ASSEMBLIES OF GOD
Returned to Office
Three national Assemblies of God leaders won new four-year terms Wednesday morning at the opening General Council business session at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
Assistant General Superintendent Alton Garrison, AG General Secretary James T. Bradford, and AG World Missions Executive Director Greg Mundis were re-elected. The new terms begin 60 days from today.
In an open ballot from the floor, Garrison garnered the necessary two-thirds majority required of eligible voting delegates to retain his post. Bradford and Mundis, ratified as candidates by the General Presbytery, received overwhelming support in a yes or no retention question put to minister delegates.
Garrison, joined on stage by his wife Johanna, expressed particular thanks to the five other members of the Executive Leadership Team for their passion for the lost and their wisdom. Garrison, 68, has been assistant general superintendent since 2007.
The re-elected assistant general superintendent is providing oversight for the AG's new Church Transformation Initiative. Two-thirds of the communities in the nation have no AG church. Garrison noted that one-third of existing AG congregations are robust, but two-thirds have plateaued or are in decline.
"The hope of America is a Spirit-empowered Church," Garrison said. "I believe the best days are yet ahead."
Bradford, with his wife Sandi next to him, singled out key members of his support staff for special thanks. Bradford, 62, has been general secretary since 2009. He reported there are a record number of AG U.S. churches, just under 13,000 and an all-time high of AG ministers, almost 37,000. Around 23 percent of AG ministers are female, with 530 serving as lead pastor, Bradford reported.
Mundis, with his wife Sandie on the platform, thanked his ELT colleagues, AGWM Executive Committee, and administrative staff. He noted that the task of sharing Christ remains daunting and that persecution of Christians is rampant, but said AG World missionaries and missionary associates, supported by AG churches, are up to the challenge. Mundis, 64, came into office in 2011, succeeding the retiring L. John Bueno.
General Superintendent George O. Wood gave a biennial report of the Fellowship.
"The growth of the Assemblies of God in the United States and around the world is nothing short of miraculous," Wood said. "It is God's doing. We can take no credit for this."
Sixty years ago, the AG had 1.5 million adherents around the world; that has increased to more than 67 million. The U.S. AG has grown by 1 million in the past 25 years, and now tops 3.1 million adherents.
"With denominations declining all around us, somehow God has helped us buck this trend," Wood said.
Pictured, L-R: Alton Garrison, James Bradford, Greg Mundis
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