Posts in category: Top Stories

As part of the efforts to possess the nations for Christ, the Aflao Area of The Church of Pentecost has inaugurated the first French District in the Area.

The Aflao municipality shares boundary with neighbouring Togo, a Francophone nation. The municipality is a hub for trade and commercial activities, with Ewe, English, and French as the predominant languages spoken by the people. It is imperative, therefore, for the Church to create an environment where the gospel of Jesus Christ would be preached to every people group no matter their languages. 

The Area Head, Apostle Peter Kofi Dzemekey, on 17^th November, 2020, inaugurated a French District/PIWC at the Shekinah Assembly at Aflao. The service also coincided with the welcome service for the first District Minister, Pastor Eric Herbert Acheampong, and his wife, Serwaah. 

The newly inaugurated district is made up of four French assemblies and one English assembly. 

The service, which was conducted mostly in French, was attended by Apostle Komi Edna Agbavitoh (National Head of Togo), who was accompanied by the Area Secretary of Maritime in Lome, Togo. Also present were the Pastorate in the Aflao Area as well as members of the newly created district.

In a sermon, Apostle Komi Agbavitor spoke on the topic, “Every Language is Important to God.” Taking his scripture reading from Genesis 11:1-9, he explained that all creation was one, initially speaking the same language and living in the same place.

He said that God in His quest to cause men to multiply and fill the earth changed the language of the people. He stressed that no language is more important than the other, and called for an end to language segregation. 

He concluded with a reading from Revelation 3:9, “And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.’

According to Apostle Agbavitoh, since Jesus Christ has purchased all people in all nations by his blood, worship should be done in the language the people are comfortable with and readily understand.

The Aflao Area Head, Apostle Dzemekey, prayed for the leadership of the newly created district and charged them to work hard to ensure the realisation of the vision upon which the district was established.

Meanwhile, Apostle Peter Kofi Dzemekey has dedicated a set of musical instruments for the newly created district. He also laid the foundation stone for their mission house.

Report by Pastor Samuel Yaw Abil Asoandek.

The Asesewa Sisi and Akrusu Yiti Community Based Church Buildings (CBCBs) in the Asesewa District of the Agormanya Area of The Church of Pentecost have been dedicated. The buildings were dedicated by the Area Head, Apostle James Gabriel Quardson. He was assisted by the Asesewa District Minister, Pastor George Owusu.

In a sermon based on 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Nehemiah 2:17-20, the immediate past Asesewa District Minister, Pastor Emmanuel Assah-Awuku, preached on the topic: “Let us rebuild the Gates.”

Expounding Nehemiah 2:17-20, he elaborated that the ‘Sheep Gate’ refers to Jesus Christ who laid down his life for humanity. According to him, the ‘Fish Gate’ also refers to soul winning, while the ‘Old Gate’ and the ‘Valley Gate’ represent humanity’s old sinful nature and believers’ sufferings respectively. He further mentioned the ‘Fountain Gate’ which, he said, symbolises the Holy Spirit whom believers should be filled us.

“As Christians, we are to build all these gates and abide by the word of God,” he admonished.

Pastor Assah-Awuku urged believers to be prayerful, studious with the word of God, and cultivate a deep relationship with God.

The Area Head, Apostle Quardson, on his part, commended the members for their commitment towards the completion of the two church buildings.

Prayers were said for the country for a peaceful general election.

Also in attendance were ministers and their wives in the Upper Krobo Zone of the Agormanya Area, Mrs. Lucy Assah-Awuku (wife of the immediate past District Minister), among others.

Report by Agormanya Area Media Team.

After 31 years of meritorious service in the full-time ministry, the Ejisu Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Evangelist Moses Agratey Kenney, has brought his ministerial journey to a successful end.

The mammoth retirement service, which took place on Sunday, November 15, 2020, at the Ejisu Central Assembly building, was officiated by the Koforidua Area Head and Executive Council Member of the Church, Apostle Samuel Osei Asante.

The atmosphere was filled with joy, admiration, and praise to the Almighty God for His unfailing kindness to Evangelist Agratey and his family for the great impact of their ministry to the Ejisu Area and the entire Church.

Preaching on the topic, “Finishing the Race Set before You by God,” Apostle Osei Asante indicated that the call into the full-time ministry of the church is like a race and a journey. “Every journey or race has a start and finish line. In the same way, ministerial service is a race; it has a start and a finish line,” he said.

