Canada
Canada
In September 1990, the then Elder Emmanuel Owusu Bediako, Presiding Elder of the Church of Pentecost New York, visited his wife Faustina who was living with Mr. Kusi Akyampong (her brother) in Toronto. During the visit, Elder Bediako enquired about the possibility of starting a prayer fellowship of Church of Pentecost members in Toronto.
The news went out and within hours, they managed to get eleven people for the initial meeting which was held in Mr. Kusi-Akyampong’s residence at 50 Trudelle St. in Scarborough . The message that day was given by Elder Bediako and taken from Acts 2:46-47: And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
That day, a sister, Doris Sackey, gave her life to the Lord.
At the second meeting, three prophecies came saying the church would spread rapidly through Canada and that souls would be added each day the church met. Interim leaders were elected.
Within a month, the membership grew to 30 and as the meeting place was no longer big enough, they moved to a meeting room at Mel Lastman Square, formerly North York City Hall at Yonge/Finch. Here, the good God who has promised to build His church graciously added to their number. Now a hundred strong, they moved to Newtonbrook Secondary School (Bathurst and Steeles in Thornhill) because of limited space and restrictions on their times of worship.
From here too, they moved to the Christian Centre (Jane/Driftwood) in 1991 where attendance averaged a hundred and fifty.
In 1991, Montreal assembly, led by Elder Emmanuel Anthony Owusu with support from Toronto leadership, was also opened .
All this time, the Church in Canada was under New York District for administrative purposes and were attending Presbytery Meetings there. In March 1991, the Head Office in Accra sent Pastor A. K. Awuah to take charge of the churches in U.S.A and Canada.
Few brethren in the Toronto branch could travel to the USA for conventions because of they did not have their immigration papers. Elder Kwame Antwi, Mr. Ebenezer Yeboah Ekuban, Bro. Emmanuel Ntiri, and Eld. Kusi –Ackyampong and Elder Joseph Ameyaw represented Toronto at such meetings. At the 1991 Easter Convention, the meeting agreed to hold the 1991 Christmas Convention in Toronto so that brethren there could benefit from it. Thus the first Christmas Convention in Canada was held at the Ramada Inn Hotel on Wilson Ave. in North York in 1991.
The 1991 Christmas Convention brought brethren from all over the USA and International Executive Council members from Ghana including: Prophet M. K. Yeboah (then Chairman), Apostle Opoku Onyinah (then I.M.D.), Apostle Ato Addison (then General Secretary) and Apostle B. K. Arthur. Many were ordained officers at the Convention, including Kusi-Acheampong and Ben Amponsah as elders; Eric Boateng, George and Rockson Amoh as deacons. The Convention was a big success. Several souls came to Christ.
The visit of the international Executive members helped to resolve several internal conflicts that were brewing up amongst the leaders.
After the Convention, the visiting International Executive Council Members advised the church to start a branch in Scarborough. Thus Elder Dan Amponsah and Elder Ben Amponsah were put in charge of the Scarbrough assembly while Elders Asman, Joseph Ameyaw, and Kusi Akyampong cared for the North York branch. Later an assembly was opened in Peel headed by Eld. Asman, and Eld. Amo.
In 1991, it became necessary with the opening of Montreal Assembly to have a national office. Elder Kwame Antwi and Elder Ben Amponsah were made the National Secretary and National Deacon respectively. Deaconess Adjei-Baffour, National Women’s Leader. Deacon Eric Boateng and Sister Janet Kwarteng were appointed as leaders for the children’s Sunday School (Children’s Movement), Deacon Daniel Lomotey was appointed the Witness Leader.
From the Christian Centre, the church moved to Emery Collegiate in North York in early 1992 because they were locked out one day as they were going to worship. Conditions were not favorable at Emery either so a place was leased a place at 4265 Weston Road at Weston/Steeles which helped members to meet at their convenient times.
