Strengthening ties with the Church of Pentecost
The Ghana-based Church of Pentecost keeps excellent records and is seeing astonishing growth, reports Michelle Nunn after her recent visit to their General Council session.
Each year two delegates from Elim’s National Leadership Team attend the Church of Pentecost’s General Council Meeting held at the end of April in their Conference facility near Accra, Ghana. A few weeks later they reciprocate, sending members of their Executive Team to attend our Elim Leaders’ Conference. This reflects a commitment between our two sister movements, whose ties have strengthened one another. This year Dominic De Souza and I had the privilege of attending.
Arriving late on Tuesday evening we were met with a torrential downfall and flooded roads, turning a 33km-drive into a three-hour journey. Nevertheless, we arrived late to a very warm welcome and comfortable rooms at COP’s 250-acre Pentecost Convention Centre which can accommodate 4,000 guests overnight and has many venues which seat varying congregations of up to 5,000 people.
During our stay we shared fellowship with the Executive Council members over meals and were made to feel exceptionally welcome.
There were three days of General Council meetings, and Dominic and I sat with the Executive Council on the stage, looking out upon the apostles, prophets, ministers and other representatives convening for the General Council. We were privileged to share greetings from the NLT and Elim Movement. Those attending were very interested in the news of increased water baptisms and church attendance in the UK, and excited at the thought of the ‘Quiet Revival’ taking place here.
In the afternoon sessions the General Superintendent, Samuel Gyay Obuobi, decided that I should not have to sit alone with all the men on stage, and they permitted Deaconess Professor Gladys Quartey to sit with me. In the Thursday and Friday meetings Dominic and I preached, sharing messages on Ephesians 4:1 following this year’s theme ‘Unleashed to live a life worthy of your calling’. Both messages were received well, and we were told that this was the first time that a woman would have preached at the General Council meeting. Within COP women have designated ministry roles, but do not pastor churches.
Church growth
It was a privilege to listen to the State of the Church address given by Apostle Eric Nyamekye which serves as the Executive Council’s stewarding report. We heard about the continued growth of COP evidenced by statistics and reports on soul-winning, water baptisms, church planting and baptisms in the Holy Spirit. As well as their social ministry which has prioritised supporting education, healthcare, access to clean water and livelihood empowerment for both individuals and communities. In addition, they celebrated the testimonies of significant healings, deliverances, and miracles ‒ some of which were documented in their conference reports.
They have 3,484 ministers worldwide, with 191 serving as missionaries. Of these, 1,988 ministers were based in Ghana collaborating with 170,886 officers comprising 55,490 Elders, 36,635 Deacons and 78,761 Deaconesses. In Ghana alone they have grown to 19,795 assemblies and 4,129,412 members, having grown by 6.4 per cent in 2024 (noted to be less favourable than the 7.9 per cent in 2023). Their Ghanaian membership accounts for 85.5 per cent of the members in the church.
Operating as one movement, members are working together to reach the lost and continue to plant new churches year by year. They are building a hospital and new headquarters in Accra and have built a fire station and police station near their conference centre. They are committed to transforming people’s lives and their nation. COP are having a global impact with 27,106 assemblies worldwide. They now have pastors and missionaries in 190 nations worldwide, having expanded into another 20 nations during 2024.
Outreach projects
In 2024 their outreach projects resulted in 432,470 souls won for the Lord; of these 351,981 chose to fellowship in the COP and 245,637 (69.8 per cent) were baptised in water. Significantly, the majority of their membership is under 35 years old, and they dedicated 119,920 children in 2024. COP are excellent at recording their growth and were able to explain how they gather and validate their data. Their testimony of fruitfulness is amazing.
Over the days attending the conference we were able to find out more about the culture of the movement, and arrangements for ministers. Unlike here, ministers receive a salary from the central office, have accommodation and transportation provided, plus health care. They move at the request of the Executive Council, generally every five years. Churches and ministers accept these postings, arranging relocations in a three-month window each year.
Theological studies
As well as the Conference we got to visit the headquarters, TV studios, and the Bible college facilities nearby to Accra. Interestingly, COP are committed to all their ministers studying theology at degree level. They have arrangements to support ministers and church members in undertaking study in theology but also secular studies. In addition, the teaching team are ministers posted to the Bible college who expect to return to church ministry and the mission field after this posting. On the Sunday we visited a church in Accra where Dominic preached, and I led the prayer ministrations.
Both Dominic and I have found this visit very inspiring. We came with a posture of wanting to listen, learn and fellowship and this time has been very enriching. We were very blessed with wonderful hospitality and grateful for the warmth of all those we met. I am hoping that we can develop the links between the college and the COP in Ghana and the UK and am considering how we can take some of our Church Leadership Track students out to experience their missional approach.
This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.