Founding of the Church

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 one Peter Newman Anim 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.

 

Mission Statement

The San Bernardino Assembly like all other Church of Pentecost assemblies 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.

 

Administration

Secretariat

Located directly under the office of the General Secretary, this department handles all official communication emanating from and coming into the Head Office.
Members of this department include the Chairman and the General Secretary and their own secretaries, as well as other staff working in the two offices.

 

General Services Department

The department supervises catering and security personnel and manages the Church’s utility facilities and services, e.g., water, telephone and official buildings.

 

Audio Visual Department (Pentmedia)

This department not only records activities in the Church on video and audio tapes for sale and posterity, it also produces teaching materials for radio and television. It uses state-of-the art equipment for editing and sophisticated audio visual production.

 

Estates Department

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).

 

Public Relations Department

The department handles the public relations issues of the Church as well as publishes the Church’s quarterly official magazine, the Pentecost Fire, etc.

 

Finance Department

The department monitors the Church’s income and expenditure patterns, bearing in mind stated priorities and the overall goals of the Church. It also prepares periodical cash flow statements in order to give the Church’s General Council informed pictures of the Church’s finances.

 

Pentecost Press Limited (PPL)

PPL is the printer of the Church. It is a limited liability company with the responsibility of carrying out the Church’s printing jobs as well as doing private commercial jobs to enable it pay staff and use returns for expansion.
Church jobs handled by the PPL include diaries, calendars, Pentecost Fire magazine, Movement syllabi, Song books, Ministers’ Manual, cash books, marriage certificates, child dedication cards, etc.
PPL is located at Odorkor in the West of Accra and can be accessed on: 233-21-314785; 233-21-315784; 233-21-315782.
The Church is, however, not opposed to soliciting the help of qualified medical practitioners.

 

Human Resource Department

The department is responsible for the personnel functions of the Church.
Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS)
This semi-autonomous organisation manages the Church’s educational institutions, healthcare services (hospitals and clinics), vocational schools and farms.
It also manages the Church’s donations to the needy as well as other aspects of the Church’s social engineering policy.
PENTSOS is located outside the Head Office premises at Odorkor on the outskirts of Accra and can be reached on 233-21-315810-2; 233-21-304785.

 

Radio & Television Department

The ministry produces religious broadcasts in English and selected Ghanaian languages for evangelism through radio. It also produces tracts for distribution and holds counselling sessions for seekers.

 

Statistics/Records Department

Statistics/Records Department This department undertakes collating of data on all-facetes of the church’s life, such as membership, souls won and baptised in particular periods, ministers’ personal records, movable and immovable property, projects, etc.
Such data are then processed and made available for planning and decision making.

 

Transport Department

The department handles the purchase and maintenance of official vehicles. It also undertakes commercial construction of canopies, steel gates, and burglar proofs for sections of the church on request.

 

Internal Audit Department

The department sees to the judicious application of the Church’s material, financial and human resources in line with the Church’s stated goals.