Realizing that, the church would grow faster with a Resident Pastor, brethren made a request to the Head Office in Accra for a pastor. Apostle Alex Osei-Bonsu was sent to Canada in November 1992 to head the church.
On assuming office, Apostle Osei-Bonsu brought all the assemblies together in North York with a view of building a strong central church. The Movements were strengthened and officers appointed for them. The Hannah Prayer Group was established where couples seeking children were prayed for and by God’s grace, many were blessed with many children, including twins. National Council Meetings were held annually as well as Officers’ Retreats. He also ordained Rev. Lomotey Engmann as Overseer and sent him to Montreal to head the church there. Membership increased a hundred fold when Evangelist Owusu Tabiri was invited for crusades. As the church in Toronto was growing at a fast rate, it acquired the current facilities at 2256 Sheppard Avenue West and 16 Arrow Road in North York. A mission house and two vans were also acquired for the church.
Under Apostle Osei-Bonsu’s leadership, the church grew tremendously, opening branches in Hamilton, Vancouver, and Ottawa, Scarborough and Mississauga. An English Assembly was started in 1995 and Elder Emmanuel Anthony Owusu was called as overseer as Toronto District Overseer.
The first North American Holy Ghost Convention was held in Toronto in September 1996 and drew brethren from all over Canada, the United States, Europe, and Ghana. The church fostered fellowship with the Canada Christian College, whose president’s wife, Mrs. Jennifer McVety, is a niece of Pastor James Mckeown, founder of the Church of Pentecost.
The Church in 1997 had seven Assemblies, namely Toronto, Scarborough, Mississauga, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Hamilton. Total membership was 2265 including 1595 adults and 669 children. There were 1 Apostle, two Pastors, two field assistants, 18 Elders, 20 Deacons and 26 Deaconesses.
In December 1997, Apostle Kwesi Ackah-Baidoo was sent to Canada to replace Apostle Osei-Bonsu who had been transferred to the U.S.A. Apostle Ackah-Baidoo also continued church planting, breaking new grounds in Calgary, Winnipeg, Edmonton, London Ontario, and Kingston. Elders James Mckeown Quainoo and Alex-Gyamera were ordained as overseers in 1999. Overseer Christian Popo-Ola, Overseer Joseph Fynn Sackey and Overseer Ransford Obeng-Gyamfi (initially called in Germany) were called into the full-time ministry in 2002.
Beside the spiritual growth of the Church, Apostle Ackah-Baidoo also undertook various infrastructural developments including the renovation of the National Head Office building which has become a multipurpose facility with a Banquet Hall, an auditorium/sanctuary, Conference Halls, School, and many offices. He supervised the sale of the old National Mission House and acquired a new one in 2003. Beside the National Mission House, the Church also acquired three Mission Houses in Brampton, Montreal and Vancouver. In addition, the church had seven Church buildings including the recently renovated Mckeown Worship Center at North York, Scarborough, Hamilton, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and London.
Through his love for missions work, Apostle Kwesi Ackah Baidoo became the first missionary in Canada to spearhead the planting of the Church of Pentecost in Guyana and Brazil, in South America. In 2003, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Anthony Owusu, Vancouver District Pastor, became the first missionary sent out of Canada when he was appointed as National Head for France. The Church under Aps. Ackah-Baidoo also fostered a good relationship and partnership between the Canada Christian College in Toronto and the Pentecost University College, Ghana, resulting in the granting of Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) Degrees to graduates of the Pentecost University College from this year.
In July 2004, the Church had a total membership of 3, 621 including 2, 497adults and 1, 124 children. Overseers George Amon and Lawrence Manu were ordained in June 2004. There were three pastors, one tent minister, five overseers, 49 elders, 65 deacons and 70 deaconesses.
In November 2004, Apostle Kwesi Ackah-Baidoo was transferred to Cape Coast, Ghana and Apostle Anthony Kingsley Miah was brought to Canada as National Head. At the first Council Meeting in February 2005, the church in Canada, under the leadership of Apostle A. K. Miah, adopted a major policy decision code-named VISION 2010, which will revitalize the Church in the years ahead.