Reading from Numbers 8:23–26, he explained that, “one cannot be in ministry forever, because as the years go by, the minister ages and declines in strength. At this point, he is drawing close to the finish line of his race. God, therefore, makes provision for the younger generation to take over and continue the race, while the old retire and rest from their labours.”

He, therefore, advised all believers to be mindful of the times and seasons and to make the most of every opportunity, preaching the Word in season and out of season, so that their work will be remembered and rewarded when they reach old age and retire from active service.

“Let us learn from the example set by Evangelist Kenney; let us do our best with the time we have so that when we can work no more, our labour and impact will be remembered and rewarded,” he reiterated.

Evangelist Kenney was called into the full-time ministry of the Church in 1989. He served the Church at six stations. These were Dede Sewirako, Atebubu, Laterbiokorshie, Oforikrom, Cape Coast, and Ejisu, where he retired as an Area Head.

Evangelist Kenney placed evangelism at the core of his ministry. He has an affable and down-to-earth nature. He also has immense support from his wife, who won the hearts of many with her humble, soft-spoken, and patient demeanor. She was a great prayer warrior, encourager, and a good counselor.

Apostle S. O. Asante presented a plaque to Evangelist Kenney acknowledging his contribution to the building of God’s kingdom.

In his response, Evangelist Moses Agratey Kenney and his family expressed their gratitude to God for His unfailing grace throughout the 31 years of service to the Kingdom.

In attendance were Apostles David Tettey Terkper (Achimota Area Head), Onyinah Gyamfi (Bogoso Area Head), F. K. Andoh (Konongo Area Head), William Ohemeng Kwakye (Sawla Area Head), Daniel Dekpor (Tumu Area Head), R. C. Ackon (Asankrangwa Area Head), Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe (Haatso Area Head), G. K. Narh (Rtd), and J. S. Gyimah (Rtd).

Also present to grace the occasion was the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Oforikrom, Hon. Gloria Timah Gambrah, the Area Pastorate, delegations from all the stations he served as well as family and friends from far and near.

Report by Ejisu Area Media Team

The Suhum Area of The Church of Pentecost has donated an amount of GH¢ 4,900.00 to the Suhum Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).

Presenting the cheque on November 3, 2020, at the Area Office, Apostle Anthony Eghan Kwesi Ekuban, the Area Head, indicated that the gesture was part of the church’s social responsibility in augmenting the Government’s effort towards the education of the electorate and the promotion of peace in the upcoming election.

Receiving the cheque, Mrs. Comfort Asabea, the Suhum Municipal Director of the Commission, thanked The Church of Pentecost for the benevolence. According to her, the gesture would help the Commission to sensitize and encourage citizens to exercise their civic responsibilities in the forthcoming general elections.

“The Commission is very grateful to The Church of Pentecost. The church has passionately resourced us [the NCCE] in educating the citizens on the need for a peaceful election,” she said.

The Suhum Area of The Church of Pentecost on Sunday, October 25, 2020, launched the ‘Agents of Peace’ campaign ahead of December 7 general elections. The peace campaign was inspired by the Vision 2023 agenda of the church, which has as its overarching theme, “Possessing the Nations: Transforming every Sphere of Society with Values and Principles of the Kingdom of God.”

Report by Samuel Danso.

The Asante Bekwai Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Nicholas Appiah Missah, has brought his 31-year ministerial journey to successful completion.

A retirement service held in his honour took place on Sunday, November 15, 2020, at the Asante-Bekwai English Assembly auditorium. It was officiated by the Cape Coast Area Head, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, who doubles as an Executive Council Member of the Church.

Preaching the sermon on the topic, “Passing on the Baton,” based on 1 Timothy 4:6 and 1 Corinthians 15:3, Apostle Antwi explained that Christian service and leadership is like a relay race. He noted that “one believer starts the race, runs his mile, and passes on the baton for another to continue.”

“Our Christian journey and service in the kingdom of God is like a relay race; when we are chosen to lead, the baton is passed unto us. However, we cannot run forever, therefore, we must do our best within the time we have, so that we can pass on the baton with confidence, knowing well that we have finished the race and kept the faith,” he added.

Apostle Antwi entreated Christian leaders to be like Apostle Paul who trained Timothy to also lead, saying, “while in active service, let us identify and train others who can walk in our steps when we leave the scene.”

