October 14, 2022
(Seoul, October 14, 2022) – The third and final day of the 26th Pentecostal World Conference (PWC) began on the beautiful rolling hills and lush grounds of the Korean peninsula, known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Over 25,000 worshippers came to Peace Park, which is located at the demarcation line between North Korea and South Korea. The vast crowd gathered to pray for peace in the peninsula, reconciliation between the Korean nations, and revival in the next generation. The opening observance celebrated the 47 nations represented in the Pentecostal World Fellowship (PWF) with a parade of flags, the religious demographics of each country, and their unique needs for prayer.
Pastor Russell Evans (founder and senior pastor of Planetshakers Church, Melbourne, Australia) reminded the audience that although spiritual drought appears to control our world today, the same God that sent rain in the days of Elijah wants to do the same in this generation. Evans called for prayer that will break the drought of peace and bring an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to all of Korea.
Evans’ message was followed by Pastor Niko Njotorahardjo (founder and president of Gereja Bethel International), who predicted that a third Pentecost, a tremendous outpouring of the Holy Spirit, exceeding the Azusa Street Revival, is soon to occur. Njotorahardjo stated, “This third Pentecost will raise up a generation of young people, filled with the Holy Spirit, who love Jesus radically, refuse to compromise with sin, and seek to win others to Christ.”
Prophetess Cindy Jacobs (co-founder of Generals International) declared a Word from the Lord saying, “A wave is coming, a tsunami wave of the Holy Spirit is coming to Korea. God is answering prayers from the ages and the persecuted church. A fresh revival like the 1907 revival is coming. Be ready for this wave.”
Dr. James Marocco (senior pastor of King’s Cathedral in Maui) shared the account of Moses interceding during Israel’s conflict with Amalek. “This Biblical example,” Marocco stated, “illustrates we need each other to help us in prayer.” He added, “The Korean people will play a significant role in the coming revival because they pray.”
Dr. Younghoon Lee (the senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul) told the crowd that to experience the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, we must listen to the Word of God, recognize our need for the Holy Spirit, and be unified in the Spirit.
The assembly prayed for world peace, especially for the end of the war in Ukraine, a reunification of North and South Korea, the evangelization of Korea, revival in the next generation, global mission and church planting, and a move of the Holy Spirit to cover the earth.
Before offering the benediction, PWF chair, Dr. William M. Wilson (president of Oral Roberts University), recognized a group of attending pastors from Ukraine, telling them, “You are loved; we are praying for you.”
During the final service of the conference, Dr. Wilson announced the passage of a resolution calling on Spirit-empowered congregations across the globe to focus on fulfilling the Great Commission by 2033. The resolution reads:
The Pentecostal World Fellowship encourages its members to work towards fulfilling the Great Commission in this generation. We affirm the numerous 2033 initiatives focused on “Everyone” hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. We call upon our member congregations to mobilize prayer, leadership, compassion, and resources to contact every unreached person. We believe the next ten years will be the greatest decade of fulfilling the mandate of Jesus as together, empowered by the Spirit, we proclaim the “Good News” and establish new churches.
The Advisory Committee also honored Arto Hämäläinen (international representative for the Pentecostal Church of Finland) for his years of service. Rev. Hämäläinen founded the PWF World Missions Commission and officially served as chair from 2008 to 2022.
The concluding service featured the ministries of Rev. Abraham Ku (pastor of New Life Church in Taiwan) and Evangelist Nathan Morris (founder of Shake the Nations Ministries). Pastor Ku shared that John the Baptist was an example of a new expression of the Kingdom of God.
He acknowledged the next generation will also be a new demonstration. He gave a report of how New Life Church in Taiwan aggressively reaches unchurched youth in their city. Approximately 80,000 youth have been reached through “City Youth Forum,” which focus on new creative ads, entrepreneur training, new educational methods using virtual reality, and the arts.
Rev. Morris inspired the conference attendees with the account of Jesus feeding the multitude in Matthew chapter 14. He stated, “Jesus saw hungry people. I see a hungry generation looking for something real in an hour of darkness. They are searching for Jesus, the Bread of Life. Just as Jesus told the disciples to feed the people, Jesus is looking at the Church and saying, ‘Feed the next generation. Give them the Bread of Life.’”
Approximately 40,000 attended the 26th PWC with representatives from over 40 nations. Over 20,000 viewers joined online for the conference.
The locations were announced for the 2025 PWC, to be held in Helsinki, Finland, and the 2028 PWC, to be held in Melbourne, Australia. News from the event will be posted on the PWF Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.
About the Pentecostal World Fellowship. The Pentecostal World Fellowship was founded in 1947 and has held triennial conferences in major cities worldwide for 75 years. The 26th Pentecostal World Conference will be the third time the conference has been held in Seoul, Korea.