Highlights of which of Vision 2010 are as follows:
Overeers Joseph Fynn-Sackey, Ransford Obeng-Gyamfi, and Christian Popo-ola were ordained as Pastors in June 2005. Overseer Johnson Henaku was called into the full-time ministry in May, 2006.
Under Apostle Miah, new assemblies have been opened in Downtown Toronto and Ajax. Other nursing assemblies include Thunder Bay, Windsor, Kingston, and Halifax.
The church has also acquired a 23-acre land in Vaughan towards building a multi-purpose worship center as part of Vision 2010.
16 assemblies and 4 nursing assemblies
1 Apostle, 7 pastors, 1 tent minister, 2 overseers, and 1 probationary overseer
Adult/Teen Membership - 953 males and 1418 females, 578 teens for a total of 2949
Children – 948 children
There were 78 elders, 47 deacons, and 87 deaconesses in December 2006.
NATIONAL / AREA INFORMATION FOR
PUBLICATION IN THE PENTECOST FIRE
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1. NAME OF NATION/AREA The Church of Pentecost Canada National Head Office: 2256 Sheppard Avenue West, North York, Ontario M9M 1L7 Canada Telephone: (416) 745-0242 Fax: (416) 745-7163 Email: church@pentecost.ca Website: www.pentecost.ca |
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2. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
North America
3. YEAR CREATED/MINISTRY BEGAN
September 1990
4. AREAS/NATIONS FROM WHICH CREATED
Up until November 1992, Church of Pentecost Canada was under The Church of Pentecost USA for administrative purposes
16 assemblies and 4 nursing assemblies
1 Apostle, 7 pastors, 1 tent minister, 2 overseers, and 1 probationary overseer
Adult/Teen Membership - 953 males and 1418 females, 578 teens for a total of 2949
Children – 948 children
There were 78 elders, 47 deacons, and 87 deaconesses in December 2006.
6. NATIONAL/AREA HEADS AND YEARS OF ADMINISTRATION
PROJECTS
Current National Head (Nov. 2004 – present)
Apostle Anthony Kingsley Miah
Wife: Mrs. Mary Miah
Immediate Past National Head (Nov. 1997 – Nov. 2004)
Apostle Kwesi Ackah-Baidoo
Wife: Mrs. Dorothy Ackah-Baidoo
First National Head (Nov. 1992 – Sept. 1997)
Apostle Dr. (Rtd.) Alex Osei-Bonsu
Wife: Mrs. Caroline Osei-Bonsu
Please note:
Up until November 1992, Church of Pentecost Canada was under Church of Pentecost USA for administrative purposes
Pastor A. K. Awuah – first missionary sent to USA and Canada (1990- 1992)
7. MEANS OF GROWTH – E.G. Transfers in birth, etc.
Main growth in membership has been through evangelism, birth, as well as transfers from other churches or Church of Pentecost branches from around the world. We have over 1000 children and 500 teenagers across the nation.
8. PROBLEMS/CHALLENGES
9. MAIN OCCUPATION OF MEMBERS
A large number of members are factory workers and middle class people. There are some professionals like teachers, accountants and self-employed brethren.
10A. MAJOR ACTIVITIES (2006)
The 5 year vision of Operation Andrew continued with meaningful results. Through
Radio ministry by the National Head and personal witnessing, phone outreach and
tracts distribution the church welcomed 350 visitors among which 127 souls were
won to the Lord.
B. CHURCH PLANTING: By God’s grace the Ajax nursery church in Toronto District has become a full fledged assembly with over 25 members. Rev. James Quainoo, and Rev. Alex Agyei-Gyamera were sent to two areas; Nova Scotia and Thunder Bay respectively for church planting purposes. Nursing assemblies have since been started in these areas
The National Head and the National secretary also went to Windsor, Ontario to initiate the creation of a nursery assembly. Twelve persons were met to officially begin a home church.
