BQ 952 – 54/2026
Archbishop Schirrmacher addresses the 10,000 delegates of the global summit of “The Church of Pentecost”

22. September 2026

Africans brought the gospel to the Germanic people 1700 years ago

(Bonn, 22.09.2026) Thomas Schirrmacher addressed the 10,000 delegates at the global summit of “The Church of Pentecost” at the Oberhausen Arena in central Germany. He discussed the future of evangelism in Europe with the organization’s leader, Apostle Dr. Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, as well as with the evening’s preacher, William “Billy” Wilson. Wilson is the chairman of Empowered21 and the Pentecostal World Fellowship, as well as a bishop of the Church of God in Cleveland.

In his address, Schirrmacher reminded the delegates that the relationship between African and European Christianity reaches back to the earliest history of the Church in Central Europe. According to ancient Christian tradition, African soldiers of the Theban Legion were among the first Christian martyrs remembered along the Rhine, including in Xanten, Cologne, Bonn, Trier, and other cities. Against this historical background, Schirrmacher turned to the present and appealed to the rapidly growing churches of Africa to help re-evangelize an increasingly secular Europe. Taking up the Macedonian call in Acts 16, “Come over and help us,” he encouraged African churches to send missionaries, pastors, theologians, church planters, professionals, and families to Europe. He particularly emphasized their potential contribution to reaching both secular Europeans and migrant communities, including Muslims. Such mission, he stressed, should not reverse earlier patterns of superiority: Africa is not to replace Europe, nor Europe to direct Africa. Rather, Christians from all continents share responsibility for world mission as one Body of Christ, whose center is neither Europe nor Africa, but Jesus Christ.

The Church of Pentecost (CoP), a global Pentecostal denomination headquartered in Accra, Ghana, held its international “PENTECOST 2026” conference at the Rudolf Weber Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. The conference brought together pastors and leaders from virtually every part of the world.

Representatives of the Bund Freikirchlicher Pfingstgemeinden (BFP), the German Federation of Pentecostal Churches related to the Assemblies of God, also participated in the conference. BFP President Friedhelm Holthuis delivered a greeting, and Vice President James Ros participated in a panel discussion on “Navigating Today’s World.” The Church of Pentecost and the BFP have close and longstanding ties. In Germany, around 100 CoP congregations are affiliated with the BFP as member churches.

Audience of Apostel Dr Eric Nyamekye for Archbishop Schirrmacher © IIRF/Martin Warnecke

The sermon was given by William “Billy” Wilson, Chairman of Empowered21 and the Pentecostal World Fellowship and Bishop of the Church of God (Cleveland). Bishop Dr. William M. “Billy” Wilson (born 1958 in Owensboro, Kentucky) is one of the leading figures of the global Pentecostal and Charismatic movement. Since 2019, he has served as Chairman of the Pentecostal World Fellowship, while also serving as President of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa since 2013 and as Global Chair of Empowered21, a worldwide network representing the Spirit-empowered movement. An ordained Bishop of the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee), Wilson holds a B.S. from Western Kentucky University and an M.A. and D.Min. from Pentecostal Theological Seminary. He has authored numerous books, including “Father Cry: Healing Your Heart and the Hearts of Those You Love” (2012; revised edition 2025) and “Generation Z: Born for the Storm” (2021).

Apostle Dr Eric Kwabena Nyamekye was born on 21 October 1965 in Asokore-Ashanti, Ghana. He graduated from Nyankpala Agricultural College in 1986 and subsequently pursued further studies in management and theology. He holds a Diploma in Personnel Management from the Institute of Commercial Management in the United Kingdom, a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Theology from the University of Manchester, and a Master’s degree in Religious Studies from the University of Ghana, Legon. He later earned his doctorate in Theology from the South African Theological Seminary.

Before entering full-time ministry, he worked for three years at the Technology Consultancy Centre of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi. In 1991, he entered full-time ministry with the Church of Pentecost. He served as District Minister in Daboase in Ghana’s Western Region and subsequently in Agona Nsaba, where he was ordained as a pastor in 1996. From 1999 to 2005, he served as a missionary in South Africa. After returning to Ghana, he served in East Legon and later as Resident Minister of the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) at Atomic from 2008 to 2011.

Schirrmacher receiving Apostle Nyamekyes book © IIRF/Martin Warnecke

In 2011, Dr Nyamekye was called to the ministry of Apostle and appointed Area Head of Tamale, where he served until 2015. He was elected to the Executive Council of the Church of Pentecost in 2013. From 2015 to 2018, he served as Area Head of Koforidua. Among his other responsibilities, he was Patron of the Youth Ministry from 2011 to 2016 and became Chairman of the Media Ministry Committee in 2015.

In 2018, Apostle Nyamekye was elected the sixth Chairman of the Church of Pentecost by an overwhelming majority, receiving 994 of 1,009 votes. He was re-elected for a second term in 2023. Under the overarching vision “Possessing the Nations,” he has initiated and expanded numerous areas of ministry, including Home and Urban Missions, ministry among persons with disabilities, and outreach in schools and prisons. Under his leadership, the Church’s worldwide membership grew from approximately 3.2 million to more than 4.2 million between 2019 and 2022.

Alongside his leadership of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Nyamekye serves as President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Chairman of the Ghana Evangelism Committee, Chancellor of Pentecost University, and a member of Ghana’s National Peace Council. Internationally, he serves on the advisory bodies of the Pentecostal World Fellowship and Empowered21.

Downloads and Links

PDF-Donwload
Permalink: https://bonn-profiles.net/?p=12828