A special church service in the city Reggio Emilia marked the passing out of six graduands from the Bible College of Assemblies of God Church in Italy.
The six students, Wiliam Asamoah Tannor (from Revival Centre of A/G Church in Udine), Isaac Yaw Boakye (Maranatha A/G Church in Brescia), Charles Yaw Kwateng (Holy Spirit A/G Church in Modena), Eric Abrokwa (Christ A/G Church in Como), Jean Twum Danso (House of Grace A/G Church at Bassano-Vicenza) and Joseph Kouame Aka (Palermo A/G Church) were presented their certificates in an atmosphere saturated with joyful songs and praises of worship.
The service was well attended by the 24 various branches of the church across Italy. It was the 5th Graduation Day of the Bible College since it was established in 2002 and the theme of the passing out students is: ‘Missionaries Without Borders’.
Speaking on behalf of the class before the congregation, the class leader, Charles Yaw Kwateng, said they responded to the call of God and started their training at the college in August 2007 and the 4-year course in pastoral studies has been helpful. “Our class is made of five men and one woman”, he mentioned, “the vast age difference has been an advantage since old and young blend ideas in creating a good atmosphere for studies”. He also indicated in narrating the class history that the training on campus makes one go out refined and ready to work for God. “Missionaries Without Borders are ready for morning devotion as early as 7 o’clock and lectures are structured in a practical way so as to render the field work easier for outgoing students”, Charles Kwateng informed the congregation. Among the college course subjects are: Personal Evangelism, Research Methods, Christian Education, the Book of Acts, Romans, Hebrews, Daniel, Church Planting, Marriage and the Family, Parliamentary Law, Pentecostal Truth, Research/Study Methods, Comparative Religion, Pastoral Theology, Homiletics, Christian Education and Computing. According to the class leader, staying in the school has been a lovely experience but the work which is out there for the class is still waiting. “The Missionaries Without Borders are now ready to cause change in the world of Christ”, he indicated. The Field Director of the church in Italy, Rev. Joe Amanfu, charged the new graduands to know all about Christ – His teachings, His way of life, His purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecution, sufferings and what happened to Him. He said, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted as evil men go from bad to worse. Referring to the Bible at 2 Corinthians 10:16 he asked them to preach the gospel beyond their region and not to boast about work already done in another man’s territory and be prepared in season and out of season. He advised them to keep their head up in all situations and endure hardships in doing the work of a Minister of God. In his brief words of exhortation, the Field Director also urged the new Ministers to carry their instructions without partiality and favouritism. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young in the Ministry but set examples for the believers in speech, in life, in love in faith and in purity,” he added. In preaching the sermon, Rev. (Dr) Paul Frimpong Manso – a lecturer of the Bible College and now the General Superintendent of A/G in Ghana – advised the new men of God not to be angry with Pastors who will open up churches in their locality. “Our vision should be clear about our surroundings and where we are located,” he stressed and added: “the early church started in Jerusalem and Judea but they went beyond.” Reflecting on the history of the A/G Bible College in Italy Rev. (Dr.) Frimpong Manso mentioned God has given the church the school for members to submit themselves and work for Him. “It’s my desire we get a greater number of people who are not even pastors to help in the work of God” he stated. He asked the congregation to pray for the new graduands to achieve the purpose they have set themselves. “Prayer can go everywhere,” he emphasised, “men and women should keep themselves to prayer for strongholds to be broken for the men of God to do their work. What these ‘Missionaries Without Borders’ need from you is to join them in prayers and the sky will be their limit. Without prayers they can’t make it,” he told the congregation. The new graduands received their certificates with hand-shakes from Rev. (Dr.) Paul Frimpong Manso, Rev. Solomon King (the Principal of the College) and Rev. James D. Kessler (now the Dean of the College) – all lecturers of the College – and were presented with bouquet of flowers from their spouses and church members as they walked off the podium. The General Superintendent also at a short ceremony ordained five Pastors of the church – Pastor Samuel Ofei Tagoe, Pastor Ralph Ekow Yawson, Pastor Sammy Ofosuhene, Pastor Antwi Manu and Pastor Patrick Boakye (a lecturer at the College) as Reverend Ministers. Also present at the service were Rev. Adu Boahene (Vice Field Director of the Church, Rev. Roland Aggrey Jnr., (National Treasurer), Rev. Joseph Donkor and Pastor Patrick Agyemang (from A/G Church in Ghana).
