The Djankrom District in Suhum Area of The Church of Pentecost has donated 503 Mathematical Sets worth GH¢ 2,000.00 to Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates in the community and its environs.
The beneficiaries were drawn from some schools in Nsawam, Djankrom, Ahodwo, Dego, Ntunkum, Kraboa, and Coaltar. Others were Yaw Donkor, Duodukrom and Dobro.
In an interview with PENTECOST NEWS, the District Minister, Pastor Samuel Aboagye Yirenkyi, said that the gesture was part of the Church’s social responsibility in augmenting the Government’s effort in providing quality and affordable education to students. “The Church exists to ensure both the spiritual and social well-being of its members,” he added.
Pastor Yirenkyi admonished the candidates to take the examinations seriously and eschew all forms of examination malpractices.
He also advised the students to observe all the COVID-19 prevention protocols by washing their hands frequently, wear their face mask, and observe social distancing to avoid the spread of the pandemic.
The candidates who were overwhelmed by the gesture expressed their appreciation to the Church for coming to their aid. They were hopeful that the Mathematical Sets would assist them in their examination.
This year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination commenced on Monday, September 14, 2020, and expected to end on Friday, September 18, 2020. In all, a total of 531,705 candidates comprising 269,419 males and 262,286 females, are writing the examination.
The Sawla Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle William Ohemeng-Kwakye, on Saturday, September 5, 2020, dedicated the Gbongbonduori District Mission House located in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba Constituency of the Savannah Region.
Gbongbonduori District was carved out from the Tuna District in 2018. The building is sited on a parcel land acquired by the Area from the chief and elders of Nakwabi.
The sod-cutting ceremony to commence the construction of the building was performed by Apostle Ohemeng-Kwakye on 25th February, 2018, assisted by Overseer Isaac Kwadwo Asare of Tuna District. He also laid the foundation stone on 3rd August, 2018.
Speaking at the dedication service, Apostle Ohemeng-Kwakye admonished members and officers of the church to take good care of their ministers since they have been sent by God to lead the church.
Quoting from Judges 17:10-13 with Micah as a case study, he spoke on the theme: “It is a blessing to live with the man of God.”
According to him, Micah accommodated, clothed, fed, and supported the Levite as his priest. The Area Head, therefore, underscored the need for the church to build mission houses to accommodate ministers.
He also advised members and officers to accept ministers transferred to their districts in good faith to help build a glorious church and possess the nations.
The total cost of the project amounted to GH¢161,278.61. It was funded through grants from the Head Office, Area, District, as well as special contributions by some ministers, individuals and members of the church.
Meanwhile, Apostle William Ohemeng-Kwakye has dedicated a borehole water facility in the district solely funded by the Sakumono District in the Teshie-Nungua Area.
Present at the event was the Gbongbonduori District Minister, Overseer Prince Kwesi Mensah. Also in attendance were ministers and their wives in the Area, officers, and members in the district.
Mrs Martha Konja, a member of Nkyenenkyene Central Assembly in the Nkyenenkyene District of The Church of Pentecost, has been miraculously healed of breast cancer.
According to her, she started feeling heaviness and intense pain in her left breast in the last week of June 2020, which gave her sleepless nights for weeks. Subsequently, the breast began to swell and the pain became unbearable for her.
As a result, her family took her to the Krachi West District Hospital where she was diagnosed with breast cancer and referred to the Ho Teaching Hospital (Trafalgar) for medication.
Mrs Konja reported the sad situation to her District Minister, Overseer Frank Amoako Henneh, who assured her of God’s divine touch in difficult situations. He further arranged for three days fasting and prayers with the woman. The pain in the breast and the swelling stopped when she was being prayed for by the District Minister during the “Tweaduapon Nwunu Ase” Prayer meeting. Her affected breast was restored to its normal size after prayers.
Upon reaching the Ho Teaching Hospital, she was declared healed as no cancer was identified in her breast.
The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has said that authority is given to leaders, particularly church leaders, to build others up and not for tearing them down.
According to him, people are not placed in positions of authority to lord themselves or undermine those under them, but to exert special influence over their subordinates and inspire them towards the realisation of permanent beneficial goals that fulfil real needs.
The Chairman said this on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, during an orientation programme for newly appointed/called Apostles, Ministry Directors and Area Heads at the Pentecost Pension Guesthouse, Gbawe.
Speaking on the topic: “Power and Authority,” Apostle Nyamekye explained that although power and authority are sometimes used interchangeably, they are both distinct in meaning.
He noted that whereas “Authority is the mandate to perform, Power is the ability to perform or cause effect.” Another difference he pointed out was that whilst authority is given, power is generated by the individual.
