Big Brother's Syndrome: They Shall Know You By ...

[DAII]

OUR NAME.

The following article was written by Thomas Wynn Drost ... UPCI missionary to Mexico and General Superintendent of the IPUM ... the United Pentecostal Church of Mexico, which is affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church, International. He is the son of Canadian missionary, Bill Drost.

The following is the his bio from the UPCI's Foreign Missions Division:

Born to missionary parents in Cali, Colombia, Brother T. Wynn Drost has spent all of his life on the mission field. He has been an appointed missionary since April 1969. During that time, he has served as a missionary in six different countries: Spain, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Belize, and Mexico. In January 2001 Brother Drost lost his wife (Wanda) of 30 years to cancer. They have three sons two of whom are also UPCI appointed Missionaries to Mexico, and the third one (Mark) Pastors in Dallas, Texas. Brother Drost founded the UPC of El Salvador in 1975, and the UPC of Belize in 1984. In 1981 he assumed the oversight of both Guatemala and Nicaragua. In 1986 the Foreign Missions Board added Mexico to his portfolio. Since 1991 Brother Drost has lived in Mexico City. Today he Pastors a growing Church in the heart of Mexico City. Brother Drost is presently the elected Superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church of Mexico. The UPC of Mexico is experiencing great revival.

It was written in May of 2009 but only in the last few months has it become controversial when various Apostolic pastors and ministers got to read it and took serous offense to the harsh nature of what is said in the article.

I have translated it into English. It can be found here, at the IPUM's official site, in Spanish:
http://www.ipumex.net/mensajero-mayo09.html

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Iglesia Pentecostal Unida - The United Pentecostal Church
by Thomas Drost

The name in which a group identifies itself is very important. We know names like Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Ford, Apple, New York, etc. are rapidly identified and bring to mind what they are. Even at times just seeing their logo, their emblem, their symbol, you think about them and images come to mind as to what that emblem represents.

In a world where piracy has become something so common, it's as if we don't appreciate all that goes behind a name and the effort, time, and money that has been invested in making that name respected. Realistically, it is an ingratitude to people who procure to produce and give services of excellence and benefit the customer or client as well. For this reason, if you are satisfied, be loyal to them so they will keep on giving. Names, emblems, are important.

For this reason, we should be interested in the name of the religious institution we belong to: The United Pentecostal Church

That name came about in the United States of American as the best option in 1945, when two organizations, realizing they had a lot in common – in regards to doctrine, practice, customs and background – decided to unite and form one: United Pentecostal Church

Many ministers “of the Name” had wished and waited for this moment for more than 30 years. Why? Because in 1914, when a group of pioneer Pentecostals formed the first pentecostal organization – which became the Assemblies of God – a group of “the Name” felt betrayed and left, two years later, when they adopted the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity as part of their Creed. The Oneness group, which included leaders who had convocated the first assembly, felt like they were “expelled” in a religious ambush.

In effect, this delayed the development and growth of Oneness Pentecostal for more than 30 years. But God has blessed the United Pentecostal Church and it has grown greatly to the being present in over in over 183 countries of the world. One of the primordial purposes in its formation was to bring “the Gospel to the whole world” And that remains being its first priority just as been preserving the Doctrine. This passion and missionary burden has been the cause for why God has blessed us; and because we are fulfilling what is close to God's heart which is: reaching souls with the Gospel.

And what is this doctrine? The religiously passionate belief that (1) there is only One God who was manifest in the flesh in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ; (2) that the plan of salvation is found in Acts 2:38; emphasizing baptism in water in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, with the receipt of the Holy Ghost, with the initial sign of speaking in another tongue; (3) and that we must live a life of holiness, separated from the world (not so much from our communities, but in obedience) and dedicated to the Lord.

Yes, when someone hears the name “United Pentecostal Church”, these three things come to mind. It has now attained its space in the religious world with this mark, distinction or identity.

[DAII]

There are other groups in the world that are “Oneness” or “of the Name” of Jesus. Inclusively, there a many groups. The majority are small groups, while there some that are regular-sized.

There are various groups of the Name who use the word “Apostolic” in the name of their group. We (the IPUM, the United Pentecostal Church of Mexico, in Mexico) prefer not to use this word as a self-reference, and above all, to describe our doctrine, for the simple fact that it is one of the names of the traditional church – the Roman and Apostolic Catholic Church. They use “apostolic” in reference to papal succession – in which they are proud in tracing their history to the apostles, in particular, Peter. But they do not baptize as Peter commanded twice in the book of Acts, 2:38, 10:48.

The UPC is not sectarian, in the sense, that we don't believe that to be saved you must be a part of our group or organization. No. We believe that to be saved you need to complete Acts 2:38 but do not have to be a part of us. We even respect any other group of the Name.

