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Apostle Dr. Alfred Koduah, the man who has seen it all in The Church of Pentecost, rising through the ranks to the position of General Secretary – the head of administration of the church – has retired from the full-time ministry.

A glorious retirement service, which was held in his honour at the Fred Stephen Safo Memorial Temple at Nungua on Sunday, August 15, 2021, was heavily attended by the rank and file of the church, leaders of para-church organisations, politicians, and traditional leaders.

The mammoth service was officiated by the Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye. He was assisted by Prophet David Kankam Beditor (Coordinator, Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Committee of the church), Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe (International Missions Director-Elect), Apostle Yaw Adjei-Kwarteng (Executive Council Member), Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh (PEMEM Director and Executive Council Member-Elect), and Apostle Lawrence Otu-Nyarko (Finance and Administration Director at the Headquarters). Also present was the former Chairman, Apostle Prof Opoku Onyinah, and the National Head of the church in the United States of America, Apostle Michael Agyemang-Amoako.

Apostle Dr Koduah, who was called into the full-time ministry of the church 37 years ago together with his wife Rachel, was born on February 6, 1956, at Kumawu in the Ashanti Region to the late Krontihene of Kumawu, Nana Kwadwo Koduah, and Madam Abenaa  Sarfowaa of Kumawu-Besoro. His mother is still alive and is currently 101 years old.

He completed elementary school in 1972. While working as a messenger with the Ministry of Agriculture, he enrolled in night classes at the City Business College at Caprice in Accra, where he studied Typing, Shorthand and English from 1973 to 1974. In 1974, he qualified as a professional typist from the Government Secretariat School. Later, he was granted study leave by the Ministry of Agriculture to study at the Kwadaso and Ejura Agricultural Colleges from 1980 to 1982. In 1993, nine years after he had been called into the full-time ministry, he wrote and passed the General Certificate of Education – Ordinary Level (GCE ‘O’ Level) examinations as a private candidate.

While in the full-time ministry, he had the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree in Applied Theology from the University of Manchester, UK, after successfully studying at the Regents Theological College, Nantwich, UK, from 2000 to 2002. He also obtained a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in 2012, after studying at the South African Theological Seminary.

His work as an Agriculturalist took him to Akumadan in Ashanti Region in September 1974, Tanoso, Techiman in February 1975, and Asante Bekwai in April 1976.

He accepted the call into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 1984 and resigned from the public sector. He was stationed at Adukrom-Akwapim in the Eastern Region and later at Tema, where he was appointed as Area Head and transferred to the Upper East Region as regional head, from 1992-1994, after which he was transferred to Zambia as Missionary and National Head, from 1994-1998. He was recalled to Ghana and stationed at Sunyani as Area Head, from 1998-2003. He was appointed the General Secretary of the church, from 2003-2013, went back to the field, and was stationed at Takoradi as Area Head, from 2013-2018, and finally Teshie-Nungua, from 2018-2021.

Among the high positions, boards and committees he served on in the church and outside the church are: General Secretary (2003-2013), Executive Council Member (2003-2018), Member of the Pentecost University Council     (2004-2013),  Board Chairman of the erstwhile Pentecost Theological Seminary (2013-2019), Chairman, Constitutional Review Committee (2013-2021), Chairman of the Religious Broadcasts Advisory Council of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (2009 to date), Vice President of the Bible Society of Ghana (2017-2020), and Chairman, National Cathedral Governance Research Working Group (2021 to date).

The Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, in a sermon on the topic, “Life For A Prize,” based on Jeremiah 45:1-5 and other supporting scriptures, was full of praise to God for sustaining the life of Apostle Koduah and his family throughout the 37 years of their service in the ministry.

He said that Apostle Dr. Koduah lives by biblical principles that Jesus Christ expounded in Matthew 6:25-34 and manages his life well by not allowing anything to worry him. According to the Chairman, Apostle Dr. Koduah is a team player who is forthright with his opinions and ever ready to work for the general good of the church.

Various testimonies eulogized Apostle Dr. Koduah and his wife for their dedicated services rendered to the church and humanity.

The General Council described him as a doyen of contemporary Pentecostalism and a great scholar of theology.

“During his time as the General Secretary, he supported leadership to initiate a lot of reforms which have contributed in no small way to the transformation agenda of the church and the Headquarters administration,” it said, adding: “Apostle Dr. Koduah has contributed his quota to the transformation of the Christian community in Ghana, having served on various boards and committees outside the church.”

Apostle Dr. Alfred Koduah is a prolific writer with about 20 books to his credit.

PENTECOST NEWS.   

