Peter Anim

Peter Anim (1890—1984)

Country of Origin

Ghana

Countries/Regions of Ministry

Ghana

Traditions

Pentecostal

Ministries

Apostle
Denominational founder

Apostle Peter Newman Anim plays a peculiar role in the development of Christianity in Ghana. Widely known as the father of classical Pentecostalism in the country, he founded an indigenous Pentecostal movement many years before Pentecostal missionaries began establishing permanent Pentecostal churches in the Gold Coast.

Anim was born on 4 February 1890 at Anum Boso in the Eastern Region of the then Gold Coast. His parents were Simon Appiagyei and Hannah Lartebea. Anim attended the Basel Mission schools at Boso and Anum, graduating in 1908. He trained as a carpenter before becoming a weighing clerk at the Basel Mission factory at Pakro. However, constant ill health forced him to leave his post within just one year. He became a bricklayer in 1914.

The life of Peter Anim was characterized by tragic family events. In 1916, he married Dora Sakyibea; however, she died after only four years of their marriage. All four of his children died in their infancy. He remarried Esther Osimpo, who became his wife until her death in 1967. Alongside these losses, Anim battled chronic stomach ulcers, Guinea worm infection, unemployment, and other hardships. Rather than weakening his faith, these experiences intensified his search for God's healing and power.

Despite his affiliation with the Presbyterian Church, Peter Newman Anim was greatly influenced by various works of Christian literature. In 1917, he read the work of Faith Tabernacle magazine called The Sword of the Spirit, which was published in Philadelphia. It made him realize the possibility of divine healing through fervent prayers. Thus, by 1920, he was convinced of this teaching, and in 1921, he was miraculously healed from the chronic stomach ulcers and Guinea worm infection. This convinced him that divine healing was a part of the Christian faith; after this, it is said that Anim never took medicine.

After the healing, Anim moved to Asamankese and started organizing prayer meetings that drew more and more people. Stories of his marvelous healing spread throughout the Gold Coast and even neighboring Togo. In 1922, he formally founded Faith Tabernacle Church of Ghana, and in 1923, Pastor A. Clark of Philadelphia, who had a regular correspondence with Anim, ordained him pastor by letter, giving him the right to baptize his converts and appoint church workers; this showed great trustworthiness.

Anim's theological journey continued as he encountered literature from the Apostolic Faith movement, which introduced him to the doctrine of the baptism in the Holy Spirit accompanied by speaking in tongues. Convinced that this New Testament experience remained available to believers, he affiliated with the Apostolic Faith by correspondence in 1930, marking his transition from the divine healing movement to classical Pentecostalism.

The breakthrough in his life happened in 1932 when one of Anim's followers, Stephen Owiredu, was baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues while praying privately. After checking out this case personally, Anim and four companions witnessed similar experiences during a prayer meeting in Owiredu's home. At this meeting, Comfort Nyarkoah, Agnes Oparebea, and Owiredu's two sons also spoke in tongues. Anim himself received the experience later yet was totally convinced of the Pentecostal theology and encouraged his followers to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

As the movement grew, Anim wanted to establish closer connections with some existing Pentecostal denominations rather than maintain a correspondent relationship. In 1935, his church was associated with the Apostolic Church of the United Kingdom, which had roots in the Welsh Revival and emphasized such Pentecostal principles as gifts of the Holy Spirit, divine calling through prophecy, holy living, and discipline of church order. The Apostolic Church sent Apostle James McKeown to the Gold Coast in 1937 to assist Anim's developing work.

At first, the cooperation between Anim and McKeown looked very promising because Anim was glad to welcome the resident missionary whose experience could help develop the rapidly expanding church. However, disagreements arose over issues such as divine healing doctrine and practice. As these disagreements could not be reconciled, after approximately two years of joint work, Anim separated himself from the Apostolic Church.

After this separation, Anim founded Christ Apostolic Church (CAC). The work of Apostle McKeown continued and would later turn into The Church of Pentecost. The separation became one of the crucial points in the history of Ghanaian Pentecostalism, but Anim never lost his conviction regarding divine healing and his vision of the indigenous Pentecostal Church. There yet remained good relationship between him and McKeown, and McKeown sometimes offered to teach in his leadership meetings. Gradually, Christ Apostolic Church developed into one of the major classical Pentecostal denominations in Ghana and became a member-founder of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council.

Anim led Christ Apostolic Church up until his death in February 1984. By this time, his work had reached not only Ghana but also several African countries, as well as Europe and North America. Nonetheless, the most important thing was that Anim's emphasis on prayer, divine healing, baptism in the Holy Spirit, holy living, and reliance on the Bible helped shape the theology of classical Pentecostalism in Ghana.

Today, Peter Newman Anim is remembered not merely as the founder of a denomination but as a visionary pioneer whose perseverance through suffering gave birth to a movement that transformed the religious landscape of Ghana. His life demonstrates how personal adversity, spiritual conviction, and unwavering faith can become instruments through which God brings lasting renewal to both the Church and society. His legacy continues to inspire Pentecostal believers throughout Ghana and across the world.

Opoku Onyinah

Pentecost University

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