The 2021/22 batch of ministerial students were on Friday, July 15, 2022, commissioned into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost on probation at a commissioning service held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.
The students, comprising 115 Ghanaians and 12 others from nine different countries (Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Gambia, India, Cape Verde and Madagascar), have successfully completed the first phase of a ministerial formation course at the School of Theology Mission and Leadership (STML) at the Pentecost University (PU).
The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, in a brief address, urged the newly-commissioned ministers not to be dismayed by the uncertainty of the future because the Lord has already gone ahead of them to their respective stations.
He assured them that the Lord is with them even as they depart for the field, hence they are destined for exploits, saying: “This may be your best gift to your generation. Therefore, be the catalyst that facilitates the agenda of God in the world as we possess the nations together.”
Apostle Nyamekye further stated that the church would continue to invest heavily in training ministers to adequately equip them to deal with the challenges of the times.
“The world is becoming more complex by the day, and we need to train ministers to be equally complex to deal with these complexities,” he said.
The Chairman also urged church members to pray for the new ministers and support them in every way possible to succeed in ministry.
In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Apostle Prof. Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, commended the newly-commissioned ministers for the hard work during the preliminary training of their theological education.
He also lauded their contribution towards the success of some of the university’s activities.
“You were exceptional in the Pentecost University student recruitment exercises in our churches and the communities. Not only that, your contribution towards the success of the PU offering and The Church of Pentecost Chairman’s Education Foundation (COPCEF) was also great!” he said.
The Head of the Department of Ministerial Formation, STML, Apostle Dr. Samuel Ofori, in a short sermonette, said that as ministers, they have been enlisted in the army of God and given the mandate to protect the flock from the enemy.
Alluding to various Bible references, he mentioned the flesh, the world and the devil as the three principal enemies that ministers must guard themselves and the members against.
He, therefore, urged newly-commissioned ministers to defend the Christian faith at all times, protect the flock entrusted to their care and redeem captives from bondage.
The event was attended by some Executive Council members of the Church, namely Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe (International Missions Director), Apostle Samuel Osei Asante (Koforidua Area Head), Apostle Dr. Dela Quampah (Ho Area Head), Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh (Director, Pentecost Men’s Ministry) and Prophet David Kankam Beditor (Ashaiman Area Head).
Pastor Prof. William Otoo Ellis (Chairman, PU Council), Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Anim (Pro-Vice Chancellor, PU and STML Director), Most Rev. Aboagye Mensah (Head of Research, STML), Apostle Dr. Christian Tsekpoe (Head, Department of Missions, STML), Rev. Dr. Justice Arthur (Head, Department of Theology, STML), Rev. Dr. Victor Zizer (Head, Department of Ministerial Formation, STML) and other staff of the university were also in attendance.
Also present to witness the commissioning ceremony were officers, ministers and wives within and outside the church as well as relatives and friends who had come to support the newly-commissioned ministers.
Joining the service via Zoom, Apostle Dr. Elorm Donkor, the Principal of the Birmingham Christian College, UK, and Apostle Dr Mbanyane Mhango, Principal of the Pentecost Bible Seminary, USA, also conveyed fraternal greetings and congratulatory messages to PU and the newly-commissioned ministers, respectively.
The commissioning service was formally held to recognise and affirm the call of new ministerial entrants into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost as they prepare to commence field-work.
The event, however, did not mark an end of their training but the completion of the first phase of a four-year Bachelor of Theology programme designed to provide them with a grounding in Biblical and Theological Studies and associated disciplines.
PENTECOST NEWS.