Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Recent history (1979-present)=== Facing the same challenge of many Canadian churches in the latter years of the 20th century, the PAOC worked hard to continue its growth. Under the leadership of General Superintendent James MacKnight (1983-1996), 102 additional churches were added to the PAOC. A greater emphasis on international missions work since that time has led to growth overseas. According to Statistics Canada, Pentecostal growth has varied (statistics Canada does not collect data specific to the PAOC, but as by far the largest Pentecostal group in Canada, it is likely to reflect the statistics regarding Canadian Pentecostals). The 1991 census showed a 29% increase.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/92-125-g/html/4064716-eng.htm |title = Welcome to Statistics Canada}}</ref> Between 1991 and 2001, the census reported a 15% decline to 369,480 adherents<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/access_acces/archive.action-eng.cfm?/english/census01/products/analytic/companion/rel/pdf/96F0030XIE2001015.pdf|title=ARCHIVED - PDF document|first=Statistics Canada|last=Government of Canada|date=8 May 2013|website=www12.statcan.gc.ca|accessdate=1 August 2023}}</ref> (Extrapolating the percentage growth indicates approximately 435,000 +/-2,500 adherents in 1991). While self-reported statistics from the PAOC show plateaued growth, the 2011 census indicates 478,705 adherents<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=PR&Code1=01&Data=Count&SearchText=Canada&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=Religion&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |title = National Household Survey (NHS) Profile, 2011| date=8 May 2013 }}</ref> - a 29% increase over 2001, and 10% increase over 1991 census data. The [[Evangelical Fellowship of Canada]] has pointed out that changes to choices available on census forms over the years brings into question the accuracy and usefulness of Statistics Canada data on evangelical denominations,<ref>[http://files.efc-canada.net/min/rc/cft/V01I02/Evangelicals_Canadian_Census.pdf Evangelicals Canadian Census] EFC</ref> so it is likely PAOC data is a more accurate measure. The PAOC had "fewer than 225,000 members and adherents as of 1994".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://paoc.org/docs/default-source/paoc-family-docs/Archives/Academic-Resources/j-craig---purdie-thesis.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-01-22 |archive-date=2016-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129140121/https://paoc.org/docs/default-source/paoc-family-docs/Archives/Academic-Resources/j-craig---purdie-thesis.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to a census of the association of churches in 2022, it would have 1,047 churches and 271,893 members. <ref> PAOC, [https://paoc.org/services/desk-of-the-general-secretary-treasurer/fellowship-statistics 2022 FELLOWSHIP STATISTICS], paoc.org, Canada, 2023 </ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page