C. LEADERSHIP RETREAT: The annual officers Retreat was held in Vancouver and Toronto. The main speaker was Aps. Alfred Koduah(General Secretary). Pastors and wives as well as officers were exposed to practical realities of ministries.
D. PRAYER CONFERENCE: Held at district levels with National Head ministering powerfully in some of the districts. Report from all districts testified to the fact that many chains were broken. The theme for the conference was “The Power of Prayer”.
E. MONTHLY PRAYER: Monthly prayer organized by the National Head rekindled the fire in the church. Demons were exorcised. Many brethren were delivered from all sorts of ailments and spiritual battles.
The Easter Convention was held at three centers, Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto under the theme, Jesus Christ, The Author Life (Act 3:15). Pastor Christian Popo-Ola was delegated to go to Calgary. Apostle Miah visited Vancouver and Toronto areas. Rev Robert Kazibwe of Dominium Church, Uganda was the guest speaker. Eight (8) souls were saved to God’s glory. During the convention, the church appreciated all reviewed leaders who had served meritoriously at National level.
G. NATIONAL WOMEN’S CONVENTION: The National Women’s executives and the leadership of the church organized a convention in Toronto , under the theme “Women arising and shinning in their generation.” Under the chairmanship of the National Head with guest speakers like Mrs. Evelyn B. Kwafo (Int. Women’s Director), Dr. Ivy Amaokohene (Ghana High Commissioner), Dr. Jennifer McVety, Ms. Ann Chambers (Ontarion Minister for Youth and Community Services), Aps. Ackah-Baidoo and other well known women soloists, the convention brought God’s presence. Mrs. Evelyn Kwafo organized series of marriage seminars that brought life into many marriages.
H. MCKEOWN’S MISSION WEEK
The Districts organised the Mckeown’s Mission Week with series of meetings and prayers from Monday to Sunday, March 6-12. Both material and financial resources were mobilized. Some material items were presented at the General Council by the National Head and National Deacon
I. CHRISTMAS CONVENTION: It was held at the district levels with the theme “Jesus Christ, the Eternal King of Glory”, Luke 2:32-33. Reports from all districts indicate very successful and encouraging results. The National Head was able to visit three districts during the convention.
J. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND: The church organized prayers and fund raising activities for PENSOS, Pension week and Conference centre project. In all $1500.00 for Pension, $1000.00 for Conference Centre and $1000.00 for PENSOS were realized.
K. RADIO MINISTRY: The National Head continued his weekly Radio ministry at Sankofa radio on FM 101.3 in both English and Twi reaching the Toronto Metropolitan Area. Blending with gospel messages and marital enrichment messages overwhelming positive results have been received among the Ghanaian community. Through this ministry new visitors and converts have been won to the Lord.
10B. SPECTACULAR EVENTS/TESTIMONIES (2006)
Ø A sister was healed of brain tumor in Edmonton while a brother in Toronto who was diagnosed of tumor in oesophagus underwent a life threatening surgery but now well and active in the church.
Ø The Presiding Elder of London came out from coma after prayers at the hospital and has full fully recovered.
Ø Two people received instant healings during the Easter convention.
Ø A sister was healed of cancer after Friday prayer meeting
Ø Some brethren received their immigration papers
Ø 3 pastors who got involved in car accidents escaped from injuries and death
11. OTHER REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES
The Church’s five-year projection is dubbed VISION 2010, highlights of which are as follows:
12. PRAYER REQUESTS
Pray that the church will be able to reach out to other nationals. That church will stand strong in face lukewarmness that sweeping among the main line church in Canada. Prayer for revival in the nation.
13. PHOTOGRAPHS OF CURRENT EXECUTIVE AND HEAD (SEPARATE WITH WIFE)
Please see attached photos of the National Executive and National Head and wife
14. PHOTOGRAPHS OF PROJECTS
Please see attached photos of the PENTECOST VILLAGE Project
