HOW YOU COULD HELP
ABOUT US
OUR VISION
“To be at the cutting edge of Holy Spirit inspired change in the Church and society”.
OUR MISSION
“The Apostolic Church exists to belt the globe with the Gospel and make disciples of Christ who manifest the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit”.
RULES OF CONDUCT
The Church and its members subscribe to the following Rules of Conduct:
- Never come to the House of God without praying before coming (Matt.6:6; Eph. 6:18).
- Be in your seat at the commencement of the service. You will thus be a good example to those that are late and neglectful (Gen. 22:3; Ps. 108:2; Prov. 8:17; Songs of Sol. 7:12).
- Bring your children with you to the House of God. Relatives and House Helps also have souls. It is your duty and privilege to take care of them (Matt. 11:4; Exodus 20:10; Acts 10:24; John 1: 41-45; Gen. 18:19).
- Make the Pastor your personal friend. His sympathy, support and counsel are needed by you. Constantly pray for him (1 Thess.2:7; Joel 2:17; Mal.2:7; Rom. 15:30; 2 Corin.1:11; Eph. 6:19; Heb. 13:17).
- Make the Church your spiritual home (Acts 2: 46;47).
- When conversing in your house and/or in all your conversations, never speak disrespectfully or criticizingly of God’s Servants or their ministrations in the presence of your children. If you sow to the wind, you may reap the whirlwind. (Gal. 6:7; Prov. 22:8; Hos. 8:7).
- Take your Bible with you to the House of God (Ps. 1:2; 119:16, 72; Rom. 15:4; 1 Tim. 3:16,17).
- Enter reverently; pray fervently; listen attentively; give praise from a grateful heart, and worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness (Ps:1 08:27 – 29; Eccl. 5:1; Rom. 12:11; James 1:19).
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH – WELSH REVIVAL
In 1904/5 Wales experienced an out break of Revival, which had tremendous effects on many parts of the British Isles. This was followed by a MIGHTY VISITATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, which fell simultaneously on many parts of the world, during which many received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with signs following. As a result, there sprung up Pentecostal groups worldwide which also believed that the gifts of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers of Ephesians 4:11, should operate in the Church together with the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit spelt out in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. The Apostolic Church was therefore born in 1915 in Penygroes, South Wales, United Kingdom.
It was the vision of Apostolic doctrine that gripped the first leader of the Fellowship, Daniel Powell Williams, who in 1913, was ordained an Apostle in the Body of Christ and later became the first President of The Apostolic Church Council and remained so until his death in 1947. The Lord also called brother William Jones Williams, as a Prophet in the Body of Christ and in 1913 he was ordained into the full-time ministry of the Church. Thus they were called together with others to demonstrate the New Testament offices of Apostle and Prophet in the United Kingdom. Subsequently these ministries were exercised in other countries and continents of the World.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GHANA CHURCH
With time, the Lord in a remarkable way brought many groups to link with the Church in Penygroes under the name The Apostolic Church, and Ghana was no exception. The Gold Coast, now Ghana saw the emergence of Christians in the country who were seeking spiritual awakening in their hearts and lives. This desire to know more about spiritual truths drove many to write for literature from various missions abroad. Through contacts with the Faith Tabernacle of Nigeria, a group of Christians at the small town of Asamankese were introduced to The Apostolic Church, which had started a missionary work in Nigeria.
The Asamankese group then requested The Apostolic church in Bradford, England, to send a delegation shall visit them. As a result, in 1935, Pastor George Perfect, a British missionary who had been posted to Nigeria was directed by the Missionary Office in Bradford, England to visit the Christian group at Asamankese. This group of believers experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit and needed instructions and guidance. Pastor George Perfect met the Asamankese group led by the late Apostle Peter Newman Anim. Eventually, the Asamankese group accepted to become members of The Apostolic Church and wholeheartedly embraced the Tenets of the Church. Pastor George Perfect formally ordained the leader of the group, Pastor Peter Newman Anim as the first African Pastor of The Apostolic Church, Gold Coast.
In 1936, Pastor Vivian Wellings, the then Missionary Secretary of the Church in Bradford visited the infant Apostolic Church at Asamankese. On his return to Bradford, England, he recommended that a resident Missionary should be sent to Asamankese because the new Church was growing at a fast rate.
On March 2, 1937, Pastor James McKeown arrived in the then Gold Coast to take up the mantle as the first resident Missionary. His wife, Sophia arrived later in September, the same year to support her husband. Barely six months after his arrival, Pastor James McKeown was taken ill with malaria fever. A controversy broke out over his being taken to the Ridge Hospital by an English District Commissioner.
The Faith Tabernacle Church members who had joined The Apostolic Church still held in a fanatic way the doctrine of divine healing. During a Christmas Convention at Asamankese, Pastor McKeown’s belief in medication was question by Pastor Anim and some of the Elders. This led to a split in the infant Church with Pastor Anim leading a faction of the Church to breakaway to form Christ Apostolic Church in 1938.
Three years later, the headquarters of The Apostolic Church was transferred to Cape Coast where a Church had been planted. The Apostolic Church, however, flourished rapidly throughout the Country with Pastor McKeown as the Superintendent Missionary. Pastors R.S. Asomaning, J.A.C.Anaman, J.A. Bimpong, D.K. Boateng, S.K. Frimpong and others supported him.
