Last Friday, I was in Los Angeles for some time with pastors and leaders from the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. I am doing three meetings with their leaders and pastors across the country: Los Angeles, Dallas, and then Nashville.
The IPHC is not that well known, even though wikipedia lists Oral Roberts and Charles Stanley as well known personalities with IPHC history. (I'd also add Lee Grady, former editor of Charisma, to that list.)
Wikipedia explains that:
The International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) or simply Pentecostal Holiness Church (PHC) is a Pentecostal Christian denomination founded in 1911 with the merger of two older denominations. Traditionally centered in the Southeastern United States, particularly the Carolinas and Georgia, the Pentecostal Holiness Church now has an international presence. In 2000, the church reported a worldwide membership of over one million--over three million including affiliates.
Heavily influenced by two major American revival movements--the holiness movement of the late 19th century and the Pentecostal revival of the early 20th century--the church's theological roots derive from John Wesley's teachings on sanctification.
Now, all that is fascinating. But, I wanted to tell you something they do that I think might be helpful for your denominational family.
At the beginning of the meeting, I was introduced by Bishop Chris Thompson. He mentioned a pin he was wearing. Actually, he asked some of the other denominational leaders, "Where is your pin?" (For the record, my friend Rick Fountain did not have his pin. You are welcome, Rick.)
Anyway, I was intrigued by the pin comment. You see, in their movement, if you plant a church they celebrate it. And, one way they do that is that those who have planted a church get a pin. And, those who sponsor church plants get a pin (and if you sponsor several church plants, you get a cooler pin!).
That might seem trite, but let me tell you why it is not. In many denominations, when you plant a church you get scorned. I have seen and heard it, particularly in stagnant or declining denominations. Denominational leaders are suspicious, other pastors are critical, etc. And, the result is that the church planter does not feel welcome. These pins are a symbol of recognition, welcome, and appreciation. And, most denominations could use more of that when it comes to church planters.
I tell denominational leaders regularly, "What you celebrate, you become." For too many years, my denomination was focused what we were against (though I see that changing). Other denominations did the same. And, it should not surprise us, that when we did not celebrate church planting, we were not strong in church planting. What you celebrate, you become. There are things to be against, but we must be FOR church planting.
On the other hand, the last two decades have been the best decades for the IPHC. There are many reasons, I am sure, but one is perhaps symbolized by a couple of pins: for planters and for those who sponsor them.
What you celebrate, you become.
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