Assemblies of God World Congress Meets in Africa for First Time, Presses Million-Church Goal

ACCRA, Ghana —

The World Assemblies of God Fellowship held its 10th Triennial World Congress in Accra, Ghana, from Oct. 14 to 16, the first time the gathering has met in Africa. The Ghanaian Times reported that about 10,000 delegates from around the world attended.

The congress met under the theme “Commissioned: One Mandate, Every Nation.” Its morning sessions focused on the fellowship's goal of planting one million additional churches by 2033, a target the Ghana News Agency said is tied to marking 2,000 years since the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Evening gospel rallies at the Accra Sports Stadium were free and open to Christians of every denomination.

Rev. Dominic Yeo, global chairman of the fellowship, was received at the airport on Oct. 12 by Rev. Stephen Yenusom Wengam, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God in Ghana. “This indeed is God's prophetic timing to bring an unequalled revival to Africa through Ghana,” Yeo said, according to the Ghana News Agency. Global Vice Chairman Doug Clay and General Secretary Juan Carlos Escobar were among the leaders taking part.

Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama, whom the Ghana News Agency described as active Assemblies of God members, were special guests of honor. On the final day, Mahama urged the churches to speed up their evangelism and reach the million-church goal. “Today, we have all the tools to evangelise,” he said, according to the Ghanaian Times.

Mahama also called on the churches to care for people with disabilities, children and young people. “Mentor the young generation, guide them,” he said.

The Ghana News Agency said the meeting was the first congress held on African soil in the denomination's 115-year history. The Ghanaian Times report did not say where the next triennial congress will meet.