Overview

• The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) was formed in 1977, in Brazil. It owes its origins to a successful evangelistic programme conducted by a Canadian missionary in the Pentecostal tradition.
  
  
• The Pentecostal movement started 100 years ago in California and has roots in the Methodist movement in 19th century England. It is currently the fastest growing section of the Christian faith.
  
  
• Pentecostal churches place great emphasis on the Holy Spirit (which, according to the New Testament, came upon Jesus' disciples seven weeks after the crucifixion and resurrection that we commemorate at Easter). They believe that just as the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples at the first Pentecost, so it can empower and benefit people today.
  
  
• UCKG is an international Pentecostal church, active in over 170 countries.
  
  
• UCKG was established in the Australia in 2005. It operates the UCKG as a registered charity and Christian spiritual centre, with headquarters at Liverpool.
  
  
• UCKG ‘special works' operate from such venues as hired community halls, cinemas or libraries, are open just a few days a week and offer a smaller range of spiritual and temporal services than a fully fledged HelpCentre.
  
  
• UCKG is entirely funded by charitable donations.
  
  
• UCKG actively seeks converts through its missionary activities. It promotes its work through a magazine, Faith in Action, its website, and the media.