« For Writers | Home | Evidences of Revival »
Ethnic Groups Impacting the AG
By Ken Horn | March 17, 2008
“I wish every pastor and Assemblies of God lay person could have been in the room the day we met with the Ethnicity Commission and heard the reports of what God is doing,” General Superintendent George O. Wood told me following the annual meeting of The Commission on Ethnicity, December 5, 2007.
“I was moved with tears of joy as I listened to the reports from the presidents of our 19 ethnic fellowships,” continued Dr. Wood. “Each one told remarkable stories of what the Lord was doing.”
The Assemblies of God in the USA is now composed of 34 percent ethnic minorities. We have 12 foreign language districts and shortly we will be recognizing the twentieth ethnic fellowship. These language districts and ethnic fellowships are greatly advancing the Kingdom among the diverse peoples of the United States.
A concern was expressed particularly that the Assemblies of God constituency not see these groups as separatist or desiring to draw away from those of different ethnicity. Rather, the ethnic groups are formed so as to more effectively network in their own affinity groups to fulfill the threefold mission of the Assemblies of God — evangelism, discipleship and worship.
An example is our National Black Fellowship, led by Rev. Malcolm Burleigh, who addressed the Commission. All ministers and member churches within the National Black Fellowship belong to geographical district councils. The focus of the Fellowship is not segregation or withdrawal into an exclusive group. Rather the National Black Fellowship provides a framework for fellowship and cooperation to advance the gospel. Many of the churches pastored by members of the National Black Fellowship have integrated congregations. Since the forming of the National Black Fellowship, we have been able to send out a welcoming message to members and ministers within the black community who otherwise might not have seen the Assemblies of God as their possible home.
The Holy Spirit is powerfully working among our ethnic fellowships and foreign language districts, and we celebrate what God is doing.
Jewish-Arab Fellowships Lead Way in Reconciliation
April 22, 2007 saw the first Shalom Salaam Conference, a time of healing between Arabs and Jews, led by nationally appointed U.S. missionary David Jaber in Tacoma, Washington. Scott Temple, Director of Intercultural Ministries for the Assemblies of God, was one of the speakers.
In the Ethnicity Commission meeting, a Shalom Salaam prayer took place (see photo) as Rabbi Felix Halpern, Jewish Ministries representative (left), and Rev. George Rafidi, Arabic Fellowship director, exchanged moving prayers as the entire Commission joined in.
A Plea From the General Superintendent
Dr. Wood continued:
The world has come to the United States, and we have total freedom in our country to witness for Jesus Christ to the immigrants in our midst. They are open to the Gospel as never before.
The Assemblies of God has its heart wide open to people of diverse cultures — in fact 34% of the Assemblies of God in the United States is now composed of ethnic minorities.
Many of these ethnic groups need American Assemblies of God churches to open their doors and let them use their sanctuaries and classrooms when the host church is not in session — and to make these facilities available either at no cost or a token cost.
We can literally see hundreds and hundreds of ethnic churches birthed in the next few years if our churches will open their doors. And, world missions giving credit can be given to the host churches who do this.
I plead with our Fellowship to excel in the gift of hospitality to our ethnic churches that are being born all across America. Let’s reach America for Jesus!
View more photos or a slideshow or the commission meeting here.
Topics: AGUSM, missions, Christian living |
