From our General Superintendent

The “EveryOne” Trajectory – From Vision to Reality

DAVID WELLS

Call them dreams, call them inspired ideas, call them visions—people, especially in leadership, tend to have a number of end results they would like to see become reality. I know I do! The inevitable challenge is that for the desired vision to be fulfilled, there are essential steps of faith, obedience and sacrifice that need to be taken.

This is clearly seen as we continue to pursue our shared mission as a Fellowship including our call to “EveryOne.” A reminder that the PAOC, along with our fellow Pentecostal World Fellowship members, are aligning to the following initiative:

“The Pentecostal World Fellowship encourages its members to work towards fulfilling the Great Commission in this generation. We affirm the numerous 2033 initiatives focused on ‘Everyone’ hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. We call upon our member congregations to mobilize prayer, leadership, compassion, and resources to contact every unreached person. We believe the next ten years will be the greatest decade of fulfilling the mandate of Jesus as together, empowered by the Spirit, we proclaim the ‘Good News’ and establish new churches.”

In addition, we have joined with our World Assemblies of God Fellowship colleagues to participate in the MM33 initiative as we envision growing from 385,000 churches worldwide to one million by 2033.

The EveryOne and MM33 initiatives require more than good intentions. Dr. George Bullard, who has written and lectured on “The Life Cycle and Stages of Congregational Development,”¹ as well as that of denominations and ministries, emphasized these aspects if vision is to become reality:

Vision (Our desired future as we fulfil the mission of our church), to be demonstrated within
Relationships (Lovingly relating to God, to those who share the vision, and to those who the vision is for), which is expressed through
Programs (the means to meet real needs in real time), and effectively administrated by
Management (which supports and provides accountability to the vision).

What is encouraging to me as we pursue the various 2033 initiatives nationally and internationally is that all four of these components are being engaged to see these areas of vision realized. There is vision, often communicated by passionate visionaries and creative communicators, but it doesn’t end there. There is a broad base of relationships being established between leaders and ministries. I am witnessing the greatest level of partnership and unity I have ever seen in almost five decades of ministry. But there is more! Multiple practical means to act on the vision have been developed and are still forthcoming. Practical platforms for witness, prayer and discipleship are exponentially growing—all while the levels of generosity and organizational acumen are rising to new heights.

In our part of the kingdom, this is being evidenced in the six areas of vision we highlighted in our General Conference sessions last May. To briefly summarize, they are:

Everyone reaching one – a people who share the Good News in their personal contexts as well as churches and ministries prioritizing a focus on evangelism and honouring the gift of the evangelist.
Every church a house of prayer – a people marked by spiritual vitality and intimacy with God.
Every church a multiplying church – a Fellowship where every church multiplies by planting and/or partnering … sending and giving to plant new disciple-making communities. Vital churches multiply!
Every church discipling the next generation – together we reach, disciple and develop the ministry calling of children, youth and young adults.
Every church focused on the gaps in Canada – we continue to expand our missional network and agency to provide focused, specialized ministry within our missional priorities in Canada.
Every church focused globally on the least reached and most vulnerable – who catalyze and equip us to obediently pursue our global mission to the “least reached” and “most vulnerable.”

We have vision in these areas, which we seek to communicate clearly. Thankfully, purposeful, relational activities are increasing to see these areas of mission realized. Our strategic hubs at the General Conference focused on these priorities, and the follow-up work is ongoing through guiding groups and expanded participation (relationships). For instance, the Church Multiplication Network has the Multiplying Churches Cohorts and the Young Apostolic Leaders Cohort of committed multipliers, both critical relational platforms to equip.

I am especially pleased to see practical ministry initiatives and programs emerging, such as mentoring masterclasses for younger leaders, shared prayer focuses (nationally and globally), and the opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous churches to partner as they take “The Miyo Wāhkōhtowin Journey” together. Mission Global, through its various entities, continues to provide numerous people and platforms that fulfil our shared mission.

With these and so many more means being developed, some arising from the strategic hub dialogues at General Conference 2024, I welcome your active engagement through prayer, participation and generous giving. The shared vision we have must be stewarded and generously provided for. You can stay engaged with us through our website https://paoc.org or by emailing info@paoc.org. 2033 is coming—together, we have lots to accomplish!

Lord, we recommit ourselves to be co-workers with You. Thank You for Your call to participate together with You in this great mission of seeing EveryOne have an opportunity to enter a redeemed, vital relationship with You and Your people. Show Your power, O Lord, we pray. Amen.