 PCCNA Announces New Leadership
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The Pentecostal Charismatic/Churches of North America (PCCNA) recently elected a new slate of officers at its annual meeting in Vancouver, BC, Canada: Rev. Alton Garrison, Assistant General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, as chairperson; Bishop Jerry Macklin, 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop, Church of God in Christ, completing a final year as vice-chairperson; Dr. Sterling Brackett, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, The Foursquare Church, as secretary; and Rev. David Wells, General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, to serve another term as treasurer.
PCCNA also created a new officer position and elected Dr. Jeff Farmer to serve as its first President. Farmer has served as chairman for the past five years. President Farmer said, "This action is a strategic stepping-stone to PCCNA's future, and comes in the wake of five years of sustained membership and financial growth."
Re-elected as members-at-large to the executive committee were: Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the NHCLC/CONELA; Dr. George Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God and Dr. Mark Williams, General Overseer of the Church of God.
PCCNA member organizations in the USA, Canada, and Mexico represent over 480,000 churches and nearly 90 million followers of Christ worldwide. Organized in 1994 at what has become known as the "Memphis Miracle," PCCNA remains committed to bringing down walls that have separated the church and races.
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PCCNA Leaders Challenged to Reach the City
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Over 50 Pentecostal / Charismatic leaders met in Vancouver BC for PCCNA's 'Lost in the City' conference hosted by Pastors David and Cheryl Koop of Coastal Church. Coastal Church is one of the oldest churches in the heart of downtown Vancover with a congregation of over 80 ethnic groups. PCCNA leaders were stirred with a fresh vision to reach their cities.
The meeting opened with a new organizational video (available at www.pccna.org). "This was a very impacting week in my life," says Rev. Garrison. "I left challenged and convicted; challenged to pray for the great cities of North America and convicted by Karen's (Reed) message and example of radical hospitality to strangers, especially those unknown to me in my neighborhood." Reed is a leader with Missions Canada.
Rev. David Wells, General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada kicked off the session featuring speakers sharing their city-reaching strategies. "God is looking for relationships," says Rev. Wells. "We're surrounded by vertical cities of condos. With 69% of churches closing in urban and suburban areas, the issue isn't population but whether we have the vision to reach them."
Session speakers included Rev. Darin Latham, pastor of Broadway Church; Karen Reed of Missions Canada and Rex Ng, pastor of Vancouver Chinese Pentecostal Church. Rev. Latham provided the six diversity challenges that his congregation faced and Ms. Reed inspired PCCNA participants with her vision for radical hospitality. Rev. Ng spoke about cultural/intecultural ministry.
"The meetings were informative, inspiring and inspirational. God's heart for the city was shared with all in attendance. The Holy Spirit moved upon us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the lost," says Sterling Brackett, Chief Operating Officer of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.
Interspersed with sessions about outreach and evangelism were worship and prayer for each other. "Along with my fellow Canadians it was a great pleasure to host the PCCNA's annual meetings in Vancouver, BC. Vancouver was a perfect 'case study' for us to consider what it means to see Spirit-empowered people share Kingdom life in a city. I do not believe the impact of our time together will leave us soon," says Rev. David Wells.
The annual meeting opened with a dinner cruise on Coal Harbor. During the cruise, the honorable Stockwell Burt Day, former cabinet minister in Alberta and president of the Treasury Board, shared how he took bike rides with former President George Bush in Canada and in Washington D.C. Roy and Rosemary, a piano / violinist duo who have performed in the Vatican and Grammy Awards, entertained the crowd with improv and their favorite Christian songs.
The meetings were held at the Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel and Coastal Church courtesy of our sponsors. The sponsors included: Billy Graham Library, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Canada, iDisciple, Foundation Capital Resources (A/G Financial), Logos Bible Software (FaithLife), One Accord, Charisma Media, Dynamic Church Planting International, Harvest House and Coastal Church.
At the meeting PCCNA reaffirmed its commitment to "demonstrate unity in the power of the Spirit" through racial reconciliation and kingdom collaboration. The members also united in a "Call to Charlotte," a new evangelism initiative in partnership with the Billy Graham Library and the International Center for Spiritual Renewal.
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PCCNA Welcomes New Members
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Pictured: Executive officers Jeff Farmer, Sterling Brackett and Alton Garrison welcomed Coastal Church into membership with PCCNA. Coastal Church is pastored by David and Cheryl Koop.
PCCNA also welcomed into membership Iglesia Évangelica San Pablo of Tijuana Mexico, pastored by Dr. Abel and Rita Mellado-Prince. |
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NIV)
Jeff Farmer, President
Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America
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