Assemblies of God in New Zealand
AbbreviationAGNZ
TypeChristian denominaiton
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationPentecostal
National leaderTerry Bradley
AssociationsWorld Assemblies of God Fellowship
RegionNew Zealand
OriginMarch 1927 (1927-03)
Separated fromPentecostal Church of New Zealand
Official websiteagnz.org

The Assemblies of God in New Zealand is a Pentecostal denomination in New Zealand and a member of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship. 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 (PCNZ). As the result of an internal dispute, 13 congregations and some pastors withdrew 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 sustain the movement. During the 1960s, the Assemblies of God in New Zealand experienced regrowth and came to be the largest Pentecostal denomination in the country. 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, meeting 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

From 1927 until 1944 the Assemblies of God is New Zealand 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]

The following individuals have served as the Leader of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand:

OrdinalOfficeholderTerm startTerm endTime in officeNotes
1W. ChattertonMarch 1927September 1927184 days
2H. H. BruceSeptember 192719313–4 years
3E. T. Mellor193119419–10 years
4A. W. Thompson1941195311–12 years
5T. W. Whiting195119597–8 years
6G. C. Jennings195919600–1 years
7R. R. Read196019676–7 years
8Frank HoustonDecember 1965June 197711 years, 182 days
9Jim Williams8 October 197719857–8 years
10Wayne Hughes1985February 200317–18 years
11Ken HarrisonOctober 2003November 20118 years, 31 days
12Illiafi Esera ONZMNovember 2011September 202311 years, 304 days
13Terry BradleySeptember 2023incumbent118 days

Notes

  1. ↑ Clark, Ian G. (2007). Pentecost at the Ends of the Earth. Christian Road Ministries. ISBN 978-0-473-11056-7.

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
  • Clark, Ian G. Pentecost at the Ends of the Earth: The History of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand (1927-2003).
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