Where we do have certain difficulty, is with groups that use our name: United Pentecostal Church. I cannot respect those who steal and use the identity of others. These are people who cannot establish their own identity so they use that of another – or even better, steal from another. That is dishonest. This is, to pirate. It is sin. They should be honest and use their own name and stop trying to pass themselves off as us, and procure, in this way, to attract ingenuous people who don't know all of the difference.

Be honest and use their own name and stop trying to pass themselves off as us, and in this way, try to pass off as being a part of us, such as: The Hispanic United Pentecostal Church, The National United Pentecostal Church, The Latin American United Pentecostal Church, The United Pentecostal Church of the Name, etc. These are the most heard. They even go into the United States as if they are part of the IPUM, United Pentecostal Church of Mexico. The bible says, “Sooner or later, evil will be punished”.

Anyway, someone did say, what is most accomplished is found in imitation. Realistically, they are giving us a great accomplishment, they flatter us; but we don't want to be flattered in this way, because they do it with ulterior secondary intentions! There are, even, many of them who constantly are aware of what we are doing – they read our books, magazines, publications, etc. They almost know more about what the IPUM is doing more than our pastors who ARE in the IPUM. The attend our events, conventions and congresses. This is fine, as long as there is no other intent, such as: trying to take people or greet under false pretense – which is to say they come off saying this is THEIR convention. This is dishonest.

I would say, why not just stay with using our institutional name? Why not unite with the IPUM? It's not that difficult. Why stay with the shadow and not the substance? If you are going to belong to something, why not belong to the best? Is it because you don't want to tithe, as all our ministers in the IPUM? Is it because you don't want to keep the same level of holiness? Is it because you don't want to be under authority? Well, let me tell you, we are all under SOME kind of authority – it can a congregation who believes it is the pastor and leader, but perhaps it is they who intelligently control YOU.

Some groups in Latin America who use our name, have reached the extreme, and have the audacity, of saying, they are the original United Pentecostal Church. This is absurdly low. The word “Pentecostal” obviously is not a voice or word that is original to the Spanish language. Evidently, it is originally from the English. We recognize, that the more correct way would be to say “pentecosteses” - which some use, above all, trinitarians. But, when it comes to proper names, individuals, cooperatives or groups there are no grammatical rules, and “pentecostal” is a derived nominal of Pentecost.

I don't know how the word “Pentecostal” started in Spanish. I simply think it was the result of a bad pronunciation of some foreign missionary, by which the pronunciation remained. However, I remember many years ago, hearing brother Domingo Zuniga, a great leader of the UPC of Colombia (who went to his eternal reward), was visiting the neighboring country of Ecuador, and someone asked him (I don't know if it was a radio or personal interview), “What is this 'pentecostal'?” “It is not in the dictionary”. From which, brother Zuniga responded: “It is not in the dictionary, but it will be!” And so it is – it is now in the dictionary.

Even though “Pentecostal” is not exclusively of the “pentecosteses” of the Name, it is very common among them. Today, as a general rule, to say “Pentecostal” is to refer to those who baptize in the name of Jesus; believe in One God, who is Jesus Christ and who insist living a life of holiness before God.

The United Pentecostal Church International – of which the IPUM is affiliated – is the largest organization, or religious group, of the Name, in the world. Today it reports more than 2,588,496 members in all of the world; with 25,523 credentialed ministers and 25,043 churches.


Even in the Hispanic world, WE ARE the largest organization of the Name – which includes all of Latin America, Hispanics in the United States and Canada, plus the Hispanics in all of Europe and other parts. In the all the Hispanic world, we have more than 5,707 ministers, more than 7,197 churches and 678,541 members. Or, the Hispanics of the UPCI represent one fourth of the total – and we keep growing!

We are not a perfect organization, but we can say we are the least imperfect. We understand that a religious organization or group is really a human institution with a divine and social objective. We have a big heart with a great vision to bring this Gospel to all the world.

[UnTraditional]

There are some wonderful UPCI preachers in the world, and these are a credit to the church as a whole. But sometimes, a name can evoke harshness as well. I believe, more than a name, is the fruit of the individual. Let that be what we are judged by.

[DAII]

What is missing here... is Thomas's own history and that of the first autonomous work the UPCI ever had ... the United Pentecostal Church of Colombia ... started by headquarters decree in the late 1960's.

This article received strong rebuke by some in the Colombian national leadership who reminded him of that history ... I will share a little later.

[UnTraditional]

History is sometimes distorted by the victors. If that is the case heree, then there should be a call for retraction and repentance.

[DAII]

Revisionist history indeed. Wow, where to begin?