The active ministerial journey of Apostle Ekow Badu Wood, and his wife, Joanna, came to a glorious end on Sunday, August 15, 2021, during a special event held in recognition of their meritorious service in the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost for 26 years.

The colourful event, which was attended by scores of people comprising active and retired ministers of the church, relatives and friends, as well as members of the Kasoa Area, where the couple served in the final stages of their ministry, was officiated by the outgoing International Missions Director (IMD), Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi Addo. He was supported by some members of the Executive Council; namely, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi (Cape Coast Area Head), Apostle Mike Etrue (Kaneshie Area Head) and Apostle Dr. Dela Quampah (Ho Area Head).

The glorious service lived up to expectation as a befitting send-off for an illustrious minister who served the church in different capacities at different stations in and outside Ghana for over two decades.

Apostle Ekow Badu Wood was called into the full-time ministry of the church in 1995 and served at Kafue District (from 1995 to 1997) and Kitwe District (from 1997 to 1999), both in Zambia. He returned to Ghana in 1999 to serve at the Haatso District for two years. In 2001, Apostle Wood was appointed the General Secretary of the then Ghana Pentecostal Council (GPC) – a role he selflessly discharged for eight years. 

After his service at GPC, now GPCC, he was recalled to missions to serve as National Head and Resident Missionary for the church in Burkina Faso. After serving for four years in the West-African country, he was reassigned to Ghana to head the Kwadaso Area (from 2013 to 2015), Asokwa Area (from 2015 to 2018) and, finally, the Kasoa Area.

It is also worth acknowledging that even before the call into pastoral ministry, then Elder Ekow Badu Wood was very instrumental in the establishment of the church in Zambia.

Preaching on the topic “Amen and Halleluiah” with Revelation 19:1,3-6, 2 Corinthians 1:20, and Revelation 7:10-11 as scripture references, Apostle Gyesi-Addo explained that “Amen” is a word of Hebraic origin which means “certainty or truth,” and is primarily used as an expression of affirmation during prayer or religious discourse.

“Halleluiah,” on the other hand, he explained is translated in English as “Praise Him the Lord,” which is expressed with deep emotions of thanksgiving and gratitude.

He noted that Salvation was the first thing that elicited the shout of Halleluiah by the angelic hosts in Revelation 19:1 because it is very important to God. He alluded to the statement of Jesus Christ in Luke 15:7 and 10 to buttress this assertion.

He further noted that anytime one endures the hustle and bustle of ministry life to a successful end, it is a great cause for them to shout Halleluiah, asserting that “the end of a matter is better than the beginning.”

He, therefore, urged the retiring couple to be grateful to God for His faithfulness throughout their ministerial service, saying “This is the best time for Apostle and Mrs Badu Wood to shout Halleluiah!”

Apostle Gyesi-Addo ended his sermon by reading Isaiah 46:4 to assure the couple of God’s abiding presence and protection as they begin a new chapter of their lives.

A testimony written by the General Council in honour of the retiring couple and read by the Odorkor Area Head, Apostle Patrick Aseyoro, at the event stated: “Apostle Ekow Badu Wood spent many eventful years in ministry; however, he would be most remembered for his service as an Executive Council member of the church for a two-term period of 10 years (2008-2018) and also as a two-term General Secretary of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) from 2001 to 2009. He was a team player and someone who would always give his rich contributions by bringing the other side of the argument.”

“Apostle Badu Wood has certainly paid his dues as a hardworking minister of the Gospel and deserves the plaudits he is receiving today. However, as we eulogise him for the great work done, we must not forget to acknowledge the phenomenal role his prayerful wife, Mrs Joanna Wood, plays in his ministry. Her unflagging support for her husband’s ministry is remarkable. Indeed, many would-be and young couples have benefited immensely from her rich counseling experience. She has also helped to restore many strained marital relationships to the glory of God,” the testimony further read.

As part of the service, a Certificate of Service plaque was presented to Apostle Ekow Badu Wood by Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo on behalf of The Church of Pentecost as a testimonial of his service as a minister of the church. The IMD also led ministers and the congregants to pray for the couple.

The Women’s Ministry, Area Presbytery and the Kasoa Area pastorate also took turns to eulogise Apostle and Mrs Wood and present citations to them.

In response, the retired couple, flanked by their children, expressed gratitude to God for seeing them through a successful ministerial journey. They also thanked all who have supported them in diverse ways during their ministerial life.

PENTECOST NEWS

It was a joyful moment as family and friends, church members, and ministers of The Church of Pentecost from far and near congregated at Oyarifa District Central assembly in Madina Area to witness the retirement service of Pastor Samuel Nsiah and his wife Janet, as they retired from the full-time ministry of the church after serving for 31 years. 