In 1944 some Christian believers including Pastor Lartey Adotey, Pastor A.S. Mallet, Elder Q.A.L. Quarshie, and Pastor C.K. Diaba and others invited The Apostolic Church from Cape Coast to establish the Church in Accra.
The Church in Accra under the leadership of the late Pastor Anaman flourished so quickly that in 1984 the headquarters of the Church was transferred to Accra. More Missionaries were later posted from England to strengthen the work in the then Gold Coast. Pastor C. B. Sercombe arrived in 1943 to be the Vice Superintendent. Pastor Adams Mckeown, Brother of Pastor James Mckeown as a Prophet arrived in December 1944. Pastor Albert Seaborne came in 1946, followed by Pastor S. M. Hammond in 1948. Others were Pastor H. L. Copp in 1953 and Pastor C.H. Rosser in 1962. Pastor F. Johnson arrived in 1966, and Pastor P.W. Cawthorne in 1971. Then Pastor E. H. Williams also arrived in 1973.
After many years of difficulties dating back to 1953 a large section of the Church finally followed Pastor James McKeown to form the Gold Coast Apostolic Church, then Ghana Apostolic Church. And in 1962 the name was changed to the Church of Pentecost. Other Churches like the Divine Healers Church, The Apostolic Reformed Church, The New Covenant Apostolic are all off-shoots of The Apostolic Church. The Lord, however, brought all these Churches into fellowship with The Apostolic Church under the umbrella of the Ghana Pentecostal Council.
The Lord has continued to bless His Church in a wonderful way, and today there are more than one thousand five hundred local Churches in Ghana. The Church has also been instrumental in establishing the glorious vision and the seed of truth in Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, La Cote D’Ivoire, and the United States of America. The Apostolic Church, Ghana celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 1985. From 1982 through 1985 Apostle A. Ofori-Addo served as the first Ghanaian Field Chairman of the church. In 1985, the Church in Ghana attained Autonomy, and Apostle A. Ofori-Addo became the first President. He served from 1985 to 1987. Apostle P. Attah Antwi followed from 1987 to 1996.
An Administrative Committee steered the affairs of the Church from 1996 to 1997, followed by a Presidential Board from 1997 to 1998. Apostle Joseph Anim, was appointed the President in 1998.
The Church and its members subscribe to the following Rules of Belief a:
RULES OF BELIEF
- A personal testimony of your salvation in Christ (Acts 4:12; Rom.10:9).
- Your acknowledgment of and obedience to the order and officers of the Church; i.e., Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, Elders, Deacons and Deaconesses (Heb.13:7; Eph.4:11; 1 Cor.12:28).
- Your presence in the meetings of the Church and abiding in full communion, that is, not to absent yourself more than three consecutive times from Communion without sufficient reasons given for your absence (Heb.10:25).
- Your conformity with the Fundamental Doctrines of the Church as well as with the two Ordinances, namely Baptism by Immersion and the Lord’s Supper (1 John 1:9; Rom.6:17; 6:4; Luke 22:19; 1 Cor.11:24).
- That you contribute towards the support of the cause, as taught to us in the Word of God (Gen.14:20; 28:22; Lev.27:30; 1 Chron.29:14; 1 Cor.16:2; Matt.23:23; Heb. 7:6-17).
- That you keep the counsel of the Church within the Church (Matt.7:6).
- That you pray for and help every member, remembering that we are joint members in the Body of Christ (Heb.10:24; 1 Cor. 12:25-26; 1 Tim. 2:1; Gal. 6:2).
- That you endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).
CORE VALUES
The Core Values guiding the execution of this vision areas follows:
- Holding the Word of God in high esteem
- Centrality of the Holy Spirit in all affairs
- Abhorring immorality
- Love for prayer
- Accountable stewardship
- Commitment to the welfare of members
- Honoring each other and valuing individual gifting
- Recognizing the significance of Women’s Ministry
- Respect and value for children as an integral and essential part of the Church
- Maintaining our unique Apostolic identity
- Sacrificial giving
TENETS
The following Tenets of Faith are the fundamental doctrinal beliefs of the Church, which are based on the Holy Scriptures, and shall be an essential basis of the fellowship and union of members thereof:
- The Unity of the Godhead and the Trinity of the Persons therein.
- The utter depravity of human nature, the necessity for repentance and regeneration, and the eternal doom of the finally impenitent.
- The Virgin Birth, Sinless Life, Atoning Death, Triumphant Resurrection, Ascension, and abiding Intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ. His Second Coming and Millennial Reign upon the earth.
- Justification and Sanctification of the Believer through the finished work of Christ.
- The Baptism of the Holy Ghost for believers, with signs following.
- The Nine Gifts of the Holy Ghost for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the church, which is the Body of Christ.
- The Sacraments of Baptism by Immersion and of the Lord’s Supper.
- The Divine Inspiration and Authority of the Holy Scriptures.
- Church Government by Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, Elders, Deacons, and Deaconesses.
- The possibility of falling from grace.
- The obligatory nature of Tithes and Offerings.