BRIEF HISTORY OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH – GHANA
The Welsh Revival of 1904-5, had tremendous effect on many parts of the British Isles. This was followed by a MIGHTY VISITATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, which fell simultaneously on many parts of the world, during which many received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with signs following.
As a result, there sprung up Pentecostal groups worldwide which also believed that the gifts of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers of Ephesians 4:11 should operate in the church together with the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit as spelt out in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. The Apostolic Church was therefore born in 1915 in Penygroes, South Wales; after the cluster of independent churches that rose out of the revival severed their affiliation to the Bournemouth Apostolic Faith Church which was under the leadership of Apostle W. O. Hutchinson, on the basis of sound Biblical Ecclesiology and Sola Scriptura. Subsequently by multiple prophetic word, Apostle Daniel Powell Williams was confirmed as the new leader of the new set of independent churches that shared similar thoughts.
It was a vision of Apostolic doctrine that gripped the first leader of the Fellowship, Daniel Powell Williams, who in 1913, was ordained an Apostle in the Body of Christ and later became the first President of the Apostolic Church Council and remained so until his death in 1947.
Subsequently, these ministries were exercised in other countries of the world. With time, the Lord in a remarkable way brought many groups to link up with the Church in Penygroes under the name of The Apostolic Church, with the vision of “Belting the Globe with the Gospel”, thus making it the first Pentecostal Movement with strong missionary zeal which also benefited Ghana (Gold Coast). Ghana then saw the emergence of Christians in the country who were seeking spiritual awakening in their hearts and lives.
As a result a group of believers in Asamankese who had experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit and needed instructions and guidance invited Ps. George Perfect from The Apostolic Church-Nigeria to meet the Asamankese group led by the late Apostle Peter Newman Anim. Thereafter Anim and his group accepted to become members of The Apostolic Church (Bradford) and wholeheartedly embraced the Tenets of the Church. Pastor George Perfect formally ordained the leader of the group, Peter Newman Anim as a Pastor, to become the first Ghanaian (Gold Coast) Ascension Minister of The Apostolic Church.
On 2nd March 1937, Pastor James Mckeown arrived in the then Gold Coast as the first resident Missionary. Barely six months after his arrival, Pastor James Mckeown was taken ill with malaria fever and an English District Commissioner of Kyebi took him to the European (Ridge) Hospital in Accra for treatment. A controversy later broke out over his admission and medical treatment. After treatment, this led to a breakaway for the formation of The Christ Apostolic Church in 1939.
Back in1953, Ps. James McKeown invited the ministry of Ps. Dr. Thomas Wyatt leader of the Latter Rain Mission (USA), to the Gold Coast against the orders of the Missionary Board in Bradford. The aftermath of this visit sparked off controversies that led to another split for a larger part of the membership following Ps. James McKeown to form the Gold Coast Apostolic Church to rival The Apostolic Church – Gold Coast. The former after political independence became the Ghana Apostolic Church. However, by the counsel of the first President of the Republic of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, to promote peace in the then largest Pentecostal movement in Ghana, the name of Ps. James McKeown’s faction was changed from Ghana Apostolic Church to Church of Pentecost in 1962 for The Apostolic Church-Ghana to maintain it’s original name.
Due to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, The Apostolic Church-Ghana started to expand leading to many other Churches including the Divine Healers Church, The Apostolic Reformed Church, and The New Covenant Apostolic Church, etc springing up as off-shoots of The Apostolic Church – Ghana. However, the Lord has continued to bless His Church in a wonderful way, and today, the Church has also been instrumental in establishing the glorious vision and the seed of the gospel in Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, La Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, Gambia, South Africa, parts of Europe and North America.
Subsequently leadership of The Apostolic Church – Ghana were as follows:
From 1961 to 1973 Ps. F. Johnson and Ps. C. B. Seacombe were field Superintendents, Apostle J. A. C. Anaman and Apostle Austin Ofori Addo held the positions as Vice Chairman and Secretary respectively.
1973 – 1984: E. H. Williams – Superintendent Missionary, Apostle Austin : Vice Chairman Ofori Addo and Apostle Stephen Lartey Adotey as National Secretary.
1985 – 1986: Apostle Austin Ofori -Addo – First Ghanaian President, Apostle Peter Atta Antwi – Vice President and Apostle James Ghartey – General Secretary. The Church gained autonomy from the British (Bradford) Administration in 1985.
1986 – 1996: Apostle Peter Attah Antwi – President, Apostle James Ghartey – Vice President and Apostle Ebenezer N. Abrebrese – General Secretary.
1996 – 1997: Administrative Management Committee (AMC) Apostles: James Ghartey, E. N. Abrebese, H. P. Anaman, Eric Ayiku, and Emmanuel K. Adjartey.
1997 – 1998: Presidential Board (PB): Apostles: Emmanuel K. Adjartey, Eric Ayiku, H. P. Anaman, with Apostle E. N. Abrebese as the Chairman and spokesperson.
1998 – 2006: Apostle Joseph Anim – President, Apostle Albert Ankoma – Vice President, and Apostle Julius Komla Senuvie as General Secretary.
2006 – 2011: Apostle John Annan Adotey – President, Apostle Julius Senuvie as Vice President and Apostle Kodzo Baiden Denson as General Secretary.
2011 – 2015: Apostle Ebenezer N. Abrebese – President, Apostle Peter Okoe Mankralo – Vice President and Apostle Abraham Ofori-Kuragu as the General secretary.
2015 – 2019: Apostle Peter Okoe Mankralo – President of the Church, Apostle Christian K. Nartey- Vice President and Apostle Alexander Ofosu- General Secretary.
During the 85th Ordinary Session of the National Council meeting held at the Apostolic Resource Centre (ARC) at Fafraha from Tuesday 30th April, to Friday 3rd May, 2019, Apostle Dr. Aaron Nartey Ami-Narh, was elected as the seventh President of the Church. He was inducted into office on the 29th of June, 2019 with Aps. F. Y. Agyemang as Vice President and Apostle Dr. Daniel Kissi Bardoom as the General Secretary.
President Ami-Narh’s administration introduced the “Shift Agenda” concept to redefine the Vision statement of the Church. They introduced new core values as well as initiating new strategic plan and policies for the Church. Some of the newly initiated on-going reforms include: “The Nehemiah Project” for an ultramodern General Headquarters Complex, a review of the 2011 Church Constitution, Construction of Model churches, Reclaiming and Securing lands, the establishment of Campus Ministries and National Prayer Team, launching of the Church’s Television Station (TAC TV ), the production of Accounting Financial Policies/Manuals, Church Digital Mapping amongst others.
The current administration is geared towards moving the Church in the right direction through the power of the Holy Spirit till we get to the cutting edge of our Apostolic destiny.
WE GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY AND SAY, EBENEZER, THUS HOW FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED US. HE WILL PROVIDE FOR THE FUTURE-JEHOVAH JIREH.