Affirming Pentecostal Church International
Affirming Pentecostal Church International (APCI) is an Apostolic Pentecostal denomination. It was founded December 5, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana.[1][2] APCI has established congregations in the US, Albania, Kosovo, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and Guatemala, and is working toward establishing churches in Montenegro, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Argentina, Peru, South Africa, Taiwan, Tanzania, England, Trinidad, Uganda, and Ghana. APCI also has extensive ministries in Nigeria, through their Chicago church, High Praises International Ministries.[1][2] The church holds General Conference each year, usually in July.[2]
Contents
Leadership
Bishop Erik D. Swope-Wise is the Presiding Bishop, and Bishop Donagrant McCluney is Associate Bishop. Temporal authority, however, is vested in the General Board, which includes Rev. Will Horn (Overseer General), Rev. Dante Bowie (Missions Board Chairperson), Vacant (Northern Regional Overseer), Rev. Michael Alford (Southern Region Overseer), Rev. Alfredo Pena Jr. (Western Region Overseer), and Rev. Kelsey Swope-Wise (Treasurer).[1][2]
Beliefs
APCI is a fully affirming church open to all persons. Unlike most Apostolic churches, APCI is LGBT-affirming. Their anti-discrimination policy includes numerous categories, including race, sexual orientation, and gender identity.[1][2]
In matters of doctrine, their beliefs are similar to those of most Apostolic Pentecostal churches: the Oneness of God, water baptism by full immersion in the name of Jesus for forgiveness of sins, the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues, and holiness of life and heart. APCI adheres firmly to these teachings, and does not give ministerial credentials to those holding other beliefs.
Unlike most other Apostolic churches, APCI does not believe that being homosexual, bisexual or transgender is sinful. They base this view on their understanding of the Hebrew and Greek texts of scripture, as do other LGBT Affirming Apostolic organizations.
As of April 8, 2016 APCI has changed its views regarding their stand on Apostolic Faith, Baptism and Salvation and oneness theology. Recently Apostolic Oneness Pastors have been withdrawing from the organization because they have been instructed by the higher ups have been telling them that these matters of no importance and the organization has opened up fellowship with Trinitarian Pastors.
Newsletter
APCI publishes a monthly newsletter in PDF format, The Apostolic Voice, which is distributed free of charge via email and online.
Education
The church operates a Bible college, Apostolic Institute of Ministry. This institution exists for the purpose of providing APCI ministers and student ministers with a quality education, offering classes in theology, history, eschatology, church administration, and more. In addition, the school offers teaching seminars at APCI churches as needed.[1][2][3]
Churches
APCI churches in the US include:
- Radical Hope Ministries, Birmingham, AL
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Huntsville, AL (cell group)
- Rivers of Living Water, Odenville, AL
- New Foundation Christian Fellowship, Phoenix, AZ
- The Rock Church, Sierra Vista, AZ
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Bakersfield, CA (cell group)
- Heartbeat Organic Church, Carmichal, CA
- DeVine Walk of Faith Ministries, Atlanta, GA
- Refuge Church of Jesus Christ, Columbus, GA
- Rivers of Life, Tifton, GA
- High Praises International Ministries, Carpentersville, IL
- High Praises International Ministries, Chicago, IL
- The Effective Church, Indianapolis, IN
- The Meeting Place, LaPorte, IN
- Grace For All Church, Terre Haute, IN
- Showers of Blessings Pentecostal Church, Cedar Rapids, IA
- Gulf Coast Worship Center, New Orleans, LA
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Albuquerque, NM
