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2020-State-Of-The-Church-Address STATE-OF-THE-CHURCH ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE CHAIRMAN, APOSTLE ERIC NYAMEKYE, AT THE OPENING SERVICE OF THE 45TH SESSION OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL MEETINGS HELD VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCING, ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021 1. SALUTATION The General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, The International Missions Director, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, Other Members of the Executive Council, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, our immediate-past Chairman, Apostle Dr Michael Kwabena Ntumy, our former Chairman, Reverend Chris Cartwright, General Superintendent, Elim Pentecostal Churches, Reverend David Campbell, Member, National Leadership Team, Elim Pentecostal Churches, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, National and Area Heads, Ministry Directors and Ministry Executive Committees, Ministers of the Church, Trustees of our dear Church, Chairmen of Committees and Boards, Elders’ Representatives, Women’s Representatives, Retired Ministers here present, Ladies and Gentlemen. 1 2020 State of the Church Address Aps. Eric Nyamekye 2. WELCOME It has been the will of God that for the second time running, we hold the General Council meetings virtually. This has been necessitated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still with us today. On behalf of the Executive Council, I warmly welcome you all to the opening service of the 45th session of the General Council Meetings of The Church of Pentecost. 3. APPRECIATION I take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation to God for His loving kindness towards His Church. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, He continues to prove Himself faithful. May His name be praised, now and forevermore. My appreciation also goes to the Executive Council members for their sustained commitment to the Church, especially in these difficult times. I would like to personally appreciate Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, the General Secretary, for his relentless support and dedication to the administration of the Church. Let me, at this point, pay a glowing tribute to Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, who brings his tenure of office as the International Missions Director to an end in August this year. Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, together with his wife, Elizabeth, have meritoriously and faithfully served this Church for 10 fruitful years as the International Missions Director. On behalf of the Executive Council and the entire Church, I say ayekoo to you, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo! Well done!! May the Lord continue to be with you as you take up your new role as an Area Head. I also express my appreciation to all Area and National Heads, Missionaries, Directors of Ministries, all other Ministers, Trustees, Chairmen and members of Boards and Committees for their sacrifices and love towards the work of the Lord. I pray that God will continue to bless you out of His glorious riches. The Management and Staff at the Headquarters and the various administrative Areas of the church are also highly appreciated for their hard work and commitment to duty. 2 2020 State of the Church Address Aps. Eric Nyamekye The officers of the church as well as the entire membership have been very resilient in their support, even during this pandemic. May the Lord of the church bless them and continue to be with them in all their endeavours. Dearly beloved, God has been very gracious in raising individuals in the Church who continue to provide massive support to the work of the ministry in various ways and forms. While many availed themselves to fast and pray incessantly for the Church, there were many others who also supported financially; some put up church buildings, bought parcels of land, or donated vehicles and evangelism equipment to the Church. In the main report, there is detailed information on individuals, Districts, Areas and Nations who supported some sectors of the Church. For the purpose of this address, I would like to acknowledge a few of them: ● Elder Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong (Executive Chairman, Jospong Group of Companies) of Teshie Nungua Area; Elder Dr. Nana Samuel Amo Tobbin (Executive Chairman, Tobinco Group of Companies) of La Area; Elder Prince Amoah of Kwadaso Area, Elder Nana K. Gyasi of Suame Area, Elder Samuel Fredua Agyemang of Teshie Nungua Area, Deaconess Mrs. Eunice Asuma-Hinneh of Teshie-Nungua Area and Elder Patrick Danso of Kaneshie Area continued to support the Church in the payment of tithes and making other financial commitments, including the putting up of church buildings and mission houses and purchasing of vehicles. ● A businessman, Mr. Isaac Kwame Antwi and his wife, Alexandria, who are not members of the Church, single-handedly put up and fully furnished a 700-seater auditorium for the Nchiraa Central Assembly in the Kintampo Area. They also supported the construction and furnishing of the District Mission House. These amounted to a total of 2.5 million Ghana Cedis. ● A businessman, Mr. Stephen Agyarko who is a member of Wenchifie Assembly in Wenchi District, Sunyani, also single-handedly put up a church building for Ahwene Local Assembly in Chiraa District at a total cost of GHS149,529.50. ● Elder Eric Addai, the Presiding Elder of Mamprobi Central Assembly (Dansoman Area), sold two of his petrol tankers for GHS300,000.00 and donated the entire amount to support the Mamprobi Central church building project. 