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January 4, 2012
Assemblies of God Starts a Church a Day
The number marks the highest ever recorded for the denomination.
The Assemblies of God, one of the nation's largest Pentecostal denominations, opened more than a church a day last year.
In all, 368 new churches opened in 2011, the denomination said. That total marks the second highest number of church starts since it began keeping reliable statistics in 1965.
Factoring in church closures, there are now 12,595 Assemblies of God congregations in the country, the highest ever recorded.
"One of our strategic values is to vigorously plant new churches," said Assemblies of God General Superintendent George O. Wood, who was quoted by his denomination's news service. "Our goal was to plant a church a day in 2011. It was exciting to see how God helped us meet -- and then exceed -- that goal."
He hopes more than 400 U.S. churches will be started in 2012, and ultimately, at least 500 annually.
Denominational officials reported that 230 churches closed in 2011. Wood said there were only two years in the last decade when the denomination saw fewer than 230 church closures.
"Overall, we had a net gain of 138 churches," Wood said. "That stands as our 11th highest net gain of churches."
The denomination, which includes 3 million U.S. members, has a "Church Multiplication Network" that supports church planters with training and funding.
Comments
"In all, 368 new churches opened in 2011, the denomination said."
Not surprising that in a day where apostasy is thriving - so is the AOG. Kind of like all of those mortgage companies that thrived during the housing boom years.
It will all crash on the day of judgement,
-Jim
Posted By: Jim | January 7, 2012 5:41 PM
Jim, our Father is a lot bigger than all our faulty towers...spend your time building up, not tearing down. I hardly think He will be looking at your guidelines when he counts the sheep and the goats...
Posted By: cft | January 9, 2012 11:53 AM
"Jim, our Father is a lot bigger than all our faulty towers..."
What exactly is that suppose to mean? While the modern 'god' of christendom winks at the idolatry that takes place in his name, the God of the Bible hates and despises it (Amos 5).
"spend your time building up, not tearing down."
Building up what though - mans religious kingdoms, stately buildings where churchians can be entertained and have their religous ears tickled? That would make me a coworker of satan? There are already countless hirelings in AOG pulpits doing this sort of "building up". I fear and love God to much for that.
"I hardly think He will be looking at your guidelines when he counts the sheep and the goats..."
No, but he will be looking at His own word that He honors above His name. Do not be decieved God is not mocked. Babylon looks most impressive (sits as queen) right before God destroys it. For this cause God sends them powerful delusions that they believe the lie for they had not a love of the truth. (2 Thes 2).
-Jim
Posted By: Jim | January 17, 2012 1:44 AM
Opening 388 churches in 2011 shows how much Christianity has spread and how people are thirsting for the word of God.Although the numbers is going up, we should be fighting for less destruction of the churches to increase the Christianity network.
Posted By: Rachael | February 16, 2012 2:51 AM