The Sawla Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor David Amankwaa, on Friday, March 24, 2023, dedicated the church building of the Central Assembly in the Jinavore District of the Sawla Area.
The Assembly, which was started in April 1993 by then Tuna District Minister, Pastor John K. Poku, and Elder Stephen Sansah, used to worship under a tree.
Through communal labour and assistance from the Wa Area, it constructed a structure from local building materials, which served as a temporary place of worship.
The sod-cutting for a permanent place of worship for the church was performed on Tuesday, February 10, 2015, by Apostle Moses Ahiakor, the then Area Head for Sawla, with the project commencing in March 2015.
The work on the building progressed steadily under the leadership of Pastor Francis Dontoh.
The foundation stone was laid by Apostle William Ohemeng-Kwakye, the immediate-past Area Head for Sawla, on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, when the building reached a habitable stage.
Through the tenacity of Pastor David Amankwaa, the current Area Head, the final works on the building were completed for dedication in March 2023, nine months into his assumption of duty.
Delivering the sermon at the dedication service on the topic: “Repositioning the Local Church in Spontaneous Worship” with reference to 2 Chronicles 7:1-9, Pastor David Amankwaa noted that Solomon offered burnt offerings on the altar in the temple from a clear and contrite heart, with an understanding of the grace of God.
The Area Head emphasised that, in this present age, believers are the temple of God, as admonished in Romans 12:1-2, and must therefore offer acceptable sacrifices to God.
He further stressed that when Solomon prayed, the Spirit of the Lord filled the temple to the extent that even the priest could not enter.
Pastor Amankwaa noted that it is critical for contemporary believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit, for it makes a difference in life and ministry.
“When believers are filled with the Holy Spirit, worship and offering becomes spontaneous and willful without compulsion. Moreover, when believers are filled with the Holy Spirit, the work of ministry becomes easier because the Spirit leads in all aspects of the believer’s life,” he said.
Pastor Amankwaa admonished ministers to be filled with the Holy Spirit, as the priest in the New Testament is a carrier of God’s glory, and that glory must be edified to bring out spontaneous worship and sacrifices among the members, who are beholders of the glory of God now residing in the priest.
Dedicating the building, the Sawla Area Head expressed profound gratitude to the Chairman and the Executive Council for providing a significant portion of the funds for the building. He thanked his predecessors, Apostles Moses Ahiakor and William Ohemeng-Kwakye, for their hard work.
In his remarks, the Jinavore District Minister, Overseer Benjamin Alinia, expressed gratitude towards the past ministers of the district for their contribution to the construction project.
He also acknowledged the past and present district executive committee members, officers, and members for their dedication and loyalty, which led to the project’s successful completion.
The dedication service was attended by several dignitaries, including Elder Sansah, the pioneer leader of the assembly, the Area pastorate and their wives, as well as presbyters and members of Jinavore District.
Report by Overseer Jones Dwomoh Amankwah (Sawla Area Media)