Participants of this year’s Inter Tertiary Institutions of the Pentecost Students and Associates (ITI-PENSA) China National Conference embarked on fun games and Bible quiz competition.
The fourth day of the conference which took place in Wuhan, China from October 1-5, 2018, was full of games. Participants competed in track events, Soccer, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Ampe, and other outdoor activities.
At the end of the competition, participants from Wuhan won both the female soccer and the male 4 x 100m race, while their counterparts from Zhangjiakou won gold medals for the female 4 x 100m and 400m races.
The conference dubbed ‘Miseo Kosmos’ which was under the theme, “Remain in Christ and His Basic Message” (1 John 2:24-25), was attended by 130 students from Shenyang, Hangzhou, Zhangjiakou, Hangzhou-Lizhou, Chengdu, Nanchang, Guangzhou, Zhangjiang, Zhengjiang and Wuhan, all in China.
The event was hosted by Pastor Jonas Bekpene Beddim (The National Head of The Church of Pentecost for China and Hong Kong). The guest speakers included Prophet James Osei Amaniampong and his wife Georgina, Pastor Dr. Joseph I. T. Buertey (Asokwa PIWC Resident Minister), Pastor Kwame Sarfo (Host President), and the National Coordinator, Elder Moses A. Ameyaw.
The evening of Day Four was a Bible Quiz competition which saw Wuhan, Hangzhou-Lizhou and Zhangjiakou battling it out for the ultimate trophy. Contestants were questioned from the Books of Ruth and 1 John and had to completely recite 2 and 3 Books of John in addition to answering questions on current affairs and general knowledge about ITI. After a keen contest, Hangzhou-Lizhou came first with Wuhan and Zhangjiakou as first and second runners-up respectively.
The Conference was climaxed on October 5 with a ministration from the special guest of honour, Prophet James Osei Amaniampong, who spoke on “Prophecy- Hearing the Voice of God” (John 10:27-28).
According to Prophet Amaniampong, prophecy is a vocal gift. He explained that prophecy before a Word ministration prepares the preacher, while prophecy after sermon comes to confirm the Word.
He encouraged the students to be sensitive to the Spirit of God in order to hear from Him always. He also advised that they align themselves for God to use them, saying, “Knowing God and hearing from Him gives you the assurance that you are living in His will.”
Prophet James Osei Amaniampong who is the Asokwa Area Head in Kumasi, Ghana, and Executive Council Member of The Church of Pentecost, added that God is the one who understands and interprets dreams, visions, and prophecies. Using Joseph as a case study, he stated that the prophet does not know it all.
Reading from Hebrews 1:1-2, he mentioned that God still speaks today, and that He speaks through individuals who are sensitive, through prophecies, and dreams (Genesis 37:5-11; 31:5-7, Matthew 1:20, 2:13), through visions (Genesis 15:1-4; 46:2, Acts 16:9-11, 9-1), through trances.
Prophet Amaniampong shared several instances where God has spoken to him on different issues by different means. He advised the youth not to limit God’s action to a particular church culture.
As part of the closing ceremony, awards were presented to the guest speakers and winners of both the sports and quiz competitions.
The glorious atmosphere and divine experience in this year’s conference was great and all glory goes to God for making the conference a success. The 2019 ITI-PENSA Conference will be held in Shengyang.
Report by ‘Miseo Kosmos’ Conference Media Team