The Sawla Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Frederick Obboh, has dedicated the newly constructed church building of the Sakpa Central Assembly.
The colourful dedication service was held on Friday, December 8, 2023, and had in attendance Mrs. Joana Mina Obboh (Wife of the Area Head), as well as ministers and wives in the Area.
The Sakpa Assembly started in 1985, then under the Sawla District with a couple who were won during a rally held at Lamporga led by Elder Joseph Daare (retired).
Two couples joined the first couple later and they started worshipping under a tree.
The members continued to worship under a tree close to the Sakpa RC Basic School and later moved into one of the classrooms.
The assembly, under the leadership of Elder Emmanuel Yitah, raised funds, bought five plots of land, and started molding blocks to put up a permanent church building themselves.
The tenacity and zeal of the members caught the attention of the then Bole District Minister, Pastor Yakwah, who made an appeal to the then Area Head, Apostle Moses Ahiakor, on behalf of the local assembly, for support. The Area Head then gave the assembly a grant to support the project.
When the Sakpa District was created under the leadership of Apostle David Amankwaa and inaugurated on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, the assembly was designated as the central assembly of the new district.
The district then received a grant from the Church’s Headquarters during the time of Pastor Kwaku Amponsah to continue the building project to plastering level.
The foundation stone to the building was laid by Apostle David Amankwaa on July 21, 2023, with assistance from Pastor Kwaku Amponsah.
Pastor Frederick Obboh, on assuming office as the Area Head, pursued the vision and completed the church building, which has a children’s auditorium attached.
The Sakpa Central Assembly currently has a total membership of 338, comprising 207 adults and 131 children.
Three pioneering members; Mr. John Martin and Mrs. Esther John (now a deaconess), and Mrs. Martha Lenebey, are still alive and were present to witness the historic event.
Pastor Samuel Awuah, the Sawla District Minister and an Area Executive Committee Member, gave a short exhortation during the event on the topic: “Prayer Opens Doors.”
Using 1 Samuel 1:1-10 as scripture reference, Pastor Samuel Awuah noted that Hannah prayed at the temple, and the fervent prayer was answered by God.
He, therefore, urged members to make the house of God the house of prayer where their supplication will be laid bare before the Almighty.
Pastor Awuah noted that Hannah had been going to Shiloh yearly to be prayed for but that year she decided to pray for herself and seek the face of God.
He urged the members to learn from Hannah and believe that when they pray in the church, their prayers will be answered.
Pastor Awuah advised to desist from seeking spiritual help from ungodly sources but rather engage the Lord in prayer.
Dedicating the building, Pastor Frederick Obboh read from 1 Chronicles 7 and advised members to ensure that the church, which is the house of the Lord, is kept holy and neat for the Lord is Holy.
He emphasised that Solomon understood this concept and therefore took pains to furnish the temple he built with gold artifacts to the glory of God.
“In our days, the members, which is the body of Christ, is the temple, our lives, therefore, must reflect His glory in our daily endeavors,” he said.
Pastor Obboh noted this can be achieved when leaders and members alike make the house of God their dwelling and ensure the constant presence of God in the house through prayer and life-transforming church services.
The Area Head charged ministers and members to keep the house of God clean through effective maintenance and proper care and also by greening the environment to preserve nature and beautify the environment.
He thanked the leadership of the Church for the financial support towards the project, his predecessors for their commitment, and the entire membership for their hard work and dedication towards the project.
On his part, P/Overseer Solomon Dzitse, the District Minister for Sakpa, thanked his predecessor, Pastor Kwaku Amponsah, the Area Estate Committee, and leaders and members of the district for their support.
Report by Overseer Jones Dwomoh Amankwah (Mandari District)