HISTORY OF PENSA: LESSONS FOR FUTURE REFLECTIONS

COMPILED FROM A PRESENTATION BY APS. PROF. PETER OHENE KYEI

WHY PENSA EMERGED  In the 1970s more and more sons and daughters of the Church entered into secondary and tertiary institutions for higher education. The following situations ensued:

 1. The Church was not ready to receive and integrate its own children into its institution which had nurtured them from childhood.  2. Although the emerging breed of students loved their church and the spiritual warmth which she offered, they were compelled by the circumstances in which they found themselves to drift to other fellowships where they would gain acceptance.

WHY PENSA EMERGED CONT’D

 3. The unfortunate side effects that secular education has had on the spiritual standing of the so-called elite members of our churches was enormous.  4. Teenagers who had just passed through the Sunday School system of the church into secondary schools were confronted with the realities of the freedom of being away from home and out of the supervision of parents.

THE REALITY OF THE PROBLEM

 Though Pentecostalism was producing a healthy influence over the less educated segment of the population, it virtually had no impact on the higher institutions of learning.

• Up to about 1976, for example, there was no Pentecostal Fellowship in any of the three Universities of the country.

• Pentecostalism was simply made unattractive to the elite.

HOW COULD THIS PROBLEM BE ARRESTED ?

 Fortunately for the church God presented the vision.

• In Kumasi Apostle J. C Quaye of blessed memory from about 1969 started gathering students and inspiring them to keep to the faith.

• In 1974, the late Apostle A. T. Nartey also started organizing the students at Cape Coast especially during vacations and gave them fatherly encouragement to keep the faith.

HOW COULD THIS PROBLEM BE ARRESTED CONT’D?

 • The need for students’ wing of the Church was, therefore somehow borne in the minds of many. • In 1976, the campus of the University of Ghana Legon, witnessed the formation of the Legon Pentecostals Union (LPU) as the first ever Pentecostal fellowship on any University campus (Spearheaded by Bros Larkai and Kyei etc.)

HOW COULD THIS PROBLEM BE ARRESTED CONT’D?  • In 1978 some members of the Church at the University of Science and Technology organized themselves into a Church of Pentecost Students Group which adopted the name ‘Pentecost Students Association’ whereas the Legon Pentecostals Union embraced members of other churches of the Ghana Pentecostal Council.

• That same year it was firmly decided after some discussions between Brothers J. S. Gyimah, Peter Ohene Kyei & J. A. Larkai that concrete steps should be taken to establish a students’ movement within the church to cater for the challenges of students.

HOW COULD THIS PROBLEM BE ARRESTED CONT’D?

 The first General Secretary of the Church, Reverend J. Egyir-Paintsil who had actively followed the work of the Legon Fellowship, was contacted by the three brothers and the idea was fully discussed with him. • Rev. Egyir-Paintsil carried the discussion further on the need for the establishment of the student movement in the Church and the Greater Accra regional Presbytery accepted the idea at one of its meetings held at Abossey Okai, Accra. • The presbytery readily agreed to finance a Delegates meeting estimated to cost Two thousand five hundred cedis (¢2,500).

HOW COULD THIS PROBLEM BE ARRESTED CONT’D?  • Elder J. E. K. Antiri, an educationist who proved a real life wire for PENSA was by the grace of God appointed as such as a Mentor and Leader. • A delegates meeting was thus convened at Accra Academy on 21st to 23rd August 1979 under the chairmanship of Elder J E. K Antiri . • At this meeting PENSA was formalized and an interim National Committee was set up to plan a National Conference in 1980 where PENSA would be formally inaugurated and a National Executive elected.

HOW COULD THIS PROBLEM BE ARRESTED CONT’D?

 On 23rd August, 1980 a General Conference was held at Prempeh College, Kumasi

• About 800 participants were in attendance, a constitution was promulgated and PENSA formally inaugurated.

• At the 18th session of the General Council, (1981) the Church unanimously accepted the movement.

THE BIRTH OF PENSA

 • PENSA was thus born on 23rd August 1980. • Interest in the movement spread through out the country with the active support and participation of many pastors and elders. • Unfortunately for PENSA, and for the Church within a year of its formation PENSA ran into a series of serious difficulties:

1. The leadership of PENSA ran into the problems of suspicion from some members of the Church and the pastorate.

PENSA FORMATION CONT’D

 2. Among the ranks of many of the pastors, elders and indeed the Witness Movement Leadership some suspicions started breeding that the PENSA members could use their educational background to maneuver the church leadership in various ways.

