The Takoradi Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Joseph Kwame Assabil, on Sunday, August 30, 2020, commissioned and dedicated the Takoradi Air Force Worship Centre Mission House. The magnificent edifice was constructed at the total cost of GH¢ 725,717.15.
The Worship Centre was carved out of Takoradi District in 2018. In 2009, the then Air Force Base Commander, Air Vice Marshall Maxwell Mantsebi Tei Nagai (Rtd) gave the parcel of land to the Church to construct a church auditorium, part of which has been used to construct the mission house.
The sod-cutting ceremony to commence the construction of the project took place on February 4, 2018. It was performed by the then Area Head, Apostle Dr. Alfred Koduah, supported by Pastor Augustine Dorman Kantiampong, the then Takoradi District Minister, and Pastor Lt. Godswill Gatorwu, the Resident Minister.
Speaking at the service on the topic, “The Resilient Church, A glorious Church to Possess the Nations,” Apostle Lt. Col. B. G. Kumi-Woode, Deputy Director Religious Affairs – Ghana Armed Force, admonished Christians to be tough in pursuing the mission of Jesus Christ to possess the nations.
Reading from Acts 4:29-33; 2:42-47, he explained that the early church as a resilient church was able to hold themselves together amidst the challenges of their days.
“If the church is resilient no matter what they go through they will hold together,” he affirmed.
Apostle Lt. Col. Kumi-Woode indicated that the church was commissioned by Jesus Christ to be resilient even in hostile territories trusting that they will be victorious amidst every challenge they encounter.
He noted that a resilient church brings glory to God and pursues the mission that Christ has given to believers, stressing that despite the challenges that the church will be confronted with, they should not lose focus on the kingdom agenda.
“The early church grew and pursued kingdom agenda even in crises, they kept growing and increasing. In the midst of COVID-19, the church must continue to grow and the spirituality of believers must continue to enhance,” he indicated.
Touching on the principles that held the early church together, he indicated that strong bond of fellowship, demonstration of practical love by meeting the needs of one another, strong prayer life, evangelizing unreached territories through the sharing the word of God, upholding leadership and holding on to sound doctrines were the principles that held the believers together in challenging situations.
He used the opportunity to challenge Christians to emulate the lifestyle of the early church and strategize to work along their lines of resilience to possess the nations.
Reading a speech on behalf of the Base Commander, the Wing Commander Felix Kattah commended the Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye and the Executive Council for releasing funds to construct the project.
“Amazingly, this building represents the effort of Air Force and The Church of Pentecost to ensure continuity and shared vision of the military and religion and it is my hope that this effort would be emulated by other military churches in the barracks,” he indicated.
He admonished the church leadership to guide and nurture their members to develop a good maintenance culture for the mission house to have a longer life span to serve future generations.
Present at the ceremony were: Reverend Captain (GN) Paul Adjei Djan (The Director of Religious Affairs of the Ghana Armed Force), Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Commodore Samuel Walker who is also the Garrison Commander of the 2 Garrison, Reverend Major Francis Obodai Lokko (Chaplain, Western Naval Command), Wing Commander Felix Kattah (OC Flying Wing of the Air Force Base, Takoradi), Squadron Leader Yaw Nsiah-Boakye (OC Admin Wing, Air Force Base, Takoradi, Mrs. Rebecca Assabil (Wife of Takoradi Area Head of the Church), as well as Ministers and wives of the Church in Takoradi Area.
Report by Pastor Ernest Perbi-Asare, Assakae District.