The Italian township, Dueville, embedded in the outskirt of the northern city Vicenza, was again where Assemblies of God Church in Italy (African Community) celebrated this year’s Easter Sunday.

It’s the fifth consecutive year that the Church, with over 24 branches across Italy, has come together in a joint-service to happily celebrate the event. The serene atmosphere in the locality with its beautiful evergreen landscape was an ideal place for such an occasion, hosted in the main bowl of a mini-Sports Complex. Pastors and church leaders of various branches of the church were earlier on Good Friday in the town for a 2-day fasting and prayer sessions.
Speaking before the congregation on Easter Sunday in his annual message, the general overseer of the Church in Italy, Rev. Joe Amanfu, said Easter always reminds Christians of what Jesus went through in order to secure liberty for mankind and as such makes them grateful and appreciate God’s grace and mercy. “At the same time it teaches us that before a crown is gained there will always be a ‘cup of suffering’ to drink from and a cross to be crucified on”, he warned. His message also tasked members of the church to fix their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith. “When faced with hardship and discouragement, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture (God) but be reminded that we are not alone, there is a helper. Suffering is the training ground for Christian maturity, it develops our patience and makes our final victory sweet,” he noted, adding Christians must work together to promote the work of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection is being remembered.

The theme for the year’s celebration is: ‘Fervent in Spirit Serving the Lord’ (Rom. 12:11) and the general overseer, who also preached the sermon, reminded the congregation the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was not by accident but according to scripture. Taking his sermon from I Corinthians 15: 1-16 and Luke: 13, the Reverend Minister told the congregation to serve God better they must know Him well. “By not knowing Him you are doing yourself harm. To serve Him better it takes His Word. It requires God’s Words to love and serve Him better. People who have lost touch with God must be brought back through His Word.”

In the concluding part of his preaching he again stressed that those who know God will not be weak but strong and Christians should go the extra mile to know who God really is; with that their suffering and pain will not be same.
Earlier before his sermon, Reverend Joe Amanfu conveyed a special goodwill message from the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God Church in Ghana, Rev. Frimpong Manso, wishing the Church in Italy well. Present at the service were Departmental Leaders, Deacons and Pastors which includes: Rev. Adu Boahene (Vice Field Director of the Church in Italy), Rev. Patrick Boakye (National Secretary), Rev. Roland Aggrey Jnr. (National Treasurer), Rev. Joseph B. Donkor (Emilia Romagna Regional Superintendent), Rev. Stephen Antwi Manu (Veneto/Fruili Regional Superintendent) and Rev. Ralph Ekow Yawson (Lombardia Regional Superintendent).

- Reggie Tagoe in Dueville-Vicenza, Italy)