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The mortal remains of the late Pastor Isaac Ofori Koranteng of the Dawhenya District in Tema Area of The Church of Pentecost were laid to rest on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at Dawhenya.

The solemn event, which took place at the Dawhenya Town Park, was officiated by the General Secretary of the Church, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi. Present to assist him were Apostle Isaac Nii Kotei Djani (Tamale Area Head and Executive Council Member), Prophet David Kankam Beditor (Ashaiman Area Head and Executive Council Member), Apostle Matthew Larbi Wettey (Tema Area Head), and other Apostles, Pastors, Retired Ministers, members of the Church and loved ones from all walks of life.

Pastor Koranteng, 62, whose sudden death occurred on July 24, 2020, survived by a wife, Mrs. Sophia Koranteng, and four children.

In a sermon, the Director of the Ghana Evangelism Committee, Apostle Abraham Swanzy, said the late Pastor Ofori Koranteng foresaw that his years on earth were numbered and therefore worked tirelessly for the Lord.

Quoting from Psalm 90:10-12, Apostle Swanzy advised all and sundry to gain a heart of wisdom by working on their souls through Jesus Christ, since it the soul that will be taken to the next world and not any material thing.

The General Secretary, Apostle Kumi-Larbi, in consoling the bereaved family, encouraged them to learn from how the late Pastor Koranteng led his life by serving the Lord with all their strength.

Born on September 14, 1958, at Asikasu, near Jumapo in the Eastern Region, to the late Elder David Asante Koranteng and Deaconess Gladys Mintaa Koranteng (Rtd), both from Abiriw Akuapem, Pastor Ofori Koranteng had his formative education at Asikasu Presbyterian Primary School, then to Suhyen Local Authority Middle School, and finally completed at Koforidua Presbyterian ‘B’ Middle School, where he passed the Middle School Leaving Certificate (MSLC) examination with distinction.

He continued to the New Juaben Secondary Commercial School, where he had his Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Certificates (‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels) from 1973 to 1980. He had a Bachelor of Theology Degree from the Canada Christian College in 2008 and a Master of Arts – Theology and Missions, Pentecostal Studies option, from the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture in 2011.

Before his call into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 1999, he worked at the Ghana Commercial Bank for 18 years in the following branches: Ring Road Central, Accra; Nsawam, Aburi and Obuasi. He rose through the ranks and became the bank’s system administrator in charge of ICT.   

He served in the full-time ministry for 21 years in the following stations: Nyankpala, North Legon (now Haatso District), New Dormaa, Oforikrom and Dawhenya. He was left with three years to retire from active service.

In her tribute, Mrs. Sophia Koranteng described her late husband as a generous man, hardworking and someone committed to his job. “He was my soul mate, my inspirer, and the steadfast rock that helped me through thick and thin,” she said, adding, “Isaac supported and loved us all. He was always there to help navigate through life’s challenges.”

His children, in their tribute, narrated how his sudden death has affected them and brought their world to a standstill. “We will miss his indescribable and unconditional love, his care and his phone calls and prayers. We know that we will meet again in heaven where there will be no more sorrow, no suffering, and no pain,” the stated.

The General Council of The Church of Pentecost, on their part, said Pastor Ofori Koranteng approached the work of God with passion and worked as a soldier under command who rested not until the work was done, and done well. “He was the Paul of our time who approached the work of ministry with zealousness and passion. Hence, evangelism and soul-winning became part and parcel of his ministry.

“He was a man with sharp spiritual giftings which demonstrated in his ministry. God used him as an instrument to bless many people, set the oppressed free, impact giftings and graces unto others, heal the sick and nurture the members to spiritual maturity,” it said.   

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Assin Foso Area Head of The Church of Pentecost and Executive Council Member-elect, Apostle Sylvester Arhin, has called on Christians to make every effort to overcome the voice of intimidation to be victorious and excel in life. He said this in a sermon he preached on Assin Foso-based Nkwa 88.1 FM on Sunday, August 9, 2020.

Reading from 1 Samuel 17:1-9, he explained that although the Philistines were defeated by the Israelites in a previous battle, they made a bold comeback to revenge. Unfortunately, the Israelites could not find their feet in the second battle due to the intimidating words from only one person – Goliath.

He said that Satan, like the Philistines, never gives up although he has been defeated by Jesus Christ so many years ago. He, therefore, advised Christians to continue to trust God for the victory given them through the vicarious death of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross.

According to Apostle Arhin, people hear many voices in their daily lives. However, most of the voices come from the devil with the intention to cause people to do things that are contrary to the ways of God. Those who find it difficult to overcome the voice of intimidation become so desperate and frustrated that some of them even end up committing suicide, he said.

