To commemorate 100 years of existence, the Christ Apostolic Church International in Sunnyside organised a fun walk.
Its spokesperson Andrew Osei Sakyi said the church founded in 1917 in Ghana by Apostle Peter Newman Anim, brought church members and residents of Sunnyside together.
The fun walk included a clean-up campaign and a lecture on the history of the church.
“As residents and members of the church joined in the activities, we had hoped that the cleaning of the surroundings will bring people together which it did,” he said.
Sakyi said Apostle Anim who is well-known as the father of Pentecostalism in Ghana, opened doors to his church 100 years ago to a few people who made up the first church. Today the church boasts with thousands of people all over the world.
ALSO READ: East church project empowers moms, daughters
“Today, the church has over 5 000 branches nationwide and numerous branches worldwide,” he said.
“Over a space of 100 years the church has expanded to many European countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Austria and the United Kingdom.”
In Northern America, Canada and the Australian continent, the church also has numerous branches.
Sakyi said in Africa the church has expanded beyond the boundaries of Ghana to Chad, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
In South Africa, the church was introduced in the year 2002 by Apostle Joseph Sakyi, who currently heads the Christian education department of the church.
“He was succeeded by Apostle Emmanuel Appenteng in the year 2005 to serve as the mission’s head in South Africa,” Sakyi explained.
“After a seven year duration of service, Apostle Appenteng was transferred to the United States of America as the new missions head and was succeeded in South Africa by Reverend Patrick Asuah.”
ALSO READ: Nellmapius residents in stand off with local churches
In South Africa, the church has branches in Sunnyside, Heidelberg, Tembisa, Southgate and in the Johannesburg’s central business district.
“We also have branches in Witbank, Klipfontein, and Brits as well as pilot branches nationwide.”
Sakyi said to celebrate the centenary anniversary, the Sunnyside branch saw it fit to organise the commemorative event.
“It is only right that we pay tribute to Apostle Peter Newman Anim, the founder of the Christ Apostolic Church International who’s tireless effort enabled the Pentecostalism and Charismatics movement to gain root in several parts of the world.”
He said the theme for the anniversary was: “One hundred years of impacting the world through Pentecostalism.”
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