The retirement service, which took place on Sunday, July 25, 2021, was officiated by the Madina Area Head of the church, Apostle Martin Seth Appiah. 

Pastor Samuel Nsiah was born on January 10, 1956, to the late Opanyin Kofi Nsiah of Offinso Adukro and Madam Abena Sefaa of Offinso Dentin. 

He completed elementary education in 1962 and proceeded to Dwamena Akenten Secondary School at Offinso from 1972 to 1977 where he obtained the GCE Ordinary Level Certificate. He was trained as a Veterinary Laboratory Technician at Pong-Tamale Veterinary College, from 1977-1980. 

With determination to learn and impact generations, he attended Canadian Christian College and University of Ghana, Legon, where he earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology in 2004 and Master of Arts degree in Religions in 2007, respectively. 

He worked with Accra Veterinary Laboratory from 1981-1988 and later transferred to Koforidua to establish Veterinary Laboratory to serve the Eastern Region. 

He was called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 1990 and served in the following duty stations: Ampaha District (1990-1995), Suhum District (1995-2001), Bremang District, Kumasi (2001-2007), Tema South, now Greenwich District (2007-2008), Zambia as Missionary and National Head (2008-2015), Santa Maria, Accra (2015-2018) and Oyarifa District (2018-2021). 

Various testimonies read in his honour described him as a great man of God with a remarkable spirit of humility, honesty, good interpersonal relationship, and communication skills. 

He was further eulogized as a very intelligent, hardworking, fearless, plain-speaking, principled, and transformational leader. 

In a sermon titled, “The God of Active Ministry Is The God of Retirement” with scripture references from Psalm 37:23-26; 71:7-11, and Isaiah 46:3-4, Apostle M. S. Appiah, urged retired ministers to be fearless of anything because God would continue to be faithful to sustain, monitor, protect and take good care of their lives in their old age. 

He explained that good structures have been put in by the leadership of the church to take care of them. 

He, therefore, assured retired ministers and all and sundry to see God as consistent who never change like shifting shadows (Malachi 3:6 and James 1:17); God as immortal who never die to leave us alone (1 Timothy 1:17); God who promises to heal all our diseases (Exodus 15:20-27), and fight our battles (1 Samuel 17:38-47). 

Apostle Appiah further said that God watches over His people constantly in all circumstances as they go through various stages of life and face trials (Genesis 16:1-6; 21:1-21), and be their shepherd (Psalm 23) and also give them peace of mind since He is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:2-9). “God promises to be our strong tower to secure our lives (Proverbs 18:10) by serving as consuming fire (Exodus 24:14) to protect, direct and shine our paths (Deuteronomy 4:23-24), so there is no need to fear at all,” he added. 

Apostle Martin Seth Appiah urged Christians, especially retired ministers to continue in their services to God and church, saying, “You are being retired from active ministry and not being retired from serving the Lord God Almighty.” 

In attendance were Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe (Haatso Area Head/International Missions Director-Elect), Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Kwesi Anim (Director, School of Theology, Mission and Leadership of the Pentecost University), Apostle Isaac Tetteh Judah (Sogakope Area Head and former Oyarifa District Pastor), Apostle David Nyansah Hayfron (Immediate past Youth Director and Missionary to Tanzania), Apostle Daniel Owusu Achiaw (Konongo Area Head), Apostle Patrick Aseyero and wife (Odorkor Area Head), Apostle Samuel Gyau Obuobi (Resident Minister, PIWC Atomic), Apostle Williams Ohemeng- Kwakye (Sawla Area Head) and Apostle Eric Gyambidi Boateng (Bawku Area Head).  

The rest were Pastor Charles Boadi and wife (Missionary to Swaziland), Mrs. Rose Kumi-Larbi (Wife of General Secretary), Professor Ofori Dankwa (USA), Elder Professor Owusu Kwankye (Finance Board Chairman) and Deaconess Inutu Mbangweta (Zambia), among others. 

Retired ministers present include Apostle Albert Amoah (former General Secretary), Apostle Anthony Kwabla Ahalivor (Immediate past Madina Area Head), Apostle Barabu (former Madina Area Head), Apostle Matthew Wettey Larbi (Former Tema Area Head), among others. 

Report by Joshua Asamoah Darko.  

Three new members have joined the board of the Pentecost Press Limited. They are Apostle Dr. Dela Quampah, the Area Head for Ho who now chairs the board; Pastor Dr. Felix Dela Klutse, the incoming Media Ministry Pastor of the church, and Deaconess Isabella Orhin, a Communications and Human Resource professional.

