The Church of Pentecost-Benin has inducted into office a new National President, Apostle Felicien Holachi, to lead the Church in the next five years.
The colourful induction service which coincided with the farewell service of the outgoing President, Apostle Marc Koffi Fatchao, took place at the Benin National Stadium in Cotonou on Sunday, September 1, 2019. It was officiated by the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, assisted by the International Missions Director (IMD), Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo.
The service which also saw the induction of the new National Missions Director, Apostle Benoit Daga, and a reconstituted National Executive Council, attracted people from far and near, including government officials, ministers of the Gospel from sister churches and Heads of the Church from the neighbouring countries. Prominent among them was the outgoing National Head of Togo and Executive Council Member, Apostle Ousmane Patinde Zabre, and Apostles Barabu (Rtd) and E. C. Asante (Rtd.), former Missionaries to Benin who pioneered the Church in that country.
Apostle Holachi, 49, replaced Apostle Marc K. Fatchao, who has led the Church for the past 10 years.
Preaching the sermon, the Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, revealed that God is working in the midst of Christians to fashion them into a glorious church that will be able to attract the nations to Christ.
Using Philippians 1:3-6 as his main Bible text, the Chairman explained that God is “building a glorious church [Christians] that will exhibit His holiness, a church that will be attractive, a church that will receive the praise of the people, and a beautiful and spotless bride that will be attractive to the bridegroom who is Jesus Christ himself.
“We don’t just come to church to sing, dance, hear the word of God, run Bible studies or go on revivals; we come so that God would use us to fashion a glorious church that will be able to attract the nations,” he said, adding, “We are not just talking about moral uprightness but an aesthetic beauty that can be seen by all and attract many people to Christ.”
Apostle Eric Nyamekye thanked God for being gracious to the Church in Benin due to the strides it has made over the years. Benin is one of the two external branches of The Church of Pentecost to have attained autonomous status.
The Chairman commended the outgoing National President of the Church, Apostle Fatchao, for serving diligently to uplift the status of the Church in Benin. He also paid glowing tribute to the pioneer missionaries who contributed greatly to sowing the seed in Benin.
Congratulating the new President on his successful election, the Chairman challenged him to move the church to a more glorious level.
In his inaugural address, Apostle Felicien Holachi outlined a 14-point vision in line with Vision 2023 document of possessing the nations. Among them include prioritising evangelism and establishing more local churches, teaching and equipping the members with the knowledge of God’s word, preparing a 5-year development plan for the church for the period 2020-2024, acquiring vast areas for the implementation of major agricultural projects, strengthening the collaboration between the Church in Benin and the International Headquarters in Ghana, promoting the relationship between the Church and the State, among others.
He called for the support of all and sundry to help build the church in Benin in line with the 2019 global theme of the Church, “I Will Build My Church.”
“We can’t achieve these goals without the cooperation of each other. That is why I invite you to rise as one people so that the Lord, the great and wise architect may use all of us to build His church.
“Dear Apostles, Pastors and Officers, I urge you to work with me hand in hand so that together, we may raise the flag of The Church of Pentecost at the highest level to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.
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