Posts in category: Youth Ministry

The Youth Director of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Ebenezer Hagan, has advised young Christians to promote the kingdom of God in every aspect of their lives.

He charged the youth to stand up for God and set good examples in order to promote the ‘Possessing the Nations’ agenda.

He said this on January 22, 2023 during a visit to the Pentecost Students and Associates (PENSA) – Legon Sunday Service held at the Mensa Sarbah Hall.

Speaking on the topic, “Repositioning God’s Faithful Ambassadors in Babylon,” Pastor Hagan explained Babylon as a strange land in which a Christian may find himself.

Using Hosea 11:1-3, and Genesis 19:30-38 as scripture references, he mentioned that when the Israelites went into captivity, they strayed from the Lord and worshipped other gods, cautioning them not to joke with the power of a strange environment.

The Youth Director, therefore, admonished Christian youths to stand on their grounds anytime they find themselves in a strange land.

“Have a wide understanding when walking with God. If you want to be successful as God’s ambassadors in Babylon, you must stand. Let them know that you are a child of God. Bear the consequences.”

Expounding on the features of Babylon, Pastor Hagan noted that it has unfavourable conditions with antichristian leadership figures.

“They bring decrees against the practice and growth of the Christian faith,” he said, adding, “The demands of Babylon are destroying young Christians. If you are God’s faithful ambassador in Babylon, you are not there to serve, but rather to manage. Any Christian who does not affect lives around him is not a good Christian.” 

Pastor Hagan revealed that in Babylon, the pleasures of the world are unlimited. This, he said, can cause believes to lose their spirituality.

“Babylon contains the things we eat and enjoy. The pride of life, the lust of the eye, sex, occultic power, and the war against God’s faithful ambassadors. But as a Christian in Babylon, you need wisdom; be the guy on top of the bar, an excellent guy who does the work and brings in results,” he admonished.

Citing Daniel 6:1-3, Pastor Hagan noted that Daniel was a man of excellence who worked with professionalism, saying, “Your professionalism will take you high even when your enemies are against you.”

He ended his sermon with a charge to young Christians to provoke the interest of God anytime they find themselves in a strange land.

“When the Lord raises you up in the land of Babylon, provoke the interest of God. Use your office to promote the interest of God. Let the kingdom of God benefit from you. That is the meaning of possessing the nations,” he stressed.

In attendance were the campus Pastor of The University of Ghana – Legon, Pastor Kwadwo Obeng, Elder Emmanuel Agyei (President, PENSA UG – Legon) Elder Ransford Arthur Cole (immediate past PENSA President, UCC), and the student body.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Takoradi Area Youth Ministry of The Church of Pentecost has presented an amount of GHS 18,000.00 to three young entrepreneurs in the area as part of the ministry’s “Start-up Business Challenge” initiative.

The Start-Up Business Challenge, a flagship programme initiated by the Area Youth Ministry Leader, Pastor Daniel Okyei Boakye, aims at fostering business creativity and growth, as well as, curbing unemployment among the youth.

The three awardees are Dorcas Hannah Kwofie (Beahu District), Jane Darkwa (Effiakuma District) and Abraham Amegavi Amoah (Adum Banso District).

Dorcas Hannah Kwofie, whose business is registered as “Glean Yogo,” emerged as the overall winner of the challenge and was presented with a cheque for GHS 10,000.00.

Jane Darkwa of Eagle Farms came in second position and took home GHS 5,000.00, whilst Abraham Amegavi Amoah of Abragamoh Animal Farm received a cheque of GHS 3,000.00 for the third position.

The three entrepreneurs were selected after a keenly-contested competition, dubbed “Youth Business Challenge,” and were shortlisted for their financial astuteness and good business plan.

Presenting the cheques to them at the area’s praise and worship festival held at the West Ridge Assembly church auditorium late last year, the Takoradi Area Head of the Church, Apostle Yao Semenya Dogbe, congratulated the awardees and commended the ministry for the initiative.