3 2020 State of the Church Address Aps. Eric Nyamekye ● Mrs. Adjoa Konadu of Kumasi donated a total amount of GHS250,000.00 to support the construction of the Kokofu central church building in Ashanti Bekwai Area. ● Mr. Yaw Amponsah Marfo and his family donated GHS200,000.00 to the Sepe Central Assembly in Buokrom District, New Tafo Area, for the purchase of chairs and evangelical gadgets. They also donated other items and cash worth GHS25,000.00 to support widows and the aged in the District. ● Deaconess Joana Yeboah donated GHS143,735 and 40 exotic chairs worth GHS8,800 to the A-Lang Worship Centre, Odorkor Area, in support of their church building project. ● Prophet James Osei Amaniampong of Asokwa Area and his wife, Georgina, committed their three months’ salary (April to June) to provide one hot meal to feed 1,500 members and non-members within selected communities in Asokwa Area during the lockdown period. ● Brother Jerry Nyamekye of PIWC-Atomic fed 1,000 needy persons living within the Dome Parakuo community in Accra continuously for two weeks during the lockdown. ● Mr. Emmanuel and Mrs. Esther Sackey donated a white Mercedes Benz ML 350 valued at $20,000.00, an HP Desktop Computer, an HP Laserjet Pro 400 Printer and two beds to the Church in Zimbabwe to be used for the work of God. ● Apostle Augustus Martey Asemnor and the Washington Region of USA, purchased a seven-seater Toyota ISIS for Montego Bay District in Jamaica. ● Elder Samuel and Deaconess Abena Pobee of Tanzania donated an eight-seater passenger Toyota vehicle to PIWC (Tanzania) to be used for evangelistic activities at the universities and other catchment areas. ● Elder Moses Nii Otoo Ankrah of Dansoman Area gave a cash donation of US$11,000 as support to the Church in Uganda. ● Bro. David Stanly, brother of Aps. James Raj donated US$7,000.00 to India as support to the Church. ● PIWC-Graceland made donations to some Nations, Areas, Districts and Assemblies, amounting to GH¢2,267,563.00. On behalf of the Executive Council and the entire Church, I express my profound appreciation to all these benefactors. 4 2020 State of the Church Address Aps. Eric Nyamekye 4. STATE OF THE CHURCH ADDRESS This State of the Church Address provides a report of our stewardship for the year 2020. It includes highlights of our achievements under the various intervention areas of the Church’s Vision 2023 agenda of “Possessing the Nations”, as well as all major developments that took place in the reporting year. 4.1 General Overview Despite the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 witnessed appreciable number of activities at all levels of the Church, in pursuit of the Vision 2023 agenda. The Church, within the period, opened 746 new Assemblies worldwide and created 124 Districts. A total of 195,636 souls were won with 99,120, representing 50.7%, baptised in water. The Church’s overall membership grew by 4.3%. To the glory of God, the Church, during the period, also recorded healings, deliverances from satanic oppression and several miracles, giving the indication that God was and is at work in His Church. 4.2 Headquarters Administration As at December 2020, there were 402 non-ministerial staff on the official payroll of the Church. This number was made up of 226 employees at the Area offices and 176 at the Head Office. All departments within the administrative setup at the Church’s Headquarters performed creditably well in the period under review, even though, they operated under strict restrictions. 5 2020 State of the Church Address Aps. Eric Nyamekye Twelve workers at the Headquarters were retired during the reporting year. These were as follows: S/N Name of Officer Yrs. Served 1 Rebecca Kissiedu 37 2 Selina Osei-Owusu 35 3 Arnold Henox Doh 31 4 John K. Anderson 28 5 Emmanuel Parker 25 6 Isaac Owusu Yeboah 22 7 Thomas Oppong Nyame 22 8 Edward Y. Atakora 21 9 Noah Yao Adonu 17 10 Stephen Yeboah 16 11 John Sumani Nyonaah 13 12 Samuel Baffour Awuah 13 They served for periods ranging from 13 to 37 years. We thank them for their services to the Church and wish them well in their retirement. 4.3 Worldwide Membership Growth As at December 2020, The Church of Pentecost operated in 109 nations (including Ghana), with a total membership of 3,623,011, recording a growth rate of 4.3% over the previous year.
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