Assemblies of God in New Zealand
Encyclopedia
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. The largest congregation is the Takapuna Assembly of God
, founded in the 1950s, with a weekly attendance of 1,500 people.
in 1922 and 1923, which lead 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 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
.
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.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
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. The largest congregation is the Takapuna Assembly of God
Takapuna Assembly of God
Harbourside Church , Harbourside Church , Harbourside Church , (formerly Takapuna Assembly of God located in Auckland, is one of New Zealand's largest churches, with an average weekly attendance of about 1500. Its 1800-seat auditorium was built in 1985....
, 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 WigglesworthSmith Wigglesworth
Smith Wigglesworth , was a British evangelist who was important in the early history of Pentecostalism.- Early life :...
in 1922 and 1923, which lead to the establishment of the Pentecostal Church of New Zealand
Pentecostal Church of New Zealand
The Pentecostal Church of New Zealand, today called the Elim Church of New Zealand is a historical Pentecostal denomination in New Zealand.The Pentecostal Church of New Zealand began with the revivals of Smith Wigglesworth in the early 1920s...
. As the result of an internal dispute, 13 congregations and some pastors withdraw from the PCNZ and in March 1927 sent a cablegram
Cablegram
A cablegram, sometimes shortened to just cable, was a telegram, a text possibly encrypted, which was transmitted through the means of an electrical cable, underwater or aerial....
to the General Council of the Assemblies of God of the United States
General Council of the Assemblies of God of the United States
The General Council of the Assemblies of God in the United States of America or Assemblies of God USA is a Pentecostal Christian denomination in the United States founded in 1914 during a meeting of Pentecostal ministers at Hot Springs, Arkansas. With a constituency of over 3 million, it was...
, 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
Apostolic Church
The Apostolic Church is a Pentecostal Christian denomination which can trace its origins back to the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival. Despite the relatively recent origin of the denomination, the church seeks to stand for first century Christianity in its faith, practices, and government.The purpose of the...
, fragile relations with the PCNZ and economic distress generated by the 1929 Depression. However, frequent visits of preachers such as Aimee McPherson
Aimee Semple McPherson
Aimee Semple McPherson , also known as Sister Aimee, was a Canadian-American Los Angeles, California evangelist and media celebrity in the 1920s and 1930s. She founded the Foursquare Church...
and Valdez
Valdez
Valdés is a surname of Asturian origin.Both in North and South America the spelling Valdez is very common.The exact meaning of "Valdés" is not clear...
helped to keep the Pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
lit.
During the 1960s, the Assemblies of God in New Zealand experienced regrowth and came to be the largest Pentecostal denomination in Aotearoa
Aotearoa
Aotearoa is the most widely known and accepted Māori name for New Zealand. It is used by both Māori and non-Māori, and is becoming increasingly widespread in the bilingual names of national organisations, such as the National Library of New Zealand / Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.-Translation:The...
. In 1975, the AGNZ was one of the founders of the Associated Pentecostal Churches of New Zealand
Associated Pentecostal Churches of New Zealand
The Associated Pentecostal Churches of New Zealand is a fellowship of Pentecostal bodies in New Zealand founded in 1975.Members are:* Pentecostal Church of New Zealand ,* Assemblies of God in New Zealand,...
, which counts more than 700 congregations.
The 60th General Council that met at City West Church A/G in New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
in 2011 saw the election of its first non-European General Superintendent in Samoan born minister Iliafi Esera
Illiafi Esera
Iliafi Esera is a Christian minister of the Assemblies of God movement.Pastor Iliafi is an internationally renowned speaker amongst Christian organizations....
. This was also the first time the General Superintendency was held by a minister in a small New Zealand city (Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
). The 60th General Council also elected its first woman to the Executive Presbytery, Pastor Mina Acraman of Miracle Centre A/G, Hastings
Hastings, New Zealand
The city of Hastings is a major urban settlement in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is the largest settlement by population in Hawke's Bay. Hastings city is the administrative centre of the Hastings District...
.
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 Frank Houston Frank Houston , was a Pentecostal Christian pastor in the Assemblies of God in New Zealand and Australia.... |
Dec 1965 | June 1977 | 10 years |
| 9 | S J (Jim) Williams Jim Williams (pastor) Sydney James Williams is a former pastor and leader of one of the most influential churches in the Assemblies of God in New Zealand. He is a published author and a former General Superintendent of the NZ Assembly of God. He is currently pastoring in Brisbane.-Early ministry:Williams received... |
8 Oct 1977 | 1985 | 8 years |
| 10 | R W (Wayne) Hughes Wayne Hughes Wayne Hughes was a New Zealand Pentecostal minister. Until early 2005, he was the Senior Pastor of the Takapuna Assembly of God in Auckland. A photographer by training, Hughes became Pastor of the Takapuna Assembly of God in 1975. Under his leadership spanning three decades, it grew from 25 members... |
1985 | Feb 2003 | 16 years |
| 11 | K J (Ken) Harrison | Oct 2003 | Nov 2011 | 8 years |
| 12 | I T (Iliafi) Esera Illiafi Esera Iliafi Esera is a Christian minister of the Assemblies of God movement.Pastor Iliafi is an internationally renowned speaker amongst Christian organizations.... |
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.