The 30th General Conference Opens in Mobile
The IPHC family came together this morning in Mobile, Alabama, as the 30th General Conference officially opened at the Mobile Convention Center. Delegates, bishops, missionaries, and national leaders from 125 nations filled the South Hall — a reminder of just how far our fellowship now reaches.
A Celebration to Begin
The morning began the way our General Conferences always should: in worship. At 9:00 a.m., the General Conference Worship Team, Band, and Choir — led by Trés Ward — brought the body into praise. Then came a procession many will remember: the American, Christian, and IPHC flags carried in alongside our Council of Bishops, brothers and sisters from the World Pentecostal Holiness Fellowship, our missionaries and national leaders, and active and retired U.S. Military Chaplains bearing the flags of every field where the IPHC serves.
Presiding Bishop A.D. Beacham, Jr. welcomed everyone and led the congregation together in the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In one of the morning’s most moving moments, Conference Superintendents came forward to place soil from their home conferences and countries into a shared container — a tangible picture of the new churches God has planted across our fellowship this quadrennium.
Communion followed, with the Council of Bishops distributing the elements as Rev. Wes Tuttle led the congregation in “We Arise.” Before the body partook, Bishop Beacham asked a simple but important question — “Has everyone been served?” — and representatives from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and North America reminded the congregation of the tremendous challenges that remain across the world. Dr. Adrian Hinkle read from Matthew 26 and 1 Corinthians 11, and Bishop Beacham led the family in Communion and in prayer for healing over the body of Christ.
Getting Down to Business
After a short reset period, the morning business session opened with prayer from Bishop Jason Beiler of the Alpha Conference, and a warm welcome from David Clark, President of Visit Mobile. Bishop Talmadge Gardner then introduced Bishop Beacham as Chairman of the 30th General Conference, and the session was called to order.
Bishop Beacham took a moment to honor those who have shaped our church’s leadership over the years — former and current members of the General Executive Board, the General Business Administration, and the Council of Bishops, along with our military chaplains. Dr. David Wells, General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, brought greetings and shared news of Bishop Beacham’s upcoming transition to President of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America following his retirement as IPHC General Superintendent — a milestone worth holding in prayer in the days ahead.
The body then moved efficiently through its opening business, adopting — unanimously, in every case — the Delegate Certification Committee report (Oris Hubbard, Chair), the Decorum Committee report (Dr. Adrian Hinkle, Chair), and the full Conference agenda submitted by the Council of Bishops.
Bishop Beacham closed the session with the State of the Church report, drawn from the General Conference Magazine now in delegates’ hands. He revisited the key goals of Arise 2033, and reported on the progress toward them.
The session recessed for lunch at 12:03 p.m., with business resuming at 2:00 p.m. Review the morning session’s approved minutes, and stay tuned for continuing coverage as your General Conference unfolds!