Saturday, January 28, 2023.

PENTECOST NEWS