The beginning of a new year is a good time to look back and celebrate victories won during the past 12 months,

but it's also an opportunity to look to the future. In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st century,

UPCI General Superintendent Dr. David K. Bernard shares some of the highlights from 2022 and his vision for the coming year.

Welcome to Apostolic Life in the 21st Century, a podcast dedicated to helping modern day believers

live out the teachings of the first century church. This podcast is part of the teaching

ministry of Dr. David K. Bernard. Dr. Bernard is dedicated his life to

studying the Bible and helping believers apply its message to their daily lives. Thank you for

joining us for this episode. This is our first episode of 2023. Hard to believe we're already

in the new year. But I think the beginning of a new year is a

really good time to look back and to celebrate the victories that we won during the past 12 months.

But I think it's also a good time to look ahead and see what challenges and opportunities are on the

horizon. As the general superintendent of the United of Pentecostal Church, what do you feel like

were some of the highlights of 2022 and what personal ministry experiences stand out to you from the last year?

2022 was an interesting year because we were recovering from COVID, and we were, so which meant in

most cases a lower attendance. We're going through economic and political uncertainty,

which caused disturbance, and of course rapid cultural changes, which are still ongoing.

But I think that caused a lot of instability in people's minds and lives and in society.

But it was a good year because most churches were rebuilding. And so their tenants was growing back up.

Their finances remained steady or in many cases actually increased.

As far as the UPCI as a whole is concerned, it was our greatest year ever financially, strongest year ever.

We record offerings in every category and not just marginal, but growth,

if I remember correctly, our Christmas for Christ offering, which was collected at the beginning

...