- Spiritual Life Transforming Center, New York City, NY
- Rebirth Church, Charlotte, NC
- Progressive Pentecostal Ministries, Greensboro, NC
- The Citadel, East Orange, NJ
- Nation of Champions Empowerment Center, Trenton, NJ
- All Nations Assembly, Memphis, TN
- Cosmopolitan Congregation of Dallas, Dallas, TX [1]
- Mt. Pisgah Fellowship, Nashville, TN
- Mi Fortaleza es Dios, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Austin, TX (cell group)
- Corpus Christi APC, Corpus Christi, TX
- New Beginnings Christian Community Church, San Antonio, TX
- Oasis of Love APC, San Antonio, TX
- Family of God Church, San Antonio, TX
- Nuevo Comenzar Iglesia de la Comunidad Cristiana, San Antonio, TX
- Open Arms Ministries, Hampton Roads, VA
- HOPE Ministries, Milwaukee, WI (cell group)
APCI churches outside the US include:
- Iglesia Abagta Shalom, Mexico City, Mexico
- Vasos De Honra, Puebla, Chiapas, Mexico
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Mérida, Mexico
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Guerrero, Mexico
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Mexicali, Mexico
- Iglesia Alfa y Omega, Mexico City, Mexico
- Puertas Abiertas, Mexico City, Mexico
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Pachuca, Mexico
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Querétaro, Mexico
- Shalom Affirming Pentecostal Church, Tuxtla, Mexico
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Veracruz, Mexico
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Bogota, Colombia
- Comunidad Viva, Bogata, Columbia
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Villa Vincencio, Colombia
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Lisbon, Portugal
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, São Paulo, Brazil
- Iglesia Pentecostal Mision de Conquista, Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Villanueva, Guatemala
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Santo Domingo, Dominica Republic
- Ministerios "Del Mismo Padre", Guayaquil, Ecuador
- APC, Bungoma, Kenya*
- APC, Eldoret, Kenya *
- APC, Nairobi, Kenya *
- APC, Ruiru, Kenya *
- APC, Mombasa, Kenya *
- APC, Akabo, Nigeria *
- APC, Lagos, Nigeria *
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Lagos, Nigeria
- APC, Onitsha, Nigeria *
- Pakistan Holy Fire Church, Punjab, Pakistan
- Christ Church, Punjab, Pakistan
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Lima, Peru
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Ficksburg, South Africa
- APC, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania *
- APC, Kampala, Uganda *
- APC, Kawempe, Uganda *
- APC, Wobulezi, Uganda *
- Hope APC, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Caracas, Venezuela
- Affirming Pentecostal Church, Polamar, Venezuela
- APC, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe *
- APC, Aburi, Ghana *
- APC, Accra, Ghana *
- APC, Akrofo, Ghana *
- APC, Akwadum, Ghana *
- APC, Amyima, Ghana *
- APC, Amyinasin, Ghana *
- APC, Asamankese, Ghana *
- APC, Bomah, Ghana *
- APC, Chuchiliga, Ghana *
- APC, Fumbisi, Ghaha *
- APC, Gbedemah Ghana *
- APC, Ho, Ghana *
- APC, Hohoe, Ghana *
- APC, Kadema, Ghana *
- APC, Koforidua-Agbogri, Ghana *
- APC, Koforidua-Central, Ghana*
- APC, Kute, Ghana *
- APC, Kwabeng, Ghana *
- APC, Moseaso, Ghana *
- APC, Mwaluarinsa, Ghana *
- APC, Nankese, Ghana *
- APC, Navorongo, Ghana *
- APC, Nkurakan, Ghana *
- APC, Nkwanta, Ghana *
- APC, Nwasi, Ghana *
- APC, Sandema, Ghana *
- APC, Sehwi-Dwenese, Ghana *
- APC, Sehwi-Wiawso, Ghana *
- APC, Shum, Ghana *
- APC, Yepaala, Ghana *
- APC, Weaisa, Ghana *
- APC, Wiaga Cho, Ghana *
- APC, Wiaga Tisogso, Ghana *
- APC, Alley, Ghana *
- Those churches indicated with an (*) are unnamed specifically due to the security issues in their countries. APCI takes great care to protect our ministries in hostile countries!