“When people want to intimidate you, they make you feel inferior to what God says you are. They negatively address you just to make you confuse in life. Although the Israelites were the people of God, Goliath gave them a wrong identity just to humiliate them. Instead of calling them the people of God, he called them the servants of Saul, and that alone caused fear and panic among the Israelites for 40 days. Thank God at long last, David came to the battlefield to rescue the Israelites from the hands of Goliath and the Philistines,” he said.

Apostle Sylvester Arhin ended the sermon by calling on believers to remain faithful to God and believe in what God says they are, since that alone is enough for them to be victorious. He also appealed to those who have not given their lives to Jesus Christ to do so to enable them to share in His victory over the devil on the cross.

Report by Joseph Smiles Adu.

The Ashaiman Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Prophet David Kankam Beditor, has urged Christians to steadfastly pray since prayer is the livewire of the church.

Prophet Kankam Beditor, who is also an Executive Council Member of the Church, made this assertion when he fellowshipped with the Lebanon District English Assembly on Sunday, August 16, 2020, to climax their prayer and fasting week.

Speaking on the topic, “Possessing the Nations Through Prayer,” with referencing texts from Jeremiah 10: 21, Exodus 34: 28-30 and Luke 9:28-30, Prophet Kankam said that prayer changes impossible situations to possibilities.

“Prayer is life; when you stop praying, you stop living spiritually,” he said.

The Ashaiman Area Head added that just as a car engine needs fuel to continue moving, and human beings need breath to survive, so is prayer needed for the growth of Christians.

He noted that Jesus Christ was committed to prayer, so every Christian must take a cue from that, adding that any Christian who refuses to pray can move about all right but “dead” spiritually. He stressed that the only means by which the church can defeat the works of the devil is to pray without ceasing.

“Demons will be afraid of you, so don’t take prayer as a joke. Being with the Lord causes your face to shine and demonic powers will be afraid to come near you,” he said.

Citing the prayer life of Daniel, Esther, Peter, Paul and John, Prophet Kankam said that it is prayer that brings God into the equation and, therefore, must be a tool at all times for every Christian.

He added that the body is the temple of God and that the temple is the house of prayer, therefore, prayer must become the lifestyle of Christians wherever they find themselves.

Prophet David Kankam Beditor also admonished leaders of the church at all levels to lead a prayerful life by example for the flock to emulate.

Report by Jones Ronny Dedjo, Ashaiman-Lebanon. 

The El-Bethel Prayer Centre in the Ho Area of The Church of Pentecost has donated items worth GH¢14, 000.00 to the Volta Regional Hospital (Trafalgar) in Ho to support the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The items, donated on Thursday, 13th August, 2020, included a gigantic bus stop/shed in front of the hospital, 200 face masks, 45 5litre gallons of bleach, 40 5litre gallons of anti-bacterial liquid soap and 60 pieces of tissue paper.

Presenting the items to the hospital on behalf of the leadership of the Prayer Centre, the Ho Area Head of the Church, Apostle Moses K. Ahiakor, said the gesture was to augment the efforts being made by the hospital in treating patients, especially during the COVID-19 era.

Receiving the gifts on behalf of the management of the hospital, the Director of Nursing, Innocentia Gborgloror, expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the Church for the kind gesture. She asked God’s blessing for the donors.

Elder Seth Yaw Peasa, leader of El-Bethel Prayer Centre, who is also a member of the National Executive Committee of the Evangelism Ministry, thanked the hospital management for the warm reception granted to the Church.

Present at the ceremony were the Ho Area Secretary, Pastor Evans Ekow Ampah; Pastor Seth Okletey Narh, Pastor Andrew Owusu, Mrs Doris Peasa (wife of Elder Seth Peasa), and leadership of the Prayer Centre.

Report by Enyonam Adjorlolo Dormevenu, Ho

Afua Esther, a member of the Bethel Assembly in the Yennyawoso District of New Tafo Area of The Church of Pentecost, has been miraculously healed of leukaemia.

According to her, she had a strange feeling in the latter part of 2019 and went to the hospital where she was diagnosed with cancer in the blood. She narrated that the situation improved after she was administered some medications by medics.

However, in March this year, the sickness recurred and due to the severity of the condition, her neck, legs and stomach began to swell within a short time. She revealed that at a point, some fluids with awful smell exuded from the swellings. It also affected her waist so she could not stand, let alone walk.

According to her, somewhere along the line, the medications she was given could not restore her health as her condition rather deteriorated. She said many people attributed it to a curse and advised her to go and perform some rituals to reverse it, which she declined.

She, however, informed her Presiding Elder of the situation who encouraged her to trust only in the Lord for healing and deliverance. The church prayed fervently for her for about a week, and Esther was completely healed to the surprise of all. She now goes about her normal duties.

To God be the glory for the miraculous healing of our sister.

Report by Emmanuel Nana Nsiah.