With the support of the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), the International Conference on Ecumenical Development Cooperation was held in Ghana. The theme and focus of the Consultation was on Pentecostalism and Sustainable development with primary focus on social intervention projects and initiatives.
The consultation began on Sunday 22nd January and ended successfully on Wednesday 25th January. It was made up of experts, theological academics and church leaders representing: Ghana, Germany, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, Benin, Burkina Faso, Kenya, among others who had come together for a common goal.
The Conference was graced by the presence and participation of Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost Worldwide. On this occasion his role as President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council became even more relevant to the discourse and consultation.
Also, in attendance was Prof. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu of the Trinity Theological Seminary; Dr. Emmanuel Anim, Principal of Pentecost Theological Seminary; Detrich Wermer of Bread for the World, Germany, as well as other distinguished scholars and theologians.
The Conference was under the sponsorship of the Bread for the World, an organisation based in Berlin, Germany. The Bread for the World is the National Protestant Development Organization. It seeks to bring to bear upon African societies, the fullness of life as envisaged in the Christian mandate through diakonia services of caring for the marginalized, the neglected, the afflicted and the underprivileged. Bread for the World, therefore, takes seriously to attending to the needs of social services by Christian and para-church organizations.
In this respect, the Consultation took cognizance of recent advancement in social services and the tremendous engagements in infrastructural development within the Pentecostal circles. Some of these include basic and high schools, universities, hospitals and clinics, orphanages, initiatives in agricultural entrepreneurial training and development.
One such social development project which earned much admiration and also discussion was the prominent conference center by undertaken by Church of Pentecost –the PCC. Much interest was in the fact that the PCC is a facility that serves constituents from various segments of both the Ghanaian and international communities.
Writer: Sylvia Owusu-Ansah & Evans Adu-Gyamfi