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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.

Pentecost University has won prestigious awards in five different categories in one night. This happened during the 2021 Private University Students Association of Ghana (PUSAG) Excellence Awards which took place at the National Theatre in Accra on Saturday, July 10, 2021.

It was attended by the Deputy Minister of Education, Hon. John Ntim Fordjour; former Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwesi Yankah; former Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Ekow Spio Gabrah, and other dignitaries.

At the ceremony, Pentecost University was awarded the “Most Innovative Private University of the Year.” According to the organizers, this award was largely based on experiences and opportunities for students. They said the University’s ability to digitize its entire application process, fee payment and other salient operations within one year have greatly improved students’ experience.

They also cited the paid vacation job concept the university has rolled out, which is the first in Ghana, for its students as very innovative. These including the tremendous increase in enrolment at the university make it the obvious choice for the award.

Apart from the Most Innovative Private University award, PU’s Department of Nursing and Midwifery was adjudged the overall best among the Nursing training institutions in the country. This award was attributed to the facilities, faculty of the PU Nursing and Midwifery department and the incremental pass rate of the nursing and midwifery students at the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana’s licensure examinations.

This is the second time the department has won the coveted award, having been adjudged the “Overall Best” among both public and private Universities at the 2019 UMB Bank Tertiary Awards. On the same night, PUSAG also adjudged the Department of Information Technology as the best in the year.

At the same ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of Pentecost University Rev. Prof. Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua was awarded the “Most Innovative Vice-Chancellor of the Year.” The selection for this award according to PUSAG was based on his leadership in driving the innovations that are transforming student experiences in Pentecost University.

Not only that, Pentecost University was adjudged the “Most Vibrant Private University on Digital Media.” This award was attributed to the consistent release of information by the university through digital platforms such as social media and the University’s website. This they said allows the student to access useful information on their phones with ease.

Additionally, a total of nine students won various awards at the student’s level. A PU students’ media organization, Oboo TV, was also adjudged the “Students Media Group of the Year.”

Receiving the awards on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, the Chief Information Officer Mr. Michael WK. Gyimah thanked The Church of Pentecost for the continuous support to the University. He also dedicated them to the staff, students, alumni and friends of the Pentecost University.

Source: PENTVARS

As part of the “Possessing the Nations” agenda of The Church of Pentecost, the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Takoradi, has donated assorted items to the tune of GHS 10,000.00 to the Sekondi School for the Deaf.

At a brief presentation ceremony held at the school on Sunday, July 4, 2021, the staff and students expressed their sincere gratitude to the Church for the act.

The items included bags of rice, maize, sugar, bottled and sachet water, cooking oil, mackerels, drinks, crates of eggs, packets of biscuits, among others.

Receiving the items on behalf of the management of the school, the Assistant Headmistress in charge of Administration, Mrs. Joyce Ama Polley, was grateful to PIWC-Takoradi for the kind gesture.

The Assistant Headmaster of the school, Mr. Abraham Ponney, on his part, applauded the Church for the thoughtful initiative of reaching out to the inmates of the school.

He used the opportunity to encourage the general public, religious institutions, and corporate bodies to come to the aid of the school.

The Resident Minister of the PIWC-Takorade, Pastor Daniel Okyei Boakye, in a short exhortation, said that since God is love, He expects His children to demonstrate His kind of love to the world.

He admonished Christians to show love to others whenever they get the opportunity to do so. “In the Possessing the Nations agenda, the love of Christ must be demonstrated to all people irrespective of their health condition, race, colour, or ethnic group,” he affirmed.

Report by Pastor Ernest Perbi-Asare – Assakae District.

A mammoth gathering of bereaved relations, ministers and members of The Church of Pentecost as well as staff and students of Pentecost University thronged the funeral grounds of the late Pastor Jonathan Kofie on Saturday, July 17, 2021, to bid their final farewell to the departed minister.

Until his sudden home-call on June 20, 2021, Pastor Jonathan, 43, served as the Dean of Students  at the Pentecost University and the Resident Minister of Pentecost International Worship Centre in the Odorkor Area (PIWC-Odorkor).

Comforting the grieving crowd, the Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, reiterated the need for Christians to be hopeful in the resurrection, stating that: “Long life is the desire of all, but a life that is well-lived does not depend on how long one lived on earth.”

Touching on the impact of Jesus’ short ministry on earth, he noted that “Jesus’ 33 years of a good and purposeful life has changed humanity forever. His death was the most tragic. His (death) was a gruesome murder that was well-planned and pre-meditated. The heavens stood still and looked on as they tortured and killed him. He was buried because he died. But on the third day, he rose from the dead.

“Who would have thought that his death would bring salvation to humanity. He saves in death and after death. His resurrection is the hope of our calling. It is the foundation of the Gospel we preach. Take it out and our gospel has no value. But thank God, that Christ has, indeed, been raised from the dead.”

