Odumase District Women’s Ministry Donates To Asiakwa SOS Village

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The Women’s Ministry in Odumase District of The Church of Pentecost has donated assorted items worth GH¢ 2,000.00 to the Asiakwa SOS Children’s Village in the Eastern Region.

The items donated include toiletries, bags of rice, cooking oil, and beverages.

According to the District Women’s Ministry Leader, Deaconess Rebecca Mensah, the donation was part of the church’s Vision 2023 agenda of ‘Possessing the Nations.’

She indicated that the ministry was pleased to put smiles on the faces of the less-privileged children, saying, “True religion is taking care of orphans, widows and the needy in society.”

Accepting the donation on behalf of the management of the SOS Village, Mrs Jackline Tetteh heaped praises on The Church of Pentecost for its magnanimity. 

Present at the short ceremony were Mrs Theodora Sedeka, wife of the Odumase District minister, and the executives of the Women’s Ministry.

Report by Samuel Danso.

Abasraba District Children’s Ministry Receives Massive Support

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Six benevolent members of the Abasraba District in the Winneba Area of The Church of Pentecost have donated 50 small-sized plastic chairs and a portable bookshelf to the Children’s Ministry. 

The donation was made in response to a passionate appeal made by the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, for all Sunday school children to given comfortable seats during church services.

The presentation ceremony took place on Sunday, July 10, 2022, at Hallelujah Temple, Winneba. 

Receiving the items on behalf of the ministry, the District Minister, Pastor Emmanuel Foster Asamoah, expressed profound gratitude to the donors for their kind gesture. 

He urged the teachers to take proper care of the items, ensure the items are utilised by the beneficiaries and evangelise to win more souls for the church. 

Pastor Asamoah then prayed over the items and handed them over to the local leaders of the Children’s Ministry. 

The wife of the District Pastor, Mrs. Lovelace Asamoah, was also very instrumental in raising funds and purchasing the items. 

Report by Abasraba District Media Team

La Area PEMEM Climaxes Prostate Cancer Awareness Month With Health Walk

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The La Area Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM) has organised a health walk to climax prostate cancer awareness month held in the Area.

The street walk which took place on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, was coupled with evangelism, where the gospel was shared through tracts and flyers to win souls for Christ.

Participants began the walk from the premises of Dr. Thomas Wyatt Memorial Temple and ended at the Kwame Nkrumah Recreational Park (former Obra Spot) at Circle, Accra. They were taken through some aerobics, while they shared the message of the cross to onlookers and passersby.

Addressing the participants, the La Area Head, Apostle Dr. Dieudonne Komla Nuekpe, assured members of God’s power to heal persons of all diseases, including prostate cancer. He, however, charged them to take very good care of themselves and go for regular medical check-ups.

A Physician Assistant, Nana Amoakoh, educated participants on prostate cancer.

The Area PEMEM leadership with support from the Faithful Giants Area Co-ordinators organised a series of activities in September 2022 aimed at creating awareness of prostate cancer, its causes, symptoms, treatment and cure, and prevention with Elder Dr. Bernard Torgbor, a Urologist with Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Bank of Ghana Hospital Annex, as the main facilitator.

Present were Apostle Lt. Col. Benjamin Godson Kumi-Woode, Chaplain of the Ghana Armed Forces and Resident Minister of Burma Camp Worship Centre; Pastor Kingsley Addai (Resident Minister of PIWC Kokomlemle and Area Evangelism Ministry Leader), the Area pastorate, as we as PEMEM executives from the Area, District and Local levels.

Report by Nana Amoakoh And Daniel Tetteh.

If There Is A Human Being To Pray, There Is A Divine Being To Answer: A Systematic Study On Prayer

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In Luke 18:1-7, Jesus narrates the story of an unjust judge in a certain city who neither feared God nor respected humanity. In that city also was a widow who kept coming to the judge to seek justice against her enemy or adversary. 

