October 20, 2004
An estimated 15,000 Pentecostals and
Charismatics from 83 nations attended the 20th
Pentecostal World Conference (PWC), held
September 14-17, 2004, in the Randburg Dome,
Johannesburg, South Africa. From the opening
session, with its pageantry, until the closing
rally, the conference proved to be more than
just another event as hundreds of people
responded to the call of God.
This was the second time in its 60-year history
that the PWC had convened on the continent of
Africa. The first time was in 1982 in Nairobi,
Kenya. It is significant that the conference
coincided with the 10th anniversary of the birth
of South Africa’s democracy.
Dr. Thomas Trask, chairman of the PWC Advisory
Board and general superintendent of the
Assemblies of God, welcomed delegates and
friends to the conference and to the nation of
South Africa. In the opening rally, he greeted
South African President Thabo Mbeki, who
addressed the delegates and guests. Mbeki
acknowledged the Pentecostal Movement as a
global force of some 625 million adherents. “The
caring and loving society in the Pentecostal
Movement makes it attractive to both the young
and old alike,” he said.
At the close of Mbeki’s speech, which was
televised across South Africa, Dr. Trask invited
Rev. Colin R. LaFoy, a member of the South
African Conference Steering Committee, and the
entire delegation to join him in praying for the
President.
In keeping with the theme, “Come Holy Spirit,
Transform Our World,” Dr. Trask based his
key-note message on John 16:7: “I tell you the
truth; It is expedient for you that I go away:
for if I go not away, the Comforter will not
come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him
unto you.”
“Pentecost is more than a doctrine,” Trask said.
“It’s more than an experience. He is a person.”
He continued by highlighting the Revelation,
Multiplication, and Manifestation of the Holy
Spirit.
Both the day and evening sessions were designed
to underscore the conference theme. Besides Dr.
Trask, featured speakers included Dr. Isak
Burger, president of the Apostolic Fellowship of
SA; Dr. Jack W. Hayford, internationally-known
author, speaker, and founding pastor of The
Church on the Way, Van Nuys, California;
world-renowned Evangelist Reinhardt Bonnke; Dr.
Tayo Adeyemi, senior pastor of New Wine Church
in Woolwich, London, England; Dr. Frank Chikane,
director-general in the presidency (Office of
President T.M. Mbeki and Deputy President J.G.
Zuma); Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, pastor of
Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood,
California; and others.
Delegates and guests responded enthusiastically
to each of the messages. Evangelist Reinhardt
Bonnke, who has been instrumental in leading
literally millions in Africa to accept Jesus
Christ, spoke to about 15,000 attendees during
the conference’s concluding service.
“We are not here to commemorate the Holy
Spirit,” Bonnke declared. “We are here to
experience Him. We are not here to get ‘fresh’
fire. We are here to get fire! It’s time to get
out of ‘virtual Christianity,’ and get into
reality.”
At the Holy Spirit’s and Bonnke’s invitation,
hundreds of teenagers flocked to the front of
the dome to receive their personal Pentecost.
The 21st Pentecostal World Conference will be
held in Surabya, Indonesia, in 2007.
— Shirley G. Spencer