Apostle Nicholas Appiah Missah and his wife Mama Leticia were called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 1989. He served in eight duty stations including Nakpanduri District (1989-1994), Berekum District (1994-1997), Jos in Nigeria as Area Head/Missionary (1997-1999), Ibadan in Nigeria as Area Head/Missionary (1999-2003), Kwadaso District (2003-2007), Tanzania as National Head/Missionary (2007-2012), Konongo Area as Area Head (2012-2016) and Ashanti Bekwai Area (2016-2020).

Apostle Nicholas Appiah Missah is a hardworking, compassionate, affable, and disciplined leader who always wears an infectious smile. He will forever be remembered by many in the Church and will constantly remain in the hearts of all who were privileged to have crossed paths with him on his ministerial journey.

In attendance were Executive Council Member and Assin Fosu Area Head, Apostle Sylvester Arhin, Prophet J. E. Ameyaw (Rtd), among others.

The colourful event was also well attended by traditional rulers, delegates from the previous stations he served, the Area pastorate, and members from various districts in the Asante Bekwai Area.  

PENTECOST NEWS.

Former General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Albert Amoah (Rtd.), paid a glowing tribute to his late wife, Mrs Agatha Amoah, during a memorial service held in her honour on Saturday, November 21, 2020, at the Jubilee Park, Cape Coast.

In his touching tribute, Apostle Albert Amoah praised his late wife for the instrumental role she played in his life and ministry.

“Right from Madina and even before we were called into the full-time ministry in October 1988, she demonstrated gifts of prophecy, word of knowledge, healing and discernment. Her preaching at open-air rallies almost always converted people.

“At Manso Atwere, during a Women’s Ministry open-air rally, her preaching led to late Maame Addai, then Chief priestess and interpreter of Komo shrine, her husband and several other devotees of the shrine giving their lives to Christ. Consequently, they burnt their fetish images and cut down the fetish tree in their compound. This incident brought a great revival to Manso because the feared Komo god had been destroyed!”

“Agatha was very good in personal evangelism and had a penchant for ‘dragging’ people to The Church of Pentecost. I became a member of the church through Agatha’s effort. Agatha displayed not only leadership qualities but the call of an Evangelist, Pastor and Prophetess. I thank her profusely for contributing to making me who I am today… I award her 70% as her contribution to the success of my ministry,” he said.

Mama Agartha, together with her husband, Apostle Albert Amoah (Rtd.), was called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 1988 and served at various stations and capacities in the church. Their first station was Manso Atwere, where they served for three years, from where her husband was appointed a Personal Assistant to the then Chairman of the church, Prophet Martinson Kwadwo Yeboah (now of blessed memory), a position he served for two years. Her husband was later elected as the General Secretary of the church in 1993. After serving in this high office for ten years, she joined her husband to continue the ministry work in missions, thus the United States of America, from 2003 to 2009, after which they were recalled home and stationed in Cape Coast until their retirement from active service in 2015, In all, they served meritoriously in the Lord’s vineyard for 27 years.

A tribute read on behalf of the General Council, described her as “a woman of many parts – a pastor’s wife, teacher, horticulturist, decorator, philanthropist, trader, entrepreneur, and most of all a mother – a clear depiction of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31:10-31.

“In fact, Mama Agatha has been with her husband through thick and thin – being his backbone in life and ministry, effectively playing the roles of a reliable confidante, an intercessor, counsellor, and encourager.”

The humble, generous, hardworking, sociable and resourceful Mama Agatha was also commended for her numerous contributions to The Church of Pentecost, particularly as the wife of the General Secretary for ten years, initiator of the Pentecost Preparatory School, Madina, and the crucial role she played in the establishment of the Pentecost Preparatory School, Bubiashie.

The well-attended memorial service was officiated by the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, with support from the International Missions Director (IMD), Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, the immediate-past Chairman, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah (Rtd.), and Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi (Executive Council Member and Cape Coast Area Head).

In a brief sermon titled “After He Had Served, He Fell Asleep” based on Acts 13:36, Apostle Gyesi-Addo said that, like David, the late Mrs Agatha Amoah has indeed served the Lord’s purpose in her generation and is, therefore, resting from her labour, awaiting the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He advised the congregants to also serve the Lord diligently while they remain on earth, stressing that “You can only serve your generation, you cannot serve future generations. You can only have an impact on future generations, but you cannot serve them, so do what you can now.”

The IMD said that after Christians have succeeded in serving the purpose of God on this earth, in God’s appointed time, they would “leave the glorious church, and move into the glorious city, prepared for us by our Father in heaven.”