They replace Apostle Ekow Badu Wood, outgoing Board Chairman; Pastor Isaac Annor, outgoing Publications Manager of the church, and Mrs. Mabel Darko.

Speaking at a brief ceremony on August 11, 2021, at the Conference Room of the Pentecost Press, the outgoing Board Chairman, Apostle Ekow Badu Wood, urged the new board chairman and his team to strive for excellence in all their endeavours.

“The Press must operate with profit, longevity and expansion in mind,” he said, adding, “Leadership expects us to enter into publishing on a large scale and increase clientele base with the vision to become a model in publishing in the sub-region.”

Apostle Badu Wood noted that the Pentecost Press is a strategic partner in the Chairman’s vision of “Possessing the Nations” and cannot afford to let the Chairman down.

“We have a great vision but it is not beyond our horizon looking at the resources that we have including our spiritual resources. I will, therefore, exhort you to think against the forces of gravity,” Apostle Badu Wood said.

He also encouraged the new members to get on board and get the work done. “You were selected from the over three million members of The Church of Pentecost; it is by grace that your names were mentioned,” he stated.

Apostle Badu Wood also quoted various scriptures including Ecclesiastics 7:10, James 3:17, Exodus 16:1-2, Haggai 2:18-19 and urged the board to look forward to their task, “Every day is a new day and presents a new opportunity. Let us not be dissatisfied with the present; the old can never be better than the new. We can learn from the experiences of the old but we should never wish that the old would come back,” he explained.

The incoming Board Chairman, Apostle Dr. Dela Quampah, was grateful to the Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, and the Executive Council for the honour done him and his team to be selected to serve on the board. He said that the new board will live up to expectations by ensuring that ideas expressed in the boardroom impact the organisation positively.

Other Board members include Elder Bernard Bosumprah Esq., Pastor Gideon Amfo, Managing Director, Pentecost Press; Elder Benjamin Anaman, a chartered accountant, and Elder Kwame Antwi, a Management Consultant.

The Pentecost Press is the oldest business entity of The Church of Pentecost. It started in a garage at the Headquarters of the church with two staff and a few equipment. It was incorporated in 1983 and has now become the state-of-the-art printing business offering services to the church and beyond.

Report by Isabella Gyau Orhin.       

Pastor Maxwell Adjah Ayertey and his wife Lydia on Sunday, July 25, 2021, brought their 22 years of active ministry in The Church of Pentecost to an end. 

The service, which took place at Brenuakyim Bethel Assembly in Tarkwa, was officiated by the Tarkwa Area Head of the church, Apostle Dr. Daniel Okyere Walker, assisted by Apostle Robert K. Andoh, Area Head for Essem-Debiso. 

It was attended by the chiefs and elders of the Apinto Traditional Area, as well as Tarkwa Pastorate, representatives from the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), and members of the church from far and near. 

Speaking on the sermon titled, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” Apostle Dr Walker, who is also the Regional Coordinator for the Western Region and former Vice-Chancellor of the Pentecost University, congratulated Pastor Adjah Ayertey and his wife for their faithful and selfless services to the church.  

Inferring from the parable of the bags of gold that Jesus gave in Matthew 25:14–21, Apostle Dr. Walker outlined that the master gave his own gifts to his own people, not because the owner of the gifts is partial but because he is aware of their abilities. With this, he explained that every individual has a gift but in a different quantum. He added that the gifts are both spiritual and physical.   

“Whatever you have, being your profession, natural abilities or spiritual gifts is a gift of God. Therefore, you have a special responsibility to use your gift to benefit the church and society,” he stated, thereby encouraging the members to use their gifts profitably irrespective of the quantum. 

Concluding his sermon, Apostle Dr. Daniel Okyere Walker indicated that the return of the Lord Jesus Christ would be a time of reward and recommendation. He quizzed: “Will your reward be ‘a well done, good and faithful servant’ or otherwise?” Adding: “Well done recommendation comes with more gifts from the master which includes rulership over many things, and the right to the master’s rest.”  

Presenting a short testimony in honour of Pastor Maxwell Adjah Ayertey by the representatives from Apinto Traditional Council, the chiefs described him as a nobleman who has helped to maintain peace in the traditional council. They applauded him for helping to infuse Christian prayer in all gatherings of the traditional council.   

Pastor Adjah Ayertey was described in various testimonies read in his honour as an epitome of hard work, a man in constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit and prayer.  

