Church of Pentecost Ghana organises first ever Rastafarian Gathering to stop prejudices

The Church of Pentecost has organized the first ever Rastafarian Gathering at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central region, in a bid to introduce them to the word of God.  At the ceremony, Rastafari bredren and sistrens lamented about the perception that people have about them. They said they are not drug addicts but decent members of society. This initiative forms part of the church’s vision for the unchanging needs of man in a changing world.

About 300 ‘Rastafarian’ converts across the country are gathering at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Gomoa Feteh for a two-day conference themed “Go that my house may be full – Luke 14 : 24”.

Under the auspices of the Evangelism Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, the maiden conference starting Thursday morning would enable the church to show their love towards persons who hitherto practised Rastafarianism and those who still profess the ‘religion’.

“This is a two-pronged gathering where the Church will affirm our love for them as a redemptive entity of God; because if Jesus were to be on earth today, he would have had a place in his heart for rastafarians and since we are his representatives on earth, we have a responsibility to do just that,” Evangelism Director of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Michael Collins Asiedu explained to Myjoyonline.com.

The leadership of the church would also engage them to know the challenges of ‘rastafarians’ who are now members of the Church of Pentecost so that appropriate policy would be adopted to address them, he added.

Aps. M. C. Asiedu noted that the leadership of the Church gave the Evangelism Ministry additional responsibility to minister to marginalized groups such as commercial sex, substance abusers and rastafarians, and show them the love of God.

For about four years now, he said, the Ministry has been evangelizing to these groups on the quiet but felt necessary to assemble rastafarians and assist them in their new found faith in Jesus Christ.

Aps M. C. Asiedu said the Ministry has realized that some of the converted rastafarians still face rejection and despise in society including churches, hence the need to gather them and listen to challenges they encounter.

“The church should break that barrier; they should represent God, show them love and find a place for them in the Kingdom of God,” he charged the Christians.

“It doesn’t mean we accept all they do, but we need to show them love,” he pointed out, adding that some love rastafarianism as a lifestyle.   

A special delegation from the rastafarian community in Accra would be participating in the two-day event.

“The church owes it a duty to reach all manner of people with the gospel of Christ, and The Church of Pentecost wants to bridge the barrier between the marginalized in society and the church because Jesus Christ was pro-marginalised,” Aps. M.C. Asiedu admonished.

There would be free transportation to the Pentecost Convention Centre as well as free food, accommodation and counselling. Interested persons have been urged to contact the conference coordinator Pastor Awuah on 0541639286, Aps. Asiedu on 0243212359 or Evan. Adu on 0243382916.

Speakers are Aps. M. C. Asiedu, Evangelist Francis Yaw Adu Deputy Evangelism Director, Evangelist Lord Kenya, Dr. Elder Osafo Adu and many anointed men of God. The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah is expected to grace the gathering tomorrow.