A History of the Growth of the Philippine Assemblies of God
By Rev. Conrado Lumahan

The Early Beginnings (1940-1953)

The AG is one of several denominations, which forms the present-day Pentecostal movement. This movement grew out of an international religious awakening that began in the late nineteenth century. A deep spiritual hunger grew in the hearts of many Fundamental and Holiness churches. Prayer bands sprang up, and Bible conferences and revival meetings increased both in frequency and intensity. This Pentecostal revival is not an American phenomenon but a world phenomenon. It did not come from “below,” but from “above.” It came supernaturally and suddenly. December 3, 1925, eleven years after the organization of the AG, the Foreign Missions Department commissioned Benjamin H. Caudle and his wife as the first USA missionaries to the Philippines. The Caudles disembarked in Manila in September, 1926. Their missionary activities, though not very long, achieved some measure of fruition. The Caudles went back to the USA due to the wife’s physical infirmity. Their untimely departure was later followed by the arrival of Filipino pioneers, who initially “came to the United States searching for gold, but they found God instead.” The early pioneers included Cris Garsulao, Pedro Castro, Pedro Collado, Benito Acena, Rosendo Alcantara, Eugenio Suede, Esteban Lagmay, Rudy Esperanza, Servillano Ubaldo and H. P. Abrenica. Four were natives of Pangasinan and one was from La Union. Esperanza commenced a church in Rosario, Pozorrubio; Alcantara in Binalonan; Ubaldo in Caramutan, Villasis; and Abrenica in San Nicolas, Villasis, all in the Province of Pangasinan.

Philippines District Council of the Assemblies of God

Occasioned by the visit of Esperanza in the USA to attend the Northern California-Nevada District through the invitation of Lagmay, the president of the Filipino AG in the USA, a covenant was made. Esperanza, when he returned to the Philippines, would organize the AG and Lagmay would stay to promote the work in the Philippines among the AG churches in the US. PAG was originally a District of the US AG. Through the humble effort of Lagmay, Noel Perkin, Secretary of the Foreign Missions Department, appointed Leland Johnson, who was then a missionary on furlough from China to go to the Philippines. Abrenica, Alcantara and Esperanza met the Johnsons in Manila and plans were laid for the PAG organizational convention. On March 21-27, 1940 in San Nicolas, Villasis, Pangasinan the organizational convention was held. Leland Johnson received his appointment as the district superintendent from US AG and acted as the president of the incorporation from 1940 to 1946. The elected district officials were: Esperanza, secretary; Castro, treasurer; Abrenica and Alcantara, presbyters. The constitution and by-laws was adopted “wholesale” from US AG with a little revision that would suit the need of the council. There were about eight ordained and licensed ministers and one missionary present. On July 11, 1940 the newly chartered organization was registered with the SEC with the name Philippines District Council of the Assemblies of God, Inc. (PDCAG).

The Relationship between PDCAG and USAG

The US missionaries worked closely with the nationals, and supported the Bible schools and churches. By 1953 many churches had been established through a mother-daughter church relationship. When the daughter church was grown up, the relationship changed from the parental relations to a partnership. It was during a convention in April, 1953 in Malinta, Ugong, Bulacan that the relationship was changed “from paternalism to affiliation.” PDCAG became Philippines General Council of the Assemblies of God (PGCAG) through an approved resolution.

In April 1950, there were approximately twenty US missionaries in the Philippines, thirty ordained ministers, forty licentiates, and thirty exhorters in the PGCAG. Currently, PGCAG has twenty districts all over the Philippines with more than 3,800 local congregations worshipping God either in their own church buildings, houses or rented facilities, with 3,201 ordained ministers, licentiates, specialized ministries and exhorters.

Bible Schools

The Pentecostal leaders saw the importance of Bible training institutions. Bible schools have at least three perceived major contributions: 1) cognitive aspect (indoctrination), 2) practical aspect (evangelism and mission), 3) spiritual aspect (catalyst for revival and spiritual life). The pioneers, although ambivalent of higher theological training, insisted that the only way to conserve the fruits of revival and evangelism is through trained workers.

From the tenuous beginning of the history of the AG, Bible schools have played a prominent role in the growth of churches. In 2000 the council has 35 Bible colleges and training centers in the Philippines, six are in Northern Luzon, including Asia Pacific Theological Seminary that is under the geographical jurisdiction of NLDC.

Missionaries

Although the Philippines AG was basically a religion started by the balikbayan (returnees from oversees), missionaries through the years have significantly contributed to the growth and expansion of the AG. They have been instrumental in organizing the PGCAG, establishing Bible schools, training and equipping nationals, supporting Bible school students, financing the planting of churches, church building, buying Bible colleges’ vehicles through the Speed the Light funds, the digging of wells, fishponds, piggery, poultry projects and others. Now from many countries, missionaries have also conducted indoor and outdoor crusades that have resulted in the establishment of many congregations.

Leadership

The pioneers, despite their imperfections and limitations, showed great strengths, contributing to the expansion and growth of the AG not only nationally, but also locally. Had it not been for their vision and strengths of their leadership, the AG would undoubtedly not have reached its identity as the fastest growing Evangelical/Pentecostal denomination. The strengths of the pioneers lie in their Christo-centric emphases, i.e., Jesus saves, Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit, Jesus heals, and Jesus the soon coming King, their Bible-centeredness, their mission-mindedness, and their indomitable conviction of the importance of Bible schools.

Toward the Future

The healthy future of the Pentecostal movement is based on the strength of today. In the history of the growth of AG churches in the Northern Philippines, both divine and human resources are undeniable factors, as church growth is the work of both God and humans in the socio-economic and political contexts of the community. Therefore, in view of the New Decade of Harvest vision to plant 5,000 churches by 2010, we would do well to establish and implement the strategies and leadership qualities of the early pioneers.