Other Executive Council Members present at the event were Apostles Dr Daniel O. Walker (Immediate-past Vice-Chancellor, Pentecost University), Mike Etrue (Kaneshie Area Head), Sylvester Arhin (Assin Foso Area Head).

Also present were Apostles David Tettey Tekper (Achimota Area Head), Joseph Assabil (Takoradi Area Head), Samuel Otu Appiah (Winneba Area Head), and James Nana Ofori (Mankessim Area Head).

Apostle Dr Alfred Koduah and Apostle Rigwell Ato Addison (Rtd.), both past general secretaries of the church, also came to commiserate with their colleague and the bereaved family.

Among those present to sympathise with the bereaved family were active and retired ministers of the church along with their spouses, ministers of other churches, members of the church, and other well-wishers.

Mrs Agatha Amoah passed on to glory on Sunday, April 19, 2020 at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. She is survived by a husband, one biological daughter and three legally-adopted children. She was 73 years old.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Bolgatanga Area of The Church of Pentecost has launched its ‘Agent of Peace’ campaign in an effort to maintain peace and security in the Bolgatanga municipality in the run-up to the 2020 general election.

The event, which took place on October 29, 2020, at the Bukere Central assembly, started with a peace march and broadcast in the principal streets of the municipality using the Evangelism cinema van with a cross-section of the ministers and members of the church holding placards with various peace messages.

Speaking at the event, the Bolgatanga Area Head, Apostle Wilberforce Nkrumah-Agyeman, advised residents to do their possible best to preserve the peace in the country, avoid unnecessary arguments and abusive language, especially on political platforms.

He ended his address with scripture from 1 Peter 3:8-11, encouraging the citizenry to be of one mind, have compassion for one another, love as brothers, be courteous, and not returning evil for evil.

The Upper East Regional Chairman of the Peace Council admonished residents to observe the principles of peaceful co-existence, accommodate divergent political views from other political opponents, avoid anything discriminatory and not allow politicians to use them or any of their relatives to create violence before, during, and after elections.

The Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), on his part, schooled the participants on the electoral processes in the build-up to the December 7 elections. He pledged the EC’s commitment to adhering to all the electoral laws and procedures in its zeal to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections.

The Parliamentary candidates for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) also took turns to pledge peace before, during, and after the general elections.

The Regional Chief Imam’s representative indicated that the Zongo communities have advised themselves not to be used as conduits for disturbances, chaos, and anarchy in the build-up to the elections.

The programme ended with a prayer for the nation and the upcoming elections. In all, about 350 people were in attendance.

Report by Bolga Area Media Team.

The newly constructed Asutsuare Central Assembly auditorium in the Agormanya Area of The Church of Pentecost has been dedicated to the glory of God.

The edifice, which was constructed at a cost of GH¢ 420,890.10, received funding from the Headquarters of the church, the Chairman’s Fiat, Area grant, District fund, Local fund, English Assembly fund, and individual donations.

The dedication ceremony took place on October 16, 2020. It was officiated by the Agormanya Area Head, Apostle James Gabriel Quardson, ably assisted by the Asutsuare District Minister, Pastor Joseph Kweku Donkor.

Speaking on the theme, “Come to the Temple of God with your Children,” based on Matthew 21:15-16, Pastor George Owusu of Asesewa District called on the members to make the building a place of prayer and teach their children to do same.

“Our children are the future of the church and are important to God. Therefore, if we come to church to pray and revitalize our spirits, we must involve the children by teaching them how to pray and the word of God,” he advised.

In an address, Apostle Quardson commended the members of the Asutsuare District for freely giving their substances to support the project.

In a short history read by the District Secretary, Elder Ezekiel Abban Teye, the Asutsuare Central Assembly began in 1964 through the evangelistic activities of  Deaconesses Agnes Wekutah and Mary Afiyo Anazah, both of the blessed memory. As the church grew numerically, they moved to a family house of some of the members.

In 1970, a piece of land was acquired where a wooden structure was constructed to serve as a temporary place of worship.

The sod-cutting ceremony for the commencement of the new building was performed by the then Akuse District Minister, Pastor Nketia Egyir, in August 2006. Subsequently, the foundation stone was laid by Apostle Jacob Narh Affum, the then Area Head, assisted by Pastor Joseph Kweku Donkor on March 24, 2017.  

In attendance were the Shia Osudoku District Chief Executive, Honourable Daniel Akuffo, and the Assembly Member of Asutsuare Electoral Area, Honourable Jonathan Kwablah, the pastorate, and their wives in the Area, among others.

Report by Agormanya Area Media Team.