HISTORY OF PENSA:

LESSONS FOR FUTURE REFLECTIONS AND THE

BIRTH OF PENSA INTERNATIONAL

COMPILED FROM A PRESENTATION BY

APS. PROF. PETER OHENE KYEI
 WHY PENSA EMERGED

 In the 1970s more and more sons and daughters of the Church
entered into secondary and tertiary institutions for higher education.
The following situations ensued:

 1. The Church was not ready to receive and integrate its own
children into its institution which had nurtured them from childhood.
 2. Although the emerging breed of students loved their church and
the spiritual warmth which she offered, they were compelled by the
circumstances in which they found themselves to drift to other
fellowships where they would gain acceptance.
WHY PENSA EMERGED cont’d
 3. The unfortunate side effects that secular
education has had on the spiritual standing of the
so-called elite members of our
churches was enormous.
 4. Teenagers who had just passed through the
Sunday School system of the church into
secondary schools were confronted with the
realities of the freedom of being away from home
and out of the supervision of parents.
 THE REALITY OF THE PROBLEM
 Though Pentecostalism was producing a healthy influence
over the less educated segment of the population, it virtually
had no impact on the higher institutions of learning.

• Up to about 1976, for example, there was no Pentecostal

Fellowship in any of the three Universities of the country.

• Pentecostalism was simply made unattractive to the elite.

 HOW COULD THIS PROBLEM BE ARRESTED ?

Fortunately for the church God presented the vision.

• In Kumasi Apostle J. C Quaye of blessed memory from

about 1969 started gathering students and inspiring them to
keep to the faith.

• In 1974, the late Apostle A. T. Nartey also started organizing

the students at Cape Coast especially during vacations and
gave them fatherly encouragement to keep the faith.
HOW COULD THIS PROBLEM BE ARRESTED
cont’d?

• The need for students’ wing of the Church

was, therefore somehow borne in the minds of
many.
• In 1976, the campus of the University of Ghana
Legon, witnessed the formation of the Legon
Pentecostals Union (LPU) as the first ever
Pentecostal fellowship on any University campus
(Spearheaded by Bros Larkai and Kyei etc.)
 HOW COULD THIS PROBLEM BE ARRESTED
cont’d?

 • In 1978 some members of the Church at the University of Science and Technology
organized themselves into a Church of Pentecost Students Group which adopted the
name ‘Pentecost Students Association’ whereas the Legon Pentecostals Union
embraced members of other churches of the Ghana Pentecostal Council.

• That same year it was firmly decided after some discussions between Brothers J. S.
Gyimah, Peter Ohene Kyei & J. A. Larkai that concrete steps should be taken to
establish a students’ movement within the church to cater for the challenges of
students.
 HOW COULD THIS PROBLEM BE ARRESTED
cont’d?

 The first General Secretary of the Church, Reverend J. Egyir-Paintsil who

had actively followed the work of the Legon Fellowship, was
contacted by the three brothers and the idea was fully discussed with
him.
• Rev. Egyir-Paintsil carried the discussion further on the need for the
establishment of the student movement in the Church and the Greater
Accra regional Presbytery accepted the idea at one of its meetings
held at Abossey Okai, Accra.
• The presbytery readily agreed to finance a Delegates meeting
estimated to cost Two thousand five hundred cedis (¢2,500).
 HOW COULD THIS PROBLEM BE ARRESTED
cont’d?

 • Elder J. E. K. Antiri, an educationist who proved a real life wire for

PENSA was by the grace of God appointed as such as a Mentor and
Leader.
• A delegates meeting was thus convened at Accra Academy on 21st
to 23rd August 1979 under the chairmanship of Elder J E. K Antiri .
• At this meeting PENSA was formalized and an interim National
Committee was set up to plan a National Conference in 1980 where
PENSA would be formally inaugurated and a National Executive
elected.
HOW COULD THIS PROBLEM BE ARRESTED
cont’d?
 On 23rd August, 1980 a General Conference was
held at Prempeh College, Kumasi
• About 800 participants were in attendance, a
constitution was promulgated and PENSA formally
inaugurated.
• At the 18th session of the General Council,
(1981) the Church unanimously accepted the
movement.
 THE BIRTH OF PENSA
• PENSA was thus born on 23rd August 1980.
• Interest in the movement spread through out the country
with the active support and participation of many pastors
and elders.
• Unfortunately for PENSA, and for the Church within a year
of its formation PENSA ran into a series of serious difficulties:

1. The leadership of PENSA ran into the problems of suspicion

from some members of the Church and the pastorate.
 PENSA FORMATION CONT’D
2. Among the ranks of many of the pastors, elders
and indeed the Witness Movement Leadership some
suspicions started breeding that the PENSA members
could use their educational background to
maneuver the church leadership in various ways.

