By: Bro Philip Largas
Let’s take a trip down memory lane to the year 2018.
The year before a Wuhan lab accidentally leaked a virus that changed the world (or a bat soup as some thought). The year where US President Donald J. Trump made history by meeting with the North Korean president Kim Jong Un, the first time any US president met with a North Korean Dictator while the world was fearful of potential nuclear conflict. The year the #MeToo movement which both made predators accountable for their wrong doings and wrongfully ruined the reputation of innocent men worldwide. The year in which Meghan Markle became the Duchess of Sussex (I personally liked her role in the show Suits).
What do you remember about 2018?
Personally, I remember 2018 fondly because I was a 2nd Year Practicum Bible Student assigned in South Bay during the time in which then Bishop Jonathan S. Ferriol unveiled something special to North America: the Season of Expansion (SOE). As the name implied, this was a time to expand the church by 3 means: Win More, Pray More, Build More.
I was a first hand witness of how Apostle Jonathan was passionately mobilizing everyone for this program. Every staff meeting he would passionately exhort us to mobilize the members to be united in this initiative. All hands were on deck. I remember that he himself was helping us stick the promotional graphics on the door, which was a tedious task to stick it perfectly on the glass doors of the entrance and on the cold marble floor. I even remembered the unveiling of the event where all the members in South Bay were filled with enthusiasm (I also remember clearly the infamous balloon drop incident. If you know, you know).
Season of Expansion lasted a year but its lasting impact was profound. Social media was flooded with images of members in the church passionately witnessing, prayer meetings and devotion services were well attended and churches were growing and were being built throughout North America. The Spirit of God was working during that Season of Expansion, reminiscent of Acts 9:31when the church enjoyed a time of peace and enjoyed growth. I remember SOE inspiring me to open an extension worship in Lethbridge while I was a student pastor in Brooks.
That is the power of the Season of Expansion. It’s more than just a program in the church but an apostolic vision to bring growth to the church and to the believer. Imagine if each of us wins more, prays more and builds more? That would definitely change our lives for the better.
Not only will the church grow but in our personal and professional lives as well.
On Thursday June 5 2025, Apostle Jonathan S. Ferriol brought this initiative back this time not on a district scale but a global scale.
Apostle Jonathan said that the Season of Expansion is God’s appointed season for growth. And that is the direction the Apostle is stirring the church towards. Let’s all be part of the Season of Expansion!
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