AFM Australia News

04/02/2026

The Deputy President is back

02/02/2026

When Joel O.s.t.e.e.n looked Sen@tor John N. Kennedy in the eye and declared, “God will never forgive you,” the entire auditorium froze. Sixteen thousand people fell into a stunned silence. Osteen expected applause… but what came next shattered the room.
Kennedy didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t blink. He simply opened his weathered Bible, placed it on the table, and began reading Scripture with the kind of clarity that slices through every empty promise. Verse by verse, he dismantled the foundations of prosperity theology — exposing the contradictions, the manipulation, the spiritual shortcuts polished into a billion-dollar empire.
But Kennedy didn’t stop there.
In front of cameras, pastors, and sh0cked churchgoers, he revealed financial records, testimonies from former followers, and stories Lakewood had quietly buried. The heartbreaking account of Margaret Williams. The hidden trail of donations. The uncomfortable truth behind the glittering stage.
Thirty-six seconds.
That’s all it took to transform a polished performance into a public unmasking.
And for the first time, the crowd wasn’t cheering the preacher.
They were listening to the truth.

30/01/2026

To Our VP

When leadership challenges came from your superior, your response was, “hondo dzangu ndorwa ndega” (my battles are mine alone). That statement is deeply revealing. It frames leadership as a personal struggle rather than a corporate responsibility. It suggests self-preservation instead of stewardship of the Body of Christ.

That same mindset led to your resignation when challenges arose, not because the issues could not be addressed, but because they were personalised. The church knows you were later convinced to return to office. Restoration is commendable, but the question remains: when pressure comes again, will the response be endurance or withdrawal?

Leaders do not fight private battles. Leadership is assignment, not emotion. When a leader concludes they are alone, it signals either unreadiness for the weight of office or a misunderstanding of the calling itself.

As Vice President, your posture affects the entire church. People watch, listen, and follow. When leadership reacts in anger or retreats under pressure, direction is lost and confidence weakened. Leadership and a quick temper do not mix, especially in the church.

AFM has never been built on individualism. We are a Pentecostal church founded on shared leadership, accountability, and mission. Opposition will come, from members and from fellow pastors, and it must be handled with maturity, patience, and integrity. A calling is not a smooth path; it is tested by resistance.

The office you hold demands emotional maturity and stability. We cannot afford leadership vacuums whenever challenges arise. If one is not yet able to manage pressure without personalising conflict, wisdom demands growth before higher office is assumed.

Leadership in AFM is not about protecting self, but protecting the work. The question is never, How do I feel? but Does this strengthen the church, preserve unity, advance the Gospel, and honour Christ? Anything less falls short of the sacred trust of leadership.

26/01/2026

18/01/2026

Good News for AFM Australia: A New Path to True Resolution

There has been much discussion and speculation about the recent resignations and subsequent return of key members of the National Board of AFM Australia. It is encouraging to see attempts at dialogue and reconciliation. These gestures reflect a desire for unity and continuity, and for that we are grateful.

We are aware that a communication was issued by the National Secretary, one of those who previously resigned, stating that “things are being fixed.” While we welcome hope and progress, we must also ask a sincere governance question: Who is fixing what, and through what process?

Reconciliation and reform cannot occur in the dark. At present, no formal mediation is visible, no elders have been engaged, no governance framework has been communicated, and no participation from the wider church community has been initiated. Without these elements, the claim that the matter is “being fixed” lacks definition, accountability, and transparency.

No leadership team can repair a system on its own — particularly a system they themselves were overwhelmed by. If the environment was unworkable enough to provoke resignation, returning without structural change does not resolve the dysfunction; it restarts the cycle.

This is not criticism, it is sound governance.

THE ROLE OF ASSEMBLY BOARDS
Assembly Boards also received the communication. Therefore, they too must ask questions and seek clarity, not in defiance, but in stewardship. Assembly Boards are not rubber-stamps; they are governance structures tasked with oversight, representation, and responsibility at assembly level.

