The remains of six members of The Church of Pentecost who died recently in a food poisoning at Akakpokope in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region were laid to rest on Saturday, May 26, 2018.
The solemn event was officiated by the General Secretary of the Church, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, assisted by the Coordinator of the Volta Regional Coordinating Committee, Apostle Yaw Adjei-Kwarteng, who also doubles as the Area Head for Hohoe, and the Aflao Area Head, Apostle Osei-Wusu Brempong, among others.
The six, Deaconess Peace Akakpo, 40 years and her two children – Theodora Akakpo, 15 years and Elijah Akakpo, 13 years, as well as another family made up of a mother, Sister Comfort Ayee, 39 years and her two daughters- Patience Doe Kwawuvi, 10 years and Bernice Tay, 8 years, all members of the Church died on March 1, 2018 after consuming a food substance containing some poisonous substances, according to a Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) report.
The victims complained of stomach ache after eating the popular Ghanaian staple, Banku and Akple which they acquired from a local corn mill, and died soon after they were admitted to the hospital. The bizarre incident attracted a national attention which prompted the FDA to conduct investigations into the cause of their death.
Preaching at the event, Apostle Adjei-Kwarteng encouraged the teaming mourners to take heart and trust in the Lord in good and evil times, because He knows best and does what pleases Him.
Quoting from Revelation 21:1-4 and dwelling the message on the verse 4 which reads, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away,” he posited that there are six things that would be absent in heaven. This, he said, includes death.
Apostle Adjei-Kwarteng said that even though the Scripture admonishes in Ecclesiastes 7:2 that, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart,” people do not take the lessons funerals teach them seriously. He bemoaned the funfair attached to Ghanaian funerals in recent times, resulting in fornication, drinking spree and other social vices.
He explained that death is both an experience and a personality and also indicated that death is a means to heaven so long as believers remain here on earth till the rapture.
He encouraged all who have not given their life to Jesus to accept Him, because He has swallowed death in victory, hence those who give their life to Jesus would not see death after death. Jesus has also promised that those who believe in Him, though they die, would live again.
Apostle Yaw Adjei-Kwarteng concluded by quoting Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” He explained that If a Christian is absent in the body (dies), his spirit would be present with the Lord Jesus in heaven, saying, “It important to exchange your tent for a house in heaven.”
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