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Assemblies of God in New Zealand

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The Assemblies of God in New Zealand is a Pentecostal denomination in New Zealand and a member of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, the world's largest Pentecostal denomination. In 2007, the denomination had nearly 200 congregations and preaching points and 30,000 members and adherents, mostly in the North Island, and it sends missionaries to South Asia and Oceania. In 2016, the largest congregation was the Harbourside Church A/G in Takapuna, founded in the 1950s, with a weekly attendance of 1,500 people.

History[]

The Pentecostal Movement in New Zealand started by the crusades of evangelist Smith Wigglesworth in 1922 and 1923, which led to the establishment of the Pentecostal Church of New Zealand. As the result of an internal dispute, 13 congregations and some pastors withdraw from the PCNZ and in March 1927 sent a cablegram to the General Council of the Assemblies of God of the United States, asking for affiliation.

The 1930s were hard years for the Assemblies of God in New Zealand because of internal doctrinal disputes, the proselitism of the Apostolic Church, fragile relations with the PCNZ and economic distress generated by the 1929 Depression. However, frequent visits of preachers such as Aimee McPherson and helped to keep the Pentecost lit.

During the 1960s, the Assemblies of God in New Zealand experienced regrowth and came to be the largest Pentecostal denomination in Aotearoa. In 1975, the AGNZ was one of the founders of the Associated Pentecostal Churches of New Zealand, which counts more than 700 congregations.

The 60th General Council that met at City West Church A/G in New Plymouth in 2011 saw the election of its first non-European General Superintendent in Samoan born minister Iliafi Esera. This was also the first time the General Superintendency was held by a minister in a small New Zealand city (Wanganui). The 60th General Council also elected its first woman to the Executive Presbytery, Pastor Mina Acraman of Miracle Centre A/G, Hastings.

Leadership[]

Leaders of the AoG in New Zealand

# Name From Until Time in
1 W Chatterton 1927 (March) 1927 (Sept) -
2 H H Bruce 1927 1931 4 years
3 E T Mellor 1931 1941 10 years
4 A W Thompson 1941 1953 12 years
5 T W Whiting 1951 1959 8 years
6 G C Jennings 1959 1960 1 year
7 R R Read 1960 1967 7 years
8 W F (Frank) Houston Dec 1965 June 1977 10 years
9 S J (Jim) Williams 8 Oct 1977 1985 8 years
10 R W (Wayne) Hughes 1985 Feb 2003 16 years
11 K J (Ken) Harrison Oct 2003 Nov 2011 8 years
12 I T (Iliafi) Esera ONZM Nov 2011 present -

From 1927 until 1944 the AoG leadership body was called the General Council (or the General Council Executive). From then until 1997 it was called the Executive council. It was then renamed the Executive Presbytery. Originally the leader of this body was simply referred to as Chairman. In 1962 the title of the Leader of the Council was changed to General Superintendent.[1]

National Conference[]

The A/G New Zealand holds an annual National Conference that bi-annually includes a General Council meeting. Here is the recorded history of these national gatherings.

Year Dates Venue Theme Featured Speakers General Council
2021 18–21 October Kings House A/G, Napier Run 'To Be Announced' 65th General Council
2019 21–24 October Church Unlimited, Auckland Stretch Forth Ps Wayne Alcorn (Brisbane, Australia) 64th General Council
2018 15–18 October Hope Centre, Lower Hutt Propelled to Serve Ps Paul Scanlon (Leeds, England, UK)
2017 9–12 October Hope Centre, Lower Hutt When The Holy Spirit Comes Dr Sam Chand (Atlanta, USA)[2] 63rd General Council
2016 10–13 October City West Church A/G, New Plymouth In My Father's House Ps Shane Willard (Charleston, USA)
Ps David Katina (Los Angeles, USA)
Ps Debbie Katina (Los Angeles, USA)
2015 12–15 October City West Church A/G, New Plymouth Looking Unto Jesus Dr Sam Chand (Atlanta, USA)
Ps Michael Dissanayeke (Colombo, Sri Lanka) 		62nd General Council
2014 13–16 October Kings House A/G, Napier Faith Moves Ps Phil Pringle (Sydney, Australia)
Ps John Cameron (Wellington, New Zealand)
2013 14–17 October Kings House A/G, Napier Moving Forward Together Dr Allan Meyer (Melbourne, Australia)
Ps Naomi Beard (Los Angeles, USA) 		61st General Council
2012 15–18 October Kings House A/G, Napier People of Nations Ps Steven Murrell (Taguig City, Philippines)
Ps Chris Sola (Auckland, New Zealand)
2011 31 October
- 4 November 		City West Church A/G, New Plymouth 360° Passion 2 Reach Ps Wayne Alcorn (Brisbane, Australia) 60th General Council
2010 11–14 October City West Church A/G, New Plymouth Resource 2 Reach Ps Alun Davies (Melbourne, Australia)
Ps John Finkelde (Perth, Australia)
2009 12–15 October City West Church A/G, New Plymouth Renew 2 Reach Ps John Finkelde (Perth, Australia)
Ps Robert Fergusson (Sydney, Australia) 		59th General Council
2008 13–16 October Lower Hutt Town Hall, Lower Hutt Sharpening Your Edge Ps Wayne Alcorn (Brisbane, Australia)
Ps Donna Crouch (Sydney, Australia)
2007 8–11 October Lower Hutt Town Hall, Lower Hutt Influence Now Acts 29 Ps Jack Haynes (Sydney, Australia)
Dr David Parker (Sydney, Australia) 		58th General Council
2006 9–12 October City Church Tauranga A/G, Tauranga Future Impact Ps Brian Houston (Sydney, Australia)
Ps John Iuliano (Sydney, Australia)
2005 17–20 October City Church Tauranga A/G, Tauranga Building According To
The Pattern 		Ps Danny Guglielmucci (Adelaide, Australia)
Dr Ian Jagelman (Sydney, Australia) 		57th General Council
2004 4–7 October City Church Tauranga A/G, Tauranga Empowered To Serve Ps Robert Fergusson (Sydney, Australia)
Ps Stephen Fogarty (Sydney, Australia)
2003 6–9 October City Church Tauranga A/G, Tauranga One Momentum Ps Mark Conner (Melbourne, Australia) 56th General Council
2002 7–10 October Regent Theatre, Palmerston North One Army Ps Steve Penny (Sunshine Coast, Australia)
Ps Phil Baker (Perth, Australia)
2001 8–11 October Regent Theatre, Palmerston North Ps Jack Haynes (Sydney, Australia)
Ps James Marocco (Hawaii, USA) 		55th General Council

The 2020 National Conference was cancelled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. This Conference was originally scheduled to be held at Church Unlimited in Auckland.

Notes[]

  1. ^ Pentecost at the Ends of the Earth, Ian G Clark ISBN 978-0-473-11056-7, 2007
  2. ^ "A/G NZ Conference 2017 :: When the Holy Spirit Comes". Assemblies of God in New Zealand Inc.

References[]

  • Assemblies of God in New Zealand website
  • Associated Pentecostal Churches of New Zealand: Directory. 2005
  • Roberts, H,V, New Zealand's Greatest Revival under Smith Wigglesworth. 1951
  • Worsfold, James E. A History of the Charismatic Movements in New Zealand. 1974
  • Ian G. Clark Pentecost at the Ends of the Earth: The History of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand (1927-2003).
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