Over the weekend, Pentecost International Christian Centre (PICC) held several events to mark its 16 years of existence since it began its Ministry in Malawi under the leadership of its Overseer Pastor Esau Banda.
With a mission to bring hope to the hopeless, life to the dying and help them become true disciples of Jesus Christ, the church is Headquartered in Area 49 at the Camp of God Cathedral with branches across Malawi.
The celebrations started with a Night of Worship on 6th March led by the Hope Music Ministry which led followers into an intensive time of praise and worship in God’s presence for two and a half hours dishing out spirit filled tunes.
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On 7th March, the church organized a Leadership induction training for its Pastors from all the various branches across the country.
The 16th Anniversary celebration reached its climax with a Mega Sunday Service which run from 7 in the morning to 1300hrs.
The service was characterized by performances from the Children’s Heritage Ministry, as they recited Bible verses; some on the lessons learnt over the sixteen years and songs on God’s goodness towards the church.
Some of the members came to testify on the impact the church has had on their careers, businesses, spiritual growth and how they came to be saved from life battles and challenges after they joined the ministry.
One of those who testified told the gathering how he was rescued from the jaws of his attackers on his way to Sunday’s Mega service.
He explained that being mindful of the long distance he had to brave to get to the service, he had to leave around 3 a.m. to arrive on time and on his way, he found himself in the hands of three robbers who stopped him and grabbed his bag where they found a Hope School of Ministry certificate, Marriage certificate and other church related materials.
The attackers asked if he is a Pastor and he confirmed that was indeed true under the leadership of Pastor Banda and two of the thugs confessed to have listened to Banda’s teachings through the radio ministry and afterwards the search for the man’s valuables abruptly stopped as they let him proceed with his journey.
During the Mega Sunday service titled “Breaking new grounds” the Senior Pastor told the congregation that life in Christ is a continuous change of levels in ministry, marriage and career.
He assured the gathering that they are due to break new grounds, new experiences, and succeed as breaking new grounds means attempting and accomplishing a feat one has never attempted before.
According to him, some of the keys for breaking new grounds are being diligent, never to be lazy, being on God’s side at all times and to embrace a daring spirit, being strong and courageous.
“Decide to be diligent; decide to be on God’s side at all times. If you want to break new grounds, decide to embrace a daring spirit. There’s no future for the fearful, Have a spirit that dares!
“Be a risk taker, be strong and courageous. Courage is the backbone of progress. Have a daring spirit, never be afraid. Don’t be afraid of failing; don’t be afraid of people!.
“Decide to be on God’s side at all times, never be found in all your transactions on the wrong side of life, In business be on the side of God, in marriage be on the side of God. The way you manage your money be on the side of God”
Pastor Banda challenged women to be tough as life is warfare noting that lazy bones will die from poverty.
The teacher of the word further advised the faithful to have divine direction arguing that to lack it is to register stagnation and dared them to be aggressive and live without excuses.
Quoting scriptures from 1 Chronicles 16: 34-36 in his message titled “O give thanks to the Lord! during the Friday Worship Night, Banda called on the Christians to celebrate and magnify God for his mercy endures forever and for his goodness which has brought the church this far.
He also indicated that other reasons to show gratitude to God are because of the so many souls saved, preserved and healed through the ministry.
The man of God urged the congregants to continue praising God for his wondrous and amazing works towards PICC in the past 16 years.
“In 16 years, we’ve never struggled once financially, as a church, we’ve never had a financial crisis. We’ve never had crisis meeting around money.
“By the grace of God, we began radio ministry I think 2011 or thereabout if not 2010, and we’ve never been off air because God has been financing.
“And by his grace we’ve gone to be in several places now across the country and across the borders; it can only be God. In sixteen years, God has helped us with all these structures we see and several of our mega-churches are putting up buildings and I want to thank God”
In its bid to spread the gospel, PICC has expanded its footprint to Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom and South Africa
The church has several ministries under it such as the Men of Valour, Women of Hope, Heritage and Prison Ministry among others.