At the time, judges travelled around their countries sitting in tents to pass judgments on cases. They were often part of a corrupt system and would usually sit on a case if they were paid a bribe. Moreover, women at the time were the least respected. They did not have the same measure of legal recourse as their male counterparts. They simply were not heard at all in the courtroom, and there was no justice for them. However, we find in Jesus’ narration that, though the judge for a while was adamant about the widow’s request for justice, her persistence broke the way. 

Jesus told this story to illustrate a point about faith and persistence in prayer. His concern was that His followers would learn to be persistent and diligent in prayer, and not give up until the desired result has been achieved. Verses 6 to 8 read: “The Lord said, ‘Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So, don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly….’” 

EXAMPLES OF GOD ANSWERING PRAYERS 

The Bible is replete with examples of God providing answers to the prayer of His people. Some of these are summarised below: 

  1. Hannah: Having suffered many years of reproach for her inability to conceive a child, she prayed to God for a son. In response, God gave her Samuel (1 Sam. 1). 
  2. Samson: When he humbly and sorrowfully prayed for one more chance to fulfil his God-given purpose of defeating the Philistines, God answered and gave him supernatural strength. He was able to push down the pillars of the building where they were celebrating their false gods (Judges 16:21-30). 
  3. Elijah: We are shown the answer to four (4) powerful prayers offered by the prophet. All of them brought great honour to God (1 Kings 17-18, James 5:17-18). 
  4. King Hezekiah: He became sick and was told by the prophet Isaiah that he will die. Feeling that his life and work were not complete, Hezekiah prayed that God would extend his years on earth. So, God sent the prophet back to tell him he would be healed and given 15 more years of life (2 Kings 20:1-6, Isaiah 38:1-6). 
  5. Daniel: He surely prayed to God in the lion’s den, asking the Lord to keep him safe and set him free. God granted his request and shut the mouths of the lions (Dan. 6:10, 16-22). 
  6. The Early Believers: They prayed with passion for the release of Peter from prison, and God sent an angel to set him free (Acts 12:3-11). 

These examples should inspire our faith in God that He certainly answers the prayers of His people. 

WHAT IS PRAYER? 

Prayer may simply be referred to as communication or conversation between people and God. It is talking with God, and not to Him. This implies that as we speak to God, we must wait to also hear Him speak to us. The Bible uses other terms or phrases to describe talking with God. These include: Crying out to the Lord (Psalm 3:4); Calling on God (Psalm 17:6); Lifting one’s soul to the Lord (Psalm 25:1); Seeking the Lord (Isaiah 55:6); and Drawing near to God (Heb. 10:22). 

REASONS FOR PRAYING 

So, why do we have to pray to God before He provides our needs, in view of the fact that He is omniscient, and thus knows what we need even before we ask? After all, Matthew 6:8 says ‘Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.’” I would like to share six (6) of the reasons why we ought to pray as children of God. 

  1. God is a relational Being, and He made us in like manner. His original intention for creating the human race was for us to have fellowship with Him. Thus, He has ordained prayer to be the means through which we can communicate with Him so as to enhance and deepen that fellowship. 
  2. We pray because God commands that we do so. We find several references to this in the Scriptures, such as 1 Chron. 16:11, Psalm 105:4, Isaiah 55:6, Amos 5:4, 6, Eph. 6:17-18, Col. 4:2, 1 Thess. 5:17, Matt. 26:4, Luke 18:1 and John 16:24. 
  3. Going before God in prayer gives the indication that we can do nothing without Him and thus affirms our need of Him. It is a sign of our humility before God and dependence on Him. 
  4. God has ordained prayer as one of the means through which we can get to know and understand His will and plans for our lives (Exodus 3:1-15, Jer. 1:4-10). If you want to know the thoughts of a person and understand their ways, the surest way is to interact with them. 
  5. God has chosen the prayer of His people as the way of causing the fulfilment of His purposes and promises on earth. There are many things that will not happen on earth if we do not pray as Christians. As John Wesley rightly says, ‘God does nothing on the earth save in answer to believing prayer.’ So, in Matthew 9:38, Jesus asked His disciples to ‘Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ 
  6. Jesus Himself prayed, consistently. For example, He prayed at the beginning of His earthly ministry (Matt. 4:2); in the early mornings (Mark 1:35) and during the nights (Luke 6:12). Nearing the end of His ministry, he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-46), and even on the cross (Matt. 27:46, Luke 23:46). 

