Church History

Cocoa is to Tetteh Quarshie as Ghanaian Pentecostalism is to Anim’’ is an important statement. Before his life became a Christian testimony in the Gold Coast, Apostle Anim was once a goldsmith. He can be likened to Tetteh Quarshie, the Ghanaian blacksmith from Osu in Accra, who brought cocoa from Fernanda Po in 1879 to enrich Ghana’s economy. Tetteh Quarshie planted the cocoa at Mampong Akuapem but later the crop spread to all the forest areas in Ghana. Undeniably, Mampong Akuapem has remained the eternal place of the home of Ghana’s cocoa, yet the immense benefits have been nationwide. It is true that cocoa has made many Ghanaian farmers richer having fame, titles, awards, mansions, cars, and other properties. Children, who do not even know what cocoa trees and pods look like, have received scholarships to further their education in higher institutions in and outside Ghana.

So is Apostle P.N. Anim and the original place Asamankese. Anim planted a spiritual cocoa (Pentecostalism) at Asamankese, which has spread throughout the country to establish Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches with the Christ Apostolic Church International being their progenitor or ancestor. Through Anim’s initiative, the gospel has transformed millions of otherwise, poor lives across the length and breadth of Ghana and this was God’s own doing and may His name be praised.

Anim’s Group and their Christian Lifestyle

From 1917 Anim and his Prayer group desired to live like the early Christians in the book of Acts. They literally copied the lifestyle of the early Apostles because most members left their towns, villages and homes and settled at Asamankese to form a community known as “Faith Home” or “Faith Quarters,” where they practiced their faith, especially from 1922. Other continued to sell some of their properties to join them. They shared things in common. Some of these Faith homes or quarters were later established at Finte in the Volta region, Pepeadze, Mankessim in the central region and others. They lived closely together to enable them, at short notice, have time to:

Read the Bible together to study the Apostles’ doctrines –Josh. 1:8; Ps.1 :1,2; Acts 2 :42; Heb.10:25

Pray in the bush and at their worship centers—Matt. 4:1-4; Mk.1:35; 6:4; Lk.6:12. They established healing camps where the sick from most part of the country came for divine healing

Fast and hold all-night services. They observed this regularly.

To hold revival meetings. Their shortest revival meeting lasted for one or two weeks (with fasting), whilst the longest was between six to eight weeks. The purpose was to seek the face of God and plead with Him to repeat signs, wonders and miracles He did in the days of old, according to Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever more.

The Christ Apostolic Church International (CAC), a non-governmental organisation, was founded by Apostle Peter Anim in 1917. He and his Faith Tabernacle Church (which later became known as the Christ Apostolic Church) are credited with the origins of Classical Pentecostalism in Ghana. From little beginning in Asamankese in the Eastern Region, the church has grown and has become the mother of all Pentecostal churches in the country. CACI currently has 3000 assemblies in Ghana and overseas. An interest in a Christian periodical, “The Sword of the Spirit”, led him to fraternize, through correspondence, with its editor, Pastor A. Clark, founder of the Faith Tabernacle Church, Philadelphia. Though non-Pentecostal, Faith Tabernacle placed much emphasis on faith healing and holiness, themes his Presbyterian upbringing had not exposed him to.

He embraced these teachings and tested their efficacy by obtaining healing for himself from a chronic stomach disorder and guinea worm infestation miraculously through prayer. Peter Newman Anim Born on February 4, 1890; was educated in Presbyterian schools and worked for a while for the Basel Mission Factory as a weighing clerk. III health made his continued stay at the factory impossible, necessitating his movements and eventual return to his hometown Boso in 1916, where he married and had four daughters, they all however died. He married Madam Esther Osimpo and out of that marriage was born Moses Appiah Anim, the only son and the only surviving child of Apostle Newman Anim. In 1917, Anim began a healing ministry at Asamankese, which as later to be called Faith Tabernacle. In 1931, there was a new turn of Anim’s ministry. Through a fellow Faith Tabernacle pastor, David O. Odubanjo of Nigeria, Anim got into contact with missionaries of the Apostolic Church of Bradford, UK.

