For the first time in the history of the Assemblies of God, the national youth’s Fine Arts Festival Celebration was a part of the combined youth-adult service, which brought to a close the 52nd General Council on Saturday, August 11, in Indianapolis.

During the Friday morning business session of the General Council, General Superintendent Thomas E. Trask awarded Dave Kyllonen, Duane Nicholson and Neil Enloe of the original “The Couriers” music ministry team and layman Richard Hammar the prestigious General Superintendent’s Medal of Honor.

A flurry of resolutions, votes and presentations kept pastors and delegates busy Thursday afternoon, but the biggest decision of all — election of a new general superintendent — remained unresolved.

The Assemblies of God is in a unique position to present the authentic gospel that will stem the tide of the nation’s moral collapse, retiring General Superintendent Thomas E. Trask told the Fellowship Wednesday night in the opening keynote speech at the 52nd General Council in Indianapolis.

More than 18,000 people gathered at the Pepsi Center on Friday night to celebrate the Fellowship’s youth, their achievements and more importantly their Lord and Savior.

Maintaining and birthing vibrant, creative churches is one of the greatest ways to pay tribute to the ministers who have blazed a trail for today’s leaders.