ABOUT

THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

History of The Church of Pentecost (Ghana)

1. Origins (1917–1937): The Seeds of Pentecostal Revival

The story of The Church of Pentecost begins with the revival fire that swept through the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in the early 20th century.
In 1917, a faith-healing ministry known as the Faith Tabernacle emerged in Asamankese, in the Eastern Region, through Peter Anim Newman, a devout Christian teacher who had encountered Pentecostal teachings through tracts from the Faith Tabernacle Church of Philadelphia (USA).

Anim’s ministry emphasized divine healing, holiness, and the power of the Holy Spirit, marking the early foundations of the Pentecostal movement in Ghana.

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2. Connection with the Apostolic Faith (1937–1939)

In 1937, after corresponding with missionaries from the Apostolic Faith Church based in Portland, Oregon (USA), Peter Anim’s group affiliated with them.
Later, due to doctrinal differences about the Trinity, Anim’s group severed ties with them and became associated with the Apostolic Church in Bradford, England, in 1939.

This new connection led to the arrival of the first Pentecostal missionary from the UK — Pastor James McKeown — who became central to the next phase of the church’s growth.

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3. The Coming of James McKeown (1937–1953)

In 1937, the Apostolic Church, Bradford, sent Pastor James McKeown, a young missionary from Ireland, to the Gold Coast to strengthen and organize the young Pentecostal movement.

McKeown began his work in Asamankese, where he brought strong biblical teaching and organization. However, a major dispute arose in 1938 when McKeown fell ill with malaria and received medical treatment instead of relying solely on divine healing — a practice that some local believers viewed as unbelief.

This disagreement caused a division in the movement:

• Peter Anim and his followers continued as The Apostolic Church – Gold Coast, maintaining their original views.
• James McKeown led a new group that became known as The Apostolic Church (British Section), and later as The Gold Coast Apostolic Church.

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4. From Apostolic Church to The Church of Pentecost (1953–1962)

As the years passed, McKeown’s movement spread rapidly across the Gold Coast. However, conflicts between the local leadership and the British Apostolic headquarters intensified.
In 1953, a major separation occurred, and McKeown’s group officially broke away from the Apostolic Church (UK).

To reflect its independent identity, the church was first renamed “The Gold Coast Apostolic Church.”
But after Ghana gained independence in 1957, and due to a name conflict with another group, the church was renamed “The Church of Pentecost” in August 1962, under the guidance of President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who advised the leadership to choose a name that reflected Ghana’s identity.

Thus, The Church of Pentecost (CoP) was officially born in 1962, with James McKeown as its first Chairman.

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5. Growth and Global Expansion (1962–Present)

From its humble beginnings, The Church of Pentecost grew into a nationwide revival movement characterized by:

• Strong emphasis on the baptism and power of the Holy Spirit,
• Evangelism and discipleship,
• Church planting,
• Holiness and prayer, and
• Active lay participation.

After James McKeown’s retirement in 1982, the following leaders succeeded him:

Chairman	Years of Service	Notable Contributions
Apostle Fred Stephen Safo	1982–1987	Strengthened administrative structures
Apostle Dr. Michael Ntumy	1998–2008	Expanded international missions
Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah	2008–2018	Established Pentecost University, introduced Vision 2023
Apostle Eric Nyamekye	2018–Present	Promotes “Possessing the Nations” agenda

Under these leaders, the church expanded across Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia, now present in over 150 nations worldwide.

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6. Current Status and Global Impact

Today, The Church of Pentecost is one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world, with:

• Over 4 million members in Ghana,
• More than 4 million international members,
• Thousands of pastors, missionaries, and local assemblies,
• A robust educational, social, and development outreach, including Pentecost University, Pentecost Hospital, and community transformation initiatives under Vision 2028: “Possessing the Nations.”

The church remains Bible-based, Spirit-filled, mission-minded, and holiness-driven, working to transform every sphere of society with the principles of the Kingdom of God.

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7. Motto and Core Beliefs

• Motto: Holiness unto the Lord
• Vision: To become a global Pentecostal church that is spiritually vibrant and socially relevant in our world.
• Core Values:
  1. Evangelism
  2. Discipleship
  3. Ministry excellence
  4. Integrity and accountability
  5. Prayer and holiness
  6. Leadership development

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Summary

The Church of Pentecost began as a small faith-healing movement in Asamankese and, through the work of Peter Anim Newman, James McKeown, and generations of faithful believers, has grown into a global Pentecostal powerhouse, transforming lives and nations through the power of the Holy Spirit.