3. In the unfortunate ensuing situation many of the

Associate members lost interest in the group and
never returned to the fold of PENSA.
 conferences
 The hallmark of PENSA activities were the biennial regional and
national
conferences which were characterised by spiritually edifying
programmes.
• The following National Conferences have been held:
• 1980 Prempeh College, Kumasi
• 1982 Ghana Secondary School, Koforidua
• 1985 Wesley College, Kumasi, Theme: Come, Go and Tell
• 1987 University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Theme: The
Holy Spirit and You
• 1990 Aburi Girls Secondary School, Aburi; Theme: The Unchanging
God
By 1990 the records indicated that almost every secondary
school in the country has been visited by PENSA at least once.
 PROGRESS OF PENSA
Literacy classes were organized by PENSA on a very
modest scale and it yielded many graduates who
were now able to read the Bible on their own.
• Hundreds of students and associates of the church
who would have been lost either to the world or to
false doctrines have been retained in the faith.
• Many overseas branches of the church were
pioneered and
actively supported by PENSA brethren abroad.
 THE pensa national body
Vibrant PENSA groups began to spring up in several
tertiary institutions including Polytechnics,
Teacher/Nursing Training colleges, etc.
Therefore, there was the need to have leadership to
spearhead activities of all PENSA groups at the national
level.
The Coordinating Team System was then implemented.
The team had the responsibility of planning and
organizing regional and national conferences.
The national leadership and host institution rotated
between the then three traditional universities ie.
University of Ghana, KNUST and UCC.
 After 1992, national conferences were held every year.
 The conference was dubbed the I.T.I PENSA Conference since it was
mainly patronized by tertiary students
 However, between the year 2011 and 2013, the number of Pre-
Tertiary (secondary school) students who attended the I.T.I PENSA
conference was steadily increasing.
 This informed leadership to reconsider the name I.T.I PENSA to PENSA
Ghana, in order to capture all students at the various levels of
education.
 In the advent of the creation of more sectors, the leadership at the
national level is rotated among sectors instead of institution
 Venue for hosting the conference in 2014 was permanently moved
from the campuses to the Pentecost Convention Centre due to
difficulties in getting venues to host the conference.
 PRESENT DAY PENSA

 Currently, PENSA is active in more than 159 Tertiary institutions in

Ghana and numerous SHSs and has an estimated membership of
98,128
 The ‘PENSA idea’ has spread from Ghana to many countries in the
world where it continues to impact the lives of young people,
keeping them on fire for the Lord.
 Thus, PENSA has become an active and cherished wing of the
Church of Pentecost.
PRESENT DAY PENSA

 Due to the increasing numbers, PENSA Ghana has been divided into 16
sectors, each with a Travelling Secretary, for effective administration. This
was not so in the early days, and we give glory to the Lord for what He is
doing.
 The 16 sectors: Greater Accra, Upper Volta, Lower Volta, Central, Winneba,
Takoradi, Tarkwa, Koforidua, Suhum, Asokwa, Kwadaso, Mampong, Brong
Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West sectors.
THE IMPACT OF PENSA IN THE CHURCH
AND SOCIETY

By the grace of God, PENSA is not only impacting lives in the church, it is also
touching lives in our societies as well. These are being done in numerous ways:
 Massive evangelism, with signs and wonders, winning souls whose lives are
made better and beneficial to the church and the community. With this,
many assemblies in CoP have been opened.
 The transforming of many young people’s spiritual lives through effective
teaching, prayers and discipleship and the raising of leaders who continue
to raise high the banner of Christ and the church. This is evident by the
numerous officers and Ministers of the church who have had training in
PENSA.
THE IMPACT OF PENSA IN THE CHURCH
AND SOCIETY
 The organization of the PENSA conference, which is one
of the biggest youth gatherings in Ghana, at which
many people’s lives are made better.
 Seminars and sessions where PENSA members are
empowered for business. This is evident by the numerous
PENSA alumni who are making giant strides in the
corporate world.
 Visits and donations to needy people, eg, prisoners and
orphanages.
Aims and objectives

AIMS
 To foster interaction among members within and outside the various
campuses.
 For proper integration of students and alumni into the Church of Pentecost
(The Church).
 To help establish PENSA in all Pre-Tertiary (Senior High, vocational,
technical, etc.) and Tertiary Institutions.
 To curb the drift of students and ALUMNI into other churches.
 To help gather resources for field and missionary work.
 To ensure effective communication between the Church and the Group,
as well as within the Group.
Aims and objectives

OBJECTIVES
 To organize programmes to meet the needs and taste of members in the
Tertiary institutions, such as conferences, Joint Evangelistic Crusades,
Seminars, Workshops, Orientation for National Service Personnel.
 To promote the establishment of the Alumni for effective integration into
the Church and to help finance programmes.
 To provide assistance to members of the Church in second cycle
institutions in the form of Seminars, Crusade, Vacation Classes, and Career
Guidance etc. to inspire, motivate and encourage such members.
PENSA INTERNATIONAL – Into the world
we go!
 Having come thus far as PENSA, and reflecting on the solid foundation
PENSA has, it is time for us to have a global focus hence the PENSA
International vision
 Among other implementation strategies, Vision 2023 will adopt PENSA
as a strategic platform to reach out to the nations. The following
actions will be employed in this regard:
 a. We will strategically establish PENSA in the nations where possible.
 b. We shall be committed to appointing more PENSA Travelling
Secretaries (campus ministers) in the nations.
 c. We will create an international forum for PENSA to be known as
PENSA International (PENSA Int.). PENSA International will be branded to
be recognized globally across our churches.
PENSA INTERNATIONAL

 d. PENSA International will among its functions register all students

and alumni of the Church into a global network via A PENSA
international professional social media app. This global network will
help in facilitating the work of missions in the nations.
 e. Under PENSA International, a massive global campaign will be
launched to encourage students to initiate PENSA on every campus
they find themselves.
 f. We shall explore the possibility of appointing a Coordinator to
coordinate the activities of PENSA International.
 g. In collaboration with the International Missions Office, PENSA
students and alumni will be recruited as volunteers for social work
and missions’ trip when necessary and when convenient
PENSA INTERNATIONAL

 h. A PENSA International conference shall be held every three years

with evangelistic focus.
 I. PENSA International will also facilitate professional networking among
its members.
 PENSA International was launched by the Chairman of the church,
Apostle Eric Nyamekye on 7th May 2019 at the Pentecost Convention
Center with its first coordinator being Elder Dr Patrick Adonoo
 Lets all join the train in this agenda which is; “possessing the nations”
 You can visit the PENSA International website for more details on mission
trips and other events : www.pensainternational.org or follow the
various social media pages of PENSA International for updates