That name came about in the United States of American as the best option in 1945, when two organizations, realizing they had a lot in common – in regards to doctrine, practice, customs and background – decided to unite and form one: United Pentecostal Church

Many ministers “of the Name” had wished and waited for this moment for more than 30 years. Why? Because in 1914, when a group of pioneer Pentecostals formed the first pentecostal organization – which became the Assemblies of God – a group of “the Name” felt betrayed and left, two years later, when they adopted the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity as part of their Creed. The Oneness group, which included leaders who had convocated the first assembly, felt like they were “expelled” in a religious ambush.

In effect, this delayed the development and growth of Oneness Pentecostal for more than 30 years. But God has blessed the United Pentecostal Church and it has grown greatly to the being present in over in over 183 countries of the world. One of the primordial purposes in its formation was to bring “the Gospel to the whole world” And that remains being its first priority just as been preserving the Doctrine. This passion and missionary burden has been the cause for why God has blessed us; and because we are fulfilling what is close to God's heart which is: reaching souls with the Gospel.

There is a lot to say about this account of the New Issue rift between OP's and TP's in the Assembly of God .... however, I would remind Thomas that the first Pentecostal organization was not the AG.

For example, GT Haywood's Pentecostal Assemblies of the World pre-dated the Assembly of God ... founded in 1906 as trinitarian organization ... re-organized in 1916 as a Oneness organization it was the premier Oneness org of the 30 years of "silence" Drost alludes to ...

Only problem was many white ministers refused to join it ... and some splintered because of the race issue during the height of the Jim Crow era.

The issue of racial superiority I believe should not be underscored when discussing the early Oneness movement and events .... the frictions that resulted between national works and the "mother" organization, later in its history, have such underpinnings, in my opinion.

[DAII]

Also, at the time of the New Issue schism there were about 550 AG ministers ... most scholars say about a fourth left ... this accounts for only around 135 Oneness ministers ... who were waiting for 30 years for a "unified" movement? Lest we forget the AG was still in its nascent stages, formed in 1914, when the New Issue occurred.

Growth and development were stalled under these pretenses?

[Sister Alvear]

Well...Daniel I read this some time ago on another forum I believe it was...Since I am not UPCI my opinion is of little or no value...however as a missionary I have a strong opinion...different from most Americans...I think the church in any country should be or become national...not that it would opose foreigners however each organization in any country needs to learn to walk on their on two feet...Yes this take time and patience...but it is the LASTING method...yes..and the missionary stops being the big boss...

Many times Americans are forced to bring with them their culture...which has nothing to do with doctrine...Some Americans have come to Brazil and instead of preaching the Bible their set up looks like an American twin......

Paul was adaptable to any people and to any culture....

[UnTraditional]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

Well...Daniel I read this some time ago on another forum I believe it was...Since I am not UPCI my opinion is of little or no value...however as a missionary I have a strong opinion...different from most Americans...I think the church in any country should be or become national...not that it would opose foreigners however each organization in any country needs to learn to walk on their on two feet...Yes this take time and patience...but it is the LASTING method...yes..and the missionary stops being the big boss...

Many times Americans are forced to bring with them their culture...which has nothing to do with doctrine...Some Americans have come to Brazil and instead of preaching the Bible their set up looks like an American twin......

Paul was adaptable to any people and to any culture....

Agreed.

[DAII]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

Well...Daniel I read this some time ago on another forum I believe it was...Since I am not UPCI my opinion is of little or no value...however as a missionary I have a strong opinion...different from most Americans...I think the church in any country should be or become national...not that it would opose foreigners however each organization in any country needs to learn to walk on their on two feet...Yes this take time and patience...but it is the LASTING method...yes..and the missionary stops being the big boss...

Many times Americans are forced to bring with them their culture...which has nothing to do with doctrine...Some Americans have come to Brazil and instead of preaching the Bible their set up looks like an American twin......

Paul was adaptable to any people and to any culture....

Sister Alvear, knowing many of the players and history involved such public rhetoric seems to be a bit out of place ... I know their have been conflicts in management ... etc.

But to publicly state that others are pirating, stealing and dishonestly doing something .... is well .... WOW.

Such an accusation has legal ramifications .... is the term "United Pentecostal Church" trademarked ?... or is the UPCI trademarked ...? We know most think of the UPC bar code when the word UPC is mentioned in American circles ...

To publicly call out other Apostolics as thieves would require some more substance ... imo.

Also when looks at the history of how the first autonomous work came about in Colombia one has to wonder if Brother Drost has clue about how those names procedurally came about .... and his claims that somehow not only is UPC personal property but also the claim that the term "Pentecostal" today refers mainly to Jesus name Pentecostals seems far-fetched