The Church of Pentecost in Cote d’Ivoire otherwise called the International Church of Pentecost of La Côte d’Ivoire has seen an incredible growth over the past five decades. The Church which started as a small assembly has grown to become one of the biggest in the world gaining an autonomous status. PENTECOST NEWS (PN) caught up with the President of the Church (National Head), Apostle Miezou Kacou Amalanon Ernest (MK) on the sidelines of the ongoing Global Ministers’ Conference (GMC’19) to interact with him.
PN: Thank you very much Apostle for joining us.
MK: You’re welcome.
PN: Please, tell us a little about your background.
MK: I was born on 20th March, 1964 at Abengourou, in the eastern part of La Cote d’Ivoire, where I was raised. So I am an Ivorian.
I had my basic education at the Niable Basic School at Abengourou and proceeded to Abengourou High School for the General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE ‘O’ Level) and continued at Adzope High School, where I completed in 1983 with the GCE ‘A’ Level.
After secondary school, I had to join my parents who were peasant farmers to farm. My father was then very old so I had to help them on the farm. Four years after secondary and working with my parents, my father passed on.
PN: Please how did you become a Christian?
MK: After the death of my father I was attacked by a strange disease which brought me to Yawmatwa in Ghana, in the Essam-Debiso area, near Osei Kwadwokrom which is very close to the borders of Ivory Coast. I was brought to a prayer camp operated by one Deaconess Ama Debora, a junior sister of Apostle Kwabena Ankama (now retired).
The Lord miraculously healed me. It was there that I got converted, that was in 1989. After my healing and conversion, I stayed with the woman (leader of the prayer camp) for nine months. A year after my conversion, I was ordained as a Deacon. The Lord through the woman told me that He will use me for His work and directed me to go back to my village in La Cote d’Ivoire to open a church, which I obliged though very new in the faith.
PN: Now as a preacher, please tell us what happened at the village?
MK: I went back to my village at Abengourou and started preaching the gospel. I converted my family members and friends as well as other town folks to establish a branch of the church at the village. So I can say that I founded the church in my village. Seeing what the Lord was using me to do, I was ordained as an Elder in 1991 and called into the full-time ministry in 1992.
PN: Where are some of the stations you have served so far in the full-time ministry?
MK: Having been called into the full-time ministry in 1992, I was transferred to Abbilassokro District and spent only six months there as a Probationary Overseer. I was transferred to Bettié District as Overseer from 1993 to 1997; Abengourou District as an ordained Pastor from 1997 to 1999; Treichville District in Abidjan from 1999 to 2004; and Yopougon North District in Abidjan from 2004 to 2009. In 2009, I was called into the office of Area Head and sent to the Agniblekro Area where I served until 2014 when I was called into the Office of Apostle and transferred to Yopougon as Area Apostle.
PN: Please, when were you elected into the high office as the President of the Church.
MK: By the grace of God, I was elected as the President of the Church during our Council Meeting in April 2018, taking over from Apostle Traore Sidiki who had led the Church for 22 good years. By the grace of God I am in my 27th year in ministry.
PN: We can attest to the fact that The Church of Pentecost in Cote d’Ivoire has grown in leaps and bounds. Please tell us a little about how the Church started in the Ivory Coast.
MK: The Church of Pentecost in Cote d’Ivoire was established in 1966 through the missionary work of Apostle J. B. Archer (of blessed memory). After Apostle Archer came Apostle B.K. Swanzy, and then Pastor Kwadwo Appiah. After Pastor Kwadwo Appiah had ended his missionary work, Apostle B.K. Arthur (of blessed memory) was sent into the country. Apostle Kobina Ankama Gaston, took over from Apostle B.K. Arthur, making him the first Ivorian to lead the Church. However, after his tenure had ended, a missionary called Apostle Yao B. Akpedo (a Togolese) was sent to lead the Church. After Apostle Kpedo came Apostle Dr Michael Ntumy (our former Chairman). After Apostle Ntumy, the mantle then fell on Apostle Traore Sidiki (an Ivorian) who led the church until 2018 when I was elected as his successor.
PN: Can you please give us some statistics about the Church in the Ivory Coast?
MK: Our membership has now grown to 100,000 with over 6,000 officers. We have 220 districts, 26 administrative areas, with 14 apostles, three prophets and evangelists each respectively.
PN: Please tell us a bit about your family.
MK: I am married to Mrs. Denise Kacou and we have three children (one daughter and two sons).
PN: Thank you very much Apostle for this opportunity to interact with you upon a short notice.
MK: You’re welcome. God bless you.
PENTECOST NEWS