Religion of Friday, 3 May 2024

Source: starrfm.com.gh

Over 11,000 sex workers, drug addicts reformed by Church of Pentecost in 2023

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost

A total of 11,142 commercial sex workers and drug addicts are believed to have been reformed by The Church of Pentecost in 2023 under its Home and Urban Mission (HUM) project.

The figure comprises 1,069 commercial sex workers and 10,073 drug addicts.

HUM is a ministry of the Church with the goal of reaching out to all marginalized and unreached groups with the gospel.

Presenting the State of the Church Address, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost Apostle Eric Nyamekye said 38,102 outreaches were carried out in the year under review by the Home and Urban mission, with 43,308 souls won.

“The souls won were made up of 1,069 commercial sex workers, 2,584 street dwellers, 10,073 drug addicts, 15,877 Northerners in the South, 1,777 African migrants, 272 expatriates, 836 Fulani, 163 Kotokoli, and 4,366 others”. Apostle Eric Nyamekye said.

The total membership population of The Church of Pentecost as of December 2023, was 3,864,355 in Ghana alone, representing a growth of 7.4% of the previous figure, while worldwide membership hits 4,534,644.

Beyond its spiritual outreach, the church has made a substantial impact in education, health, and economic empowerment.

The various Districts, Areas, and Ministries in Ghana, together with the headquarters of the Church, spent GHS14,281,540.13 to sponsor the educational pursuits of members of the Church at various levels.

A total of one hundred and three (103) basic schools, two (2) Senior High Schools, and two Vocational training institutes with a total student population of 35,468 and a staff strength of 2,184 operated across the country under the Church.

During the year under review, four new health facilities were under construction and at different stages of completion.

These facilities are located in Teshie Praso and Ohene Nkwanta in the Konongo Area, Kumbangre in the Bolga Area and Asuadei in the Abuakwa Area.

A newly constructed Community Clinic in Abesiwa was commissioned bringing the total number of health facilities built by the church to 11.

The church also spent over seven (7) million cedis on health support for its members.

According to the Apostle Nyamekye, the interventions that covered a variety of socio-economic spheres of life included the construction and commissioning of an ultramodern Children’s Ward at the Kade Government Hospital, costing GH¢370,642.55.

Cumulatively, in the past five years (2019—2023), The Church of Pentecost also provided 193 water facilities to deprived communities (towns and villages), institutions (schools, prisons, police stations, and health facilities), and mission houses in Ghana. These facilities serve over 100,000 people.

For employment and economic growth, the Church established a coconut oil factory at Adansi Atwereboa community in Adansi District in the Assin Foso Area, Central Region at the cost of GH¢95,000.00 in 2023.

The Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, Ghana (FGBMFI-Ghana), this year, awarded The Church of Pentecost the Social Impact award - Church category, acknowledging the Church’s outstanding societal impact and significant contributions to national development.