Holland
Holland
1. INTRODUCTION:
When the National Executive Committee saw the great need in documenting the history of the church here in Holland, an approval was given by the National Council to form Committee to undertake this task. Under the auspices of the National Head, Apostle A L Angoh and the National Executive Committee, a National History Committee made of the following people was set up. They are:-
1. Rev. James Otchere - Chairman
2. Elder Mac Ofori - Secretary
3. Rev. Emmanuel Ennin - Member
4. Elder Dan Owusu Asare - Member
5. Elder Daniel Appau Duodu - Member
In August 1990, a group of six (6) people led by Brother Emmanuel Konney, began a house fellowship with the objective of gathering all the Church Of Pentecost members, scattered all over the city of Amsterdam, with some attending other churches and others at home. These six people were: Bro. E. Konney and his wife, Deaconess Charity Konney, Bro.and Mrs. Opoku, Bro. and Mrs. Asante Baah at Gravenstein 720 in the South East of Amsterdam. They sent a message to the church headquarters in Accra of the establishment of the church here in Holland. It was featured in the Pentecost Fire in the same year. Therefore an announcement was made in all the churches throughout Ghana to inform parents and relatives whose families were living in Holland about the establishment of the branch of the Church of Pentecost in Holland.
Rev. Kwame Blankson, the then Missionary to U. K., in that same year 1990, was informed and directed by the International Executive Members in Accra to contact Brother Konney and to visit the church. He first arrived in Amsterdam on the 8th of December, 1990.
With much prayer and through open air crusade and house to house evangelism, the church grew very fast, hence a flat was rented at Harkfort 522 by Bro. Konney as both residence and a place of worship in early 1991 till it was no longer able to cope with the pace of Holy Spirit at work. During this period, Elder (Dr.) Ken Aboah, who was a medical Doctor in Ghana on course here in Vlucht, a city near Maastricht in the Southern part of Holland, was appointed by the International Executive Members in Ghana to lead this fast growing church as Presiding Elder. The Holy Spirit was at work and the church grew very fast in membership. As the Pentecostal wind was powerfully blowing at that time, it became imperative to secure a larger place of worship to accommodate the influx of souls rushing to receive Christ as their personal saviour.
Through the Lord’s grace, the church moved to it’s first rented premises at Hoofgest 10—Amsterdam South East on Saturday 8th September 1991 with a congregation of eighty – six ( 86) people.
3. PIONEER PRESBYTERY
The following were the pioneer Presbytery members who operated from September 1991.
1. Elder (Dr.) Ken Aboah – Presiding Elder
2. Eld. Ben Opoku Sampene – Member
3. “ Samuel Aidoo - “
4.Deacon William Owusu Appea “
5. “ Pierre Niameke – “
6. “ Obeng Kyei – “
7. “ Michael Amponsah – “
8.Bro. Emmanuel Konney - “
9.D’ness. Charity Konney – “
4. MINISTERIAL VISIT BY THE CHAIRMAN & I.M.D.
The then Chairman and the I. M. D. of the church, the late Prophet M. K. Yeboah and Apostle Opoku Onyinah respectively visited the church for the first time at Hoofgest 10, in 1992, where officers of the existing Presbytery were ordained into various positions.
These Officers were:
1. Deacon Owusu Appea as Elder.
2. “ Pierre Niameke “ “
3. Bro. Emmanuel Konney “ “
4. Bro. Barima Owusu Adane as Deacon
5. “ Asante Baah “ “
6. “ Owusu Aduomi ” “
7. Sister Doris Asante Baah as Deaconess.
5. EVANGELISTIC/MISSIONARY VISITS
1. Elder (Evangelist) Owusu Tabiri—COP- Sunyani /Ghana - 1993/94
2. Evangelist Vaglas Kanko - Assemblies of God– Accra.- 1993/94
God through the above Evangelists brought tremendous revival into the church through the ministrations of healing and deliverance and many souls were won for God. Many people who were in possession of idols surrendered them and were openly burnt to the glory of God.
