The International Missions Director (IMD) of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, called on ministers and elders of the Church to transform the local churches into vibrant prayer movements.
Speaking to participants of the Global Elders’ Retreat gathered at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) in Gomoa Fetteh and others at various satellite centres, Apostle Bekoe emphasised the vital role of prayer in the local church.
He explained that by embracing the vision of making the local church a powerful prayer movement, ministers and elders would usher in a transformative era of spiritual growth and impact within their congregations.
Drawing from James 5:13, Apostle Bekoe proposed that every local church service should feature a prayer session where congregants engage fervently with God in prayer.
He, therefore, urged church leaders to take the responsibility of leading their members in prayer by making the church a dedicated Prayer Centre, stating that when people are dissatisfied with the prayer life within the church, they often seek prayer elsewhere.
He acknowledged that some church members maintain membership in The Church of Pentecost while engaging in prayer fellowships outside the church premises.
To address this, he urged church leaders to satisfy their members’ spiritual needs by cultivating a robust prayer culture within the local church.
Quoting Ephesians 6:18, Apostle Bekoe noted the different types of prayer that should be practised in the local church, including the prayer of thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4), confession (1 John 1:9-10), intercession (Ezekiel 4:4), and supplication (James 5:13).
He urged Church leaders to ensure that intercession and supplication are integral to every local church gathering.
Apostle Bekoe presented four critical aspects of the local church as a prayer movement. Firstly, he described it as a Salvation Centre where people come for redemption and deliverance.
He emphasised that every church service should be seen as a deliverance service, as prayer plays a crucial role in bringing about lasting transformation.
Secondly, he described the local church as a Solution Centre, where answers are provided to complex problems. He encouraged church leaders to actively seek divine solutions to the challenges faced by their congregations.
Thirdly, Apostle Bekoe portrayed the local church as a Salvaging Centre where broken and battered individuals can find restoration and healing, saying that the church must be a source of redemption and wholeness for those in need.
Finally, the IMD highlighted the local church as an Encounter Centre, stressing that it should be a place where people genuinely encounter God rather than a mere entertainment venue.
“When people come to Church, they must encounter God, or God must encounter them. Whichever way, there must certainly be an encounter,” he said.
Apostle Bekoe urged church leaders to prioritise prayer over administrative tasks and ensure that the church remains a sacred space for encountering the presence of God.
“As Church leaders, let us all rise in prayer and protect the spiritual boundaries of the Church,” he charged.
PENTECOST NEWS.