Special / History of WAGF and its Leadership

Encouraging Global Missions through effctive partnerships

The World Assemblies of God Fellowship is the largest Pentecostal Fellowship in the World, representing more than 32 million believers. 113 Fellowships are members of the WAGF: Africa 28, Asia Pacific 24, Europe 23, Latin America/Caribbean 27, Middle East 3, North America 3, and Southern Asia 5.

The WAGF represents the united efforts of Assemblies of God churches worldwide, seeking to encourage the work of global missions through effective partnerships. It affirms the authority of Scripture, provides non-legislative means of consultation and cooperation among member churches, and advances biblical, theological and moral standards among church members. Also, the WAGF has influentially spoken out against the persecution of the church in various parts of the world. In addition, through the World Assemblies of God Relief and Development Agency (WAGRA), the Fellowship has given money to a number of crises resulting from natural disaster or political unrest.

In July 1988, Dr. J. Philip Hogan founded the World Pentecostal Assemblies of God Fellowship and became its first chairman until Dr. David Yonggi Cho succeeded him as chairman in 1992. In 1993, the name World Pentecostal Assemblies of God Fellowship was changed to World Assemblies of God Fellowship.

From September 29 October 3, 1994, Dr. Cho and Yoido Full Gospel Church hosted the first triennial WAGF World Congress in Seoul, Korea. Its theme was, °ĚPentecost Now!" More than 25,000 members from 134 countries participated in the meeting. The first World Congress ended in a massive million-person prayer rally in Yoido Plaza in Seoul.

In September 1997, the second triennial WAGF World Congress was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. There were representatives from 100 countries. During the closing service of the Congress, over 1.2 million people gathered on an airfield in the heart of Sao Paulo. The meeting was televised live in Brazil. Dr. Jose Wellington Bezerra da Costa, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God of Brazil, invited the World Congress participants to Brazil for these meetings.

For the third triennial WAGF World Congress in 2000, Dr. Thomas E. Trask and the American Assemblies of God invited the World Fellowship to Indianapolis to hold their international meetings and also to join the American Assemblies of God in their 2000 Celebration festival. As in the previous two WAGF Congresses, Dr. Cho was the chairman for the WAGF meetings. He also preached during the first two World Congresses as well as during the 2000 Celebration meetings.

Dr. Cho stated, Before the World Assemblies of God Fellowship was formed, we were separated from each other and we could not coordinate our efforts for the benefit of the world family. But since its formation, we have been feeling a spirit of unity across the Assemblies of God family worldwide, and we are cooperating in many way. Dr. Cho continued, °ĚThe 21st century will be volatile in many ways. Yet, as we build a strong, united front for evangelism, we will accomplish great success nationally and internationally."