6. ACQUISITION OF PERMANENT PLACE OF WORSHIP
In early 1992, the membership of the church had increased from 86 to 157 which began to pose rental problems. Worshipping at transitory places was the order of the day. With one accord and in sincerity of heart, intensive prayers were made for the provision of a permanent place of worship, and God through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit provided a larger auditorium located at Kempering 58 in Amsterdam South East, initially on a rental basis.
With the assistance of ABN AMRO Bank as guarantor and special levies paid by officers and members of the church, the premises was finally purchased as the first property of the church on 14th December 1993. This hall is the auditorium of the Amsterdam Central Assembly and has a capacity of about eight hundred members. Amount contributed by Officers and members were NLG 1,500and 1,000(gulders) respectively. The Headquarters in Ghana and United Kingdom also donated towards the purchasing of this church hall.
7. DEDICATION OF THE AUDITORIUM:
The auditorium was dedicated by Rev. Ato Addison, the then General Secretary of the church.
8. OPENING OF ASSEMBLIES
The leadership unrelenting in their zeal for lost souls, extended their propagatory mission to the city of The Hague where the then Brother Kwasi Atuah and Sister Charity Amaku had began a house fellowship in the year 1992. With faith, they moved to a rented hall where the Lord mightily brought more souls into the church. Elder Robert Yaw Frimpong was transferred from Amsterdam to The Hague to preside over the Church. They then continued to Rotterdam to join Bro. Akwasi Akom to open another branch there in that same year,1993. Bro. Akwasi Akom later moved to Dordrecht near Rotterdam where he joined Deaconess Doris Benneth and a few others to open another Assembly there. In 1996 Elder Pierre Niameke was transferred from Amsterdam to Rotterdam as the Presiding Elder, and Elder Akwasi Akom as the Presiding Elder of Dordrecht Assembly.
In consonance with the great commission given by Christ in the scripture, the leadership continued to Liege – Belgium to join one white Belgium lady called Mrs. Gisellah van Brusselt and few others to begin the church in Belgium. By the end of the year 1997, two Assemblies had been opened in Brussels and Liege in Belgium.
9. CHURCH REGISTRATION (FIRST REGISTRATION)
After many efforts had failed to register the church as The Church of Pentecost, God through his grace opened a new avenue, through which the church was officially registered here in Holland on 3rd February 1992 under the name “Stichting Evangelist Volle Pinkster” with the following as the first Board of Trustees: Emmanuel Konney (Voorzitter), Robert Oscar Mensah (Secretary), Kwasi Atuah, Felicia Obeng, Theresa Koomson and Sister Ama Serwaa.
10. CRISES
As many were abandoning their fetish shrines, immoral lives, drugs etc., satan who was bounded, schemed a way of staining fiercely the love, unity and the steady growth of the church through the leadership. Spirit of self - contentment resulting to misunderstanding and disunity among the Presbytery adversely affected the entire church nationwide.
In 1995, the crises escalated to an extent that it called for the intervention of the entire International Executive Members from Ghana. The International Executive Members made strenous efforts to reslove it but it prevailed until 1998, and even divided the large Amsterdam Central Assembly into two rival Assemblies 1 & 2. During these period of crises the entire Internationl Executive Members who were on visit here were involved in a very serious motor accident on their way to Humburg – Germany to meet on this Holland crises and some of them were hopitalized for days.
In 1998, the International Executive Members transferred Rev. A L. Angoh to Holland to help resolve the crises once and for all. With intensive prayers, good counselling , deep revelation and able leadership of the Int. Executive Members, God through him finally brought the restoration of the yearning peace, love and unity which eluded the church.
11. FINAL REGISTRATION
The Church in Holland has now been fully registered under the name “Stichting The Church of Pentecost—Holland” with the following members as the Board Members: (Stichting means Foundation)
Elder Philip K. Sasu - Voorzitter
Deaconess Theresa Koomson - Secretary
Deaconess Suzzie Ampofo - Member
Rev. A L Angoh - Member
Rev. Samuel Obeng Eshun - Member
Rev. James Otchere - Member
Rev. Lassane Ouedraogo - Member
Elder William Owusu Appea - Member
Elder Macdonald Ofori - Member
12. REGISTRATION OF LOCAL ASSEMBLIES
At the moment four (4) more Local Assemblies have been fully registered at their various City Councils (Gementes) and the rest are all in the process of registration and hope to be completed in the first quarter of the year 2006
13. PIONEER NATIONAL OFFICERS
The following were the pioneer officers which operated at various National Executive and Movement Committees of the Church from 1998.
A. NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. Rev. A L Angoh - Chairman
2. Deacon Akwasi Okyere - Secretary
3. Elder Owusu Appea - National Deacon
4. Elder Charles Amoah - Member
5. Elder Robert Yaw Frimpong- Member
6. Elder Samuel Obeng - Member
7. Elder Pierre Nyamike - Member
8. Elder Samuel Adom - Co-opted Member
9. Elder Akwasi Ackom - Co-opted Member
B. WITNESS MOVEMENT
1. Elder M K Nkansah - National Leader
2. Elder Thomas Bekoe - Asst. Leader
3. Deacon Opuni Asare - Secretary
4. Bro. Philip K. Sasu - Fin Sec.
5. Kwame Amoah – Org. Sec.
6. Sister Linda Ennin - Treasurer
7. Anthony Opoku - Member
C. WOMEN’S MOVEMENT
1. Deaconess Suzzie Sasu - National Leader
2. Deaconess Comfort Opoku - Asst. Leader
3. Sister Rita Ampofo - Secretary
4. Deaconess Betty Kusi - Fin. Secretary
5. Deaconess Esther Amoah - Treasurer
6. Sister Theresa Osei-Mensah- Member
7. Sister Beatrice Obeng - Member
D. CHILDREN’S MOVEMENT
1. Deacon Akwasi Atuah - National Leader
2. Deaconess Faustina Amponsah - Assist. Leader
3. Bro. Appiah Ofosuhene - Secretary
4. Bro. William Dompreh - Org. Secretary
5. Bro. Alex Osei Kuffour - Fin. Secretary
6. Deaconess Charity Amaku - Treasurer
7. Sister Adomako - Member
E. YOUTH MOVEMENT
1. Elder Samuel Adom – National Leader
2. “ Gideon Owusu Achaiw – Assist. Leader
3. Ray Ampofo – Secretary
4. Rockson Takyi – Fin. Sec.
5. Kwaku Adu – Member
6. Owusu Aduomi –“
7. Serwaa Ofosu Appiah – Treasurer
F. LITERATURE COMMITTEE
1. Deacon Akwasi Okyere - Chairman
2. Bro. Mac Ofori - Secretary
3. Elder Obeng Kyei - Member
4. Deacon Emmanuel Ennin - Member
5. Bro. Frank Adams - Member
6. “ Richard Adjei - Member
7. Edward Amankwa - Member
8. D’ness. Ofosu Appiah - Member
9. D’ness. Charity Amaku - Member
G. MISSIONS COMMITTEE
Elder Kwaku Nkansah - Chairman
Deacon Emmanuel Ennin - Secretary
Deacon Akwasi Ackom
Deacon Samuel Adom
Deacon Joseph Effah
H. FINANCE COMMITTEE
Elder William Owusu Appea – Chairman
Elder Obeng Kyei
Elder Philip K.Sasu
Bro. T. K. Rockson
“ Bernard Osei Bonsu
I. ESTATE AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE
Elder Pierre Niamike - Chairman
Elder Maxwell Frimpong
Bro. P. K. Sasu
Brother Prince Amaninampong
“ Adarkwa Boampong
“ Sammy Ansong
“ Bright Sarfo Kobby
“ Frank Adams
“ Asare Afriyie
J. WELFARE COMMITTEE
Elder Charles Amoah—Chairman
Elder Robert Yaw Frimpong
Elder Pierre Niamike
Elder Maxwell Frimpong
Deaconess Suzie Ampofo
14. FULL TIME MINISTRY
Elder Emmanuel Koney was called into the Full—Time Ministry and posted to Belgium as the National Head in November1996. However he still remained the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Church in Holland. During these period, Rev. Konney took the Church through many difficulties, some of which included the following:-
Ř Legally blocking the arrival of the resident Missionary from Ghana.
