Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador
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| Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Finished Work Pentecostalism |
| Orientation | Protestant |
| Associations | World Assemblies of God Fellowship[1] Evangelical Fellowship of Canada |
| Origin | 1910[2] |
| Official website | www.paonl.ca |
The Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador (PAONL) is a Finished Work Pentecostal denomination in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is one of four Canadian branches of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world. The denomination claims approximately 117 affiliated churches.[3] The PAONL has a close relationship to the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, its sister denomination within the World AG Fellowship, and is a member of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.[4]
The PAONL traces its beginnings to the ministry of Pentecostal evangelist Alice Belle Garrigus from Rockville, Connecticut.[2] In 1911, she founded the Bethesda Pentecostal Church in St. John's. By 1925, the number of Pentecostals and churches had grown enough to receive legal recognition from the Newfoundland government.
In 1927 Eugene Vaters (1898-1984) became the denomination’s General Superintendent, a position he held for 35 years. The PAONL comprised a handful of churches when Vaters took office, but by the time he retired the number of churches had increased to 115. Some of the best-known ministries of the PAONL commenced under Vaters. For example, he initiated Good Tidings, the official magazine, and Religious Book & Bible House (RBBH), the denomination’s retail division. Much of the literature and printing/publishing needs for the PAONL is met by Good Tidings Press, located at 57 Thorburn Road in St. John’s. The site also houses the main offices of the PAONL, the administrative centre for the denomination.[2]
Until 1949, Newfoundland and Labrador was a separate dominion from Canada, and the PAON developed separately from the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Nevertheless, the two organizations share a common statement of faith and cooperate closely in overseas mission work. The two groups also share the Eastern Pentecostal Bible College in Peterborough, Ontario.[5]
