A number of statisticians and research groups have documented the unique and sustained growth of the Assemblies of God among Protestant churches in the U.S.

Among the factors contributing to this growth trend is a continued commitment to church planting. During the 21st century, a relatively new strategic approach — the Parent Affiliated Church (PAC) — has accelerated the Fellowship’s momentum.

Over the past 17 years, the PAC model has marked Assemblies of God church planting and become its dominant growth strategy. With more than 2,500 such plants since 2009, PACs now represent nearly 60% of new AG churches annually.

Birth of the PAC

During a 2006 church planting conference in San Diego, the need for a new partnership model came into focus during a conversation between then-General Secretary George O. Wood and U.S. Missions Church Planting Director Steve Pike.

“Dr. Wood wondered out loud how we might encourage our church leaders to make the starting of new churches a priority, and if we might need a new church type to complement our two existing categories of General Council Affiliated and District Council Affiliated churches,” Pike says.

According to Pike, Wood said many AG churches were opening new campuses or outreach centers, but there was no way to track and celebrate such efforts nationally.

“He asked me to give it some thought and work with him to create a proposal to bring to the General Council to empower local churches to multiply,” Pike says.

Over the next couple of years, Pike and Wood worked with a committee to develop the basic concept of the Parent Affiliated Church. The proposal gained approval during General Council 2009 in Orlando, Florida.

Within weeks, the first PAC — a dinner church in Seattle — was formally recognized.

The results were quick and extraordinary. By the end of 2009, there were 27 PACs. The number rose to 166 during 2010, with PACs comprising more than one-third of new AG churches that year.

This initiative fueled a surge in church planting under the direction of the newly formed Church Multiplication Network (CMN), and Pike, its first director. By 2011, the PAC model was producing churches at a faster rate than the Fellowship had seen in decades.

PAC Approach

As the name suggests, each PAC congregation starts with a “parent” church. The latter provides direct oversight of the fledgling church.

In this way, the PAC strategy expands the ministries and influence of healthy local churches.

“Parent Affiliated Churches have proven to be one of the most effective church planting tools in our Fellowship because they combine apostolic expansion with relational covering,” says Gerad Strong, director of leadership and training for CMN. “PACs reduce isolation for planters by providing coaching, accountability, financial partnership, and tested structures, which increases long-term sustainability.”

By providing a reliable support system, PACs reduce the failure rate of new church plants, according to Mike McCrary, CMN’s director of operations.

“The greatest strength of the PAC approach is a flexibility that can accommodate a variety of proven ministry and leadership models,” McCrary says. “This flexibility, without a doubt, doubles the speed of church planting.”

Parent Affiliated Churches have accounted for nearly half (47.3%) of all new AG congregations in the U.S. over the past 17 years.

Church Revitalization

The PAC model isn’t just for church planting. Soon after its inception, certain established churches aligned with stronger congregations to become PACs.

Parent Affiliated Churches have accounted for nearly half (47.3%) 
of all new AG 
congregations in 
the U.S. over the 
past 17 years.

In some cases, district leaders have used this approach to revitalize struggling congregations.

“Churches that develop leaders, empower others, steward resources wisely, and think beyond their own attendance are discovering they can help other churches take ground without losing their own ground,” says Strong, who also serves as the AG’s director of church health.

Strong’s own pastoral experience includes helping a District Affiliated Church avoid closure by becoming a PAC.

To date, more than 700 established congregations have become Parent Affiliated churches. As with new church plants, the PAC relationship can meet short-term needs as congregations grow in health.

In many cases, the strength and resources a parent church provides make possible the successful revitalization of a church in need.

Parent Churches

The PAC relationship starts with parent churches.

The initial planning of the PAC model sought to affirm and celebrate what was already occurring in the ministries of many growing congregations.

Vision for the lost and passion for Christ’s mission have always spurred local churches toward expansion. The PAC structure offered a way to recognize these efforts while inspiring others to emulate them.

“We wouldn’t be able to plant as many successful new churches if it weren’t for the apostolic parent churches,” McCrary says.

Many of the largest Assemblies of God USA churches have engaged this strategic tool as their ministries expand. The average size of a parent church hovers around 600 in weekly worship attendance.

Yet recent data shows the parenting model is not just for churches with extensive resources.

“One of the most encouraging developments is that the parenting option is no longer limited to large churches,” Strong says. “Small and mid-size congregations are stepping into the role of spiritual parents because health, not size, can be a greater qualifier.”

In fact, 40% of parent churches have an average weekly attendance of fewer than 200.

An annual study of AG parent churches continues to demonstrate three primary traits of these congregations.

First, parent churches are highly missional and heavily engaged in their communities. Evangelism effectiveness measures of parent churches exceed those of other congregations.

It’s not surprising that congregations seeking to reach beyond their walls are excellent candidates for PAC relationships.

Second, parent churches prioritize the Spirit’s work. Annual metrics comparing the number of Spirit baptisms to both conversions and worship attendance demonstrate higher levels of Spirit empowerment compared to other churches.

Given the clear biblical connection between the Spirit’s power and fulfillment of the Great Commission, this result is also unsurprising.

Finally, these churches have visionary leaders. Pastors and other leaders of parent churches embody Kingdom priorities and act on them.

Pairing these leaders with district personnel who consistently promote church planting is creating growth across the Fellowship.

Future of PACs

The results of this strategic partnership between missionally focused and Spirit-empowered congregations and their visionary district leaders shows no sign of slowing.

From 2024–25, 338 new PACs were planted, a two-year total consistent with pre-pandemic results.

The number of PAC relationships aimed at helping declining congregations is also increasing.

“We are seeing PACs used in dynamic ways — not only for revitalization and new church plants, but also as a strategic vehicle for multisite expansion, ethnic and language congregations, and regional growth initiatives,” Strong says.

The PAC model has transformed Assemblies of God church planting in the U.S.

Given their strategic potential, Parent Affiliated Churches will likely remain at the forefront of planting and revitalization efforts into the future.

This article appears in the Spring 2026 issue of Influence magazine.