If National matters affect assemblies, and assemblies affect the membership, then Assembly Boards must not remain passive observers. Their participation ensures that the National Board does not carry the burden alone, and that the membership is not treated merely as spectators.

WHY THIS CANNOT BE FIXED ALONE

Good governance teaches that:
• A system cannot reform itself from the inside.
• Parties in conflict cannot mediate themselves.
• Authority cannot restore itself without accountability.
• And transparency cannot exist behind closed doors.

If a crisis was public and affected the entire church, then healing must be communal and participatory, not private and selective.

THEREFORE, WHAT IS NEEDED NOW IS A MULTI-PARTY PROCESS

Including:
• National Board (administration)
• Founding Elders (mediation & spiritual guidance)
• Assembly Boards (representation & oversight)
• Pastors & Deacons (administrative ministry)
• Membership (stakeholders & community)

This is not bureaucracy, it is biblical plurality.

THE NECESSARY INGREDIENTS FOR TRUE REFORM
1. Mediation by Founding Elders
2. Structural Reform & Governance Policies
3. Clear Conflict Resolution Procedures
4. Separation of Spiritual & Administrative Offices
5. Transparent Communication
6. Documented Agreements
7. Assembly-Level Participation
8. Time to Reset Before Resuming

TO THE NATIONAL BOARD

Your return is commendable, but do not attempt to fix what compromised you without broader support and structural reinforcement.

TO THE ELDERS
Your involvement will bring legitimacy, history, and spiritual maturity to the process.

TO THE ASSEMBLY BOARDS
You are not bystanders. You are responsible for what affects your assemblies. Ask questions, seek truth, participate in reform, and represent your people well.

TO THE MEMBERSHIP
You are stakeholders in this church, not observers. Continue to pray, watch, and discern. The future of AFM Australia includes you.

FINAL WORD
We honor the Bishop President for initiating reconciliation.
We honor the former Board for being willing to return.
We honor the church for hoping and praying.

But let us also acknowledge:
• Reconciliation without reform is temporary.
• Repair without process is fragile.
• Restoration without mediation is incomplete.
• Unity without structure will not last.

Let us not rush back to business-as-usual.
Let us reset, reform, and rebuild AFM Australia with stronger foundations than before, for the glory of God and the stability of His people.

02/01/2026

AFM Australia

A Call for Governance Reform, Restoration, and a Way Forward

A Message to All AFM Members, Leaders, and Assemblies

1. The Reality We Must Face

While it is true that the current National Board can legally continue functioning, legality alone does not mean that the serious governance problems facing the church have been resolved.

Proceeding to replace vacant leadership positions without addressing the root causes of the crisis is like placing a temporary patch over a structural crack. The surface may appear repaired, but the foundation remains weak. If left uncorrected, the same problems will re-emerge and cause even greater harm to the church.

This moment calls not for appearance management, but for real repair.

2. What the Resignations Are Telling Us

The recent resignations did not happen by accident. They point to deep concerns about how authority has been exercised and how decisions are made. These include:
• Centralisation of authority in one office
• Undermining of collective leadership
• Lack of safe space to resolve grievances at the highest level
• A culture where fear replaces accountability
Responding to these warning signs by simply appointing replacements only covers the crack, it does not heal it.

3. A Warning to Remaining and Future Board Members

To those currently serving on the National Board, and to anyone considering stepping into vacant positions:

If this moment is treated merely as an opportunity to advance into leadership without correcting the underlying governance problem, the same cycle will repeat itself.

Unless one is prepared to remain silent, avoid questioning decisions, and agree with everything determined by the Bishop President, the risk of being forced out remains real.

This is what happens when a structural crack is ignored: every new “patch” eventually fails, and the damage spreads further.

4. Why This Matters to Every Congregant

This is not only a leadership issue; it affects the entire church.

