Assemblies of God in New Zealand
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 A. C. Valdez 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 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
Notes
- Pentecost at the Ends of the Earth, Ian G Clark ISBN 978-0-473-11056-7, 2007
- "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).