APOSTOLIC WORLD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

   The Apostolic World Christian Fellowship was founded in 1970 to promote and provide fellowship for churches that follow the doctrine of the apostles, which in this case means the non-Trinitarian perspective of the Oneness or "Jesus Only" movement within the larger Pentecostal movement. The idea for such an organization was originally put forth by Bishop W. G. Rowe.

   The Jesus Only position was first advocated at a Pentecostal camp meeting in 1913, but quickly gained adherents in the still emerging Pentecostal movement. Eventually, it would divide along racial lines with groups such as the United Pentecostal Church International emerging as the largest predominantly white group and others such as the Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World Wide and the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith as the larger predominantly black groups. The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World is the only group to remain functionally integrated.

   The fellowship emphasizes the unity of the larger apostolic community, the need for individual churches to share their successes programmatically with one another, the need to prepare and utilize the hidden resources of the lay membership, and support for both home and world missions.

   As of 2003, some 135 denominations and organizations representing more than 3 million believers were affiliated with the fellowship. Strength is primarily in North America, Asia, and the Caribbean. International headquarters is in Evansville, Indiana.

   Further reading:

   ■ Apostolic World Christian Fellowship. Available online. URL:http://www.awcf.org. Accessed on November 15, 2004.