Peacefmonline.com can confirm that the Church of Pentecost (COP) has with immediate effect severed all links with the Edumfa Spiritual Revival and Healing Centre also called the Edumfa Prayer Camp or Edumfa Heavenly Ministry at Abura Asebu Kwaman in the Central Region.
The Edumfa Prayer camp is a faith healing centre that is highly patronized by some famed people in the country including Reverend Ministers, Pastors, Prophets, Business Executives, CEOs, Renowned Musicians, Traders, Students, the Sick and those under any form of spiritual bondage.
A 7-page circular issued by the General Council of the COP to all its Assemblies and members worldwide and signed by the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah, stated inter alia that the Edumfa Prayer Centre Edumfa, led by Deaconess Grace Mensah (Auntie Grace) and her husband, Elder Mensah, had become the epicenter of the teaching of some erroneous doctrines and the propagation of false practices both on radio and at the Prayer Centre by Mrs. Rebecca Bedford (daughter of Auntie Grace) and her husband, Emmanuel Bedford, (formerly Elder Bedford).
�The following are some of the erroneous teachings going on at the Centre:
a. They claim that Christians should abstain from eating beef, pork, octopus, tilapia, kako, canned fish, particularly salmon sardine (Queen of the Coast), and the non-alcoholic beverage, Malt. They teach that these and other edibles are the products of Maame Water (Mermaid) and that those who consume them are hell-bound.
b. That dresses with �joromi� designs are cursed and should not be worn by Christians.
c. That women should refrain from perming their hair and the use of hair extensions (mesh, Rasta, etc.) because those hair-dos prevent the women from entering heaven.
d. That the use of earrings, necklaces and other forms of jewellery is an abomination to the Lord and anyone who wears them is kept under spiritual bondage and has a mark of the Beast and needs repentance for re-baptism.�
However, the Church of Pentecost says it refutes these teachings because the mark of the Beast has no reference to hair plaiting, earrings, etc. Quoting extensively from the Bible, the COP said such teachings are scripturally and doctrinally wrong and CANNOT and DOES NOT subscribe to them. The Church of Pentecost upholds the doctrine that salvation is attained only by faith in Jesus Christ and therefore disassociates itself from the goings-on at the camp.
�In latter times, some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars� They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer� (1 Tim. 4:1-5; Col. 2:16-23), the COP statement said.
In the light of the dangers that such erroneous teachings and practices can have on church members, the Executive Council of the COP has concluded among other things that:
a. The Church of Pentecost shall maintain a normal local assembly at Edumfa outside the premises of the Prayer Centre. This is to publicly disassociate The Church of Pentecost from the strange teachings being propagated by the Edumfa Heavenly Ministry at eh Centre;
b. The Church is withdrawing its support and recognition of the Edumfa Spiritual Revival and Healing Centre with immediate effect.
Below is the Circular issued by the General Council of the Church Of Pentecost and signed by the Chairman, Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah on the above subject.
{NB: Peacefmonline.com is exercising its editorial discretion not to reproduced the FULL statement on the COP and Edumfa matter}
PROPAGATION OF FALSE TEACHINGS AND PRACTICES AT THE EDUMFA PRAYER CENTRE
Members of the Church and the public are hereby informed that:
The Church Of Pentecost (Spiritual Revival and Healing Centre), Edumfa, led by Deaconess Grace Mensah (Auntie Grace) and her husband, Elder Mensah, had become the epicenter of the teaching of erroneous doctrines and the propagation of false practices both on radio and at the Prayer Centre by Mrs. Rebecca Bedford (daughter of Auntie Grace) and her husband, Emmanuel Bedford, (formerly Elder Bedford);
The following are some of the erroneous teachings going on at the Centre:
a. They claim that Christians should abstain from eating beef, pork, octopus, tilapia, kako, canned fish, particularly salmon sardine (Queen of the Coast), and the non-alcoholic beverage, Malt. They teach that these and other edibles are the products of Maame Water (Mermaid) and that those who consume them are hell-bound.
The Church of Pentecost disagrees with these teachings because the Bible teaches, �In latter times, some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars� They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer� (1 Tim. 4:1-5; Col. 2:16-23).
b. The Bedfords claim that dresses with �joromi� designs are cursed and should not be worn by Christians. This we dispute with God�s Word. The Bible says that �this matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy out on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you� (Gal. 2:4-5).
c. They teach that women should refrain from perming their hair and the use of hair extensions (mesh, Rasta, etc.) because those hair-dos prevent the women from entering heaven.
d. Furthermore, they claim that the use of earrings, necklaces and other forms of jewellery is an abomination to the Lord and anyone who wears them is kept under spiritual bondage and has a mark of the Beast and needs repentance for re-baptism.
The Church of Pentecost refutes this teaching because the mark of the Beast has no reference to hair plaiting, earrings, etc. Rather, the reference is to those �who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name� (Rev. 14:11). It has to be noted, however, that the Lord expects Christians to be modest in their dressing or appearance. The Bible says, �Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God�s sight� (1 Pet. 3:3-4). This does not mean that Christians are not to wear golden jewellery. Moderation is the key lesson here.
e. The Bedfords claim that water baptism should be done in Jesus� name only. This is contrary to Jesus� own instructions in Matthew 28:19, which states, �Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit�. The Church of Pentecost upholds and practices this command of the Lord.
f. The Bedfords have been re-baptizing Christians who have already been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Similarly, they have been re-baptizing Christians who have eaten beef, pork, tilapia, octopus, kako and salmon sardine or consumed the non-alcoholic beverage, Malt. Christians who have used hair extensions, jewellery as well as those who have used �joromi� designs are re-baptized by the Bedfords.
The aforementioned and many such teachings are scripturally and doctrinally wrong and The Church of Pentecost does not subscribe to them. The Church of Pentecost upholds the doctrine that salvation is attained only by faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12, Gal. 2:16).
In the light of the dangers that such erroneous teachings and practices can have on church members, the Executive Council is left with no other option than to take the following painful decisions:
a. The Church of Pentecost shall maintain a normal local assembly at Edumfa outside the premises of the Prayer Centre. This is to publicly disassociate The Church of Pentecost from the strange teachings being propagated by the Edumfa Heavenly Ministry at the Centre;
b. The Church is withdrawing its support and recognition of the Edumfa Spiritual Revival and Healing Centre with immediate effect;
c. Mrs. Rebecca Bedford and her husband Mr. Emmanuel Bedford are excommunicated forthwith from The Church of Pentecost;
e. Pastors, pastors� wives, officers and members of The Church of Pentecost are strongly admonished not to patronize any prayer meeting organised at the Edumfa Prayer Centre or Edumfa Heavenly Ministry as those who patronize such meetings do so at their own risk. In addition, all church members are advised not to listen to any of the teachings of Rebecca and Emmanuel Bedford on radio, tapes or any other means.
Those who have ears must listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
May the Lord God Almighty bless His Church.
Signed
Opoku Onyinah (Apostle Dr)
Issued by the General Council of The Church Of Pentecost
Source: Nana Kwadwo Asante/Peacefmonline.com
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