3. In the unfortunate ensuing situation many of the Associate members lost interest in the group and never returned to the fold of PENSA.

CONFERENCES

 The hallmark of PENSA activities were the biennial regional and national conferences which were characterised by spiritually edifying programmes. • The following National Conferences have been held: • 1980 Prempeh College, Kumasi • 1982 Ghana Secondary School, Koforidua • 1985 Wesley College, Kumasi, Theme: Come, Go and Tell • 1987 University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Theme: The Holy Spirit and You • 1990 Aburi Girls Secondary School, Aburi; Theme: The Unchanging God

By 1990 the records indicated that almost every secondary school in the country has been visited by PENSA at least once.

PROGRESS OF PENSA

 Literacy classes were organized by PENSA on a very modest scale and it yielded many graduates who were now able to read the Bible on their own. • Hundreds of students and associates of the church who would have been lost either to the world or to false doctrines have been retained in the faith. • Many overseas branches of the church were pioneered and actively supported by PENSA brethren abroad.

THE PENSA NATIONAL BODY  Vibrant PENSA groups began to spring up in several tertiary institutions including Polytechnics, Teacher/Nursing Training colleges, etc.  Therefore, there was the need to have leadership to spearhead activities of all PENSA groups at the national level.  The Coordinating Team System was then implemented. The team had the responsibility of planning and organizing regional and national conferences.  The national leadership and host institution rotated between the then three traditional universities ie. University of Ghana, KNUST and UCC.  After 1992, national conferences were held every year.  The conference was dubbed the I.T.I PENSA Conference since it was mainly patronized by tertiary students  However, between the year 2011 and 2013, the number of Pre-Tertiary (secondary school) students who attended the I.T.I PENSA conference was steadily increasing.  This informed leadership to reconsider the name I.T.I PENSA to PENSA Ghana, in order to capture all students at the various levels of education.  In the advent of the creation of more sectors, the leadership at the national level is rotated among sectors instead of institution  Venue for hosting the conference in 2014 was permanently moved from the campuses to the Pentecost Convention Centre due to difficulties in getting venues to host the conference.

PRESENT DAY PENSA  Currently, PENSA is active in more than 145 Tertiary institutions in Ghana and numerous SHSs and has an estimated membership of 98,128  The ‘PENSA idea’ has spread from Ghana to many countries in the world where it continues to impact the lives of young people, keeping them on fire for the Lord.  Thus, PENSA has become an active and cherished wing of the Church of Pentecost.  Due to the increasing numbers, PENSA Ghana has been divided into 16 sectors, each with a Travelling Secretary, for effective administration. This was not so in the early days, and we give glory to the Lord for what He is doing.  The 16 sectors: Greater Accra, Upper Volta, Lower Volta, Central, Winneba, Takoradi, Tarkwa, Koforidua, Suhum, Asokwa, Kwadaso, Mampong, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West sectors.

THE IMPACT OF PENSA IN THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY

By the grace of God, PENSA is not only impacting lives in the church, it is also touching lives in our societies as well. These are being done in numerous ways:  Massive evangelism, with signs and wonders, winning souls whose lives are made better and beneficial to the church and the community. With this, many assemblies in CoP have been opened.  The transforming of many young people’s spiritual lives through effective teaching, prayers and discipleship and the raising of leaders who continue to raise high the banner of Christ and the church. This is evident by the numerous officers and Ministers of the church who have had training in PENSA.

THE IMPACT OF PENSA IN THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY

 The organization of the PENSA conference, which is one of the biggest youth gatherings in Ghana, at which many people’s lives are made better.  Seminars and sessions where PENSA members are empowered for business. This is evident by the numerous PENSA alumni who are making giant strides in the corporate world.  Visits and donations to needy people, eg, prisoners and orphanages.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES AIMS  To foster interaction among members within and outside the various campuses.  For proper integration of students and alumni into the Church of Pentecost (The Church).  To help establish PENSA in all Pre-Tertiary (Senior High, vocational, technical, etc.) and Tertiary Institutions.  To curb the drift of students and ALUMNI into other churches.  To help gather resources for field and missionary work.  To ensure effective communication between the Church and the Group, as well as within the Group.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

OBJECTIVES  To organize programmes to meet the needs and taste of members in the Tertiary institutions, such as conferences, Joint Evangelistic Crusades, Seminars, Workshops, Orientation for National Service Personnel.  To promote the establishment of the Alumni for effective integration into the Church and to help finance programmes.  To provide assistance to members of the Church in second cycle institutions in the form of Seminars, Crusade, Vacation Classes, and Career Guidance etc. to inspire, motivate and encourage such members.