HINDRANCES TO ANSWERED PRAYERS 

We all want to see our prayers answered and get the breakthroughs we so dearly desire. Often, we become upset with God when we don’t receive the answers, and begin to think He is not listening. But there are a number of factors that can hinder or block our prayers from producing the desired results. These may include… 

  1. Living in sin (Isaiah 59:1-2, Psalm 66:18); 
  2. Keeping a heart of unforgiveness (Mark 11:25-26, Matt. 6:14-15; 18:21-35); 
  3. Unconfessed or unsettled sin (Matt. 5:23-24, Mark 18:15-17, James 5:16); 
  4. Bitterness (Acts 8:20-23, Eph. 4:31, Heb. 12:14-15); 
  5. Doubt or a Lack of Faith (Mark 11:12-14, 20-24); 
  6. Having wrong motives for the things we request in prayer (James 4:3); and 
  7. Praying outside God’s will (1 John 5:14-15, Matt. 26:39); just to mention a few. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE PRAYERS 

Although prayer has got no particular formula of things to say or do, there are still conditions that must be met for our prayer to be effective. They include the following: 

  1. Praying in Faith (Mark 9:14-24; 11:22-24, James 1:5-8; 5:13-15) 

We must have true and sincere faith that God hears prayers, that He has the ability to accomplish what is needed or supply our needs and that He will do what He knows is the best in a given situation. 

  • Praying in the Name of Jesus (John 14:13-14, Philippians 2:9-11) 

This does not mean just adding ‘in the name of Jesus’ to the end of our prayers in order for God to hear us. In the Bible, to do something in someone’s name meant doing it with their approval and in their authority. Praying in Jesus’ name means praying with an awareness of His power, compassion and desire to respond to our needs and requests. Praying with this in mind will build our faith and give us peace that He has all things under His control. As followers of Christ, we must be aware of who He is, the sovereign power He possesses and what He wants us to do. 

  • Praying According to God’s Will (1 John 5:14, Matt. 26:42, Matt. 6:9-10) 

The effect of prayer is greatest when we ask for things that are in harmony with God’s perfect will (that is, His desires, intentions, purposes and plans). God will not do anything against His sovereign will. We can know His will through His Word. 

It is worth mentioning here that not only must we pray according to the will of God; but we must also live in His will. We can ask for things that are in harmony with God’s will when we are living in His will (Matt. 6:33, 1 John 3:22). 

  • Praying Persistently (Luke 18:1-7, Matt. 7:7-11, 1 Kings 18:41-45) 

Praying persistently means that instead of worrying about a situation, we take it to God whenever it comes to mind, realising that He is in control and will do what is best. We must continue to ask until we get our answers. That does not mean begging God over and over again. 

  • Praying Corporately (Matthew 18:19-20, Acts 12:3-11) 

Corporate prayer involves two or more believers coming together in agreement to pray about something. Such prayer has so much potency to produce effect. 

HOW SHOULD WE PRAY? 