Present at the event were Elder Dr. Matthew Kwaw Somiah (Assistant Area Youth Leader), Elder Hon. Benjamin Arko (Assembly Member for Asikafoamatem No. 2), and Mrs. Abigail Okyei Boakye (Wife of the Area Youth Ministry Leader).

Also in attendance were a section of the area pastorate and their wives, Area Youth Ministry Executive Committee Members, youth members and some family members of the awardees.

Report by Pastor Ernest Perbi-Asare (Takoradi Area Media Ministry Pastor)

The Church of Pentecost Youth Ministry on Saturday, November 26, 2022, launched the nationwide “Teens Evangelism” exercise at the church auditorium of the Pentecost International Worship Centre, Kaneshie (PIWC-Kaneshie).

Apostle Samuel Osei Asante, the Patron of the ministry, who is also the Area Head for Kaneshie and an Executive Committee Member of The Church of Pentecost, announced the theme: “In Him is Life” (John 1:4) during the official launch ceremony.

Apostle Osei Asante mentioned that Vision 2023 of The Church of Pentecost aims at ensuring that every member is involved in a ministry space for Christ and sees the teens evangelism as one of the prominent steps.  

He called for the support of all stakeholders, especially the Area Heads, District Ministers, Presiding Elders, Local Presbytery, Ministry to Teens (M2T) Coordinators, all Youth Workers, as well as, the entire membership of the Church to be actively involved. 

In his address, the Deputy Director, Elder Professor Eric Appau Asante, explained that the Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, in a circular dated November 17, 2022, called for a separate nationwide Children and Teens Evangelism for December 2 and 3, as well as December 9 to 10, 2022, respectively. 

He described the call as timely in an era where there has been a renewed call for intentional ministry to the teens. Citing the statistics of the teens, Professor Appau Asante mentioned that teens form 45% of the membership of the Youth Ministry. 

Inferring from the Chairman’s recent call to build tomorrow’s church today, the Deputy Director stated that Teens Evangelism is a necessary step to attain the vision. 

He, therefore, called on all stakeholders to ensure the effectiveness of the evangelism and emphasised that the programme should be held at the Local Assembly level. 

Pastor Gordon Ansah, the National Youth Ministry Secretary and the Chairman of the Planning Committee for Teens Evangelism outlined the programmes of activities for the exercise. 

He mentioned that from Monday, December 5 to Thursday, December 8, 2022, would be used for intensive prayer and preparations across all local assemblies. 

Schools Outreach Ministry would also visit schools across Ghana on Friday morning (December 9, 2022). Again, on Friday and Saturday evenings there would be nationwide open-air evangelism. 

However, Saturday morning (December 10, 2022) has been designated for placard evangelism, market evangelism, distribution of tracts, and all forms of one-on-one evangelism.

In attendance were Pastor Michael Peasah, Kaneshie Area Youth Pastor who doubles as National Executive Committee (NEC) Member of the Youth Ministry, Deaconess Comfort Worna Adade (National Ministry to Teens Coordinator NEC Member), Mrs Priscilla Yirebi (NEC Member), Youth Workers in Accra, some Ministers and Wives in Kaneshie Area, and teens from Kaneshie, Odorkor, and Dansoman Areas.

Other members of the National Teens Evangelism Planning Committee are; Deaconess Comfort Worna Adade (M2T Coordinator and Secretary to the Committee), Pastor Daniel Okyei Boakye (Youth Pastor, Takoradi), Pastor Alex Kojo Adjani (Youth Ministry Media Committee Chair), Elder Samuel Nkansa Appiah (PENSA Ghana Coordinator), Elder Desmond Addison (Coordinator, Schools Outreach Ministry), Mrs. Priscilla Yirebi (NEC Member), Elder Ebenezer Ankomah (Committee Member) as well as two of teens who have been strategically co-opted into the national planning committee; Papa Kyere Nyamekye and Jedidiah Ewuraba Tobbin.

