A Significant Global Event!
The Seventh World Missions Congress of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship (WAGF) is held every 2-3 years to inspire, motivate, and mobilize the AG National Councils to participate in Missions.
The theme of the Congress focuses on mobilizing ‘all possible means’ to fulfill the Great Commission by corporate endeavors – adopted from Apostle Paul’s passion in 1 Cor 9:
To the Jews I became like a Jew…to those under the law I became like one under the law…Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
1 Corinthians 9:19-22
”To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people
so that by all possible means I might save some.
While the WAGF is a global body with 85 million adherents in over 440,000 Churches in over 140 Nations, only a few national Councils are actively involved in sending out missionaries. The Chairman of the Missions Commission, Rev. Brad Walz, notes:
While God continues to call missionaries from the “historical senders,” our dream is that the 90% of the WAGF adherents and members, who reside in countries known as “new senders,” would take this place and participate in the 11th hour harvest and provide many workers to join those who have been toiling already for many years.
Only with the Spirit’s leading, vision, and empowering of the 90% of the world that are “new senders and goers,” will God’s purpose be fulfilled. We believe this congress will make a historical impact on that process.
This Congress is co-sponsored by the Pentecostal World Fellowship’s Missions Commission and the Africa Pentecostal Mission. The Pentecostal World Fellowship also has a broader membership of Pentecostals and Charismatics, and the Chairman of the PWF Missions Commission Max Barroso notes:
The World Missions Congress presents a unique opportunity for national authorities, missionaries, pastors, mission-minded individuals, community influencers, mission executives, and marketplace leaders to gather in one place and focus on one mission: Ensuring that every person on earth has a genuine encounter with Jesus.
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit would speak and convict all participating to take up the challenge and task in this eleventh-hour harvest.
A Significant Event for the Pentecostals in Africa.
This World Missions Congress is the first WAGF event on African soil, and God has ignited a mission fire among the African Pentecostal churches. Assemblies of God and several other Pentecostals, like the Africa Pentecostal Mission (APM), are now dreaming about sending missionaries to finish the task of world evangelization.
It is noted that: “African missions are yet to move forward with the same impact as other Regions filled as well with ‘new senders.’ We are truly praying for a breakthrough and that this event will mark a “before and after,” not only for our world fellowship but also for the African continent.”
The majority of the Christians in Africa are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, and North Africa is totally unreached. Nations with the smallest number of evangelicals in Africa – with less than 1% of evangelicals – are in Northern Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Guinea, and Niger.
Christian Africa has the most significant human resources and spiritual capacity to reach them!
The only things lacking are Vision and Mission Leadership! Let us pray that God will use this Missions Congress to mobilize the Church to focus on sending missionaries to North Africa.
Finally, the Chairman of the WAGF, Rev. Dominic Yeo, calls for General Superintendents and Missions Directors to come together in Nairobi for greater collaboration and empowerment;
* There is a greater urgency to save and seek the lost!
* There is a greater need for increased efficiency and effectiveness in sharing the Gospel!
* There is a greater demand for senders and the sent!