Growing the PCG

Allow me to reinforce this PCG acronym as a 2nd-Century version of our current mission statement…

• P — Pursuing His Presence (Exalting the Lord)‍
• C — Contending for Mission (Evangelizing the World)‍
• G — Growing the Church (Edifying the Church)

In the previous two editions of the Pentecostal Messenger, I challenged our PCG family with “pursuing His presence” and “contending for mission,” but allow me to also emphasize the latter—“growing the Church.”

Sometimes, the word “growth” can be tagged as taboo or placed on the periphery of the Kingdom, yet growing the Church or the PCG is essential in advancing the Kingdom of God. In fact, how can God not be interested in growing His Church? Reaching one new born-again believer depopulates Hell and populates Heaven. One new next-gen leader touches a generation. One new minister and one new church impacts eternity.

Any implication whatsoever that God is not interested in growing His Church is like deleting from Scripture the verse that reads, “He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (1 Pet. 3:9). Thankfully, since He is a Good Shepherd who is concerned about growth, you and I are now part of His flock!

During our Global Conference in Manaus, Brazil, we kept highlighting our missional goals for a 2nd-Century PCC—that in this decade of the 2020s, the Pentecostal Church of God would see…

• 100 Nations
• 10,000 new Next-Gen Leaders (1,000 in the U.S.)
• 10,000 Ministers and Churches
• 1,000,000 Christ-followers

On the last night of the conference, national bishops from across the globe stepped up and shared their nation’s missional goals for One Mission—One Movement. The passion and praise that erupted in that auditorium was palpable because each nation was engaging in growing the PCG and the Kingdom of God. And the excitement was not about a particular number; it was about growing nations, ministers, churches, next-gen leaders, and new Christians! They were celebrating because they had harvest eyes (seeing the harvest), harvest hearts (moved for the harvest), harvest mouths (praying for the harvest), and harvest feet (sending for the harvest).

Throughout the first three centuries of the early Church, Christians only had portions of the 27 New Testament books. But even still, almost every believer knew Isaiah 2 and Micah 4, which called for the nations of the world to come streaming to the mountain of the Lord. Almost every believer recognized that God was not just the God of the Jews but of all nations. Today, we continue anticipating that moment when the events surrounding the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11), which separated every nation and language, will be rectified as every nation and language will gather to glorify God and reign together on the earth (Rev. 5:9-10). Whether our missional goals for this decade seem too lofty or not lofty enough, I am convinced that we can rest in the Biblical revelation that “God gives the increase.” If we plant and water (our part), He will give the increase (His part).

So here is the all-important question for each member of our PCG family:

How will you engage in our missional goals?

In other words, will you engage in reaching 100 nations, 10,000 new next-gen leaders, 10,000 ministers and churches, and 1,000,000 Christians?

If you choose to engage, be prepared to be consumed with growing the Church! If you choose to engage, be prepared to live passionately concerning what God is passionate about—“not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” If you choose to engage, be prepared for an exciting decade of harvest in the 2020s.