Ř Secretly changing all Trustee members from the Dutch Chamber of Commerce.
Ř Seizure of the Church’s rented flat at Huigenbos 440.
Ř Refusal to handover the official Church Car Citron Estate Family Car to the church.
Ř Taking over one local assembly to form his own church.
Besides all these, his blatant refusal to adhere to the directives of the International Executive Members by restoring the old Board of Trustees and removing his name from the Board, resulted to his dismissal from the Full Time Ministry in September 2000.
15. PIONEER RESIDENT MISSIONARRY
At the General Council meeting in 1998, Rev. A. L. Angoh was appointed and
transferred from Accra – La District as the Resident Missionary to Holland, and this
was at the time when the church was petitioning in prayers to God for a permanent
Resident Missionary. Rev. A. L. Angoh arrived here for the first time on 4th March,
1998. As a man who trusted in God as his only source of strength, and conscious of the volatile situation of the church at that time, gathered together the entire National
Presbytery and membership through intensive Retreats, Leadership trainings, Camp
Meetings, Seminars , Joint Services etc. With divine wisdom and good counseling from the International Executive Members, he was able to bridge the gap between the existing two rival Amsterdam No. 1 & 2 Assemblies and merged them as one big Assembly. Below were the existing Assemblies at the time Rev. Angoh arrived
1. Amsterdam No. 1
2. Amsterdam No. 2
3. Den – Haag
4. Rotterdam
5. Dordrecht
Apostle & Mrs. A. L.Angoh
(Resident Missionary / National Head)
16. ACHIEVEMENTS
By the end of the year 2005, the church could boast of the following achievements
through the Lord’s grace:
A. CREATION OF DISTRICTS
Today, to the glory of God, the Church of Pentecost – Holland has created Five (5)
Districts, namely Amsterdam, Amsterdam Noord, Den Haag, Rotterdam and Eindhoven with twenty (20) Local Assemblies with the membership of Two thousand, One hundred and fifteen (2115).
The Districts are:
A. AMSTERDAM DISTRICT B. AMSTERDAM NOORD
1. Amsterdam Central Amsterdam Noord
2. Amsterdam P.I.W.C. Mount. Olives
3. Amsterdam Reigersbors Almere
4. Utrecht
5. Haarlem
C. DEN—HAAG DISTRICT D. ROTTERDAM E. EINDHOVEN
1. Den—Haag Central Rotterdam Central Eindhoven
2. Den—Haag P.I.W.C. Rotterdam P.I.W.C. Tilburg
3. Emmanuel Dordrecht Den Bosch
4. Leiden Breda. Venray
B) MISSIONARY
At the General Council meeting in April 2002, Elder Charles Amoah was called as an
Overseer and a Missionary from Amsterdam to Zurich—Switzerland.
C) NATIONAL MISSION HOUSE
In addition to the Church Auditorium purchased at Kempering 58 in Amsterdam, a
three bedroom storey building has also been purchased at Parkhof 67 Reigersbos
Amsterdam South East, and was dedicated by the Chairman, Apostle Dr. M. K. Ntumy on 11th November 2001.
D) NATIONAL OFFICE
The National Office was also dedicated by the Chairman of the Church, Apostle Dr. M. K. Ntumy on the day 11th November, 2001.
17. CHURCH STATISTICS
|
No. |
Description |
Number |
|
1. |
Number of Ministers |
6 |
|
2. |
Number of Districts |
5 |
|
3. |
Number of Locals |
20 |
|
4. |
Membership |
2115 |
|
5. |
Number of Elders |
83 |
|
6. |
Number of Deacons |
64 |
|
7. |
Number of Deaconesses |
105 |
18. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit be glory and adoration now and forever more. The church is highly indebted to the International Executive Committee, for their fatherly love, divine wisdom and vision through which the Lord has salvage and uplifted His church to this level. To the National Head, Apostle A. L. Angoh, the National Executive Members, Movement Leaders and the entire membership of the church, we say God richly bless you for your steadfastness, unflinching faith, interminable prayers and selfless commitment to God and His church. Your efforts have not been in vain. May the good Lord reward you all accordingly.