Expounding more on the former, he explained that authority is given by a higher authority (Numbers 27:20), and for this reason, the leader to which the authority has been given is always accountable to the source of his or her authority. He, therefore, emphasised that authority is measured (Ezra 7:24) and could be taken away when not effectively exercised (Daniel 4:31).
The Chairman further noted that since authority is conferred, people are always curious to find out or question its source. He cited an instance in Luke 8:1-8 when Jesus Christ was questioned by His hearers on whose authority He was teaching.
“This was a legitimate question the people asked Jesus. They wanted to know by whose authority he was operating. Jesus knowing this responded with another question because He did not want to respond to them,” he said.
He said that the Lord Jesus has conferred on believers the authority to drive out demons, cure diseases, preach the Good News and to heal the sick (Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 9:1-2, Philippians 2:9-11) and should, therefore, exercise this authority in His name.
Apostle Nyamekye noted that people always want to test the authority of a person to prove the amount of power they carry. “Hence, authority should be able to answer questions, solve problems and meet needs. When authority fails to do these, then, it lacks power, and this creates dissatisfaction and all sorts of chaos,” he cautioned.
Buttressing this assertion, he quoted 2 Chronicles 9:1-6 and pointed out how Queen Sheba, having heard about the wisdom of Solomon, went to him to test him with hard questions in an attempt to find out whether the report she had heard about him was valid. Solomon, however, was able to answer all her queries to the extent that she became overwhelmed by his wisdom.
He, therefore, urged church leaders who have received this authority to work to generate power to affirm the calling which they have received. “A man’s physical appearance may give an impression of him but what he carries on the inside will define his or her destiny; real power is within, it is found in the inner person,” he asserted.
He reiterated that “unlike authority which can be taken away, the power generated can never be stolen or lost because it comes as a result of one’s effort.”
To generate enough power for effectiveness, the Chairman avowed requires that they wait upon the Lord and seek His knowledge through the consistent study of His word, stressing that: “Authority is earned or conferred, but you need to back it up with power to be effective.”
He also urged them to seek to learn of Jesus, drink on the Holy Ghost and feed on the Word and work hard at increasing their capacity.
He said that when church leaders undertake such spiritual exercises, streams of living water will flow from within them so that their followers who thirst for God could drink (John 7:37-38) and be happy.
The Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS), the social services wing of The Church of Pentecost, in collaboration with Tradmaco Company Limited, has presented 19, 200 pieces of Vacuum Blood Collection Tubes to six health facilities owned by the Church.
The beneficiary health facilities were: Kpassa Pentecost Clinic; Ayanfuri Pentecost Hospital, Yawmatwa Pentecost Clinic, Twifo Agona Pentecost Clinic, Tarkwa Pentecost Hospital, and Kasapin Pentecost Clinic.
Presenting the items to the Administrator of the Pentecost Hospital, Ayanfuri, Mr. Felix Larbi, the PENTSOS Director, Elder Richard Amaning, said that the donation was expected to contribute to improving healthcare delivery at the six facilities.
According to Elder Amaning, the gesture was part of the effort by PENTSOS and its partners to equip the facilities to improve the quality of healthcare delivery. “It forms part of PENTSOS vision of strengthening the laboratory services across Pentecost health facilities, especially in deprived areas,” he stressed.
He commended the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tradmaco Company Ltd, Sophia de Youngster Boateng, for the support and collaboration.
A three-day orientation programme was organised for newly appointed Area Heads, Ministry Directors and other new appointees of The Church of Pentecost
The event, which took place at the Pentecost Pensions Guesthouse, Gbawe from September 8 to 10, 2020, was aimed at equipping and preparing participants for their new roles.
Present at the event were the Principal Officers of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye (Chairman), Apostle ANY Kumi-Larbi (General Secretary) and Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo (International Missions Director), as well as Prophet David Kankam (Executive Council Member and Ashaiman Area Head), Apostle Dr Daniel Walker (Executive Council Member and Chancellor for Pentvars) and Apostle Dr Dela Quampah (PIWC-Odorkor and Executive Council Member)
Addressing participants on the first day of the event, the Chairman reminded church leaders that they have been called to a holy life and should therefore live as such. (Ephesians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:7)
He also said that for the authority bestowed on them to be effective it must be backed by divine power. To achieve this, he urged them to always wait upon the Lord and seek His knowledge through the consistent study of His word.
Apostle Eric Nyamekye urged them to seek to learn of Jesus, drink on the Holy Ghost and feed on the Word and work hard at increasing their capacity.
The Chairman explained that authority is given by a higher authority (Numbers 27:20), and for this reason, the leader to which the authority has been given is always accountable to the source of his or her authority. He, therefore, cautioned them to exercise their authority within its remit because just as it is given, authority could be taken away (Daniel 4:31, Ezra 7:24).
