Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
Pastor Clement Anchebah of the Accra Branch of the Fountain Gate Chapel (FGC) has been inducted as the new chairman of the International Presbytery of the church.
He succeeds Pastor Eastwood Anaba, Founder of the FGC, who is stepping down after leading the church for nearly 22 years.
The induction service was the high point of the church’s five-day Easter convention, dubbed the International Extra Oil conference and came off two days after six members of the congregation, including two daughters of the founder, died in a motor accident on the Tamale–Bolgatanga highway.
The deceased were on their way to the convention when the incident occurred. Also inducted into office was the Vice-Chairman of the International Presbytery, Professor Sai Ditto, and the Co-ordinator of the presbytery, Pastor Cornelius Yakung.
From a humble beginning in 1987, the church has witnessed significant growth and currently has branches all over the country and other parts of the world.
Apart from preaching the word of God, the church has established a school that admits pupils from the kindergarten to junior high school level. Plans are far advanced for the establishment of a senior high school.
In his sermon, Pastor Anaba expressed the hope that the church under a new leadership would experience growth and lead to the fulfilment of its aims and objectives.
He explained that the decision to step down and hand over the leadership of the church to someone else was to relieve him of some of the administrative functions. The move, he also added, would give him the free hand to pursue the word of God more forcefully than he had ever done.
He charged the congregation to support the new leadership in its desire to win more souls for the Lord.
Pastor Anchebah was presented with a Bible, a copy of the church’s constitution and a flag as symbols of his office.
In his acceptance speech, Pastor Anchebah promised to continue on the foundation already laid by the Senior Pastor. He also pledged to pursue the desire of the founder of the church to intensify its evangelism mission of the northern parts of the country to win more souls for Christ.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, noted the positive contribution of the FGC on the socio-economic lives of the people in the region.
He said apart from establishing a school, the church, being conscious of the poverty levels of the people in the region, had also assisted some of its members to establish farms and businesses, which would undoubtedly complement government’s efforts at alleviating poverty among the people.
Whilst lauding the church for living up to its social responsibilities, Mr Woyongo also commended the leadership of the church for putting in place an effective succession plan contrary to the traditional beliefs that the founder of the church must die before he/she is succeeded.
He commended the leadership of the church for the bold initiative and urged other religious denominations to emulate same.
He also appealed to all religious bodies in the region to continue to pray for the return of peace to Bawku and other hot spots in the region.
Pastor Clement Anchebah of the Accra Branch of the Fountain Gate Chapel (FGC) has been inducted as the new chairman of the International Presbytery of the church.
He succeeds Pastor Eastwood Anaba, Founder of the FGC, who is stepping down after leading the church for nearly 22 years.
The induction service was the high point of the church’s five-day Easter convention, dubbed the International Extra Oil conference and came off two days after six members of the congregation, including two daughters of the founder, died in a motor accident on the Tamale–Bolgatanga highway.
The deceased were on their way to the convention when the incident occurred. Also inducted into office was the Vice-Chairman of the International Presbytery, Professor Sai Ditto, and the Co-ordinator of the presbytery, Pastor Cornelius Yakung.
From a humble beginning in 1987, the church has witnessed significant growth and currently has branches all over the country and other parts of the world.
Apart from preaching the word of God, the church has established a school that admits pupils from the kindergarten to junior high school level. Plans are far advanced for the establishment of a senior high school.
In his sermon, Pastor Anaba expressed the hope that the church under a new leadership would experience growth and lead to the fulfilment of its aims and objectives.
He explained that the decision to step down and hand over the leadership of the church to someone else was to relieve him of some of the administrative functions. The move, he also added, would give him the free hand to pursue the word of God more forcefully than he had ever done.
He charged the congregation to support the new leadership in its desire to win more souls for the Lord.
Pastor Anchebah was presented with a Bible, a copy of the church’s constitution and a flag as symbols of his office.
In his acceptance speech, Pastor Anchebah promised to continue on the foundation already laid by the Senior Pastor. He also pledged to pursue the desire of the founder of the church to intensify its evangelism mission of the northern parts of the country to win more souls for Christ.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, noted the positive contribution of the FGC on the socio-economic lives of the people in the region.
He said apart from establishing a school, the church, being conscious of the poverty levels of the people in the region, had also assisted some of its members to establish farms and businesses, which would undoubtedly complement government’s efforts at alleviating poverty among the people.
Whilst lauding the church for living up to its social responsibilities, Mr Woyongo also commended the leadership of the church for putting in place an effective succession plan contrary to the traditional beliefs that the founder of the church must die before he/she is succeeded.
He commended the leadership of the church for the bold initiative and urged other religious denominations to emulate same.
He also appealed to all religious bodies in the region to continue to pray for the return of peace to Bawku and other hot spots in the region.
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