  1. We must always pray with sincerity of heart. God does not respond to empty words, no matter how spiritual they might sound (Matt 6:7). 
  2. We can pray silently (1 Sam. 1:13) or aloud (Neh. 9:4, Ezek. 11:13). 
  3. We can pray in our own words or use words or ideas directly from Scripture. 
  4. We can pray in human language or in the language of the Spirit, that is, in tongues (1 Cor. 14:14-18). 
  5. Another way of praying is singing to the Lord (Psalm 92:1-2, Eph. 5:19-20, Col. 3:16). 
  6. Deep and continuous prayers should at times be joined by fasting (Ezra 8:21, Neh. 1:4, Dan. 9:3-4, Luke 2:37, Acts 14:23). 
  7. Regarding what posture or physical position is best for effective prayer, the Bible speaks of people praying in many different positions, including standing (1 Kings 8:22, Nehemiah 9:4-5); sitting (1 Chron. 17:16, Luke 10:13); kneeling (Ezra 9:5, Dan. 6:10, Acts 20:36); lying on a bed (Psalm 63:6); bowing down to the ground (Exodus 34:8, Psalm 95:6); lying on the ground (2 Sam. 12:16, Matt. 26:39) and lifting hands to heaven (Psalm 28:2, Isaiah 1:15, 1 Tim. 2:8). 
  8. Lastly, we can pray at any time, anywhere, as long as we are not faced with any distractions that would shift our attention from the prayers. 

Written by Pastor Samuel Acheampong (Nsakina New Town District Minister) 

Berekum Area Spends GH¢145,655 On Education Of Members

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The Berekum Area of The Church of Pentecost has spent GH¢145,655.00 on sponsoring the education of young persons of the church at various levels of education.

Nine beneficiary students who are all studying at the Pentecost University in Accra recently presented a citation to the Berekum Area Head of the church, Apostle Samuel Berko, in appreciation of the support they have received from the church.

The students pledged their unequivocal commitment to study hard to come out with flying colours to contribute their quota to society and the church.

Apostle Berko thanked the students for the memorial gesture and admonished them to study hard to raise their grade points.

Between June 2021 and June 2022, the Berekum Area of the church spent GH¢33,446.00  on higher education sponsorship, bringing the total amount the church has spent so far on education to GH¢145,655.00.

Report by Berekum Area Media Committee.

Indian Expatriate Builds Church Building In Sampa

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An Indian expatriate in Ghana and member of The Church of Pentecost in the Sampa District in the Berekum Area has single-handedly built a beautiful church building for the English Assembly in Sampa.

The church building estimated at GHS 150,000.00 was fully funded by an Indian expatriate who prefers to remain anonymous. It was dedicated recently by the Berekum Area Head of the church, Apostle Samuel Berko.

Apostle Berko commended the Indian for the gesture and fervently prayed for the visitation of the Lord Jesus Christ upon his life just as it is recorded in Luke chapter 7.

Delivering the sermon at the service, Pastor Samuel Yador Beble of Suma Ahenkro District, admonished members of the church to make the church building a place of prayer.

Pastor Benjamin Narh Nobi, Sampa District Minister, expressed a plethora of gratitude to the benefactor.

Report by Berekum Area Media Committee.

Nsakina New Town District Partners Bible League Ghana To Train Children And Youth Workers

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The Nsakina New Town District of The Church of Pentecost has partnered with the Bible League Ghana to train selected church leaders in the district for strategic evangelism among children and the youth. 

The Bible League, Ghana, is a Christian, international non-denominational, and non-governmental organisation that partners with local Churches, mission groups, and other Christian organisations to fulfil the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ. They do this through training in evangelism, discipleship, church planting, and the provision of Bibles and study materials.

The collaboration was effected following the district’s participation in a training seminar organised by the institution on September 7, 2022, at their national office at Kwabenya, Accra. 

It was attended by a ten-member delegation of the church led by the District Minister, Pastor Samuel Acheampong. 

The seminar, which was a Training of Trainers’ course on innovative ways of engaging children and the youth with the Gospel of salvation, is expected to be extended to 100 other leaders before the end of October 2022, thirty-two of whom have already received the training. 

After completing the course, the trainees shall be tasked to win at least 10 souls for Christ by the end of the year.

In October 2021, the district, in collaboration with the institution, entered a joint outreach programme where 3000 children, youth, and adult Bibles in the English, Ewe, and Akan languages were freely distributed to members of the town, leading many to surrender their lives to Christ.

