Meeting Minutes List

Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasiMinutes from Kingdom Advancement Commission
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Bishop in Attendance: Kimba Evariste
Members in Attendance: Wes Griffin, Paul Lawler, Linda Davis, Sherri Tabaka-Morrissey, Kabah Kasongo Mwenze, Simon Mafunda, Mariela Mihailova, Musa Danjuma Umar, Luciano Pereira da Silva, Mwenge Muyombi, Fe Olonan, Heather Carter-Young, Terry Vanderslice, Amber Tolbert
Staff Liaison in Attendance: Teresa Marcus
Welcome and Opening Prayer – Wes Griffin
Opened at 9:00 a.m. ET
Devotion – Paul Lawler
Paul shared a devotional on pressing through difficult times, emphasizing that difficulty is a normal part of the Christian life and that God often uses it to develop believers into the image of Christ (Romans 8:28–29). Isaiah 57:15 reminds us that God seeks humble and contrite hearts—people sensitive and responsive to Him, deferential to others, and willing to move with Him in pursuit of His glory and others’ good. Our response to difficulty should therefore be humility, sensitivity, responsiveness, and malleability to God’s work rather than simply seeking changed circumstances.
Minutes from Sunday, March 15 & Monday, March 16, 2026
Paul Lawler motioned to approve. Terry Vanderslice seconded. Unanimously approved.
GENERAL UPDATES – Wes Griffin
Lilly Endowment Grant
The Commission unanimously approved the grant proposal, with one abstention from a member who joined after discussion began.
The Lilly Endowment grant focuses on strengthening U.S. church multiplication capacity through a sustainable initiative designed to produce growth beyond the grant period. Its three components are: 1) building a church-planter pipeline, 2) developing a multiplication movement, and 3) creating sustainable financial pathways. Plans include hiring a director and associate director; focusing on urban and culturally diverse plants; strengthening equipping and coaching; developing church multiplication teams within every annual conference; and addressing clergy health and well-being. Church planters will be equipped to plant additional churches, not only one.
Of the proposed $5 million grant, $3 million would fund capacity building, including staffing, training, coaching, and cohorts. An additional $1 million would require a match, potentially
creating a $6 million initiative. The goal is 1,000 new U.S. churches by 2033, with each annual conference increasing church-planting activity and various models, including microchurches, considered. The philosophy is that local churches are best positioned to respond to community needs while the denomination builds capacity to support the movement.
Members noted the grant’s potential to provide transformational funding and sharpen the denomination’s focus on multiplication. The Commission affirmed continued advocacy for global church multiplication and pursuit of additional funding outside the United States.
General Conference
KAC will have three display tables highlighting church multiplication, mission mobilization/UPGs, and disaster response. Luciano and Simon are scheduled to deliver keynote messages. Members were encouraged to help staff the displays and communicate KAC’s work.
The Commission reviewed the election of bishops for eight regions. Regional episcopal work teams interviewed and ranked candidates, and Paul was identified as the leading candidate for Region 7. Bishop Kimba was thanked for his continued willingness to serve as a Conference Superintendent.
The Commission affirmed two priorities for General Conference: continuation of all commissions and appropriate hiring authority for commissions. Members discussed proposed legislation eliminating three commissions, including KAC, noting concerns that this would weaken the connectional structure supporting smaller and developing conferences. They emphasized KAC’s accomplishments in establishing emerging conferences and connecting leaders across the global Church.
KAC will develop a concise fact sheet of its accomplishments and value. Members attending General Conference were encouraged to communicate with their delegations, advocate for KAC’s continuation, and seek KAC representation on key committees.
Members also discussed concerns about the current organizational structure for ministry staffing and the potential for a disconnect between ministry responsibility and hiring authority. Under the current Book of Doctrines and Discipline, the Chief Connectional Officer (CCO) hires commission
staff even though commissions direct specific ministry areas. KAC leadership believes commissions should have appropriate authority to hire staff under the direction of the Connectional Council to maintain appropriate organizational accountability, particularly as the Lilly grant will require church-multiplication staffing. Wes submitted a petition addressing the issue, and members were encouraged to advocate for the change which could have a positive effect on other commissions as well.
Transition to a New Kingdom Advancement Commission
The Commission discussed a smooth transition to the next team, emphasizing continuity because significant work is underway. KAC previously asked the Nominations Committee to retain at least half of the current members and identified the need for gifts and experience in evangelism, church
planting, missions, mobilization, disaster response, and compassion ministry. That request was not granted, but several current members have since been restored to consideration. The Commission will continue advocating for at least half of the current members to continue, preserving continuity and institutional knowledge. Members also discussed concerns about the chair-selection process and possible legislation allowing commissions to elect their own chairs.
