The Church of Pentecost in Austria started on the 24th of December 1995 through the initiative of Pastor Kwame Blankson from the UK. He was invited on the 23rd of December 1995 to a farewell party organised by Professor Dr. George Yeboah a member of a fellowship group in Graz. Another group in the persons of Brother Addai Boakye, Mrs Gladys Boakye, Bro. Sowah Roger and Bro. Thomas Kotoka to this same farewell party.
At the end of the party Pastor Kwame Blankson invited the members of another fellowship in Vienna in the persons of Brothers Tetteh, Comos Asare, and Gyamfi, Mrs Amankwah and Mrs. Sheila. He advised both fellowships of Vienna and Graz to start the Church of Pentecost in their respective cities. House to house evangelism and visitation was initiated and a vigorous and intensive Bible studies brought growth.
In the space of three months from the date the Church started, Pastor Blankson visited the Graz and Vienna Church to baptise the brethren won for the Lord. On his first and second visit he baptised 17 and 18 converts respectively.
The Headquarters in Ghana was notified of the planting of a church in Austria. A directive was then issued that the Austria church should be overseen by the church in Italy headed by Apostle S.K. Baidoo. Pastor Blankson had earlier had the oversight responsibility from the UK.
Apostle S.K Baidoo then directed Pastors Kwadwo Yeboah and Bismark to visit and to take care of the church in Austria. Also they were inspired during the visit of Apostle Arthur (The then IMD) retired. Since there were no missionaries to Austria, Apostle S.K Baidoo ordained Elders Addai Boakye and Stephen Gyamfi of Graz and Vienna respectively. The following were ordained as Deaconesses Gladys Boakye, Cecilia Otchere Darko and Lydia Darko from the Graz Assembly and Deaconess Abena Amankwah of Vienna Assembly.
Through constant prayers and persistent efforts Elder and Deaconess Boakye supported Pastor Kwadwo Yeboah and Elder Hope in consultation with Brothers Adjetey, Willie and Sackey the Linz Assembly started and six months later the Salzburg Assembly also started.
In the year 2000 the then National Executives under the auspices of Pastor Kwadwo Yeboah met and asked for a stationed minister for the church in Austria. A written letter was therefore sent to the Headquarters in Accra- Ghana requesting for a stationed minister.
ADMINISTRATION
Apostle S.K. Baidoo the National Head of the church in Italy was in charge of the administration of the church in Austria since 1999 until the General Council sent a missionary in September 2000. As the Apostle responsible for the work in Europe.
Overseer Patrick Asante was posted from Italy to Austria (Graz) in the year 2001 as the National Overseer. The National Headquarters was then in Graz the seat of the National Overseer. The Overseer was hard working therefore the church grew rapidly.
In the year 2002 Pastor Dr. Francis Bonsu (now Apostle) was transferred from Germany to Austria as the National Head to ground and established assemblies with Overseer Partrick Asante. His welcome service was officiated by Apostle Francis Ofori Yeboah, the National Head of Italy and was attended by about 150 people.
Many teachings and programmes were organised at local and national levels for leaders and members. Mrs Gladys Bonsu and Mrs Asante worked with the women in Linz, Vienna and Salzburg. Through that, some of the women were ordained as deaconesses. On the 28th of December 2003 Pastor Patrick Asante and family were transferred back to Italy.
From January 2004 the Church’s organisational structures were set up. The women and witness ministry began to take off. The Salzburg Home cells was turned into an assembly when they got a place of worship for Sunday services.
During the tenure of then Pastor Dr Francis Kofi Bonsu the Wels/ Vöcklabruck and Innsbruck Assemblies were planted.
In 2005 the Church of Pentecost under the leadership of the National Head Pastor Dr. Francis Kofi Bonsu extended his evangelistic activities to the great commission to plant and opened an assembly in Innsbruck. Mrs Leticia Asamoah and her husband Mr Asamoah were the channel contacted for the church to be planted.
On the 23rd October 2005 the Church of Pentecost – Austria was planted which was preceded by an indoor crusade from the 21st to 22nd October 2005 headed by then Pastor Dr. Francis Kofi Bonsu and wife Mrs Glayds Bonsu. They were assisted by Elder Emmanuel Nkrumah, (Graz) Elder Edwin Sackey (Salzburg) Dcns Abena Amankwah (Vienna), Sis. Gifty Darko (Vienna) and Sis. Mary (Vienna). At the end of the Sunday service the National Head appointed Bro. Daniel Owusu- Ansah to take care of the newly planted church; attendance on the final day was 15. Currently the Innsbruck church has over 70 adult membership.
Instrumental hands in the formation of the church in Austria as well as some ministers that has passed through the land
Pastor Sam Agyeman Tabi (now an Apostle and National Head) officiated the first wedding in Linz.
Pastor Ebenezer Quaye (now an Apostle) helped tremendously in the fellowship which later became a church in Linz while he was a minister in Germany.
Pastor Samuel Obeng Eshun (now an Apostle) who succeeded Pastor Dr. Francis Kofi Bonsu with his administrative grace brought stability in church growth and administration into the church.
Evangelist Samuel Asiama who took over from Pastor Samuel Obeng Eshun (now an Apostle) among other breakthroughs, with the grace of a revivalist helped greatly in acquiring a rented permanent place of worship for the Vienna Central Church.
Apostle Sam Agyeman Tabi with his administrative, building and apostolic grace is the current National Head of Austria.
NATIONAL HEADS OF AUSTRIA
- Apostle Patrick Asante – 2001 – 2003
- Apostle Dr. Francis Kofi Bonsu – 2002 – 2008
- Apostle Samuel Obeng Eshun – 2008 – 2013
- Evangelist Samuel Asiamah Agyei – 2013 – 2015
- Apostle Sam Agyeman-Tabi – 2015 – 2020
- Apostle Emmanuel Ennin – 2020 – 2024
- Apostle James Otchere – 2024 – to date