Report by Youth Ministry Media Team

A total of 1,045 members of the Youth Ministry of The Church of Pentecost have been equipped with modern skills to enable them thrive in the world of business during the 2022 edition of the “Business and Entrepreneurship Chamber Summit.”

This year’s edition of the training programme was under the theme, “Pursuing excellence as a young entrepreneur” and was held at various zonal centres across the country. The event sought to equip participants with employable skills, and also help them create jobs and reach for self-reliance.

Among others, the training focused on business financing, effective time management, and handling business challenges, which were facilitated by already-made business magnates within the church.
The trainees were also made to see the business field as a mission field where Christ must be proclaimed, and the values and principles of the kingdom of God must permeate.

Participants were urged to be fearless in entering into the business sphere, and conducting themselves in a manner that is professional, transparent and befitting of a Christian who is the salt and light of the world, as professed in Matthew 5:13-16.

At the end of the training summit, all participants were fully equipped to pursue excellence in business, and to possess their spheres for Christ.

Report by Youth Ministry Media Team

The Sunyani and Asante Bekwai Areas of The Church of Pentecost have won this year’s edition of the annual National Youth Quiz Junior and Senior categories respectively organised by the Youth Ministry of The Church of Pentecost.

Sunyani Area won the Junior category with 38 points, ahead of Effiduase and Cape Coast Areas which earned 29 and 29 points respectively.

In the Senior category, Asante Bekwai Area grabbed 40 points to be crowned victors whereas Assin Foso Area and Sunyani Areas garnered 33 and 23 points respectively to win the second and third positions.

This year’s event was held on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at the Pentecost International Worship Centre, Atomic in Accra.

In his welcome address, Elder Prof. Eric Appau-Asante, the Deputy National Youth Director of The Church of Pentecost, said the Youth Ministry has a vision of grounding young members and unleashing them to possess the nation which is tied to the vision of the church.

“Every young man has the law of the Lord as his delight which is the word of God. That is why there is the need for the youth quiz. They are going to rattle the word of God to show that something on the inside is working on the outside,” he explained.

Apostle Emmanuel Gyasi-Addo, the immediat-past IMD who is the current Area Head for Haatso said the National Youth Quiz is a strategic intervention to ground young people in God’s word and to also deal with heresies of the time

The quiz comprised three rounds based on Church history and current affairs; New Testament books; Bible study and Home Cell manual of the Church; Doctrines of The Church of Pentecost; Vision 2023; Youth Ministry Syllabus and Daily Devotion; Riddles and the Problem of the Day.

Question and Answers (Junior Category)

In the first round of the contest, Cape Coast and Sunyani areas, being represented by Masters Daniel Aidoo, Gideon Dadson and Robert O. Andoh Jnr. and Snr. respectfully, held on to each other with 9 points whereas Effiduase Area, gladly represented by Isaac A. Twumasi and Samuel A. Twumasi marked the two areas closely with 8.5 points.

In the second round, Cape Coast and Sunyani areas still held on to each other’s neck with 14 points while Effiduase Area again came third with 4.5 points.

In the final round, the Effiduase Area topped with 13 points whereas Cape Coast and Sunyani Areas followed closely with 12 and 11 points respectively.

The problem of the day, which was the final round of the contest, had each Area listing 10 core values of The Church of Pentecost. Sunyani was able to grasp 4 out of the 10 points with Effiduase and Cape  Coast Areas gaining 2 and 1 points respectively.

At the end of the Junior category contest, Sunyani Area was crowned victors with 38 points, Effiduase Area came second with 29 points, and Cape Coast Area third with 28 points.

Question and Answers (Senior Category)

The Asante Bekwai Area led the Senior category with 16 points in the first round, while Assin Foso Area pulled their wits by gaining 11 points, with the Sunyani Area earning just three points.

Led by Alexander Opoku and Emmanuel Agyapong, the Asante Bekwai team trailed last in the second round by earning just three points below Sunyani Area, represented by Douglas Nii Ayi Armah and Portia Amoah, and the Assin Foso Area, which was represented by Benjamin Anokye and Bright Kusi Yeboah, which had 10 and eight points respectively.

