Graduation Day at A/G Church in Italy

Six students from the Bible College of Assemblies of God Church in Italy (English Section) have graduated after a 3-year course in the city Reggio Emilia.

The six, Abraham Akpor Sowah (from Holy Spirit Assemblies of God, Modena), Saviour Ametepe (Trinity Baptist Church ? Bergamo), Toma Okumbor (Trinity Assemblies of God, Mariano ? Mantova), William Okai (Emmanuel Christian Centre, Assemblies of God, London), Padmore Manu Djan (Miracle Centre Assemblies of God, Mantova) and Richard Murphy Dotse Amartey (Calvary Assemblies of God, Cremona) were all presented with their Diploma Certificates at a joint service of the church held in Reggio Emilia under which various branches of the church in Italy were present.

It?s the 4th Graduation ceremony and the passing out so far of 30 students at the church?s Bible College - affiliated to Mid Bible College in Kumasi, Ghana - since it was established in 2002.

The students studied a course with its contents of 27 subjects, among them, A/G Doctrine, Life of Christ, Church Planting, Homiletics, Pentecostal Truth, the Principles of Teaching, Pastoral Theology and Comparative Religion. They also had an intensive study of 18 Christian Service courses from the Global University.

Present at the service were lecturers of the school: Rev. Solomon King (Dean of the College in Ghana), Rev. Paul Frimpong Manso (College President in Ghana), Marianne Van Staalduinen (based in Holland), Rev. James D. Kessler (based in Holland) and Pastor Patrick M. Boakye (in Italy). Also present was Rev. Joe Amanfu (Field Director of the Church) and Pastors from branches of the church and other churches.

Presenting the history of the class ? students of 2008 ? who prefers to be called ?HERALDS OF THE GOSPEL?, the leader of the class Abraham Sowah said it is hard to imagine, even more surprising to believe, that their climb in theological education which began in August 2006 has ended in August 2008. ?The man who has no time to train himself or cease to learn ceases to live,? he noted. ?Our nerves were tense and our fears were great after hearing rumours from the upper schoolmates about loads of assignments and high level of examination during the one month of intensive studies each year. It was true yet we survived.?

The class leader on behalf of his class expressed profound gratitude to God who called them to the Ministry according to His eternal purpose. He also extended a heartfelt gratitude of the class to all those who gave them pillars of support to the completion of their 3-year study mentioning the National Council and Board of Governors of the church, Reggio Emilia Assemblies of God Church, the kitchen staff under the leadership of Beatrice Baiden and the various churches who contributed to support them. ?The Heralds of the Gospel will hold in their memories great task ahead of them to preach the gospel,? he said in concluding his presentation.

Rev. Frimpong Manso who preached at the service said people today throughout the world are looking for news about violence, hurricane, global warming and about economic echoes but the church has the good news and it is about Jesus who brought hope to mankind. ?We are to go, proclaim and spread the WORD that Jesus has brought to mankind. It is the gospel alone that can save the world and not politicians who have no remedy,? he pointed out.

Referring to the training of Pastors for the work of God, Rev. Frimpong Manso noted in his sermon that before someone is to become a pilot, a doctor or driver the person is trained but what concerns mankind?s salvation they are not taught the right way and it is for this reason the Bible College of Assemblies of God was established. ?Would be Pastors should be taught the WORD of God properly before they go out to preach. A lot of Pastors are going away from the WORD of God,? he told the congregation.

The Rev. Minister?s ?Word of Exhortation? was focused on message, the mind and method of sending the WORD of God to people and he enjoined the new graduates to give a message of hope and love. He reiterated his points saying: ?Jesus is coming and it is the only hope for the world. I thank God He is calling men and women around the world to announce His WORD and you should not be ashamed of sending the message?. But he has some ?hard? words for the new graduates: ?Your priority must not be to buy cars and send home (Ghana) but to preach the WORD of God in a clear and simple manner devoid of big words which will only go to confuse the people. We didn?t come to teach you to go and get titles but to go and minister the WORD of God to people,? he stressed.

In charging the new graduates, Rev. Joe Amanfu said the entire world is looking up to them: ?Remember you have been called to serve and not to be served. I wish you all the best in your ministries and may the good Lord expand your coasts?, he told them.

The new graduates received their certificates amidst songs provided by the national choir of the church in a short but impressive presentation ceremony and they were greeted with bouquet of flowers and gifts by their spouses and the church members as they walked off the podium.

Two other Pastors of the church, Roland Aggrey Jnr. of the New Covenant Assemblies of God Church in Parma and Adu Boahene of Bassano Assemblies of God in Vicenza were also ordained Reverend Ministers at the service.