He further noted that God’s order of resurrection began with Jesus as the first fruit of all to taste the resurrection; after Him would come those who have gone to be with the Lord, followed by those who Jesus will come to meet alive on His return. Stressing that, “If Christ resurrected, then we also shall resurrect. This is the hope we have!”

Exhorting the gathering on the topic: “God is faithful,” which was inspired from Luke 24:13ff, the Kasoa Area Head, Apostle Ekow Badu Wood, urged Christians not to be perturbed by life’s challenges, but to keep their focus on God because He is always faithful and to trust that He will be with them in all circumstances.

He, therefore, encouraged all gathered, especially the bereaved family, to have faith in the Lord and trust that even in this difficult time Jesus is still with them.

The General Council, in a tribute, read by Apostle Dr. Daniel Okyere Walker (Executive Council Member and Tarkwa Area Head) described Pastor Jonathan Kofie “as a gallant soldier who executed his numerous tasks with diligence, total devotion and alacrity.  He was organised, a man of vision, focused, result-oriented, hard-working, humble, bold, approachable and a team player.

“His loyalty to the church and respect for authority was without question. This was particularly evident in his strict adherence to policies and decisions of the Executive and General Councils as well as his strong knowledge and avid application of the Pentecostal liturgy. We testify that these few years of his ministry were impactful and fruitful. He served meritoriously as a pastor, a Children’s Ministry worker, and also as a lecturer and Dean of Students’ Affairs at Pentecost University,” it further read.

The widow, Mrs Regina Kofie, and children, Pentecost University, PIWC-Odorkor also took turns to eulogise the departed minister in emotional tributes.

Among the dignitaries present at the event were the General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi Addo (International Missions Director), as well as some Executive Council Members, namely, Apostle Isaac Nii Kotei-Djani (Techiman Area Head), Prophet David Kankam Beditor (Ashaiman Area Head), Apostle Mike Etrue (Kaneshie Area Head), Apostle Dr. Dela Quampah (Ho Area Head). Also, present were Prophet James O. Amaniampong (Asokwa Area Head), Apostle Patrick Aseyoro (Odorkor Area Head) and  Apostle Prof. K. Agyapong Kodua (Vice-Chancellor, Pentecost University), among several others.

Pastor Jonathan Kofie was called into the full-time pastoral ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 2006 and served in the following districts: Potsin District (Winneba Area), Winneba District (Winneba Area), PIWC-Sakumono (Teshie-Nungua Area), Achimota District (Achimota Area) and PIWC Odorkor (Odorkor Area).

He is survived by a wife and five children.

PENTECOST NEWS

Ministers of The Church of Pentecost have been encouraged to make it a habit of planting and nurturing trees as part of their day-to-day activities. 

This appeal was made by the General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Kumi-Larbi, when he planted a tree at the premises of the Bolgatanga Central Assembly on Friday, June 25, 2021, as part of a three-day duty visit to the Upper East Region.

During his visit, the General Secretary saw to the planting of nine trees, three of which he planted himself. 

In addition to the tree he planted at Bolga, Apostle Kumi-Larbi planted two others at the premises of the Pentecost Clinic at Kultamise and on the 10-acre farmland acquired by the church for irrigation farming at Ankpaliga, near Zebila.

Apostles Sylvester Arhin (Tamale Area Head and Executive Council Member), Wilberforce Nkrumah Agyemang (Bolgatanga Area Head), Apostle Eric Boateng (Bawku Area Head), Apostle William Ohemeng-Kwakye (Sawla Area Head) and Pastor Emmanuel Aidoo (Yendi Area Head) also took turns to plant trees.

He encouraged the ministers to make it a habit of planting more trees and nurture them.

“I have already planted seven trees. Now every opportunity I get, I plant a tree. At any function I attend, I make it a point to plant a tree. It is possible. So, I encourage every minister, especially those on the field, to do well to plant and nurture more trees,” he said.

The General Secretary’s call is in support of the church’s environmental care campaign for this year which focuses on tree planting. In line with this year’s campaign, the church has initiated an audacious vision to plant one million trees nationwide and nurture them. The exercise coincided with the tree-planting drive of the government, which also sought to plant and nurture five million trees across the nation.

According to a report released by the World Resources Institute (WRI) in 2019, Ghana is losing its rainforest faster than any country in the world. This alarming situation is largely caused by human activities. 

To forestall this problem, the church has embarked on a tree-planting drive to plant and nurture 1 million trees across the nation. The objective of this exercise is to motivate people to plant trees and increase awareness about the importance of trees.

It is also to create a sense of responsibility among people to nurture trees and to motivate communities and churches to actively participate in the protection and preservation of the environment.

PENTECOST NEWS