BEDFORD – United Pentecostal Church International General Superintendent David K. Bernard said the UPCI experienced a strong year in 2025 and is entering 2026 with continued growth, an emphasis on apostolic identity and unity, and a focus on healthy revival and church planting, while also confronting challenges that include pastoral transitions, minister retirement planning, and how churches respond to allegations of abuse.
In his 2026 State of the Church address, Bernard said the UPCI is working in 203 of the world’s 210 nations, along with many territories, and said the church is expanding its vision beyond reaching every nation to reaching people groups, including ethnicities and language groups. He said the UPCI has well over 45,000 churches worldwide, including preaching points, and more than 45,000 credentialed ministers, with an estimated total constituency of about 6.2 million.
Bernard said the UPCI estimates that between 250,000 and 350,000 people are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ each year and that a similar number receive the gift of the Holy Ghost annually. He said that, based on the church’s calculations, approximately 1 million people have received the Holy Ghost in UPCI ministry worldwide over the last three years.
In the United States and Canada, Bernard said the UPCI estimates 1 million constituents, more than 5,100 churches, including daughter works and preaching points, and more than 12,300 credentialed ministers. He said that over the last three years, the UPCI has planted almost 700 new churches in the U.S. and Canada.
Bernard said his priorities since becoming general superintendent in 2010 have been apostolic identity, apostolic unity, and apostolic revival, which he also described as growth. He said apostolic identity includes doctrine and holiness teachings, including modesty, gender distinction in appearance, prayer, worship, and the new birth message of repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial sign of speaking in tongues.
He urged the UPCI to maintain unity in a polarized culture, saying political and cultural opinions should not detract from the centrality of the gospel and the unity of the church. He also said growth should be pursued without compromising doctrine and without relying on unhealthy methods, emphasizing evangelism along with discipleship and sustainable church planting.
Bernard said one ongoing challenge is pastoral transition as ministers age, and he said the median age of credentialed ministers is 52, while the median age of church planters is 49. He said he wants those figures to decrease and urged churches to encourage younger people to pursue ministry and progress through credentialing.
He also encouraged ministers to plan for retirement and recommended participation in the Ministers’ Retirement Fund, saying it has more than $140 million. He directed those interested to mrfupci.org. He said he does not recommend relying on arrangements in which a local church continues payments after a minister retires, describing such plans as unstable over time.
Bernard said another major issue is abuse, including child abuse, and urged churches to be proactive in prevention and to handle allegations carefully while taking them seriously. He directed listeners to upci.org/safeurch for resources and said Safe Church UPCI has trained professionals who can assist with inquiries and procedures.
He also discussed Christian liberty and said differences in matters such as Bible translations, dress formality, music, and other practices can vary by culture and local context. He cautioned that social media can be polarizing and said its use should reflect a wholesome Christian approach.
Bernard said he believes the UPCI is increasingly ministering in a post-Christian culture and urged churches to view themselves as missionaries to their own culture, adjusting methods without changing doctrine. He referenced resources available through Pentecostal Publishing House at Pentecostalpublishing.com, said Urshan University offers accredited programs, and said his podcast, “Apostolic Life in the 21st Century,” is available on YouTube and other podcast platforms. He also referenced the UPCI Loan Fund and directed viewers to upcilonefund.org, and pointed ministers to ministers.upci.org for resources, including the UPCI manual and sample policies.
Guide Pointe Church in Bedford is a UPCI church, according to information provided with the address. Pastor Christopher and Julie Perry serve there, and the church also leads JC’s Christian Academy and JC’s Playhouse. Guide Pointe Church is located at 2900 35th St., Bedford, IN 47421, and the listed phone number is 812-279-5258. The UPCI also has a church finder on its website, so you can find a church near you.
You can view the speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h280XINsVDE.