Report by Nsakina New Town District Media Team

Central Region Holds HUM Leaders’ Conference

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The Home and Urban Mission (HUM) Directorate of The Church of Pentecost on September 22, 2022, organised a day’s conference for HUM Leaders in the Central Region.

The meeting, which took place at the Hallelujah Temple, Abasraba District in the Winneba Area, sought to take stock of the activities of the ministry over the past year and the strategies for achieving the Vision 2023 agenda of the church.

In a short exhortation, Apostle Emmanuel Agyei Kwafo, the National Co-ordinator for HUM, cited Colossians 3:23 and Ecclesiastics 9:10 and urged HUM workers to continually work for the Lord with all their might, and not under compulsion.

“For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom. Hence, work as not working for any man, but for God,” he added.

Giving a presentation on “HUM Yesterday, Today and the Future,” which touched on the call for HUM, HUM’s strategic goals, the gains made so far, and the gaps, among others, Apostle Kwafo said that HUM was established to focus on “neglected mission field” to intentionally and strategically evangelise, win souls, nurture them, and plant churches.

He stated that HUM engages in home missions, urban missions and missions to unreached people groups.

Touching on the strategic goals of ministry, he said that HUM seeks to educate stakeholders at all levels on its activities, establish more mono-ethnic churches, restructure existing Northern Outreach Ministry (NOM) into HUM, provide Christo-centric mother-tongue materials, plant churches in Zongo communities, among others.

Despite the successes chalked by HUM, the National Co-ordinator revealed some gaps in the ministry that ought to be addressed by all and sundry. Among them are lack of massive acceptance by both the clergy and the laity, low active participation at the local level, lack of adequate training at the grassroots, low outreaches to Zongo communities, among others.

He, however, advised HUM workers to organise meetings at all levels and engage in all forms of evangelism to African migrants and foreign nationals in the country, unreached people groups, street children, Northerners in the South, commercial sex workers, ghettos, etc.

Pastor Joel Beddim, the HUM Co-ordinator for Mankessim Area, took participants through the 2022 First Half Comprehensive Report Analysis for the Areas.

Probationary Overseer James Amoah-Mensah, the HUM Pastor for La Sector, took participants through the 2022 National Statistics Report Analysis to help them appreciate the work done so far.

Apostle Agyei Kwafo used the occasion to thank all HUM leaders for their tireless efforts and unflinching support for the ministry and its activities.

In attendance were Pastors Emmanuel Foster Asamoah (Winneba), Alhassan Kara (Cape Coast), Abraham Gyabaah (Twifo Praso), and Lord Awuku (Agona Swedru), Bismark Aidan (Winneba).

Report by Pastor Emmanuel Foster Asamoah, Winneba Abasraba.

2022 Greater-Accra HUM Area Leaders’ Conference Held

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Thirty-two participants drawn from 15 areas of The Church of Pentecost took part in this year’s Greater-Accra Area Leaders’ Conference organised by Home and Urban Missions (HUM).

The event, which took place on September 23, 2022, was held at the Church’s General Headquarters at La in Accra, Ghana.

Speaking on the topic: “HUM Yesterday, Today and the Future,” the National HUM Coordinator of the Church, Apostle Emmanuel Agyei Kwafo, said that the ministry focus of HUM is at the heart of what Christ is charging the Church to do, that is reaching out to the lost.

Admittedly, he said, the work of HUM requires that one must leave their comfort zones and venture into unpleasant places to reach to lost souls with the gospel message of Christ. 

“As a result, there are a lot of negative insinuations about people involved in the ministry of HUM,” he observed.

He therefore, commended HUM workers and all other stakeholders for the good work done despite the challenges that comes with the work.

He also encouraged them not to take the opportunity of service the Lord has given them for granted but to continue to serve Him with all their hearts and strength.