THE NATIONAL HISTORY COMMITTEE COP – HOLLAND
THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – HOLLAND
1. NAME OF NATIONALHEAD
Apostle A. L. Angoh and Mrs. Theresa Esi Angoh
Year: 1998 – 2006.
2. ADDRESS:
Parkhof 67
1106 SZ, Amsterdam Z.O.
Tel: +31206005946
MOB. +31 622216226
angohal@yahoo.com / angohal@hotmail.com
3. PASTORS / DISTRICTS / ASSEMBLIES
a) Number of Ministers: 6
i) National Head /Missionary: Aps. A. L. Angoh
National Office:
Echenstein 100S
1103 AB, Amsterdam Z. O.
Tel: +31 20 6950712(Nat. Head)
+31 20 6950990 (Gen. Off.)
+31 20 6950952 (Accounts)
FAX: +31 20 6990428
Email: cophol@yahoo.com
ii) Den – Haag District
Pastor Ben O.K. Anaba
Melis Stokelaan 1
2533 CM, Den – Haag
Tel: +3170 3927943 (Res); Fax: +31206990428
Mob.+31
iii) Amsterdam District
Ovr. Samuel Obeng Eshun
Geldershoofd 944
1103 AB, Amsterdam Z. O.
Res:+3120 6009979 / Fax: 31206990428
Mob:
iv) Amsterdam Noord
Ovr. Emmanuel Ennin
CarryPothuisSmitstraat 9
1069 RC, Amsterdam
Tel: +3120 6100536; Fax:+3120 6990428
v) Rotterdam District
Ovr.James Otchere
Krekplein 19
3079 AB, Rotterdam
Res: +31102917171; Fax: +31102917172 ; Mob: +31652646346.
Otcherejames@yahoo.com ; jotchere@pentecost.nl
vi) Eindhoven District
Ovr. David Ray Ampofo
Muschbergweg 34
5641 BP, Eindhoven
Tel:+ Res:+3140 2908087; Off. +3140 2908206
Fax: +3140 2908421; Mob: +31623 776072
3. ASSEMBLIES
A. AMSTERDAM DISTRICT B. AMSTERDAM NOORD
1. Amsterdam Central Amsterdam Noord
2. Amsterdam P.I.W.C. Mount. Olives
3. Amsterdam Reigersbors Almere
4. Utrecht
5. Haarlem
C. DEN—HAAG DISTRICT D. ROTTERDAM E. EINDHOVEN
1. Den—Haag Central Rotterdam Central Eindhoven
2. Den—Haag P.I.W.C. Rotterdam P.I.W.C. Tilburg
3. Emmanuel Dordrecht Den Bosch
4. Leiden Breda. Venray
4. SHORT CHURCH HISTORY
-
5. CURRENT EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
1. Aps. A L Angoh - Chairman
2. Rev.Sammy Obeng Eshun - Secretary
3. Elder Owusu Appea - National Deacon
4. Rev. B.O.K. Anaba - Member
5. Rev. James Otchere - Member
6. Elder M. K.Nkansah - Member
7. Elder Philip K. Sasu - Member
6. ADMINSTRATION STAFF
Elder Ofori Manu
Administrative Clerk
Tel: +3120695990
Fax: +3120 6990428
Elder Obeng Kyei
Fin. Manager
Tel: + 31206950952
Fax: +3120 6990428
Elder W. K. Owusu Appea
National Deacon
Kouwenoord 1678
1104 KB, Amsterdam Z. O.
Tel: +3120 6950952
Res: +3120 6007447
Fax: +3120 6990428
Mob: +31651677901
7. FIVE YEARS PROJECTIONS
a. Creation of Four (4) New Districts
a) Utrecht District – Utrecht as seat.
Arnhem
Amersfoort
Nijmegen
b) P.I.W.C. / Youth
c) Hoorn District – Hoorn as seat.
Zaandam
Purmerend
Alkmaar
d) Groningen – Groningen as seat.
Assen
Leewarden
2. Calling into Full – Time Ministry – 4
3. Opening of New Assemblies – 10
4. Purchase of Church Premises – 5
5. Purchase of Mission Houses – 5
6. Souls to be won – 200