Unhealthy governance leads to:
• Restricted church growth
• Prevention of new assemblies
• Loss of confidence among leaders
• Spiritual discouragement among members

A church cannot flourish on a weakened foundation. No amount of temporary repair can replace genuine restoration.

5. A Pastoral Appeal to All AFM Members

We acknowledge that some members have stopped attending AFM because of the recent resignations. Others are still weighing their options, and some have been affected spiritually and emotionally.

Please understand this truth: the enemy always tries to destroy potential before it is fully realised. When revival is near, resistance increases.

This is not the time to give up on the church—this is the time to pray for it.

Pray for your church.
Pray for your leaders, that they may be led by the Holy Spirit, not by pride, fear, or the desire for power.

As leaders, we are committed to advancing the vision of community-based churches, bringing the church closer to the people. The time is coming when believers will not need to travel long distances to worship. Healthy, local assemblies will be established across communities, and AFM will grow. No force will stop what God has purposed.

To those who have left AFM, we appeal to you with love: we need you. Come back so that together we can fix what is broken and strengthen what God is rebuilding.

We trust fully that the Mighty God will see us through, and we believe that 2026 will be a year to remember.

6. What Must Be Done Now: Real Repair, Not Another Patch

Establishment of a National Apostolic Council (NAC)

What the church needs now is not another temporary solution, but structural reinforcement.
An independent oversight body must be established, known as:
The National Apostolic Council (NAC)

7. Composition of the National Apostolic Council

The NAC will consist of:
• Elders
• Pastors (where available) who are not members of the National Board
• Deacons
• Representatives from assemblies

Important principle:
• The NAC must not be appointed by the National Board
• It must be formed by and from the assemblies
This ensures independence, trust, and protection for the church.

8. Functions of the National Apostolic Council

The NAC will:
1. Provide independent spiritual and governance oversight
2. Hold the National Board accountable and restore collective leadership
3. Protect board members from victimisation for raising genuine concerns
4. Develop governance and accountability policies
• Submit these policies to assemblies for approval
• Adopt them only after congregational participation
5. Serve as a body for resolving high-level grievances

This is how the foundation is strengthened.

9. Conditions for the Continuation of the Current Board

Before the church continues as normal, the following must be addressed:
1. Adoption of the National Apostolic Council
2. Clear governance reforms
3. Transparency on how this crisis is being resolved
4. A formal apology from the Bishop President
5. A clearly communicated way forward

Members have the right to ask:
“Has the structural problem been repaired, or have we only covered it?”

10. Role of Members and Assemblies

Church members must not remain silent.
They are encouraged to:
• Ask questions of their local boards
• Seek clarity and accountability
• Encourage transparency
• Support reforms that protect the church

Silence allows cracks to grow.

11. If Real Repair Is Refused: The Final Option

If these reforms are rejected, assemblies may consider operating independently.

Since assemblies are independently registered, they can function without a National President or National Office. This would allow:
• Free establishment of community assemblies
• Growth across WA, NSW, and other states
• State-based leadership where and when needed
A National Office can later be established naturally, once a strong foundation exists.

12. A Spiritual Perspective

The enemy does not fight what has no potential. Pride and control, if left unchecked, can destroy even spiritual organisations from within.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
— Proverbs 16:18

13. Church Prayer Theme for 2026

“Rebuilt, Restored, and Victorious”
“The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will arise and build.”
— Nehemiah 2:20

Prayer Focus:
• Victory over division, fear, and pride
• Re-establishment of God’s order
• Restoration of wounded members
• Expansion through community assemblies
• Holy Spirit–led leadership

Declaration:
“Lord, rebuild what has been shaken, restore what has been broken, and lead us into victory. We declare that 2026 will be a year of re-establishment, growth, and triumph in Christ. Amen.”

14. Final Appeal
This is not a call for division.
It is a call for repair, restoration, and renewal.
Temporary patches will fail.
Strong foundations endure.

The future of AFM in Australia depends on what we choose now.

“God Bless You All”