Pastor Maxwell Adjah Ayertey was born on March 13, 1956, at Kpongunor, a village near Old Ningo in the Greater Accra Region. He was called into the full-time ministry of the church in 1999. The stations that he served included Bawku, Assin Praso, Nima in Accra and Brenuakyem in Tarkwa.  

Before his retirement, he served as Area Executive Committee Member, Area Ministerial Committee Member and Area PEMEM Leader.   

Report by Charles Edzie-Frimpong, Tarkwa. 

On Monday, August 9, 2021, two pastors of the Asamankese Area of The Church of Pentecost miraculously escaped death from a gang of armed robbers. Pastors Eliezer Yaw Arkoh-Larbi and Victor Asante Ayim together with two others (an elder and a deaconess) were on their way back from Ekoso to Asamankese at about 9:15 pm after a meeting at Asamankese when the incident happened.

According to the victims, they had gone to alight the elder who is the Assistant Area Youth Leader at Ekoso after the meeting. On their way back to Asamankese, a desperate-looking young man appeared from the bush and signaled them to stop. But out of fear, Pastor Arkoh-Larbi, who was driving the vehicle, ignored it and drove on. About 150 metres away, they spotted a seeming accident scene, where a cargo truck had stopped in the middle of the road with a taxi and motorbikes on its sides. Pastor Arkoh-Larbi became suspicious and decided to slow down in order not to get closer to the scene.

In the process, they spotted a flashlight moving in their direction but it quickly went off. Unknowingly, one of the robbers had spotted them and had walked through the bush to their vehicle. He was wielding a gun suspected to be an AK47. He instructed them to move towards the scene. Suddenly, other young men also with guns moved to their vehicle and asked them to lie on the floor. The robbers took the money on them and ransacked the vehicle.

One of them pulled Pastor Arkoh-Larbi and the elder in an attempt to shoot them. Suddenly, a vehicle appeared on the scene and instead of shooting at the pastor and the elder, the robbers turned their attention to the oncoming vehicle and started firing indiscriminately at it. However, the driver managed to drive back to Asamankese. Sensing that the police could be called to come to the scene, the robbers fled the scene into the bush when another vehicle also got there, thinking that it was the police. Pastor Arkoh-Larbi and his team then left the scene unhurt to Asamankese.

Indeed, it was the doing of the Lord and we bless God for their lives.

Report by PENTNET, Asamankese.

Pastor Yaw Owusu Agyei, Komenda District Minister of The Church of Pentecost, and his wife, Comfort have been retired from the full-time ministry of the Church, having served for 24 years.

The Cape Coast Area Head, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, who is an Executive Council Member, and also doubles as the Coordinator of the Central Regional Coordinating Committee of the Church, officiated the mammoth retirement service which took place at Komenda Central Assembly on Sunday, July 25, 2021.

The District Presbytery testified about Pastor Owusu Agyei describing him as a “servant preacher, teacher, and evangelist.” The District Women’s Ministry, on their part, admired his wife, Mrs Comfort Owusu Agyei for her enormous support to her husband’s ministry, while the Cape Coast Area Pastorate described him as a mature family man, responsible father, and husband, saying, “His children are God-fearing and noble, no wonder two of his daughters are Pastor’s wives.”

The General Council of the Church extolled Pastor Owusu Agyei’s enthusiasm in serving God and humanity in stations such as Nsawora, Kwawu (Enchi), Ayeribi, Kibi, Kyekyewere, and Komenda. The General Council, therefore, eulogized his selflessness, diligence, dexterity, distinction, decorum, respect for authority, strict adherence to church policies, and humility. 

Speaking at the service, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi spoke on the topic, “When It Is All Said And Done,” taken from Luke 17:7-10. He visualized the minister in ministry as a servant on duty and urged ministers and Christian leaders to epitomize servanthood and selflessness in everything they do. He further admonished ministers and Christian leaders to see their divine calling as a call to be on duty to serve – serving as “unprofitable servants so that when all is said and done, we will say we have only done that which was our duty to do.”

Apostle Antwi further stated: “The purpose of our calling is not a privilege to lord over people but to be on duty to serve as bond slaves.” He also reiterated that bond slaves have no privileges but they serve to please their masters.

He concluded by saying, “Jesus Christ is our Master, and we are His slaves. He came to serve to be an example for us and has ordered us to do same to the flock He has purchased with His own blood.” 

Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, on behalf of the Chairman of The Church Of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, and the General Council of the Church, presented the Retirees Membership card and the Certificate of Service to Pastor Yaw and Mrs Comfort Owusu Agyei to the admiration of the whole congregation.

Report by Komenda District Media Team.