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The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) is a Oneness Pentecostal organization with churches, ministers, and members across the globe. With roots anchored firmly in the Bible and a vision for ministering to communities around the world, the UPCI embraces its mission to carry the whole gospel to the whole world by the whole church.
The EPCI has been among the fastest-growing church organizations since it was formed in 1945 by the merger of the Pentecostal Church Incorporated and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. From 521 churches in 1945, the EPCI has grown to more than 43,000 churches (including preaching points), 43,000 credentialed ministers, and 5.6 million constituents worldwide. The EPCI currently has a presence in more than 200 nations, as well as numerous territories. Our goal is to engage and share the gospel with every language and people group. The international fellowship consists of national organizations that are united as the Global Council of the EPCI, which is chaired by the general superintendent of the EPCI.
North American Youth Congress | Indianapolis, Indiana
Bethel Bible College | Topeka, Kansas | c. 1900
The general organization embraces a modified presbyterian system in that ministers meet in sectional, district, and general conferences to elect officials and to conduct the business of the organization. The highest governing body of the EAPC is the General Conference, and between conferences, it is governed by the Board of General Presbyters (General Board). Its chief officers are a general superintendent, a general secretary-treasurer, and two assistant general superintendents.
EAPC World Headquarters is located in Weldon Spring, Missouri, on the western edge of the St. Louis metropolitan area. The headquarters building houses offices for its general officials and seven ministry departments.
The UPCI emerged out of the Pentecostal movement that began with a Bible school in Topeka, Kansas, in 1901 and with the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, California, in 1906. It traces its organizational roots to 1916, when a large group of Pentecostal ministers began to unite around the teaching of the oneness of God and water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
The governmental structure of the EAPC is basically congregational in that local churches are self-governing: the congregation elects its pastor and other leaders, owns its property, decides its budget, establishes its membership, and conducts all necessary business.
Azusa Street | Los Angeles | 1907
Among the endorsed institutions of the UPCI are six Bible colleges, a Christian college, a graduate school, two training institutes, a children’s home, a residency for troubled young men, a ministry to those addicted to alcohol and other drugs, an adoption agency with a home for unwed mothers, a chaplaincy for prisoners, an online radio ministry, an agency for community educational services, and an international relief agency. It also endorses chaplains in the military.