How Far We've Come

During the course of the past few months, I have been in a brand new journey that, although a me from a few years ago would have said “What??”, has actually fit in quite naturally. I have been taking courses to become a certified minister within my denomination, the Assemblies of God. What started as an idea about just wanting to learn more about the Lord, His Word, and what my denomination believes in all aspects, became a journey in which I am seeking that first step of certification. Its funny how the Lord will help us to take first one small step, and then another, and still another, until eventually we look behind us and… Goodness, how far we’ve come! That’s exactly how it’s been for me lately, in lots of ways.

The course that I’m finishing up this weekend has been all about the history, governance, and missions of the Assemblies of God. Everything from how the Assemblies first came about, to how its progressed through the years, the missions focus that has been there since the start, and how people have worked hard through the years to create the Constitution and Bylaws that hold the denomination together.

With all of the history that I have been reading, it has reminded me of my own history with the Assemblies of God. And the farther back I look, the more I see that I didn’t realize before. Wouldn’t you know that I am the 5^th generation in my family that is a part of the Assemblies of God!? I am 5^th generation AG! Wow.

I mentioned that I am working towards being a certified minister but I didn’t say that my dad is an ordained Assemblies of God minister. In fact, right now he is more a part of the Assemblies of God US Missions because he is serving as a chaplain. But it doesn’t stop there! My grandpa, on my dad’s side, was a licensed minister with AG too! My great-grandpa was a part of the Assemblies of God within the church. And my great-great-grandpa was an ordained minister who pastored in the U.S. and Canada. Apparently, his wife was also a minister and would pastor the church when he was away doing revivals! There are also cousins, uncles, and who knows how many others that were also a part of the Assemblies of God.

I really think it is awesome that the Assemblies of God recognizes women to be licensed ministers because there are still a lot of denominations who do not. When they first began in 1914, they only recognized them as evangelists and missionaries. But in 1935, that changed and women could be pastors. So when my great-great-grandmother was a minister, it may not have been all that long that that change had occurred. And here I am, able to take courses through distance learning and was able to serve as a MAPS missionary for 5 months overseas!

So when I look back at all that history, at the way the Assemblies of God has changed my family, it’s just incredible. I wonder if my great-great-grandpa could look back at how his family changed if he would say… My goodness, how far we’ve come!