LESSON NINE (9)
THE
CHURCH OF PENTECOST IN FOCUS
(HISTORY AND TENETS)
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST
The
Church of Pentecost, like most great institutions, started in a small way. The
Church’s beginnings are linked to the ministry of Pastor James McKeown
(1900-1989), an Irish missionary sent by the Apostolic Church, Bradford, UK to
the then Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1937 to help a group of believers of the
Apostolic Faith led by Rev. Peter Newman Anim (who later became the Founder of
Christ Apostolic Church) in a town called Asamankese.
Due
to doctrinal differences based on divine healing, the group split in 1939 into
the Christ Apostolic Church and the Apostolic Church, Gold Coast. The latter
saw great expansion under Pastor James McKeown. In 1953, a constitutional
crisis led to the founding of the Gold Coast Apostolic Church led by Pastor
James McKeown.
On
the attainment of independence by the country in 1957 and following the changes
of its name to Ghana, the Gold Coast Apostolic Church was renamed the Ghana
Apostolic Church. The split in 1953 did not end the crisis. New conflicts
compelled the then President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Dr. Kwame
Nkrumah, to advise the leadership of the Ghana Apostolic Church, to adopt a new
name in order to foster peace and harmony on the Pentecostal front. Therefore,
on August 1, 1962, the new name, The Church of Pentecost, legally replaced the
Ghana Apostolic Church. In Ghana as at 2012, the Church of Pentecost is the
fastest growing Church.
The
Church of Pentecost is a worldwide, non-profit-making Pentecostal church with
its headquarters in Accra, Ghana. As at (2012), the Church of Pentecost is
active in 86 countries in Africa, North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle
East with over 16,455 Assemblies (Local Congregations) with a total membership
of 2,252,228 worldwide. The
driving force behind the church's growth is the Lordship of Jesus Christ as the
Head and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
Currently 2012), the Church has seventy (79) basic Schools, one (1) Hospital
(Pentecost Hospital at Madina), seven (7) Clinics, two (2) Secondary Schools,
one (1) Technical Institution & two (2) Vocational Schools & a
University (Pentecost University College).
Vision Statement-Planting and nurturing healthy churches globally.
Mission Statement-The
Church of Pentecost exists to bring all people everywhere
to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through the proclamation of
the gospel, the planting of churches and the equipping of believers for every
God-glorifying service. It demonstrates the love of God through the provision
of social services in partnership with governments, communities and other
like-minded organizations.
GOVERNMENT
OF THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST
General Council-The
highest decision-making body of the Church is the General Council. The General Council
is made up of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and ordained Pastors of the
Church, Area Executive Committee members, National Heads, National Deacons,
National Secretaries, Trustees, Chairmen of Boards and Committees and Ministry
Leaders or Directors, National Executive Committee Members/National ITI PENSA
Coordinating Committee, Area Women’s Ministry Leaders in Ghana, Specialist,
Retired Ministers and other persons may be invited without voting rights.
The
Executive Council-The Executive Council is a nine (9)-member Committee of the
Church, and sees to the day-to-day administration of the Church. The Committee
is made up of the Chairman, the General Secretary, the International Missions
Director, One (1) Apostle/Prophet/National Head elected from the Francophone
Zone, One (1) Apostle/Prophet/National Head elected from the Anglophone Zone,
four (4) others elected from among the Apostles and Prophets in Ghana.
NOTE:
Please
help the members to know the names of the current Executive Council Members.
The
Area Presbytery-the Area Presbytery which is the coordinating and the
highest policy-making body in the Area is made up of the Area Head, Area
Executive members, All Area Ministry Leaders, their Assistants and Chairmen of
Area Committees, All District Executive Committee members, two (2) Deacons from
each District, three (3) Deaconesses from each District, all other serving
ministers and their wives in the Area. Retired officers and other persons may
be invited to attend without voting rights. The Area Executive Committee, which
is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Area, is a seven (7)-member
Committee and led by the Area Head. The Area Executive Committee is made up of
the Area Head as Chairman, the Area Secretary, two (2) ministers, the Area
Deacon, and two (2) Elders. In an Area where a Prophet is a District Minister,
he shall become an automatic member of the Committee.