At the end of the third round, Asante Bekwai Area proved their intellectual prowess by garnering 17 points, with Sunyani Area earning nine points, while the Assin Foso Area obtained eight points.

In the final session of the Senior contest, which is the Problem of the Day, Sunyani Area had only one point, Assin Foso Area had six points and the Asante Bekwa secured four points.

At the end of the Senior contest, Asante Bekwai grabbed 40 points to win the category. Assin Foso followed closely with 33 points, while Sunyani Area had 23 points to close the contest.

Bible Bee

In the Bible Bee category, contestants recited the whole Book of Hebrews within 15 minutes.

In the Senior category, Susan Dapaah of Haatso Area won by gaining 210 points while Isaac Saae, also of Wa area grabbed 206 points to win the second position. Justice Mankata (Agona Swedru Area), on the other hand, secured 194 points for the third position.

Battling it out in the Junior category, Ruth Manu (New Tafo Area) gained 154 points by reciting the six chapters of the Book of Ephesians, whereas Evelyn Nyankotey (Agormanya Area) and Vivian Lamptey (Kaneshie Area) both had 156.5 points, leaving the category with no clear winner. Breaking the tie, Evelyn Nyankotey of Agormanya Area had extra 110 points to be crowned the winner, while Vivian Lamptey of Kaneshie Area had 98 extra points for the second position. 

In his closing remarks, the Patron of the Youth Ministry, Apostle Samuel Osei Asante, acknowledged the excellent work done by the leadership of the Youth Ministry. He thanked participants and coaches who made themselves available to be used by the Lord.

He, however, encouraged the youth to be actively involved in future competitions. Apostle Asante called on the various ministries in the church to emulate the Youth Ministry’s contest.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Youth Ministry has ended its nationwide training and orientation programme for Ministry to Teens (M2T) stakeholders in line with the M2T’s rolled-out strategy.

The main objective of the training was to equip all Ministry to Teens (M2T) stakeholders to be effective in their ministry approach towards the teenagers of the Church.

The scheduled training commenced on September 3, 2022, with a nationwide “Train-the-Trainer” training model for all M2T stakeholders, including area youth pastors and wives, area youth ministry leaders, travelling secretaries, area youth ministry executive members, M2T coordinators, M2T teachers, and some selected district youth executive members across the country. 

Amongst those who facilitated the nationwide training sessions were Pastor Ebenezer Hagan (Youth Ministry Director), Elder Prof. Eric Appau Asante (Deputy Youth Ministry Director), Deaconess Mrs. Comfort Worna Adade (M2T National Coordinator) and Elder Ebenezer Ankomah (M2T National Deputy Coordinator). 

The presentations were delivered in four main subject areas: “Understanding the Ministry to Teens Concept, Nature and Needs of Teenagers and How-to Minster to them, Holding an Effective Teens Class and Understanding the Role of the Ministry to Teens Leader and Stakeholder Involvement.”

The nationwide virtual programme was immediately followed by a face-to-face grassroots leadership training held in two different sectors, the Southern and Northern Sectors, on September 24 and October 29, 2022, respectively.

The Southern sector, made up of nine regions (Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Western North, Brong Ahafo, Ahafo, Bono East, Eastern and Central regions), ended their training with a total of 6,244 participants being trained by 735 facilitators in 222 zonal centres across the sector. The Northern Sector, on the other hand, comprising seven regions (Northern, North East, Oti, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West and Volta regions), also ended their training with a total of 2,477 participants being trained by 296 facilitators in 88 Zonal centres across the sector.

In all, 9,752 M2T stakeholders were trained in important subject areas relevant to effective ministering to teenagers. 

The training and orientation programmes were very successful throughout the country. There were massive participation, great coordination and quality delivery sessions throughout the centres. 