Through an understanding between the two parties, Pastor George Perfect (Apostle) visited Asamankese. His ministry made such an impression on Anim and his Church that before he returned after two weeks stay, the decision to become affiliated with the UK Apostolic Church had been taken by Anim and his Church. THE GLOSSOLALIC PHENOMENON A major event which increased the publicity of Anim’s organization was the outbreak of phenomenon referred to as “Holy Ghost Outpouring.’ Anim’s faith was buttressed when a member of his group, Stephen Owiredu experienced the Holy Spirit baptism in 1932. Stephen Owiredu, had been praying for one of his twin babies who was sick. It was during the prayers that he had the extraordinary experience of the Holy Spirit.

The first building of the Faith tabernacle was put up on a plot of land, which was donated by the chief of Asamankese, who was attracted by the healing and evangelistic campaigns of Anim and his group. It was on the top of this building that the reported “Pillar of Fire” was sighted by both believers and unbelievers alike during one revival meeting. Following the Holy Spirit Baptism in 1932, many people joined Anim’s group through healing. After the first sick person who went to their meeting got healed, the news of his recovery spread, and so several sick people were brought to the group for healing.

Testimonies about these healings spread throughout and several people believed their message. This increased Anim’s faith greatly in no time, branches of his group had been established in many towns in the southern part of the Gold Coast and even across the country into Togoland. Anim requested Bradford to send a resident missionary to Ghana to assist in the work. In 1937, James McKeown, was dispatched as the first Pentecostal missionary from UK to Asamankese.

He was, later in May of the same year, to be joined by his wife Sophia. McKeown’s diligence attracted the admiration of all. He fully participated in the construction of the mission house, which was to house him. However, his contraction of malaria began a battle between him and Anim’s followers, which eventually ended in their separation. The trekking District Commissioner, seeing the seriousness of his condition, sent him to the nearest European Hospital, the Kibi District hospital for treatment, an action, which was considered theologically incorrect for Anim’s followers. McKeown responded very well to treatment and on his discharge, after eleven days of hospitalization, returned immediately to Asamankese to continue his work. However, he faced hostility because the Church felt betrayed by their missionary who “had gone against their teaching to receive medical treatment. McKeown moved to Winneba, a town along the coast. After he settled in Winneba, he requested a leave of absence and returned to the UK.

The Apostolic Church, UK did their best to request cooperation with the missionary without much success since their stand on “no medication” was to them non-negotiable. Unwilling to “compromise,” Anim ceased cooperation with the Apostolic Church and through a word of prophecy at a prayer meeting “Christ” was prefixed to the name Apostolic Church hence the name Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) at a meeting in 1939. However, McKeown also had a problem with the Apostolic Church.

He left and formed the Church of Pentecost. Anim’s CAC began to organize to establish herself as a Classical Pentecostal denomination in Ghana. Formulation of her theology and doctrines took time as disagreements on matters of theology and doctrine shifted more than a few times as the Holy Spirit numerated their understanding. Though Anirn was the principal formulator of these doctrines, Larbi indicates that he instituted these doctrines with the approval of his executive.

The church was registered in 1960 under the land Perpetual Law Cap. 137 with the name “Christ Apostolic Church”. The Certificate of Incorporation Ordinance, Cap. 137 was signed on the 10th day of November, 1960. The Christ Apostolic Church has undergone various stages of evolution ranging from being a small prayer group to being a national and now an international Christian Organisation. With about 2000 branch Churches. Thus the present day Christ Apostolic Church traces its root from the Anim’s Prayer group in 1917.According to the church administrative report for 2005, the Christ Apostolic Church celebrated its 90th Anniversary in the year 2007.

The church now has a membership of about 300,000 spread across all the 10 regions in Ghana and outside the Country. The Head Office of the Church is currently located at Osu, Accra opposite the Osu Cemetery.

Department of Christian Education,
General Headquarters, Osu- Accra.