Zoe Pentecostal marks 20th Year Anniversary

A special service to mark the 20th Year Anniversary of Zoe Pentecostal Mission International Church in Italy was held in Parma.
The Church with eight branches in Italy located at Parma, Reggio Emilia, Mantova, Lodi, Milan, Cremona, Turin and Monza, witnessed a large congregation at the service as members travelled from its various cities to celebrate the occasion.
With a congregation made up of mostly Ghanaians and Nigerians, the typical costume from the two countries was inevitable on the occasion and that gave it a special glamour. Whilst the Ghanaian women blazed it with their traditional ‘kaba’ wears, their Nigerian ‘sisters’ welcomed it with their special expensive lace outfits embellished with exotic headgears – some of the sizes often blocking view from behind. But it was all worth the sort for the few Italians present - apart from enjoying the service; they got their eyes full with striking images of the African woman on such occasions. There was great joy, dancing and praises to God, as never before, as the Church’s musical group exhilarated the congregation to the hilt playing some of their favourite songs, both from Ghana and Nigeria – amazingly the Nigerians in the group were singing Ghanaian songs in the local dialects.
The General Overseer and Founder of the Church, Bishop (Dr.) Michael Tayo Adenitire, expressed his profound gratitude to the church members charging them to continue to show their love for Jesus Christ because His second coming is near.
He paid special tribute to the pioneers of the Church which started in Parma in 1991 and said their contribution and sacrifice is what has brought Zoe Mission Pentecostal Mission to what it is today with an increasing membership within the Africans Communities in Italy. The Church, he added, has a Bible Institute in the training of Pastors and Leaders in the Ministry for the Kingdom of God. As part of the celebration two Pastors: Rev. (Mrs.) Mabel O. Adenitire (from Peculiar People’s Assembly - Parma) and Rev. Solomon Ade Modupe (from Rhema Assembly – Reggio Emilia) both received an Honourary Doctorate and were charged with the duty as Vice Gen. Overseers of the Church. Also awarded an Honourary Doctorate is Rev. (Mrs.) Feliicia O. Modupe (from Rhema Assembly in Reggio Emilia).
Under this ceremony which took center stages of the day’s event, four other Pastors of the Church were ordained Reverend Ministers: Pastor Benjamin Abiram (Revival Assembly – Milan), Pastor Abebo MacCarthy (Glorious People Assembly – Turin), Pastor Uche Nwachukwu (Victory Assembly – Lodi) and Pastor Maxwel Asare (New Life in Christ Assembly – VM. Monza).
Before preaching the sermon, Rev. (Dr.) John Ernest Amponsah of New Life Pentecostal Ministry International in Vicenza commended the Founder of the Church for his initiative and vision saying that vision has opened the way for many Pentecostal Churches within the communities of Africans in Italy. In his ‘Word of Exhortation’ he charged the Reverend Ministers conferred with Honourary Doctorates and the newly ordained Rev. Ministers not to be carried away by their positions but to continue to serve God with diligence, exhorting them against the devil who will attempt to sway their course.
He also advised members of the church not to carry themselves too long in the celebration but focus on God and His message.
Speaking on the theme for the Anniversary: ‘Thy Kingdom Come’, Rev. (Dr.) Amponsah said in the Kingdom of God there is a King and His name is Jesus Christ and that there are rules in the Kingdom. Many men of God, he mentioned, has put aside the message of the Kingdom of God. “When the Word of God is preached undiluted, demons will flee. We must let the Lord be the center of our life, family, business,” he told the congregation. In his 30-minute sermon he re-echoed his words on Christians living a Holy Life. “Holiness means be just and upright before God, without holiness it’s impossible to please God. When you serve God in the midst of difficulties God will not disappoint you. God is a God of patience who works in miraculous ways,” he added.
The service was also marked with special songs in Italian and the youths took part of the time to entertain the congregation with some quick-steps dances.
- Reggie Tagoe in Parma, Italy.