Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch)

PMCC (4th Watch) was founded by Arsenio T. Ferriol (born January 14, 1936), a native of Odiongan, Romblon[1] and currently the church's chief executive minister.[2] The church had separated from the Foursquare Gospel, a North American-based Pentecostal church, where Arsenio and his brother, Arturo, had been Bible students in their youth and later trained pastors,[2][3] and later forming the People's Missionary Church (a small community church in Marikina) prior to another split and its registration. As a result, the church, being indigenous, is independent of Western Pentecostalism.[4] The church was officially registered as its current name to the Philippine government's Securities and Exchange Commission in August 1973, the event being commemorated as its establishment.[5][6][7]

Another brother, Domingo (1943–2021), pioneered one of the first church buildings in Malagasang, Imus, Cavite;[8] while Arturo later led the construction of the main church in Marikina (then part of Rizal).[3] The church expanded abroad through visits by mid-1980s,[5] and with the first foreign church established in Hong Kong in 1989,[9] the same year it also reached North America.[10]

PMCC, being one of the fastest growing independent denomination in the country and in Asia,[lower-alpha 1] eventually became one of the largest indigenous Pentecostal churches,[4] having a nationwide presence in almost every city and province.[12] By the time of the church's 50th anniversary, PMCC has been present in 72 countries worldwide with 1,055 locale churches.[lower-alpha 2] Members are known for being missionaries because of their house visits and public preaching in areas (markets, buses and parks) elsewhere.[4]

PMCC publishes The Word magazine (founded in 1989), and broadcasts programs including Oras ng Katotohanan (transl. Hour of Truth) and its United States counterpart Surer Word (established in 2008 as the church's first all-English program abroad).[13] It owns Life Radio network and has its own television station, Life TV.[5]

PMCC believes that the true church was founded on the day of Pentecost, as mentioned in the Book of Acts; and the spiritual gifts (as mentioned in Ephesians 4:11) by the Holy Spirit in the church continues to this day,[14] including the apostleship, which is believed the most important and to be given by Jesus Christ to Arsenio Ferriol (thus, the "apostle in the end-time;"[2] and being the Goodman of the House,[9] citing Matthew 24:43).[4]

The restoration of spiritual gifts is emphasized by the PMCC, which defined Pentecostal as reverting to the early Christian Church in the Book of Acts. They prefer to be called "Biblical Pentecostalism", with the church's name indicating its general direction; the term is said restoring the Pentecostalism generally with adherence to biblical teachings needed to achieve unity, and increases the indigenization as well, maintaining its independence.[4]

PMCC believes that the fourth watch mystery was revealed only to Ferriol. Citing Mark 13, it was stated that the New Testament times constituted four periods of time: Apostolic era (or ancient era; evening watch, referred to as 1st watch); Papacy (medieval era/Dark Ages; midnight, 2nd); Reformation (Renaissance; rooster-crowing, 3rd); end-time (New Age; morning, 4th and last). The latter is said to be the present day and that the Second Coming of Jesus is about to occur;[14] wherein baptized members are to be saved through rapture, leaving apostates to experience the Great Tribulation. Ferriol, being the leader, claimed God commanded him through voice and light one evening in 1970 in Odiongan, giving him the revelation through Jesus to restore the original church in the modern era, hence, its name.

PMCC believes in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (all as God, but not a Trinity);[14] the humanity of Jesus who, according to them, emptied Himself during the first incarnation, as well as the Personality of the Holy Spirit. Their teachings also involve the fulfillment of the Great Commission which includes preaching the gospel of salvation—which is through Jesus' finished work demonstrated by his suffering, death, and resurrection; and is attained only by grace—and baptism by immersion.[14]

Also, one of their beliefs is the infallibility of the Bible, being the final authority.[14]

The definition of Pentecostalism is emphasized on the deep personal spiritual experience and expressive worship, among others. The exact number of Pentecostals are difficult to identify for the reasons that most country censuses have no comparison among the Christianity except for Protestantism and Catholicism; and Pentecostalism, as a movement, may only exist as distinct and non-mainstream congregations. A study by Pew Research Center in 2011, although reported that there are no data on exact number of Pentecostals in the Christian-dominated Philippines, estimated it at 2.2 million. Aside from PMCC (4th Watch), another known Pentecostal group in the country is the Jesus Is Lord Church.[19]

There had been three United States-based Pentecostal movements which sent missionaries to the then US-administered Philippines. The Foursquare Gospel, the church where the PMCC separated from, was the last to do so in 1937.[20]

• Official Website
• Official WebApp