The participants were taken through some of their administrative responsibilities and what is expected of them by the General Secretary.
Pastor Dr Nicholas Darko (the outgoing Finance and Administration Director) and Elder Samuel Mantey (Acting Human Resource Manager) also took their turns to take the participants through the administrative structures, financial controls, labour act, administrative manual and the conditions of service for staff of the Headquarters.
The Senior Statistician of the church, Elder Daniel Tetteh pointed out some of the challenges in data collection and proposed some basic functional skills to help them supervise and monitor the collection of reliable Church data to enhance data credibility in the church.
In the course of the event, the immediate-past Youth Director, Apostle David Nyansah Hayfron, Apostle Francis Ofori Yeboah (Rtd.) and Apostle Anthony Ahalivor (Rtd.) were invited to share some practical and personal experiences in ministry with the participants.
Other topics treated were: “The Pastor/Director Leader” and “Managing Meetings (Mobilising People to Achieve)” by Apostle Eric Nyamekye, as well as, “Enhancing Your Supervisory Role – The Church of Pentecost Context” by Apostle Francis Ofori Yeboah (Rtd.)
The event ended on Thursday, September 10, 2020, with a clarion call on participants to apply all the knowledge gained for an effective ministry so as to accelerate the church’s vision of “Possessing the Nations.”
A-5 member Chaplaincy Committee has been inaugurated by the Asokwa Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Prophet James Osei Amaniampong, to provide chaplaincy services to the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant (KCARP), a subsidiary of the Jospong Group.
The committee led Pastor Samuel Nii Engmann was inaugurated on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, at the project site at Adegya.
In his remark, Prophet Osei Amaniampong said that the facility is a trailblazer and that many nations will come and learn from its success story. “This is only achievable through prayer,” he said, stressing that staff devotion will be held three times in a week, while there will be a day’s fasting within a month for all staff to fast and pray for the growth and sustainability of the project.
Prophet Amaniampong revealed that the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group, Elder Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, intends to put up a 500-seater fully furnished church auditorium around the project site to host their religious activities.
Delivering a sermonette from Genesis 39:1-4 titled, “Being a Successful Worker,” Pastor Franklin Kumi Lartey, the PENSA Travelling Secretary for Asokwa Sector, unveiled how Joseph became a successful man in the house of his master Potiphar.
He pointed out that Joseph’s success was attributable to the presence of God that was with him. He encouraged the staff to follow Joseph’s example so that through them KCARP will make progress.
The Managing Director of KCARP, Elder Samuel Ntumy, revealed that the project which was started in 2013 has faced a lot of challenges. He, however, said that the facility will start full operations soon as the test trials of the equipment are ongoing.
This, he said, can be attributed to the grace of God. “Therefore, this chaplaincy service is a forerunner to the official ceremony to begin operations of the facility,” he added.
The Chaplain for the Jospong Group of Companies, Pastor Daniel Danso, on his part, applauded ministers of the Church in the Asokwa Area for their commitment to the KCARP Chaplaincy programme.
He encouraged the staff to be fully devoted to chaplaincy services. He prayed that the church building project will commence soon to comfortably accommodate all the staff.
In attendance were Apostle Dr. Joseph Ignatius T. Buertey (PIWC Asokwa Resident Minister), Mrs. Georgina Birago Amaniampong (wife of Asokwa Area Head), Mrs. Solace Obuor (Human Resource and Administrative Manager of the Group), among others.
The Takoradi Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Joseph Kwame Assabil, on Wednesday, September 2, 2020, dedicated a brand new Toyota Coaster Bus purchased by the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) – Takoradi.
Speaking at the event, the Resident Minister, Pastor Daniel Okyei Boakye, indicated that the acquisition of the bus in the midst of the economic effects of COVID-19 pandemic is a testimony of God’s faithfulness to His Church.
“The willingness with which members offered cheerfully towards the acquisition of the bus was indeed evidence of God’s great provision in the midst of difficult times and circumstances,” he affirmed.
In an interview with PENTECOST NEWS, Elder Kweku Kum, the Estate Committee Chairman of the Centre and former Area Deacon, said that the bus was acquired to address the transportation challenges that some members faced in coming to church. He added that the bus will be used for other welfare purposes.
Present at the ceremony were the Takoradi Area pastorate, the Presiding Elder of the Centre, Elder William Kweku Takyi, the Transport Committee Chairman, Elder Joel Arhin, the Area Women’s Leader, Deaconess Dr. Gladys Quartey, as well as some officers and members of the Centre.
Report by Pastor Ernest Perbi-Asare, Assakae District.
The Sefwi Wiawso Area of The Church of Pentecost continues to construct and dedicate more infrastructural projects such as church buildings and mission houses to advance the cause of the gospel.