As part of the event, the National Coordinator took participants through the history of HUM, the successes chalked so far, and some challenges mitigating against HUM.

Apostle Agyei Kwafo ended his presentation by urging HUM workers, particularly the leaders to continue to focus on their mandate of engaging the expatriates, African migrants, northerners settling in the south, unreached people groups and the urban poor and marginalised with the life-transforming gospel message of Jesus Christ.

The participants were also taken through the half-year report analysis and a workshop on how to make HUM work in the local Assemblies. 

Report by Pastor Enoch Yeboah (Nsawam HUM Coordinator)

The Church Of Pentecost Opens First Palace Assembly

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History was made on Sunday, September 25, 2022, at the Kwashieman Chief’s Palace in Accra, following the inauguration of the first-ever church in a palace in Ghana.

The colourful service which took place at the forecourt of the Chief’s Palace was attended by the Chief of Kwashieman, Nii Awuley Ahiaku VI, and members of his traditional council, including the Kwashieman Manye, Naa Larteley Wayewuhu III, and the Chief Fetish Priestess, Naadu Lartey, among other royals in the palace.

The novel assembly has its Presiding Elder also being a chief in the person of Nana Afrifa Yamoah, who happens to be the Chief of Kwahu Oframase.

The Kaneshie Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Osei Asante, together with Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh, the National Co-ordinator of the Chieftaincy Ministry of the church who also doubles as the Director of the Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM), inaugurated the new assembly and the local presbytery.

Apostle Asante thanked the Kaneshie Area Chieftaincy Ministry Executives and his predecessor, Apostle Mike Etrue, as well as Pastor Emmanuel Dzemekey Agbeko (Kwashieman Official Town District Minister) for the yeoman work done in putting the structures of the new assembly in place. The Area Chieftaincy Ministry Executive Committee Members are Overseer Anthony Kwadwo Obeng (Co-ordinator), Nana Impraim VIII (Chairman), Elder Nana Afrifa Yamoah (Vice Chairman), Elder Nana Odiasempa Agyemang (Secretary), Elder Alex Oppong Peprah (Financial Secretary), Elder Emmanuel Kissiedu (Deputy Financial Secretary), Elder Ofosu Agyekum Sarfo (Organiser), Elder Peter Akwasi Akotuah (Deputy Secretary) and Deaconess Afia Bonsu (Treasurer).

He stated that the inauguration of the palace assembly was in line with the Vision 2023 agenda of the church which seeks to among things possess every sphere of society, including the palace with godly values and principles.

According to him, God being a king works through chiefs and God is using the palace to extend His saving grace to many people.

Apostle Asante disclosed that two more palace churches would be opened soon in the Area.

In a sermon on the topic, “The Sacredness of Royal Majesty” based on Proverbs 16:10-15, 1 Timothy 1:17, Psalm 103:9, Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh described the event as historic since it was the first to be opened in the country.

Relating the move of the Kwashieman chief to some chiefs in the colonial era who opened their doors to missionaries who sailed through to the Gold Coast to sow the seed of Christianity in Ghana, he said that those chiefs are still remembered for their good works. Likewise, he said, Nii Kwashieman will be remembered by generations to come for turning the palace to the seat of God.

The PEMEM Director indicated that royalty emanates from God, and that nothing prevents Christian royals from becoming kings in their traditional areas.

He, therefore, called on chiefs who are Christians to rule with the Kingdom principles and values so that God will take prominence in their kingship and thereby secure them the needed protection, peace, prosperity and long life.

The Chief of Kwashieman, Nii Awuley Ahiaku VI, who was so excited about The Church of Pentecost coming close to his doorstep and that of his people, pledged his unflinching support for grounding the new assembly. He indicated his resolve to join the evangelistic drive of the church to fill the new church with more members.

Also present at the service were members of the Kaneshie Area Chieftaincy Ministry, monstly chiefs and royals in the church and some ministers and officers within the area.

PENTECOST NEWS.