In his closing address, Pastor Ebenezer Hagan thanked all facilitators and participants for their selfless commitment and dedication to duty during the training. He added that it is the hope and prayer of leadership that all stakeholders going forward would support the Ministry to Teens (M2T) concept to make it a great success. 

Report by Elder Ebenezer Ankomah (M2T National Deputy Coordinator)

The Chaplaincy Committee of the Schools Outreach Ministry (SOM) of The Church of Pentecost, in conjunction with the Pentecost Educational Workers’ Guild (PEWG), has organised a Virtual Seminar for Volunteer Teacher Chaplains and all Educational Workers.

The day’s event which took place on Saturday, October 29, 2022, drew over 280 participants from all parts of the country. It was held under the theme, “Possessing the Schools for Christ as an Educator” – Psalm 2:8, Proverbs 22:6.

Addressing the participants, the Chairman of the Chaplaincy Committee of SOM, Elder William K. Takyi, stressed that the focus of the seminar was to create awareness of the mandate and scope of the Schools’ Outreach Ministry under the church’s vision of ‘Possessing the Nations’ and to equip all chaplains with fundamental skills and tools needed to function.

The resource persons were the Chaplain of the Ghana Armed Forces, Apostle Lt. Col. B. G. Kumi-Woode, and the Deputy Director of the Youth Ministry, Elder Prof. Eric Apau-Asante.

Speaking on the topic, ”The Chaplain as a Spiritual and Moral Caregiver” and taking references from Hebrews 5:1-2 and Matthew 14:16, Apostle Lt. Col. Kumi-Woode emphasized that the chaplain is called to be a shepherd,  priest, and personal and institutional advocate.

He stressed that this multifaceted office calls for a high level of Christian maturity on the part of the volunteer chaplains.

Leading the second plenary session on the topic, “The Chaplain and Contemporary Issues,” Elder Prof. Eric Apau-Asante mentioned that the contemporary chaplain in the face of prevailing issues like drug abuse, addiction, sexual perversion, etc. among students should exhibit certain key traits to succeed.

These traits or characteristics, he said, include good psychological health, a genuine interest in the young adults and students, empathy, self-awareness, awareness of values, among others.

The National Secretary of the Youth Ministry, Pastor Gordon Ansah, led the participants to pray fervently for divine strength and grace in their new roles.

Also participating in the seminar were the National Co-ordinator of the Schools Outreach Ministry, Elder Desmond Addison, and the President of the Pentecost Educational Workers’ Guild, Elder Frank Danso-Abeam.

Report by Mavis Osafo Adu (Secretary, Chaplaincy Committee, SOM)

The Women’s Ministry of Yennyawoso District in the New Tafo Area of The Church of Pentecost has donated assorted items to the Kumasi Children’s Home located at Airport Roundabout in Kumasi.

A delegation led by Mrs. Gladys Oduro (Wife of the District Minister) and Deaconess Bernice Apraku (District Women’s Leader) visited the facility on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, and donated some items including a bag of rice, a bottle of cooking oil, packets of biscuits, assorted drinks, four packs of toilet rolls, and two boxes of Kalypo to the inmates.

The Supervisor of the facility, Mrs. Mabel Boamah, who received the items on behalf of the management, thanked The Church of Pentecost, particularly the Women’s Ministry, for the benevolence. She noted that the items would go a long way to alleviate the plight of the inmates.

As part of the visit, Mrs. Cecilia Oppong, the Deputy Supervisor of the Institute, took the women through the concept of a Children’s Home. She indicated that not all the inmates were orphans. 

According to her, some of them were brought there for security purposes as there might be no peace in their homes, following some squabbles that might have ensued between the parents. She explained that such children, whom they refer to as “foster children,” are sent back to their parents when calm is restored.

Present at the brief presentation ceremony were: Deaconesses Vida Owusuwaah (District Women’s Assistant Leader), Gifty Owusu Afriyie (District Women’s Treasurer), Elizabeth Badu (District Women’s Financial Secretary), and all Local Women’s Ministry Leaders within the district.

Report by Yennyawoso District Media Team