At Patakro District, two church buildings at Nyamebekyere and Ackomkrom have been completed and dedicated to the glory of God. The buildings were dedicated by the Area Head, Apostle John Obeng Kesse, on August 7, 2020.
At Afere District, the newly constructed Benumsuo Assembly was dedicated by the Area Head on August 16, 2020.
Apostle Obeng Kesse on August 19, 2020, also dedicated the Ahwiaa District Mission House. The dedication of the facility, which was estimated at GH¢ 146,411.00, was graced by the Chief of Ahwiaa, Nana Kofi Nkuah II, and his elders.
The Area Head, on August 28, 2020, dedicated the Boinzan District Mission House. The mission house was constructed at the total cost of GH¢ 133,439.44.
Speaking at the various dedication services, Apostle John Obeng Kesse called on Christians never to stop praying because prayer is a weapon to defeat the devil. He read from 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Jeremiah 33:3, and spoke on the topic, “Prayer, a Duty of a Glorious Church.”
According to the Area Head, the Church has been called to the duty of prayer and that prayer should be seen as a work of every Christian. “Prayer is the work and the work is prayer,” he stressed.
He, therefore, admonished Christians to pray incessantly without getting tired because the enemy does not get tired. He also said that the prayers of believers can travel where they cannot go, saying, “Whatever Christians want to do or achieve, they can do that through prayers.”
Report by Overseer Alex Ansah–Nyarko, Sefwi Wiawso.
The National Peace Council (NPC) has called on political parties to strictly adhere to the roadmap adopted to help eradicate political vigilantism from the country.
A member of the Governing Board of the NPC, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, advised political parties that were still engaging the services of vigilantes to disband them before the December 7 elections.
“We use this opportunity to call on political parties which are still harbouring any vigilante groups or their remnants after the ban through the passage of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999) to take immediate steps to complete the disbandment process before the December 2020 general election,” he said.
Apostle Onyinah made the call at a workshop organised to increase the campaign on the eradication of political vigilantism from Ghana at Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region yesterday.
The workshop, which was organised by the NPC, was funded by the Danish Embassy and brought together stakeholders in the electoral process, including officials from the Electoral Commission (EC), the political parties, and the security agencies.
Preparations
Apostle Onyinah said although the NPC was aware of the preparations by key stakeholders, including the EC, the political parties, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), civil society organisations (CSOs), and the security institutions, towards peaceful elections, there was the need to totally eradicate vigilantism from the political process.
He said it was germane for all stakeholders with competing ideas to engage in open discourse and express their opinions that shape the process towards “achieving the results that we all desire.”
For instance, he said, the political parties must always express their opinions on national issues with decorum, provide practical solutions for the many challenges that confronted the country, and respect one another in their deeds and utterances to ensure the preservation of Ghana’s peace.
Roadmap
The roadmap to eradicating political vigilantism sets out the norms and principles to guide the elimination of politically related violence or vigilantism.
The document is a comprehensive outline of the goals and overall objectives of all relevant stakeholders, especially the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), in the elimination of political vigilantism.
It also reflects the strategic thinking of stakeholders concerning how to achieve the goals.
For instance, at the outset of Phase One of the roadmap, “the parties shall reject all forms of violence as a mode of political expression.”
In that regard, the leaders of the NDC and the NPP are expected to take the necessary steps to ensure that their members refrain from vigilante activities.
The parties are also expected to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies, especially by way of refraining from protecting their members who violate the laws governing vigilantism.
They are also expected to affirm their commitment to the code of conduct on political vigilantism and sign the code during a public function organised by the NPC, with the media in attendance, and continuously sensitise their members to and educate them on the dangers of vigilantism.
Commitment
For her part, the Greater Accra Regional Director of the NCCE, Mrs. Lucille Hewlett Annan, encouraged political parties to stay committed to their own resolution and ensure that the roadmap was fully utilised to ensure peace during the December 7 elections.
She recalled the fact that all vigilante groups had been banned and so they could not operate under the laws of the country.
Consequently, she said the parties must ensure that vigilantism was not associated with their activities, as that was punishable by law, attracting not less than 10 years and not more than 15 years’ imprisonment when found guilty.
“We are here to educate you on the Vigilantism and other Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999). It is the mandate of the Commission to educate everyone on his or her rights and responsibilities and, therefore, bringing the contents of the Vigilantism Act to you is required of us,” she said.
She said it was important to keep educating the public on Act 999 and the roadmap to increase awareness among the public of the dangers of engaging in vigilantism.
“In as much as we want to support one another along the way, other miscreants would also want to capitalise on the down sides of the pandemic to recruit people to engage in violent attacks on political opponents and innocent people,” Mrs. Annan said.