NOTE: Please help
members know the names of the Area Executive Committee in the Area.
The
District Presbytery-The District Presbytery is the highest decision-making body
in the District and is made up of the District Minister, his wife, Elders,
Deacons and Deaconesses in the District and then District Ministry Leaders and
their Assistants. The District is headed by a seven (7)-member District
Executive Committee comprising the District Minister as the Chairman, the
District Secretary, Chairman of the District Finance Committee and four (4)
Elders. The District Executive Committee
shall be responsible for the administration of the Church in the District,
implementing the decisions of the Area Executive Committee and the Executive
Council.
NOTE: Please help
members know the names of the District Executive Committee.
The
Local Presbytery-the local
Presbytery is made up of the Minister, his wife, Elders, Deacons and
Deaconesses of the Local Assembly. Local Ministry Leaders who are not ordained
Officers shall be co-opted to the Local Presbytery where applicable but shall
have no voting rights. The Presiding
Elder shall preside over the Local Assembly in the absence of the District
Minister.
This
chain of command ensures there is both vertical and horizontal flow of
communication, thereby making implementation of policies and feedback very
vital ingredients of effective administration.
In addition, the Church’s official
magazine “Pentecost Fire” is published quarterly to educate church members
about events in the Church. It also shares the gospel with non-Christian
readers.
THE TENETS / BELIEFS OF THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST
1. The Bible: We believe in the divine inspiration
and authority of the Holy Scriptures. That the Bible is infallible in its
declaration, final in its authority, all-sufficient in its provisions and
comprehensive in its sufficiency (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
2.
The
One True God: We believe in
the existence of the One True God, Elohim, Maker of the whole universe;
indefinable, but revealed as Triune Godhead - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - one
in nature, essence and attributes; Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent (Genesis
1:1; Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 28:19; Genesis 1:26).
3. Man's Depraved Nature: We believe that: "all men have
sinned and come short of the glory of God;" are subject to eternal
punishment; and need repentance and regeneration (Genesis 3:1-19; Isaiah 53:6).
4. The Saviour: We believe that man's need of a
Saviour has been met in the person of Jesus Christ, because of His deity,
virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, resurrection and ascension; His
abiding intercession and second coming (John 8:46; 14:30; Colossians 1:15; 2
Corinthians 5:19; Romans 3:25; Acts 2:36; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Thessalonians
4:3).
5. Repentance, Justification,
Sanctification: We believe all men have to repent of
and confess their sins before God and believe in the vicarious death of Jesus
Christ to be justified before God. We believe in the sanctification of the believer
through the working of the Holy Spirit and in God's gift of Eternal Life to the
believer (Acts 2:38; Luke 15:7; Romans 4:25; 5:16; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1
Thessalonians 4:3).
6. The Sacraments of Baptism and the
Lord's Supper: We believe in the Sacrament of
Baptism by immersion as a testimony of a convert who has attained a responsible
age of about 13years (Luke 3:21; Mark 16:16). [Infants and children are not
baptised but are dedicated to the Lord] (Luke 2:22-24, 34; Mark 10:16). We
believe in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper which should be partaken of by
all members who are in full fellowship (Luke 22:19-20; Matthew 26:21-29; Acts
20:7).
7. Baptism, Gifts and Fruit of The Holy
Spirit: We believe in the Baptism of the
Holy Spirit for believers with signs following; and in the operation of the
gifts and the fruit of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers (1 Corinthians
12:8-11; Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; Galatians 5:22).
8. Next Life: We believe in the Resurrection of
both the saved and the unsaved; they that are saved to the resurrection of
life, and the unsaved to the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28-29; Daniel
12:2; Romans 2:7; 6:23; Acts 20:35).
9. Tithes and Offerings: We believe in tithing and in the
giving of free-will offerings towards the cause of carrying forward the Kingdom
of God. We believe that God blesses a cheerful giver (Malachi 3:10; Hebrews
7:1; Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35).
10. Divine Healing: We believe that the healing of
sickness and disease is provided for God's people in the atonement (Isaiah
53:4-5; Matthew 8:7, 17; Mark 16:18; James 5:14-16; Luke 13:10-16). The Church
is, however, not opposed to soliciting the help of qualified medical practitioners.
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