Posts in category: Top Stories

Elder Prince Amoah of Bethel Assembly in the Santase District of The Church of Pentecost has donated a brand-new Fiat pickup vehicle worth $34,000 to the Miaso District. 

Elder Amoah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PrinceMark Company Limited, has also given out GH¢15,000.00 to the district to sink a mechanised borehole at the mission house.

Explaining the rationale behind the gesture, Elder Amoah said: “As part of Vision 2023, we are to possess nations by sharing what we have received from God with the world. So, I realised that Miaso District needed a vehicle for the smooth running of the district and decided to support them in my own small way by presenting this pickup and a token of money to help run the district.” 

The keys and documents of the vehicle were presented to the Nkawkaw Area Head, Prophet Foster K. Aniakwaa, at a brief handing-over and dedication ceremony held on Friday, August 20, 2021. The Area Head, in turn, presented them to the Miaso District Minister, Pastor Samuel Appiah Mante.

Prophet Aniakwaa thanked Elder Prince Amoah for the kind gesture, saying: “We were not expecting this at this particular time. We are very much grateful for what you have done. God richly bless you.” 

In an interview with PENTECOST NEWS, Pastor Samuel Appiah Mante was full of appreciation to Elder Prince Amoah for the timely donation made to the district. 

“This pickup truck is going to benefit the entire Miaso Community. We will ensure that we use it for the purpose for which it has been brought to us so that whenever he sees it around, he would feel fulfilled that his effort has not been in vain,” he said.

Present at the ceremony were Pastor Kofi and Mrs Akosua Antwi Boasiako of Santa district in the Kwadaso Area as well as the Nkawkaw Area Deacon, Elder Daniel Kwame Agyepong.

Report by Pastor Ernest Perbi-Asare

The New Tafo Area of The Church of Pentecost, under the headship of Apostle Samuel Antwi, has successfully ended this year’s Lay Leadership Training School at four zonal centres with a call on participants to implement what they learnt in their respective districts and local assemblies to ensure that the church grows exponentially.

The training programme, which involved ministers, their wives and the laity within the Area, took place from August 9 to 13, 2021. It was held in two sessions – Morning and Evening with plenary segment at each session.

Topics treated in this year’s school included: “Introduction To The Home and Urban Missions (HUM),” “The Church of Pentecost Counselling Ministry – COPCOM,” “The Ministry To Persons With Disability (MPWDs)”, “Pentecost Workers’ Guild (PEWG)”, and “Introduction To Chaplaincy Ministry.”

The rest were: “Singlehood and Effective Christian Living In The Church,” “Young Couples Christian Living and Marital Growth,” “Mental Health and Family Life,” “Christian Parenting and Sex Education In A Contemporary World,” and “Cultivating A Reading Habit.”

As part of the event, some officers were ordained to join the workforce of the Church in the Area. Certificates were also presented to some officers who have successfully completed their four-year lay leadership training programme.

The Lay Leadership Training School is an initiative by The Church of Pentecost for a continuous improvement and training of officers in both theological, practical Christian living and Church ethics and practices to enable them to shepherd the flocks that have been entrusted to their care.

Report by Emmanuel Nana Nsiah

The Kaneshie Area of The Church of Pentecost has donated some items to the Kwashieman Hong-Kong Police Station to aid their work.

The items are a Hisense Air Conditioner with a 2.0 HP inverter and one Epson Printer. 

The delegation was led by Apostle Mike Kwame Etrue (Kaneshie Area Head), Pastor Paul Danso (Area Secretary), Pastor Emmanuel D. Agbeko (Kwashieman District Minister) and Elder Jerry Hodonu (Area Accounts Manager).

Presenting the items to the Service last Wednesday, Apostle Mike Kwame Etrue explained that the donation was in response to a request made by the police officers during an earlier visit by the church to interact with the personnel at the station. 

“During our interactions I personally felt that the room was quite hot and, therefore, saw the need for an air conditioner in the office. So, as part of our social interventions as a church, the Lord laid it on our hearts to donate these items to the Police Station,” he said.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Staff, Chief Inspector Oscar Kontoh Peprah, thanked the delegation for the kind gesture extended to them and promised to use the items for their intended purposes. 

Report by Pastor Paul Danso (Area Secretary)

The Cape Coast Area Head and Executive Council Member of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, has dedicated five church buildings in the Cape Coast Area. 

The separate events took place between 31st July and 13th August 2021 in four districts, namely, Yamoransa, Abura Dunkwa, Abakrampa and Asuansi. The church buildings are Akonoma Assembly (CBCB) in Yamoransa, Baiden Memorial Temple at Abura Dunkwa, Mpredwo and Nkanare Assembly (CBCB) at Abakrampa and Kokoado Assembly (CBCB) at Asuansi.

Speaking to the topic: “See To It You Complete Your Ministry,” based on Colossians 4:17 at one of the events, the Resident Minister of PIWC-Cape Coast, Pastor Gideon Osei Appau, mentioned that every Christian has been assigned a ministry that they ought to complete. 

According to him, Christ has made available sufficient grace for the accomplishment of every ministry given to each person. He likened the Christian ministry to a soldier, a runner, and a farmer.

“As soldiers, we (Christians) must please Christ, who is the commanding officer; as a runner, we must follow the rules in the Christian journey, and as farmers, we must be hardworking to be successful,” he noted.

In a brief remark at the event, Apostle Antwi commended the ministers and members of the afore-mentioned districts for the great work done in ensuring the completion of the church buildings. 

He also called on all present to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols to help curb the spread of the disease in the country.

The event had in attendance the area pastorate, traditional leaders and Assembly members of the various communities, district executive committee members and a cross-section of church members from the various districts.

Report by Daniel Appiah

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.