TEAM UPDATES
Church Multiplication and Evangelism – Wes Griffin
The team reported significant progress in disciple-making, evangelism, and church multiplication during the first half of 2026. Training was conducted across eight international regions, including Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Russia/Central Asia, with conferences beginning to replicate and contextualize it locally. In North America, four additional GMC leadership cohorts completed Exponential’s Multiplying Leaders Community, bringing the total to more than 100 GMC leaders.
U.S. conferences reported 21 new church plants in the first six months. Reports from 12 of 31 international conferences and emerging areas confirmed more than 130 additional plants, with more activity expected but not yet reported. Regional highlights included ABLAZE training and multiplication in Africa; disciple-making strategies in Europe and Asia; outreach into additional closed countries in North Africa/Middle East; and continued growth of GMC conferences and faith communities in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The team also worked with the Assembly of Bishops and Commission on Conferences to bring emerging areas online and strengthen the GMC’s global presence. In North America, the emphasis remains on developing a multiplication mindset among leaders.
Missions Mobilization and Unreached People Groups – Sherri Tabaka-Morrissey The team expanded Engage resources into six languages, finalized the Acts 1:8 Mission Health Check, expanded the Kingdom Advancement Portal with mission mobilization and short-term mission resources, and continued developing the Acts 1:8 Church certification process. Engage training was conducted across Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America, including ABLAZE trainings in Abuja and Nairobi. Leaders are beginning step-down trainings within their conferences and districts. Five additional trainings were scheduled for the third quarter, with a goal of up to 14 global equipping events in 2027.
The team reported 44 publicly listed approved missional partners, one non-public partner, and seven approved apostolic ministries, with six additional applicants receiving assistance through the approval process. Quarterly online mission leaders’ gatherings have begun, with two completed; an online missional book study is underway, and future events are scheduled.
KAC and the Discipleship, Doctrine & Just Ministry Commission are increasingly collaborating to make disciple-making resources more accessible globally, including resources for small groups, multiplying disciples, and accountability. Resources will be developed collaboratively and submitted to both commissions for consideration.
Disaster Response – Linda Davis
The team reported that the GMC has responded to 25 disasters and humanitarian crises in 2026, including floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, war, oppression, disease, and drought across Africa, Venezuela, and the United States. More than $410,231 in humanitarian relief grants has been provided this year, serving more than 8,000 individuals. Since the ministry launched in 2024, more than $1.88 million has been provided for humanitarian relief, funding 60 projects across 18 annual conferences and three developing conferences.
In response to the earthquakes in Venezuela, the Church supported medical teams, food and water distribution, counseling and pastoral care, and damaged hospitals and clinics. Disaster Response continues both immediate assistance and longer-term recovery, including work with communities affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene and Tropical Storm Arthur in Louisiana. Recent assistance was provided in Nigeria, and six additional projects in the United States and Africa were funded during the month.
The ministry continues its connectional approach, partnering with Faith Responders, On Mission Network, and Samaritan’s Purse. In addition to financial and material assistance, Disaster Response provides prayer, pastoral care, encouragement, and continued presence alongside affected communities. Members were encouraged to pray for the ministry and communities experiencing disasters and humanitarian crises.
Additional Updates, Questions, Discussion
The Commission reviewed plans for Beyond These Walls (BTW), scheduled for February 25–27, 2027, with a two-day pre-conference Perspectives intensive beginning February 23 for connectional superintendents and other key leaders. A separate pre-conference opportunity with Ed Stetzer is also planned. The next in-person Commission meeting will follow BTW. Members discussed funding and fundraising opportunities to assist non-U.S. leaders who may need financial support to attend.
Simon celebrated Mozambique becoming the newest GMC conference. Mwenge shared recent ministry activity in Tanzania, including training from a leader from Ivory Coast, 34 churches planted, and approximately 38 people coming to faith at a recent event.
Kabah recommended the KAC strengthen its mission efforts by adapting training, resources, and strategies to local languages and cultural contexts, particularly across Francophone, Lusophone, and Swahiliphone Africa. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that minority and marginalized indigenous communities of the equatorial forest, including Pygmy communities, have
access to the Gospel, discipleship training, and church multiplication initiatives in ways that respect their dignity and cultural identity. He expressed gratitude for the ENGAGE training in Abuja, Nigeria, led by Jeff Jernigan, and the ABLAZE training in Nairobi, Kenya, led by Sherri Tabaka Morrissey, noting their contributions to equipping members for global mission. He identified preserving continuity, valuing diversity, and strengthening KAC’s capacity to reach underserved communities as complementary priorities for its future and global impact.
The next KAC meeting will focus on transition to the new Commission following General Conference.
Closing Prayer – Paul Lawler
Adjourned at 10:57 a.m. ET
Upcoming Meetings
October 1, 2026
9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (New York)
Two hours
Via Zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6772364252?pwd=dStIbHdIV3czcHJRSGtHT0E1VUxQUT09ze this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.